This morning I went to Target with the three littles, which is a crazy plan but I thought I was going to go crazier if I stayed in the house with them one more day. Plus, I had a prescription to pick up, and the automated voice system gets cranky if you don’t pick up within ten days.
I’m sooooo glad I went, because TOTAL SCOREAGE. I’m just showing one of each item, but in some cases I got two so I’d have one to keep and one for a future Swistle care package.
Four different cute notebooks, assorted sizes. Pack of cute notecards, stack of cute round paper, another pack of cute notecards, and gift tags. Re the gift tags: I already HAVE those gift tags, because Jess Loolu gave them to me back when we did the very first pay-it-forward package (on this blog, I mean, not, like, in the history of the world). And I love them, and I use them sparingly to make them last. So I’m happy to have another set, either to use myself or to give away in a future care package.
Box of recipe cards. Sheet of Elvis stickers. Another box of gift tags, this time solid-color.
Three more cute notebooks. I love notebooks.
Hello Kitty napkins, cute oval notecards, pretty stationery, pink argyle post-it cubes (center), and three more cute notebooks (because of love of same).
Princess napkins. Two slightly different (one is circles; the other is squares) sets of mod birthday candles. Pack of flower stickers (also got Hello Kitty and those little animals with huge eyes, but I must have forgotten to take a picture of those). Cute pens. Cute mechanical pencils. Cute non-mechanical pencils.
Arts and crafts stuff. A kit that makes custom bouncy balls. Assorted coloring kits of the “no mess” and “color with water” varieties. A…hover launcher. And a set of double-ended crayons.
Large birthday gift bags, birthday-themed tissue paper, and three rolls of wrapping paper (2 birthday, 1 all-purpose). This is particularly awesome timing because we have a birthday party to go to on Saturday. I like to do up the package, but not when it’s $4 for the gift bag and $1.50 for the tissue.
EVERYTHING was 75% off. It was MADNESS. I had to take both twins out of the cart so I’d have room for all the STUFF. Now I want to go to the other Target in our area so I can scrounge for more stuff.
Now. Sometimes when I have a huge score, there is complaining that other people’s Targets are not as good as mine. And that may very well be. In fact, the situation might be that you and I share a Target, and I am stripping it clean before you get there. But if this is not the case, I have a few tips to help you make your Target the very best Target it can be:
1. Go SOON. I did some HEAVY PICKING at my Target today, and there were two other women doing heavy picking as well. If you wait until Saturday, or even until Friday, there might be nothing left.
2. Go to the ENDCAPS. The endcaps are the ends of the aisles that face the walls rather than facing the main aisles. NEW stuff goes on the caps near the main aisles; CLEARANCE stuff goes in mixed heaps on the caps near the walls.
There might also be good clearance mixed in with the non-clearance stuff on the shelves, but it’s less likely.
3. Be patient and persistent. Sometimes a Target has NOTHING, and sometimes it has TONS. And sometimes, like in the case of my brown toile bird shower curtain, NO Targets had them, and then there was a big pile at one of the Targets I’d already checked. So I think sometimes they consolidate.
4. In fact, how about just going to Target every day? That’ll do it.
The endcap illustration, which just happens to be on pretty stationery, is my favorite part of this post.
Dear Target,
Please build a store near my house. I live four miles away from the largest outlet mall in this part of the US. Next to that would be perf.
Love,
Nowheymama
I have those gift tags (the solid ones) and I LOVE them! I need to go back and pick up some more. I too am a total end-cap hound.
Am I the only one that finds it hysterical that you bought paper napkins?
I hesitated to even read this post because every time you talk about Target I get the urge to push the kid out the door and hurry to Target. Actually, we just got home from Target and I looked and looked for “cute things that Swistle would buy that would make me want them too” but to no avail!
Thank-You for the tips on how to enhance my Target shopping experience maybe now I will be able to get all the cute stuff too.
I was in my Target last week and felt oh so righteous for resisting the clearance notebooks. Now I realize I was just stupid.
I so love your Target posts.
i am sitting at home twitching right now because i want to go to target so bad, but i’m baby sitting so i can’t….ugggg
I did go two days in a row and guess what? The first day, I bought out all the $1 Sesame Street stickers and the next day?
They had a TON more.
Like MAGIC.
Love those notebooks. I bought a few back when they were only 50% off and will have to go back, like today, for more.
Going SOON and on different days is a great tip. I bought out all of the clearance cloth napkins one day and a few days later there were more. Like TNG, said, MAGIC.
I never knew of the endcap pot of gold until about six months ago. Seriously.
Everything you bought is fabulous…. but my favorite thing is your drawing of the endcaps. heehee
I SAW those gift tags and was like, wait, she already HAS those! But then you explained. Let me just say that they were NOT 75% when I got them. Go you for finding a deal!
P.S. Have you ever looked at Costco for kiddie clothing? I was just there and they had these little Carter’s baby and toddler sundresses for $5. There was one in purple with white polka dots and two butterflies like pockets and a matching diaper cover. YES I BOUGHT IT. And I am not ashamed!
Thanks for the tips–I do need to start going more to get the good deals like you do!
It’s a good thing your target isn’t my target anymore, or I might be a little peeved at you for snaking all the good stuff.
Oh, I LOVE Target. Last year we scored with 90% off Easter candy. Bags of Dove, Snickers, etc were 19 cents. I want to go now…
“4. In fact, how about just going to Target every day? That’ll do it.”
5. Actually, go to more than one Target every day, because even Swistle mentioned going to another Target for more scoreage.
Long Live Target! I think I’ll go RIGHT NOW.
Hmmm…do you think that will hold up in court, maybe named the “Swistle Defence” — But, sir, I HAD to go to Target every day. Swistle told me! :) :) :) So so fun!
I really dig your drawing. Now I know how to find clearance at Target.
I realize that may sound like I am being sarcastic, but I am NOT. I had no idea to look on those back end things.
YOU, my dear, are the Queen of Target Scorage. I go to my Target and think “Why can’t I find cool stuff like Swistle?” In my head, you and Target are synonamous now.
I was going to go to Target tomorrow and now I realize I must go to slightly-further-away-but-far-less-traveled-Target so I can scoop up the goodness!
I wish I had a Target close to my house! All I have is Fred Meyer.
Argh. I want a Target so bad. Suck one, Wal Fart. And they’re putting in ANOTHER Wal Mart soon! I swear they have some kind of deal with the Town Fathers. Will you go to Target and GET ME some cute stuff if I send you a monthly check?
That does it.
Not only do I have an unholy love for notebooks and stickers, I need to finish out my 2-year-old niece’s special birthday bag of goodies – I know where I’ll be spending my lunch hour tomorrow and thank you for the heads up.
If I wasn’t already in pajamas, I’d be going there right now.
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why am i not at target RIGHT NOW?? i feel like my life would be better if i were.
Amanda- AH HA HA HA HA HA!! That IS funny!!
I have the owl notebook for note-taking at work. Everyone else uses the plain steno pads provided by The Workplace. I feel sassy and fashionable with my owl.
Um, can I have ten points, plz, for noticing the yellow chickie in the second picture?
(And is it wrong that I know his name is NOT Mr. Pickles, but that’s what I want to call him? Wait, is his name Mr. Pickles? I can’t remember.)
Remember how you saw my birdie shower curtain and became enamored of it and looked and looked and looked for it? That is how I feel about these ADORBS birdie notebooks. Also, actually, all the notebooks.
But I think you got all the Good Target Find juju, because I always look for things like this at mine, and can never seem to find them.
Clearly the baby jesus loves you more than me.
xoxo
I LOVE the first set of gift tags! Adorable! Hopefully Target will still have some left when I get there on the 25th.
You can take away 3 of my 10 points for getting so excited about a) birds and b) Mr. Pickles that I skipped right to the comments and THEN went back to see that you had already read my mind.
I mean, it’s like it’s amateur night at my house, or something.
FattyLumpa- TOTAL POINTS!! You are the first person to mention Mr. Pickles (who is, indeed, named Mr. Pickles).
I must have argyle Post-Its for Easter baskets this year! Are they in with stationery? School supplies?
Did they happen to have the kids scissors for $0.94 at your Target? There were a TON of them at mine the other day, and I almost bought ALL of them for the wee ones’ preschool. But I held back. And now I regret.
Oooh, I love Target. Also love the birdie notebooks. In real life, I’m sort of not a big fan of birds. But, pictures of birds? On notebooks and shower curtains? Love. Them. And the argyle post-it notes. I’m going to Target tomorrow!
Oh no. Want to go to target right now and can’t. Ahhhh! Love the target posts!
Leslie- They were near the office supplies. They also had some cute little mini post-its, and they had the extra-sticky kind.
Michelle- Yes, and they were even cheaper, but I forget how much. 44 cents? Something like that. They might have been a different kind, though.
THOSE ARE MY PENS AND I CANT FIND THEM ANYWHERE MAYBE CAUSE THEY ARE DISCONTINUED AND NOW ON CLEARANCE!!!!
I want to go shopping with you. But I can’t afford to go to Target as often as I would like to. Even if it’s a not-lots-of-clearance day I buy buy buy.
Wait, ELVIS STICKERS? Love how you just snuck that one in there. Heh.
Are you saying there is a preferred DAY OF THE WEEK for 75% off shopping? Is that day WEDNESDAY?
Great Target booty! You always get the best Target clearance stuff. The diagram was my favorite part, though. :)
I go to my Target with INTENTIONS of scouring the clearance stuff, but I find a meager selection and get discouraged, and also get sick of dealing with my 3yo and baby while I’m trying to get my shop on, and so I just give up. I need to go alone! I think I’m going to leave the house next time my husband’s off work, whenever that may be, ALONE for a hair cut and some Target therapy. Hopefully I’ll find as good a score as you did!
I did this same thing Tuesday night. My Target even had those Fiskar scissors that is on EVERY SINGLE school supply list I’ve ever seen for 49 cents. I bought a dozen pair. I’m hanging onto 6 pair for my kids’ supplies when they need them and sending 3 pair to each of my elementary school kids’ teachers for classroom spares.
Also a set of six magnet clips (strong magnets, not the wimpy crap) with cute designs for either $1.28 or 94 cents, I can’t remember. And markers and notebooks and pads, oh my!
Is it any wonder that my word verification right now is “exess”, which I am pronouncing as excess? But CLEARANCE, therefore NOT excess.
Tess- EVERY day is Preferred Target Day! I once saw online a thingie that showed which days Target marks down which departments, but all I mean is that when things DO get marked down, then you have to POUNCE or others will pounce first. When I posted about Valentine’s clearance, people were going, like, a week later and then being sad that there was nothing left.
I love all the little odds and ends things that Target has. And they are cute. I love notepads and stationery and stuff, and you got some great items there.
Now, just to get us a Target. It’s over an hour drive to get to any near us. Boo!
That is a GEAT haul! I love the purple notebook with the chandelier on it, but I bet Jess would fight me to the death for it.
I am going to Target tomorrow to get a new purse and I am GIDDY about it and will be SO SAD if it is not there.
The finace and I are moving into a bigger place so that the little one in my belly can have a bedroom when she/he comes out. There is a Target TWO MINUTES down the road, I am so very excited. Excellent score, Swistle!
Love Target and the bargins!!
I love Target. I am going there tomorrow. It’s probably my favorite store. Also, I love the gumball machine notebook. It’s cute.
I love that you drew a diagram!!! I think I love you.
however, that blog did NOTHING for my shopping restraint diet!! nothing! damnit! =)
Just followed your advice and went to the end aisles of target and got tissue paper packs from 34 cents each. Thanks!
oh my gosh swistle, you don’t even know me but i have the best news! well, i think it is. and i thought you would be happy too if i told you so guess what? my sister has four boys! and i love them! but that’s not what’s so exciting. she’s pregnant. and it’s a GIRL! and guess what’s even better? the doctor set up her required c-section ON MY BIRTHDAY!! is that not just the best thing ever? i can’t wait! now i need your opinion: since she will be born on my birthday, i think it’s only fitting that her favorite auntie pick the name, yes? what’s your current favorite girl name?
–kimberly
Kimberly- OMG SO EXCITING! Girls are GREAT! And on your birthday!
My favorite girl names right now are Beatrix, Florence, Clarissa, Genevieve, Clara, Cora, Georgia…I’m sure there must be more, but my circuits are blown by this happy news!
First off i think this is the first time i have posted in comments, total lurker. :)
As everyone has said…I would rather by at target as this very minute! You are by far the target queen!
I bought the bouncy ball maker (NOT on clearance though…booo) and kids LOVE it. I babysit a 7 year old girl and a 4 year old boy and it was literally an afternoon activity between making a couple, playing with them and then making some more. Definitely a good purchase.
Drool! I LOVE all of it and I will take one of each please! :-) I swoon over cute notebooks, post-its, stickers, pens, etc. Buying school supplies used to be one of my favorite events of the year.
Scooped up so much loot today and it was just a smidge over $20! I am going to post about it later over at http://www.thriftylikeme.com and I’ll be sure to give you all the props! thanks!
Heyyyy, I liked that wrapping paper so much (the green, turquoise, & pink) that I bought it before it was on sale! Now I am kicking myself. Should have waited. Doh.