Target Employees Reveal the 9 Best Buys for Your Money

04/05/2024

Target Shopping Cart

Who can resist Target? With its big aisles, exciting designer collaborations and everyday deals, it’s many people’s favorite big-box store. But with so many products to choose from, it can be hard to know what items are actually the best value.

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GOBankingRates talked to current and former Target employees and scoured the internet to see what the absolute best buys for your money are at the beloved bullseye retailer.

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Market Pantry Frozen Foods

Several employees raved about the quality and value of Target’s Market Pantry brand frozen foods. One employee specifically stated that the mac and cheese bites are both delicious and a delicious deal at $5.29 for an 8-ounce box.

Up & Up Products

Target’s Up & Up brand, which includes everything from paper goods to personal care items, consistently gets praise from employees for being just as good as name brands at a fraction of the cost. The household cleaners, medications and paper towels are all cited as being great buys.

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Grocery Staples

Former employees suggest stocking up on pantry staples like black beans, chickpeas, pasta, spices and peanut butter from Target’s grocery aisles thanks to frequent sales and the 5% off discount from the Target RedCard. The Market Pantry deluxe shells and cheese for $1.57 was called out as an amazing deal as was the 12-ounce package of Impossible meat at only $6.99.

For healthier groceries, workers point customers toward Target’s Good & Gather brand because the quality is excellent and the prices are reasonable. The dried fruit, frozen vegetables and other produce are highlighted as high quality and low priced compared to other stores.

Apparel on Clearance

While regular-priced clothing may not be considered the best deal, many employees advise shopping Target’s clearance racks for deeply discounted apparel and accessories like underwear as low as 75 cents. Certain core items like its Gilligan & O’Malley undershirts for men get special callouts too.

Holiday Merchandise

For holiday gifts, decorations, candy and other seasonal merchandise, numerous Target staff suggest waiting to buy until the holidays get closer and products go on sale or clearance. Using coupons from the Target Circle App alongside these discounts can lead to even bigger savings.

Over-the-Counter Medication

According to those in the know, the Up & Up brand’s selection of pain relievers, cold medicine and other OTC meds offers the same quality ingredients as pricier name brands. Combining the store’s frequent promotions and Cartwheel discounts makes Target one of the cheapest sources.

Gift Cards

Rather than physical gifts, some employees advise taking advantage of Target’s gift card promotions where you receive a future gift card worth $5, $10 or more when you buy select products like laundry detergent or personal care items meeting a minimum spend.

Beverages on Sale

For soda, beer, wine and other beverages, workers suggest waiting for Target’s frequently occurring promotions where you can get 3 or 4 packs for $10 or $12.

Home Goods and Furniture

While not necessarily the most frugal purchases, some employees suggest checking Target’s home department for affordable furniture, decor and other household items when you need to restock or redecorate. They emphasized again the need to check both in store and online in the sales sections for the best deals.

The Room Essentials brand offers inexpensive but decent quality basics, while their higher-end Magnolia Home and Opalhouse lines provide more stylish options at reasonable prices compared to other retailers. Taking advantage of sales and clearance events is key for getting the best deals in this department.

Other Deals

Other miscellaneous recommendations from Target employees include the Threshold brand’s highly-rated towels and bedding, Archer Farms snacks and frozen goods, the Method line of plant-based cleaners and buying meat only when it has been marked down by 50% toward expiration.

But most of all, the current and former employees said to always be on the lookout for promotions and clearance events. Also, if you’re a super regular Target customer, they shared that you should get both the Target Circle App and the Target RedCard, which offers a 5% discount on most purchases.