The only way I get out of Target without dropping $200 is to not get a cart or a basket. I only go for what I need and can carry in my hands to the cashier.

At Costco, I always get a cart and never a flat trailer thing. Once the cart is full, it's time to check out. Sometimes I throw in a book or clothes but even those impulse buys tend to get worn for years, so I get my money's worth. DH loves the random shirt or sweater and it keeps me out of the mall, which I loathe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I order occasionally from Target with my Redcard for free shipping. I order most household supplies from Walmart; pet food from Chewy, nearly nothing from Amazon because I refuse to pay for prime and shipping is now very slow without it. I previously ordered occasionally from Costco, usually wipes and diapers, but we are dropping the membership as they no longer have a credit card that lets you earn back the membership fee.

How much did the credit card pay back, our everyday credit card pays back 2%

We also have other rewards cards and use them for everyday things. Costco used to have a partnership with Amex and if you got an Amex through them you got an annual rewards check that (for us) more than covered the $50 membership fee. Because of this set up we rationalized that the membership was free. We also used to live a lot closer to a Costco (and now don't) and have decided we don't want to even spend one weekend day on a Costco run, dragging two kids along, and using leisure time for shopping when you can get items on subscription from Target or Walmart for just about the same price. Now the Costco card is MasterCard but as far as I know they don't issue them as they did in the past.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cut out trips to both Target and Costco. I get everything from Amazon, Google Express, or Instacart. The amount I save from not buying impulse stuff far outweighs what I pay for subscriptions and markups (probably just by cutting out one trip TBH). I know which sites have the best prices on what I buy as well.

I only go to an actual store for produce and sometimes meats, and that's a regular grocery store.

I feel like subscription fees are a funny way to manage impulse control.

The subscription fees have many benefits beyond this, but simply from a dollars standpoint, I spend less money. I didn't decide to sign up for Amazon Prime and Google Express to control impulses, I did it to save time and wasn't concerned about saving money. It was after my shopping habits changed I noticed how much less I was spending and how much stuff I thought I needed that I did not. Now I'm very good about not buying too much stuff, whether in a store or online, AND I don't have to schlep to the burbs to get what I do need.

I don't shop at Target unless I maybe need a last minute gift for a birthday party. I go to Costco once every 4 months or so for toilet paper/paper towels/tissues and get everything else at Wegmans or Amazon.

Anonymous wrote:Can none of you seriously resist the impulse to buy? Granted, if I don't go in with a list I drift expensively through the store, but if I have a list, unless I forgot to write something like "toilet paper," it's not going home with me.

Nope we can't. *zombie voice* Target....Target.....Target

Can none of you seriously resist the impulse to buy? Granted, if I don't go in with a list I drift expensively through the store, but if I have a list, unless I forgot to write something like "toilet paper," it's not going home with me.

Anonymous wrote:What are you guys getting at Amazon that's saving you money? I just went and checked and it seems like they have exorbitant mark ups on a lot of the items I like to buy. For example, the brand of cocoa powder I use is $7.99 at Wegmans but $15 at Amazon.

Thanks to this thread, I realized that even though I go to Target once a month for detergent, I always end up throwing in a bunch of seasonal items that I really don't need. Fall and Halloween aisles are particularly harrowing. I just went to Target's website and signed up for a monthly subscription of Tide, which is 20% off AND with free shipping. Thanks!

I'll be doing the same thing! Pretty excited about it lol

What are you guys getting at Amazon that's saving you money? I just went and checked and it seems like they have exorbitant mark ups on a lot of the items I like to buy. For example, the brand of cocoa powder I use is $7.99 at Wegmans but $15 at Amazon.

Thanks to this thread, I realized that even though I go to Target once a month for detergent, I always end up throwing in a bunch of seasonal items that I really don't need. Fall and Halloween aisles are particularly harrowing. I just went to Target's website and signed up for a monthly subscription of Tide, which is 20% off AND with free shipping. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:I order occasionally from Target with my Redcard for free shipping. I order most household supplies from Walmart; pet food from Chewy, nearly nothing from Amazon because I refuse to pay for prime and shipping is now very slow without it. I previously ordered occasionally from Costco, usually wipes and diapers, but we are dropping the membership as they no longer have a credit card that lets you earn back the membership fee.

How much did the credit card pay back, our everyday credit card pays back 2%

I'm the pp. The minimum at Walmart is not much. I just keep a running sticky note on my laptop of what we need and order as necessary. Shipping is pretty quick. They now have a version of prime but I won't do that. Yes, even with the 5% off Walmart is usually cheaper than Target, but not always so I price compare a lot.

I order occasionally from Target with my Redcard for free shipping. I order most household supplies from Walmart; pet food from Chewy, nearly nothing from Amazon because I refuse to pay for prime and shipping is now very slow without it. I previously ordered occasionally from Costco, usually wipes and diapers, but we are dropping the membership as they no longer have a credit card that lets you earn back the membership fee.

So to recap, people pay subscriptions for Costco and Amazon Prime,or meet minimum shipping fees at Amazon or Walmart?

And I have directly seen many items being more expensive at Amazon than Target, which really surprised me.

Anonymous wrote:I cut out trips to both Target and Costco. I get everything from Amazon, Google Express, or Instacart. The amount I save from not buying impulse stuff far outweighs what I pay for subscriptions and markups (probably just by cutting out one trip TBH). I know which sites have the best prices on what I buy as well.

I only go to an actual store for produce and sometimes meats, and that's a regular grocery store.

I feel like subscription fees are a funny way to manage impulse control.

My life would stay the same, because I can order the same stuff on Amazon instead of having to deal with that parking lot.

Anonymous wrote:Where do you shop now? I spend at least 100 bucks every time I go to target. Sticking to a list strategy has not helped!

I never, ever go to Target unless I have to. Seems like they have lasers at the door to cut holes in your pockets.

I buy in bulk at Costco to minimize going into stores. For non-bulk stuff, Dollar Tree is pretty amazing. Often whatever I need doesn't need to be there $14.99 version that Target sells.