Target Shopping Trip Results - Saved a Total of 79%

For Family Economics day today we went to Target. We LOVE Target! It has become our favorite place to shop for groceries, household and personal care (Smiths/Kroger is our favorite grocery store too!)

Well with that in mind, we started off having our usual Family Economics Day lunch out at McDonalds for less than $10 for 5 of us! PLUS we walked out with FREE Fruit Smoothies from our coupons from the Parade Magazine found in the newspaper on 7/18. It was really cute as people would say “how are you today” or any other question while we were out – our kids responded with “good – mommy got FREE ice cream for us with coupon money!” We got a couple of weird looks, but I think most were pretty impressed along with our kids. It was a hot topic while we were out!

Anyway, here is a picture of what we bought today:

Here’s the breakdown of what we bought:

1 Quantamatic Dishwashing system sale for $4.99. Then used $3.00/1 7/18 Smart Source Insert = final was $1.99
10 Ritz Crackerfuls sale for $2.00 = $20. Then used 10 $1.00/1 6/6 Smart Source Insert – $10 = final was $10 for 10 or $1.00 each
3 Crystal Light drink mixes sale for $1.97 each = $5.91. Then used 3 $2.00/1 from sample – $1.97 (automatically adjusts coupon preventing overage) = final is FREE
4 Juicy Juice 8-packs for $2.29 each = $9.16. Then used 2 $1.00/1 Target coupons and one $2/4 printable – $4.00 = final is $5.16 for 4 or $1.29 each
1 Skinny Water sale for $1.25. Then used .50/1 printable = final is .75
3 whole grain Chef Boyardee sale for .99 each = $2.97. Then used 2 $1.00/1 Target printable and .50/1 from Target mailer – $2.50 = final is .47 for 3 or .16 each
2 Fiber Plus Antioxidant bars sale for $2.69 each = $5.38. Then used two $1.00/1 printable and one $1.00/2 Target coupon – $3.00 = final is $2.38 for 2 or $1.19
2 Fiber Plus Antioxidant cereals sale for $2.79 each = $5.58. Then used two $1.00/1 printable and to $1.00/1 Target printable – $4.00 = final is $1.58 for 2 or .79 each
6 Bear Naked organic granola sale for $3.50 each = $21.00. Then used 6 BOGO FREE coupons and 2 .50/1 Target coupons – $11.50 = final is $9.50 for 6 or $1.58 each
1 Jenni-o Turkey sausage links regularly $2.99 sale for $1.89 = final is $1.89
3 Ore-Ida crinkle french fries sale for .99 each = $2.97. Then used $1.00/3 Ore-Ida products (found inside another Ore-Ida package) = final is $1.97 for 3 or .66 each
2 bags Market Pantry sausage patties regularly $4.34 each on clearance for $2.17 each = final is $4.34 for 2 or $2.17 each
7 bags frozen organic raspberries regularly $2.99 each bag on clearance for $1.58 each = final is $11.06 for 7 or $1.58 each
2 SoBe Lifewater sale for $1.00 each = $2.00. Then used one BOGO FREE coupon and two .50/1 Target coupons – $2.00 = final was FREE
2 Dean’s Guacamole dip sale for $1.24 each = $2.48. Then used 2 .55/1 printable – $1.10 = final is $1.38 for 2 or .69 each
1 Stoneyfield YoBaby Organic yogurt 6 pack regularly $2.19 on clearance for $1.14 = final is $1.14
2 Degree travel size sale for .97 each = $1.94. Then used two $1.00/1 printable coupon – $2.00 = final is FREE
2 Bic 10-ct. pens sale for .99 each = $1.98. Then used two $1.00/1 Target coupons – $2.00 = final is FREE
3 Kashi Frozen meals sale for $2.85 each = $8.55. Then used 2 .75/1 coupons (found in magazines) and one buy 2 get 1 FREE Target coupon – $4.35 = final is $4.20 for 3 or $1.40 each
2 Sharpie Highlighter packs for .75 each = $1.50. Then used $1.00/2 Target coupon = final is .50 for 3 packs or .25 each pack

Thanks to Hip2Save for some of the above coupon matchups.

Summary: The total AFTER in-store sales, clearances and discounts but BEFORE coupons was $117.14. We then used $57.80 in coupons! We also had $10 Target gift card from a previous week’s transaction to use for a total of $67.80 in additional discounts = final was $49.34!! This is a 58% off of the sale prices by just using coupons. According to our receipt, our total savings was over 79% when you consider the total discounts off of the regular prices! Wahoo!

thriftycas

Hi Brenda,

first – sorry to hear that it is so frustrating for you! Second, I have had some trips that are that way too – especially when the items ring up differently than the ad or shelf price states. Unfortunately, there is not anything that can be done about that on our end as this is a store issue. You will just have to continue to clear those things up with them as they happen 🙁

However, here are some tips I have to make the trip go as smoothly as possible for the things that are in your control:
– Have your exact plan and coupons prepared and organized before you go.
– organize your list and coupons in order of the layout of the store
– Write on your list exactly how many you plan to buy of each item and in parentheses write how many items your coupons will allow you to get in case your plan needs to be modified if they are out of something
– Put the same manufacturer’s coupons and target coupons for the same product together – for example, if you are buying Juicy Juice and you have both a manufacturer’s coupon and a Target coupon place them together
– be sure you are reading the fine print of the coupons and size restrictions, quantity needed to use the coupon, etc. to not run into this issue at checkout
– finally, have 2 coupon pouches with you 1. for the coupons you plan to use, then after you put the item in the cart, then 2. transfer that coupon to the other pouch for coupons you are actually going to use. We have never used every single coupon that we have on our list and in our plan – things change when you get to the store. For example, they ran out, you decided your family might not like that item after seeing it in person, you are over-budget and need to put things back, etc. but by doing the coupon transfer – when you actually get to the checkout – it is much smoother to just pull those coupons out that you have set aside for the items that are actually in the cart.

This is just a snippet for you – we are actually going to be writing a series on how to make the whole process smoother (and even including kids!)
Thanks!

Comments

brenda spriet

Hello, I shop taget all the time too, i just have question for you, i will walk in with abut 40 -50 coupons, and have the time something happening , and i am there at the store for 2hrs, i have to go to the sevice counter for they mistakes that they made.Can you tell me how you check out at target? I need to find a better way.Brenda thank for all you do for us!!!

- thriftycas
  
  Hi Brenda,
  
  first – sorry to hear that it is so frustrating for you! Second, I have had some trips that are that way too – especially when the items ring up differently than the ad or shelf price states. Unfortunately, there is not anything that can be done about that on our end as this is a store issue. You will just have to continue to clear those things up with them as they happen 🙁
  
  However, here are some tips I have to make the trip go as smoothly as possible for the things that are in your control:
  – Have your exact plan and coupons prepared and organized before you go.
  – organize your list and coupons in order of the layout of the store
  – Write on your list exactly how many you plan to buy of each item and in parentheses write how many items your coupons will allow you to get in case your plan needs to be modified if they are out of something
  – Put the same manufacturer’s coupons and target coupons for the same product together – for example, if you are buying Juicy Juice and you have both a manufacturer’s coupon and a Target coupon place them together
  – be sure you are reading the fine print of the coupons and size restrictions, quantity needed to use the coupon, etc. to not run into this issue at checkout
  – finally, have 2 coupon pouches with you 1. for the coupons you plan to use, then after you put the item in the cart, then 2. transfer that coupon to the other pouch for coupons you are actually going to use. We have never used every single coupon that we have on our list and in our plan – things change when you get to the store. For example, they ran out, you decided your family might not like that item after seeing it in person, you are over-budget and need to put things back, etc. but by doing the coupon transfer – when you actually get to the checkout – it is much smoother to just pull those coupons out that you have set aside for the items that are actually in the cart.
  
  This is just a snippet for you – we are actually going to be writing a series on how to make the whole process smoother (and even including kids!)
  Thanks!
  
brenda spriet

Sorry, ever time something happening and i am there for hours

vtfiti

I just went yesterday because of your post (& the fact that i live so close to a target) and had great success buying the deals I wanted excepting for the Bagel Bites:( Thats ok though. I was most happy about the Juicy Juice purchase $1.29 each awesome.

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