The NOT going to Target has saved me so much money thread.

[disneyofcourse]

I just wanted to announce how earlier this year I made it a goal to not go to Target so often. AND...I'm doing it Let me tell you, its been the best decision ever. Honestly, last year, I would have gone to Target once and sometimes twice a week. Always ending up with things I didn't need! I'd run in to get toilet paper and come out with lotion, a shirt and a wreath I looked at my credit card spending for the year. What an eye opening experience. I was spending THOUSANDS of dollars at Target!

Guess how many times I went to Target this month? Ready for it? ZERO! Zero times! I'm estimating my savings at about $400 minimum. Last month I only went about 3 times and spent under $100... Month before that I also only did a couple trips and spent very little by making a beeline for what I needed and leaving. I just buy my basics at Walmart now. Paper Products, drinks, medicine cabinet needs are all bought at Walmart because I've figured out I dislike spending time in there so much that I just grab what I need and leave. So for anyone who likes saving money..Just find the store you least like to shop in and shop there. It doesn't matter if the TP cost $2.00 more because you'll end up saving $40-$100 by not buying something else.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

That's great! I was the same way and had to force myself not to go PERIOD. I would always find *something* I just had to have.

In fact, my DH does all the shopping now (groceries and otherwise), and I can trust him to go to the store, get what we need and get out with very few *extra* items. It's really helped our budget.

 

[robinb]

Congratulations !

I also looked at how much I spent at Target last year and I was pretty shocked. I usually can't make it out of Target for less than $75. I went in for toilet paper and paper towels yesterday and also came out with a tank top and shorts for my DD. It's 22-degrees here today .

 

[VAN]

Agree, only it is our local Meijer store! Trying to cut back to once a week!!

 

[MrsPete]

Makes me think of something that happened years ago:

When we had our second child and I needed to "fix up" the guest room as a nursery for her, I had to clean out the closet -- a closet that had become just a junk pile. I found bags and bags of STUFF I'd bought thinking it'd be a good gift, things that I had in mind for this-or-that purpose, or things I'd bought because they were on clearance. Many of these things had been sitting in bags 3-4 years, and I'd completely forgotten about them. The big problem spots were Target, Party City, and various craft stores, though other stores were represented as well. I found maternity items that I'd never be able to use, bags of candy that should've gone into Christmas stockings years before, etc. I don't know how much it added up to, but it was bad.

Some of the stuff I did end up using, but much of it went to Goodwill.

It was an eye opener to me. I thought of myself as fairly frugal, but obviously I had a problem with impulse purchasing. It stopped that day. I developed a couple systems for keeping up with purchased-ahead-gifts, kids' clothes, and other things. And I don't shop as a hobby like I did in the past.

 

[eliza61]

I can never get out of that store with the one thing I go in there for. LOL.

 

[robinb]

Makes me think of something that happened years ago:

When we had our second child and I needed to "fix up" the guest room as a nursery for her, I had to clean out the closet -- a closet that had become just a junk pile. I found bags and bags of STUFF I'd bought thinking it'd be a good gift, things that I had in mind for this-or-that purpose, or things I'd bought because they were on clearance. Many of these things had been sitting in bags 3-4 years, and I'd completely forgotten about them. The big problem spots were Target, Party City, and various craft stores, though other stores were represented as well. I found maternity items that I'd never be able to use, bags of candy that should've gone into Christmas stockings years before, etc. I don't know how much it added up to, but it was bad.

Some of the stuff I did end up using, but much of it went to Goodwill.

It was an eye opener to me. I thought of myself as fairly frugal, but obviously I had a problem with impulse purchasing. It stopped that day. I developed a couple systems for keeping up with purchased-ahead-gifts, kids' clothes, and other things. And I don't shop as a hobby like I did in the past.

My mom does that. She buys stuff on clearance and by the time she finds the bags of clothes and toys that she's ferreted away for my DD, my DD has outgrown it all! Or she buys crap and stuff that no one needs like the TONS of Cubs themed stuff she bought me for Christmas just because I am a Cubs fan it was on clearance. I do appreciate that she was thinking of me, but don't need all that useless "souvenir" type junk! A little of that type of stuff goes a long way and one or two things mean a lot more than an entire giant bag of crap. I try to tell her that stuff isn't a bargain just because it's on clearance!

 

[leadfootlevi]

I just wanted to announce how earlier this year I made it a goal to not go to Target so often. AND...I'm doing it Let me tell you, its been the best decision ever. Honestly, last year, I would have gone to Target once and sometimes twice a week. Always ending up with things I didn't need! I'd run in to get toilet paper and come out with lotion, a shirt and a wreath I looked at my credit card spending for the year. What an eye opening experience. I was spending THOUSANDS of dollars at Target!

Guess how many times I went to Target this month? Ready for it? ZERO! Zero times! I'm estimating my savings at about $400 minimum. Last month I only went about 3 times and spent under $100... Month before that I also only did a couple trips and spent very little by making a beeline for what I needed and leaving. I just buy my basics at Walmart now. Paper Products, drinks, medicine cabinet needs are all bought at Walmart because I've figured out I dislike spending time in there so much that I just grab what I need and leave. So for anyone who likes saving money..Just find the store you least like to shop in and shop there. It doesn't matter if the TP cost $2.00 more because you'll end up saving $40-$100 by not buying something else.

I've done this too - spent way to much on a "I just need toilet paper" trip and also have cut back on even going to the store. One thing that has helped me with my "addiction" is to still shop the sale ads at Target but take them to Walmart to get the good price. For example, this week I'm going to price match CLIF bars - regular price at Walmart $5.97 (I think). Sale price in Target's ad - $5. Stocking up as DS eats these for breakfast on our busy, trying-to-get-to-the-8-o'clock-church-service mornings.

I also do this with Walgreens ads (they frequently have Dunkin Donuts coffee on sale for $5.99, regular price at Walmart $8.49). It seems I can't get out of that store without a few extra unneeded items.

 

[stewpette]

Holy cow - you got me thinking and I went online to my bank account as far back as I could for available history which was 1/28/11 - since then we have spent $774.24 at Target! And no, we don't buy our groceries there or get our prescriptions filled there either. And also, sometimes we pay cash or use our Amex, so that figure is low. OP you have opened my eyes to my Target addiction LOL. I need to go cold turkey!

 

[beccar]

I too am a Target addict! I am slowly trying to turn my habit around!

 

[java]

Well I walked into mine after not being in there for a long time and they are REDOING The store!
They are opening a SuperWalmart across the street. So Target is adding a Grocery to our store. Fresh fruits and veg.
I hated the new layout. So I actually walked out of it without buying anything! Woohoo! that was a first.

 

[Iluvthemouse]

OMG same here.. I havent been in a few months now.

One year I bought tons of clearance clothes for DD.. Packed them away and found them 4 years later.. still with tags, obviously didnt fit... I learned at that point.. I am an impulse shopper bad!!!

 

[AmongMadPeople]

I've cut back and haven't been for a few weeks, mostly because I'm trying to cut back on gas usage. The best part is not having to battle the "want" every week. I don't buy anything the first time I see it, but if I don't see it at all I don't have to worry all week about whether I really need it, whether I can justify spending the money. This isn't saving me hundreds of dollars by any means, just 20 here and 20 there, but that adds up in the long run!

 

[mhconley]

We gave up our Costco membership for the same reason. We'd go to buy the staples, TP, paper towels, ziplocs and trash bags, and leave with $300 worth of stuff we did not need nor intend to buy when we walked in.

That and the price of our annual membership was more than we were "saving" on what we purchased.

We now buy the staples at the local Publix when they're on sale. Saves us $1500-1800 annually.

Martin

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I can't remember the last time I was in Target and I was trying to remember this weekend (I think it was last year). I do have 2 prescriptions I get filled there, but I avoid it b/c I can send DH and all he will get is my prescriptions.

I do have use of the Commissary on Post, which is saving me a ton on the items I was buying at Target and Walmart and I really hate Walmart, anyway. I have been able to take more advantage of coupons I have, b/c the Commissary actually stocks the items I have coupons for and they somtimes have coupons hanging in front of items I was going to buy anyway.

Suzanne

 

[redandblue]

I love Target I plan on going tomorrow and buying Tangled BluRay with a $5 coupon and I also want to buy Yogi Bear and Due Date. I am also looking for a small camping table for making smores and one of those large zipper storage bags with the handles I think they are made out of the same material as a plastic tarp, looks like a good a beach bag. I see people with them all the time and I want one.

So I am looking at about $100-$150 and add on the little extras.

 

[disneyofcourse]

We gave up our Costco membership for the same reason. We'd go to buy the staples, TP, paper towels, ziplocs and trash bags, and leave with $300 worth of stuff we did not need nor intend to buy when we walked in.

That and the price of our annual membership was more than we were "saving" on what we purchased.

We now buy the staples at the local Publix when they're on sale. Saves us $1500-1800 annually.

Martin

Yup, Gave up my Costco membership about(almost) two years ago. I kept on spending over $200 per trip when all I went in for was a few things. Plus when you really do the math, Costco was actually more expensive than just buying things in smaller packages from other stores. At least for the stuff I bought.

 

[mercydisney]

I will only buy my Tangle Movie tommorow!!!!

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

One thing that helped me with my Target addiction (for either 75% off or 90% off) was watching the "Hoarders" type shows. They usually are shopaholics, and have bags and bags of stuff piled everywhere! Even when it's a good deal, it really adds up over time - both stuffwise and moneywise!!

 

[livndisney]

I actually save money at Target. I shop sales and coupons (preferably together), if it is not on the "list" I don't buy it. Just takes a little self control.

I don't buy tp at Target since it is much higher. I usually get paper products "free" from CVS (ecb bucks). I go to Target once every week to two weeks and combine it with a trip to the market. I save a bundle!