Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Frugality & Finances › So what's the deal with Target?
New Posts  All Forums:
 

So what's the deal with Target?

post #1 of 115
1/31/08 at 6:54am
Thread Starter 
As I read through various threads I find a common theme in many postings... Target Stores and their ill effect on our budgets!

Now don't get me wrong, I share the issue. I could never get out of a Target store for less than $50, and that is on a good day! Lucky for me, there are no Targets here in Hawaii! That's probably why our finances are looking the best they have in 18years! (There's talk of a Target opening in "09, but things here get done on "Hawaii Time", so that will probably be delayed, whew!)

My biggest weakness in Target was clothes for DDs and/or "things" for the house.

What is it about Targets that make me so willing to part with my money?

Kohls was also a bad place for me to go. Didn't even matter if I left my card at home because they are more than happy to look up my account number for me!

You may also like:

What NOT to Say to Newly Pregnant Mom
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby
post #2 of 115
1/31/08 at 7:19am
For me it's because Target has great sales and great quality. And a wider variety of items than most similar stores.
post #3 of 115
1/31/08 at 8:23am
oh Target .... have you noticed tha ttheir home stuff are knock offs of Pottery Barn (or, as DH calls it "Poverty Barn")?? And the kids clothes are so cute! And the organizational stuff... oh I could go on.

I cant leave there without spending $80. And we have a Super Target so I grocery shop there too.
post #4 of 115
1/31/08 at 10:55am
i think its the bright lights and clean stores. i dont feel like i'm going to get diseased walking in there (like i do when i walk into one of the walmarts in the area.)

not to mention, they have some *amazing* clearances. they had a whole aisle of shoes 75% off last night. got some really cute slippers for the kids for $2 a pair. and got the kids some nice boots for next winter too.

oh, and http://www.afullcup.com has a target coupon generator. target has their own printable coupons that make some amazing deals.
post #5 of 115
1/31/08 at 10:59am
It's clean, and the people working there typically have all their teeth.
post #6 of 115
1/31/08 at 11:29am
They have grocery carts, the prices are low, and you need to walk through miles of store.

Anytime you can get a cart or basket into a shopper's hands, it means more $$.

We pick up an item that catches our eye, check it out, look at the price, and think, "Oh, a couple of bucks? What's the harm? It's barely the cost of a cup of coffee," and we toss it in the cart. Or, "Oh, yeah, lightbulbs! I need lightbulbs. Oh! And look! A Valentine wreath for the front door. That would be cute. We don't even HAVE Valentine decorations! Better remedy that."

And then that happens many more times.

And by the time you get to the check out you've got a cart full of stuff that all adds up.

Target wows me with their marketing. I admire them from a professional standpoint. My budget hates them, though.
post #7 of 115
1/31/08 at 11:49am
Exactly! I agree with Monkey's Mom.

I browse the One Spot, just in case there's something I "need." That usually costs me $1-10. And let's see if they have any good prices on barettes. And I love to check the clearance sections for linens, housewares, heath & beauty, food, clothes.

I usually buy things on sale, but it's often things I don't need.

Plus, I am a sucker for Hello Kitty stuff and they have tons of Hello Kitty items.
post #8 of 115
1/31/08 at 11:52am

it's just...

It's just NICE stuff!!! Yeah it costs a little more than Wal-mart but it seems to hold up so much better- the clothing, the bedding... I bought flannel sheets for my Ds there and they are holding up nicely. I got a velour "sweat suit" for DD- she is wearing it today and it is so very simular to one my mom got her from Hanna Andersson, but mom paid 4 times as much for it (the HA one was DDs B-day present so I am keping it) but really, they are styled jsut the same. I think Target is making effors to look like GAP and HA (clothing) and a lot of the home goods do look like Pottery Barn and IKEA.

one thing to keep in mind, if you are AAA, then target on line offers 15% off. I have never done that becuase with shipping nd all I am not sure if it would be worth it but I am putting that out there for any of you who want to Target shop on line and have AAA.

Sheila
post #9 of 115
1/31/08 at 11:58am
Are you serious???? You can get 15% off at Target online just for being a AAA member??? Really? How do you do that? Maybe I should go look!

I am so lucky that our Target doesn't have the grocery or we would be broke. I just love all of the stuff in there. Have you seen the toddler clothes and shoes? Just to cute to pass up on especially on sale.

Man I need to go to Target!
post #10 of 115
1/31/08 at 1:38pm
My husband and i joke if we don't have a hundred dollars to blow basically, that we are not allowed to step foot into target. There is always something we need there. Like lightbulbs, and oh yeah a basket for the living room, and didn't we need some new towels- hey look they are on sale, and look kids clothes are on clearance, and so and so's bday is coming up lets grab them something, what did we come in here for? oh yeah milk. Total. 120.00$ Plus they have a starbucks in ours, so that adds another 10 bucks, cuz we only get it when we go to target.

My husband and i are banned from target this month, we don't have the money.
post #11 of 115
1/31/08 at 1:40pm
There's no Target at all up here. I don't know weather to be glad or sad.
post #12 of 115
1/31/08 at 1:57pm
The stuff is nice enough that you think you want it all; the store is clean enough that you don't mind shopping there; the prices are cheap enough that you feel like you can afford it and are getting a good deal.

All that adds up to a lot of stuff thrown in a landfill in my experience. I never shop there anymore and I can't think of one thing I need there. I'm sure if I went in though, I would find about $300 worth of stuff I would like. Good thing I am Compacting!
post #13 of 115
1/31/08 at 2:07pm
I don't have that problem with Target luckily. I actually only go for necessities or things that are mostly needed

They do have super cute decor things though. I could get in trouble if I spent money on things like that often.
post #14 of 115
1/31/08 at 2:09pm
I have no problem walking into Target and buying what I need and nothing else.

I do tend to spend at least $50 in there because I often wait to go to Target until I'm seriously out of stuff- then I stock up on epsom salts, laundry and dishwasher detergent, soap and shampoo and hair stuff, tissues and toilet paper, and if I can swing it I might pick up some kitchen stuff that I've been needing forever but haven't had a chance to pick up yet. If I buy "drugstore" stuff elsewhere, I'll end up spending a lot more for the same items.

The last time I went to Target (stopping through on the way to the mall for a birthday gift) I spent around $5.
post #15 of 115
1/31/08 at 2:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lanamommyphd07 View Post
It's clean, and the people working there typically have all their teeth.
Amen!!!
post #16 of 115
1/31/08 at 7:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lanamommyphd07 View Post
the people working there typically have all their teeth.
What an incredibly classist comment.
On soooo many levels!!
post #17 of 115
1/31/08 at 7:47pm
Target is the bane of my financial existence. Oh gee, I only need toilet paper and dishwasher detergent but while we're here let's look at shoes and clothes and and and...I rarely get out of Target with my budget intact. So I never go.
post #18 of 115
1/31/08 at 9:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by boysrus View Post
What an incredibly classist comment.
On soooo many levels!!
I do have to say though... that for the most part I've noticed that Targets tend to look much cleaner than Wal Mart. They just feel cleaner and brighter, also. I remember living in one locale where WM and Target were right across the street from each other, and the people in there seemed like night and day.
post #19 of 115
1/31/08 at 9:21pm
its the genius marketing... seriously, i used to work for a manufacturer and call on them. they know what they are doing. they know who you are and what you really want and they know how to make you think you *need* it.
post #20 of 115
1/31/08 at 9:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RolliePollie View Post
I do have to say though... that for the most part I've noticed that Targets tend to look much cleaner than Wal Mart. They just feel cleaner and brighter, also. I remember living in one locale where WM and Target were right across the street from each other, and the people in there seemed like night and day.
That's been my impression also.

I Target. When I visit a Target store I can easily drop a good $20-$30 on stuff I didn't plan on getting when I first walked in the door. Target target my weaknesses.

I can't wait until we get our Target store. One is slated to be built in my community within the next year.

You may also like:

What NOT to Say to Newly Pregnant Mom
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby
Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Frugality & Finances › So what's the deal with Target?