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12 Reasons You Should Only Shop at Target Once a Month

Target can be a fun place to shop, but too many trips could hurt your wallet.

sign and logo of Target store in Buffalo
Updated May 28, 2024
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You may have a Target run on your to-do list to pick up basics, seasonal items, or special items.

But while the retailer can save you some cash, it could also cause you to waste money if you’re going more than once a month.

Here are a few reasons you might want to cut back on your Target runs and keep more money in your wallet.

Target offers shipping options

Achira22/Adobe cardboard box in a trolley on a laptop keyboard

You may be spending more money on gas if you have to go out of your way to shop at Target or drive a long distance to get to your nearest location.

Instead, consider ordering products from Target’s website to see if it would be cheaper to have items shipped to you.

The retailer also offers free two-day shipping on most items over $35 to help you save even more cash.

You can spend less with pick-up

MichaelVi/Adobe Drive Up sign

Wandering through the aisles at Target can tempt you to make impulse buys when you know exactly what you came to get.

Instead, try Target’s pick-up order option. You can order items online and then pick them up in the store or use curbside pick-up if your local store offers that option.

You’ll avoid impulse purchases

dusanpetkovic1/Adobe funny old couple is driving in shopping cart

Have you ever walked into Target intending to buy one thing and come out with five different items?

Those small impulse purchases can add up each time you shop at your favorite Target, and it’s an easy way for you to bust your budget.

An easy solution? Cut down on the number of trips to your local Target so you can cut down on the extra purchases.

Not everything is a good deal

Andrey Popov/Adobe businessperson doing online shopping on smartphone

Costco might have some good deals, but you may be surprised to find that you can save money on certain items by finding a cheaper option online.

Before you go on your next Target trip, see if you can find the same or similar items on other sites for less money.

And remember to factor in shipping costs, including free shipping, depending on the retailer's offers.

Try a subscription option

deagreez/Adobe young woman wearing white t-shirt typing on mobile phone

Do you find yourself going to Target all the time for the same items? If so, it may be time to try another option.

For example, one great Amazon hack lets you save money by subscribing to product shipments regularly.

You can set the time you want between shipments or how much of each item you want to be shipped each time to keep some extra cash in your pocket.

You can get gift cards with bulk purchases

CLShebley/Adobe Target Gift Card

Target offers sales in which you can earn a free gift card if you buy a certain amount of product.

So consider buying in bulk when those sales crop up so you can get a gift card and not have to return to the store and be tempted by other options.

You’re waiting for seasonal sales

dusanpetkovic1/Adobe brunette in one hand holding bikini and in other towel

It can be tempting to go back week after week to stock up on seasonal items for holidays or buy more and more warm-weather items as the summer gets hotter.

But you could save money by holding off and doing all that seasonal shopping at the end of the season or after the holiday.

You may be surprised to find deep discounts on those seasonal items Target is trying to clear out.

You have a pile of Target bags

Talaj/Adobe shopping bag with bull's eye

Plastic Target shopping bags can add up quickly, and it may not seem like a big issue to have more bags each time you shop. But the convenience of those free bags could make it more tempting to fill them up.

Think about buying reusable Target bags or bringing your own so you won’t have room to buy more items than you can fit in them. Plus, you can earn credit for bringing in reusable bags.

Groceries might not be cheaper

InputUX/Adobe woman shopping for groceries fruits and vegetables

Target has some great options for groceries, but you may be surprised to find that your choices at the retailer might be more expensive than a typical grocery store.

Target may be a good option if you’re trying to grab one or two things and you’re already there, but it might not help you save on groceries overall.

If you’re thinking about shopping for groceries at Target regularly, compare the prices to other grocery stores in your area.

You’re not shopping during sales

ColleenMichaels/Adobe price scanner for sale inside a target retail store

Like other retailers, Target has special deals throughout the month that you may not be taking advantage of if you keep going to the store over and over.

Instead, keep an eye on Target deals and limit your trips to days when you know something you need is going to be discounted.

Target makes returns easy

ColleenMichaels/Adobe exterior view of the Target

Target has a generous return policy, but what happens if you have something to return but keep forgetting to return it?

Set aside items you need to return and make sure you hold on to them until you can return all of them.

You have 90 days to return items to Target, so you don’t need to use a return as an excuse to walk back in the door and then buy more things.

You have other options

Sarah Rypma/Adobe grocery cart inside kalamazoo costco store full of supplies and toilet papers

Look around and see what other options you may have compared to your local Target store to find out if you can get a better deal somewhere else.

You may be able to buy items in bulk at a warehouse retailer like Costco to save some money. Or go to two or three local stores that offer the same options as Target but for less money.

Bottom line

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Target can be a great place to save cash, but it can be hard to stop wasting money by making too many Target runs.

It’s also a good idea to set a budget before you go into Target and make a list so you don’t spend more than you intend to when you shop.

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Author Details

Jenny Cohen

Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.