At the urging of my friend Kimi, I reluctantly decided to give Target another shot. Remember that “shoppers high” after buying something new and cute? I get that same feeling now when I walk out of a store spending very little money. My, how times have changed!
If you are a member of Target Addicts Anonymous like myself, here are some key steps to easing back towards the bullseye.
- Take a break. Just stay away! At least until you feel the impact in your pocketbook. Believe me, I noticed how much more money stayed in my wallet when I simply avoided it altogether.
- Scour the blogosphere for hot deals at Target before hand.
- Once your willpower has increased, shop with an accountability partner.
- Have a specific list, and coupons in hand when you walk through those pearly gates, I mean doors.
- Avoid the dollar spot. You know who you are.
- And the key to making it out of Target without a cart-full of unplanned purchases? Get there 15 minutes before closing. Seriously.
My biggest weakness at Target was the temptation to browse around all the clearance sections. I knew where each one was hidden. But with only 15 minutes to shop, there just is not time to wander.
4 small bags of Archer Farms coffee @ $0.99- $1 coupon here, makes them FREE!
2 bags of Archer Farms chips @ $0.89- $1/2 coupon here, makes them $0.39/ea.
1 Bag of Purina Healthful Life Cat Chow @ $5.39- received a $1.50 coupon with recent sample
1 Scotch Fur Fighter @ $5.99 (sale price)- stacked $4 Target coupon here, and $4 man. here (final price= FREE + $2.01 overage!!)
Grand Total After Coupons= $3.66
Probably the least amount of money I have ever spent in Target on a single shopping trip. Less than the cat food alone! Thank goodness they were closing, because I was SO tempted to browse around.
To read other stories of awesome savings, go here.
Sound off, readers: can you relate to my Target addiction?
Do you take advantage of the awesome coupon deals, or are you a clearance junkie? Go ahead, confess.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
You did great!! I haven’t been there in a while, but I do love to look in the clearance sections.
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Great Job, Alyssa!!! You should be really proud of yourself! And, even more proud because you resisted the clearance rack!!
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Ah, the Dollar Spot gets me too!
Great job
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Yeah Alyssa!!! So glad to have you back in the bullseye – you did a great job! I too have a Target weakness -but I always go in armed and dangerous with my list and coupons ready. I do admit to almost always checking the clearance sections, but mainly for the boys. Too often I have found cute clothes for less than $5, and with as fast as they grow and as quickly as clothes mysteriously get ruined around here, you can’t beat that! Great job!
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Target and HobbyLobby are my biggest weakness I cant leave there with out spending way to much money! But now that I am becoming frugal all that will hopeully change and I will be able to resist lol!
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I had to giggle reading your entry.
I am the same way in Target. With coffee in hand I Love to wander the aisles looking at the clearance stuff.
I even asked to do this on my birthday.. so sad. But we really don’t get to Target all that much. It’s like going on vacation. LOL.
I found your blog through Frugal Friday!
Have a great one!
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I found your blog at Money Saving Mom! I have a target problem too, I’ll admit it. I had a similar experience where I went armed with a list and kept finding things on clearance that I also had a coupon for! Even with the coupon and the mark down, the prices were above $1. So I made a rule for myself. If it’s not on the list and it’s more than $1, you can’t buy it. It works! My last Target trip I got 2 boxes of cereal and a bag of cracker crisps for $0.48! I’m glad I’m not the only Target addict out there! (What’s worse is that I used to work there to get through college! Try surviving the sales with a 10% discount! It’s tough!)
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I knew there had to be others under the spell of the all mighty bullseye!
Step. Away. From the Dollar Spot!
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