Couponing For Mere Mortals: Target Coupons, Cartwheel and Deals

Well, its no secret that I have a love affair with Target. What a lot of shoppers don't know is that they have several ways to earn additional savings in store and online. I am still surprised by how many of my friends and family are not using these resources to save. Therefore, I decided that I needed to devote an entire post in my "Couponing For Mere Mortals" series. Here's the breakdown:

Coupons: Target has accepted manufacturer coupons for years, but many shoppers are still unaware of the store coupons that Target offers on its website. By clicking on the Coupon link on the Target Website, you can print store specific coupons to use at the register. You will have to go through an initial set up for the printer software with your first use of the site. These are not just store brand products either. This is where it gets really good. Did you know that you can combine manufacturer coupons with Target store coupons? Yes, you can double up the discount with one of each, unless restricted by the manufacturer. Most of the Target store coupons are for in-store purchases, but occasionally they offer an online code as well.  Here is their complete coupon policy.

Mobile Coupons: Another variation of the Target store coupon promotion. Text COUPONS to 827-438 (Target) you will receive a link to sign up. Then you will receive a text message containing your coupons. When you check out just hand your phone to the cashier to scan the bar code and any coupons for items you are purchasing will be applied.

Daily Deals Online:  Everyday Target has select items that are on sale for 24 hours only or until they are sold out whichever comes first. These are exclusive online deals. You can see some of the items coming up as daily deals for the next five days, but you won't know the sale price until the item goes live. Go to the Target website and clink on Daily Deals, then scroll to the bottom to see what's next. This is great for big items that are on your wish list.

Cartwheel: This is the newest way to save at Target. Cartwheel is a completely separate app from the Target website and Mobile Coupons.  Cartwheel is Target's social network based savings app. Its easy to use and the more willing you are to promote the app the more you earn in Cartwheel. Here's the way it works. Go to the Target website and click on the Cartwheel link in the left side menu and download the app to your phone. Create an account by logging in using your Facebook sign in. Now this is what turns some people away, but don't worry. Once you sign in using the Facebook, you can opt to share your activity or not share. Basically, your account is set up like, obviously enough, a shopping cart. You get a limited number of spots in your Cartwheel. Click on the browse option and add the deals you want to use. When you check out, hand the cashier your phone, they will scan your barcode and any discounts you have loaded into your Cartwheel will be added. There are a lot of discounts available and you can use them several times until they expire, but you have to select them into your spots to activate them. The benefit of using the share feature on your Facebook is to promote the app to your friends, the more friends you have join the more spaces and badges you earn to activate deals. I have used this app along with coupons and it works great.

REDcard: Now, advocating a store credit card is not my usual preference.  The Target RedCard is a good addition to your savings routine, if you use it appropriately. The rules apply the same as signing up for any credit card. Keep a low balance limit, pay it off regularly before adding additional charges, and of course pay on time. What I like about the REDcard is the additional 5% off every purchase and the free shipping on all purchases. If you are a regular shopper at Target, 5% off your bill can be a benefit, especially when you stack it with other discounts like Cartwheel and coupons. The savings can really add up. Be careful not to let it lead you to impulse buy. Stick to your list and your pre-planned discounts.

I think Target hit the "Bullseye" with these great deals and discounts. Please feel free to share your great finds and deals with me! Happy Target-ing!

Couponing For Mere Mortals: Learning to Clip The Old Fashion Way

Well, by now you have mastered loading your grocery rewards card with digital coupons and signed up for your post purchase rewards programs with your favorite manufacturers. Right? If not, no worries. Here are the links to get you started.

Couponing For Mere Mortals: Saving Money With The Swipe Of Your Card

Couponing For Mere Mortals: Getting The Most Of Your Healthy Food Purchases

Moving on to the next step in couponing takes a bit more organization. With digital couponing the card does all the work for you, with paper couponing, its up to you.  Why use paper coupons when I can use digital?  Of course if we can reduce using paper its a plus, but there is still a need to clip. The biggest benefit is you can double them or triple them during rare promotions. Most grocery chains push for digital coupons because they do not double them. You are limited to how many digital coupons you can load also, usually 150. That seems like alot but overtime you can come pretty close to that number. There is still a bonus for using digital coupons too so, don't abandon ship. Grocery chains will often offer coupons for their in-house brands on their digital site, these are not available in printed form. Also, from time to time, they will track what you purchase and send you special offers to load on your card. For instance, last month Kroger offered a customer appreciation promotion and sent me 10 digital coupons, including several free items, like bread and even big discounts on natural products that are not typically offered. If you already have a routine in place with your digital coupon card, that is great because we are going to build on that process.

Get a coupon organizer. Now I've seen the extreme side of this with large three ring binders, you don't have to go there...yet. Unless that works best for you. I prefer a medium size accordion case that I can keep with me in my purse, in the event I need to make an unexpected purchase. I saw some similar ones in the dollar section at Target this weekend for $2.00.

File in a way that makes sense to you. The initial set up takes an investment in time but it will become second nature. The simplest way is to break down your pockets into general categories like, dairy, dry goods, baking needs, etc. Think of it as the sections of the store. Some couponers like to set up their pockets in order of the store layout beginning with the first section they enter. There is no right or wrong. Everyone's shopping needs are different. If you have small children you may prefer one pocket entirely for diapers and food. Play with it a bit to see what clicks. It has to make sense to you or you won't stick with it.

Follow a clipping routine. Carving out a set time each week to plan your shopping trip may seem inconvenient, but in the long run it will save you time and obviously, money. I have a time every Sunday that I get my coffee and get my list ready for the week. Its a good feeling to start the week of with a plan and adds to my overall productivity throughout the week. This is the order that I have found to work best.

1. Update your coupon file. Clear out any expired coupons before you begin clipping for the new week.

2. Make your list of needs for the week. Hopefully you are using your pre-printed cheat sheets to cut your time by checking off what you need and noting any additional items. Doing your list first, helps you stay away from impulse buys and gets you prepared to tackle the weekly sale circulars.

3. Start clipping with the weekly inserts. 

4. Load your digital coupons to your store rewards card. This is were it changes slightly. You will see some of the same coupons on your store site that you just clipped from the paper. Remember, you cannot double your digital coupon. So, if you have a clipped coupon and load the same to your store card, it will take the store coupon first and not double. There is a catch. They only double up to a .50 off. Therefore, if you have coupons that are over .50 for products that you use, load those to your card even if you have the clipped coupon. Also, load any additional coupons regardless of value for items that do not have a paper coupon.

5. File any new coupons into your organizer.

6. Finally, using your list of needs, review your weekly advertisement and coordinate that with any available coupons. You can make a note next to any items you have a coupon for digital or paper. Pull the corresponding coupons and put them in a front pocket of your organizer or a separate envelope. This helps because sometimes when you get into the store you may need to reference the coupon for things like size or quantity to make sure you meet the coupon requirements.

7. When you check out give the cashier your reward card first. Then hand them any additional coupons to take off the total. That way as they are ringing you can eyeball the monitor to make sure you items are reduced properly.

Now, there are even more advanced ways to do this process using apps and third party websites. I think its easiest to start this way, it really helps you learn how to incorporate couponing into your weekly routine. I'll be back soon to talk about some of those hi-tech savings helpers. Happy Clipping! Ta!