A Target Shopping Strategy That Worked
(And some notes about CVS at the end 
)
I have a Target problem. The problem is - I love Target. More than love, I adore Target. I’m really generally not a huge shopper, so I don’t know why, but Target… I love. And I never leave with just what I went in for.
So, since we started budgeting and seriously paying down debt this summer, I just haven’t gone to Target. At all. I can’t remember the last time I actually set foot inside a Target store. Which is a big accomplishment for me, since one of the big selling points of our house to me when we bought it is that it is less than a mile from a Target store.
But tonight, I went to Target. There is a bookcase I have wanted for months for my son’s room. I had a $10 gift card I earned through My Points, and the bookcase was on sale this week, so I would only pay a few dollars for it. And I wanted to use my two $5 coupons for medicine as well (although I could use those anywhere). So I made a plan. Because for me to deal with Target, I need a plan.
My son’s parent-teacher conference was last night. So last night, I left half an hour early for the conference with two goals in mind - go to CVS and go to Target. Since I was on a tight schedule, there was no time to dilly dally through Target looking at the sale items and clearance racks. I went in, I got the medicine (that with the coupon was free) and I got the bookcase, and off I went. The cashier complained about the internet coupons (it seems any store I go to here they complain about them, bah) but she took them and I used my gift card and now I have free motrin and benedryl and also a bookcase I need to assemble for only a few dollars out of pocket. And nothing else from Target! Hurrah!
So the key for me to be able to go to Target is to have an appointment right after. But now that I’ve used my gift card, I don’t have any more reasons to go to Target at all. For now.
As I said at the beginning, I also went to CVS. I am still trying to get that Nova Max monitor that is free with the coupon and gives you $20 in extra care bucks. Well, I went to two CVS stores tonight (one is near my house, one is near my son’s school) and both of them were sold out. I did however get a two-pack of colgate toothpaste with a $1.50 coupon (from the same booklet the Nova Max $50 coupon is in) for $4.23 including tax (so $2.12 per tube which is less than I can get it anywhere I normally shop) and I got $2 in extra care bucks back to use on a future purchase. So I am starting to get the hang of the whole CVS shopping thing. If only I could find that Nova Max monitor…
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November 9th, 2007 at 9:26 am
That’s funny. My wife and I are big Target fans too. I still shop there regularly, I just avoid the danger areas (electronics and fun stuff like that).
It’s amazing how keeping clean stores and wide aisles wins over customers (something to think about there Wal-Mart).
November 9th, 2007 at 10:17 am
My husband has the same opinion of Wal-Mart and Target as Frank.
I call those stores hoarding stores. Up until now, anytime I went in I always felt like I was hoarding. I can’t tell you the excitement that comes over me when I see the rollback sign at Wal-Mart or just browsing the Target aisles.
Anyway, no more hoarding and browsing for me. And good job, PaidTwice. You make be believe that there is hope for me!
November 9th, 2007 at 10:22 am
I’m waiting to find the Novamax monitors too. Here’s a tip, talk to the manager or pharmacist and ask them to order them for you. My favorite manager did and gave me a call earlier this week because the warehouse is out of stock. His entire order of novamax monitors got cancelled so he is reordering them. Which stinks for him because they are on sale this week and he was out! Some of my other local cvs stores didn’t even have a space for them on the shelf. I have a feeling it’s a new item.
Anyway, I’m hoping that he’ll have good news for me the next time he calls.
November 9th, 2007 at 10:36 am
I have the same Target addiction. I love Target. I used to go at least once a week & look around, and buy stuff I didn’t need because it was such a great price on clearance.
This year DH and I decided we weren’t going to buy anything we didn’t need. So I only go to Target about once a month and to buy something I need. I’ve done really well not buying stuff I didn’t need, I did end up buying a few non-needed items this year (always on clearance at Target). But I think overall I’ve saved $100 per month!!!
Did I mention - I do love Target!
November 9th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
@Erin - I did talk to the manager at the first CVS (my “home” one) about ordering them and she has been trying to and can’t get them. Bah. I wish they would just give me $20 ecb and keep their monitor.
At least store two had a place for them on the shelf - even if it was empty lol.
@Suzy - good to hear I am not the only Target lover!
@Frank and Wealthy - we can all do it. We can all resist the siren call of the Target…. lol
November 9th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Congrats on some awesome restraint at Target! Have you checked out my tip for Target tip that I posted on my blog?
November 10th, 2007 at 1:55 am
Too funny about the Target shopping strategy. That’s one I’m going to have to employ myself. I’ve been in Target too many times over the past 2-3 weeks; in fact I blew through $126.02 there today!
November 11th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
We spent $46 at target this afternoon, but we bought gifts for 5 of our friend’s kids that we will be seeing next week. Had to do it, and better do it at Target than somewhere more expensive…