There’s a reason Target tends to have such a large and loyal fan base. Where else can you find everything from apparel and makeup to toys and bananas all under the same roof?
While Target isn’t a discount retailer per se, its prices can be pretty competitive in certain categories. Shopping there might help you save money on some of the items you buy regularly.
But shopping at Target also isn’t for everyone. And if these signs apply to you, it means you shouldn’t keep shopping at your local Target.
1. You have less expensive options for buying groceries
Some people will tell you that shopping at Target saves them money on groceries. But before you settle for Target’s prices, check out the other options you have in your area. You may find there’s a cheaper way to put food on the table.
A warehouse club membership, for example, could give you access to a host of essential grocery items at a bulk discount. If you have a Costco or Sam’s Club nearby, you may find that buying groceries there saves you money even when you account for the cost of a membership (which starts at $65 a year for Costco or $50 for Sam’s Club).
Also, if you have an Aldi in your town, you may find it’s a less expensive source of groceries than Target — especially when you combine an Aldi run with a credit card that rewards you generously for supermarket purchases. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for groceries.
2. You’re not good at saying no to impulse purchases
You know the joke about a Target run costing $100 at a minimum, no matter what you’re buying? Yeah, it’s not all that funny — not when the average American owes $6,501 on their credit cards, according to Experian.
The problem with Target is that there’s so much temptation to make impulse purchases due to the store’s wide range of products. Also, many of Target’s products are overwhelmingly appealing — so much so that you may be tempted to buy them even if they aren’t particularly cheap.
If you’re trying to stick to a budget or pay off credit card debt, then you may want to steer clear of Target if you know you struggle to say no to unplanned purchases. If you buy your eggs and bread at a regular supermarket, you might occasionally pick up a bag of chips or a carton of ice cream on a whim — but there’s a difference between that and leaving Target with a shopping cart full of blankets and throw pillows.
3. You’re spending a lot of money on gas just to get there
There are nearly 2,000 Target locations throughout the U.S. But that doesn’t guarantee you live close to one. If you don’t, you may be spending an excessive amount of time on the road and an excessive amount of money on gas just to shop there. That’s silly when it may be easy enough to pivot to another store or order the products you need online.
Say your closest Target is 30 minutes away, but there’s a Walmart 10 minutes down the road. There’s no reason not to give Walmart a try, and you may find that its prices are more competitive than Target’s.
You should also know that Target offers free shipping on hundreds of thousands of items when you spend $35 or more, use your Target Circle 360 membership, or pay with a store credit or debit card. There’s no reason to drive all the way out to Target when you can instead save yourself the money on gas.
Plus, if you order your Target goods online instead of going to the store in person, you may be less likely to end up making impulse purchases.
It’s easy to see why so many people absolutely adore Target. But in these situations, avoiding the store may be your best move.
