4 Secret Tips to Save Big at Target

Did you know there’s a whole community dedicated to saving money at Target? This goes beyond using coupons — it’s an entire world of savings tricks. Don’t know where to start? Here’s how to get the biggest bang for your buck at Target.

Learn the Discount Schedule

Target used to follow a regular routine, with different sections cycling through markdowns on specific weekdays. These days, however, the markdown schedule varies by store. The website Krazy Koupon Lady recommends checking the shelf tags, which have markdown dates, to figure out when your store puts certain items on sale.

If that feels like too much to figure out, you can always rely on the chain’s seasonal markdown schedule. There are sales every month, including a storewide clearance event in February, when baby items and older electronics will go on sale; the chain’s semiannual toy sale, which occurs in June and late December; and sales on kitchen appliances and bedding in September.

Check the Tags

Tags can tell you a lot at Target. According to AllRecipes, if the price ends in .00 or .99, it’s a full-priced item. If the price ends in .24, .26, .29, .44, .54, .86, .88, .94, or .98, it’s on sale, but  it will be marked down even further in the future, so it might be better to wait an extra week or two before buying. If a price ends in a .04, that item won’t be reduced further. 

Another easy way to tell is by looking at the upper right corner of the clearance tag, which will have the number 30, 50, or 70. According to the Krazy Koupon Lady, clearance starts at 30% off and ends at 70% off for nonseasonal items, so checking the number in the corner will allow you to see if more discounts are likely.

Stack Discounts in the Target App

If you’re a frequent Target shopper, you’ll want to join Target Circle, where you can earn rewards, get exclusive discounts, and be eligible for gift cards with a qualifying purchase. According to Consumer Affairs, you can stack those discounts with manufacturer’s coupons (which you’ll need to activate) in the Target app. Then all you’ll need to do is scan your Target Circle barcode at checkout.

Shop After the Holidays

After a holiday, Target aggressively marks down related holiday merchandise in its stores to free up shelf space, and that’s the perfect time to pick up decorations or supplies for the following year. According to the Krazy Koupon Lady, the day after a holiday, the chain drops the price of nonfood merch by 50% and food and candy by 30%. Three or four days later, the discounts change to 70% off and 50% off, respectively, and a week after that, you can score 90% off nonfood products and 70% off food and candy. 

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This story was first published in 2023 and has been updated for 2026.