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As promised, I made a trip to Target yesterday to do a little Summer Clearance (aka Mini Seasonal) Hunting. And also to get a pool because it’s insanely hot out. We also went to CVS this morning and found some goodies there, so I wanted to share those too. But let’s start with Target.
Target:
A few people had asked where in the store you find the Summer Clearance items. Right now, at my store, it’s near where the school supplies are being put out and close to where the patio furniture was. I am guessing it’s like this most everywhere?
I should also mention that the seasonal clearances (Christmas, Valentine’s Easter, Summer, Halloween, etc.) are NOT tagged with the normal red clearance stickers. They follow an automatic markdown of 30% / 50% / 70% / 90% off. Once things get to 70% and 90% off the clearance section starts to look super empty and you begin to wonder how on earth people can find anything good to buy. Well, let me tell you. You know what’s on sale (by checking out the clearance area while it’s still nice and full) and you can usually track down items which have been misplaced in the regular aisles. Since the things aren’t marked, no one (but you) will know they are on sale! And if you are unsure if they are part of the clearance or not, take them to a scanner and see. Scanners are a seasonal clearance shoppers BFF!
Coolers are a perfect example of things that will end up in the regular aisle when 90% off happens (which should be next week sometime).
I have enough Target trays, bowls, beverage tubs, etc. to last me a lifetime, but if I found tubs at 90%, I’d probably still brag one. They are nice for storing kids toys.
I use those plastic beverage dispensers at the bottom for bubbles. I don’t know if you can see them in an of the pictures, but Target always have a great glass beverage dispenser during their summer clearance. It’s $19.99 regular price, but only $1.99 when things get to 90% off. These easily get mixed in with the regular glass dispensers in the normal aisles, but you can tell by the sticker on the bottom that says “Mini Seasonal” that it’s on sale.
The Superhero craft items in the front display are part of the clearance. The superhero toys on the left in the back are NOT. This is why scanning is good!
Unlike previous years, the Glad containers are bags are NOT part of the clearance. BOO! the salad containers, cups, towels, ARE part of the clearance even though they aren’t marked.
Beach toys also get easily mixed up in the regular aisles, so if you are hoping to score some at 90% off, next time you go, get familiar with what’s on sale so you know what to look for next week!
My Target is seriously still stocked full of stuff! I can only hope it’s like this when things get to 70% off. I *might* go back today because I hear that the Summer Clearance is now at 50% off and I want to get some Superhero Towels if they still have them. But other than those, I am holding off till 70% off since I don’t need anything!
CVS:
For some reason I decided to drag the boys to CVS after we went to the library this morning. And it turns out it was a great idea!
We stumbled upon these Crayola Color Explosion sets for 75% off. They were originally $8.29 and were on clearance for $2.07. I was ust going to pick up one of each, but then I saw a sign that said if you spent $10 on any Crayola products, you got $3 in Extra Car bucks. So I picked up 5, which totaled $10.35 and got $3 back in ECB’s! That’s $1.47 per kit. These will be perfect for friend gifts, a rainy day, etc.
I was SO excited to find Electro (Neon) Baby Lips at CVS too! They are $3.99 each, but again, if you spent $10 on any Maybelline products, you got $3 back in ECB’s. My CVS actually had all the shades, but I restricted myself to only 3!
My most exciting find of the day was Skinnygirl SkinnyMini’s! I have been on the hunt for these every since Jen posted about them and total was my lucky day.
I also saw some tags for 50% off Lemon Drop EOS Lip Balm, but they were out of it. I will look next time I go to a different CVS for sure though.
Have you gotten any great clearance deals lately? Know of any great sales – in store or online? Please share!! And are you planning on headed to Target to hunt for 90% off deals? I can’t wait to hear!
I’ll definitely make a swing by our Target next week when we head to town! Hopefully I can snag a few towels, if there are any left, since we use beach towels for the bath! Other than that, if they have the adult camp chairs on clearance this year, a few of those, a small cooler and maybe a cheap inflatable water toy — sprinkler, pool, etc. I love to put stuff away for the next year!
ok I will have to make sure I plan a Target trip without helpers next week 😉 Oh and I may have to go to CVS tonight. I’ll see how its going here and make a plan.
Went to Target by my work yesterday and the coolers weren’t even marked to 30% yet. I really need one so I’m hoping they’re still there when 70-90% rolls around! So funny that I was thinking of you while browsing my Target. I never used to do the clearance stalking before…you changed me! lol! It could be the start of a book…My Shopping life was changed forever by someone I’ve never met…. hahaha
I went to Target yesterday (mainly to look for Twinkies—priorities!) and kind of looked around. But everything I saw had red clearance stickers on them…these are not the things that get discounted right? You need to look for things that say “sale” or “price cut” and watch those items? I did see one of those waffle sticks makers on sale for $9.98 which I think is half price. I’d get one if the price goes lowe (but it was red stickered).
do those neon babylips actually show up as that color on your lips? i’ve seen them but I wasn’t a fan of having blue or green lips! lol
I went to Target this morning — 50% off summer. I got Ziploc gallon freezer bags for $1.50. Beach chairs for $5 each and tilting beach umbrella for $9. I was thrilled!
@Erin: oops, they were Glad bags not Ziploc.
I was just checking my local target clearance today too, not so much stuff. Great finds at CVS, I am addicted to baby lips! I need to find those skinny girl minis!! How cute!!!
My Target was at 50% off today. I tried to limit myself to what I knew we would for sure use/what was a pretty good deal. I got a cookie mix for $.99, a kiddie golf club set for $5, and a toy watering can I had been eying all season for $1. I would have waited for the watering can to go to 70%, but it was the last one! I am hoping to go back and pick up more stuff when it gets to 70, or even 90 if I should be so lucky! 🙂
Can’t wait to leave Alaska so I’ll be able to shop at Target & CVS again. Super bummed I’m missing these sales!
Loved this post! Lots of helpful tidbits! I love Target and have to get my Tar-J fix every coupld of weeks.
SkinnyGirl Mini’s! No friggen way! AWESOME!
Ginny
http://www.buttergirldiaries.com
Hi! Great job scoping out the deals at target! I definitely going to have to make a trip I the next few days! I totally grabbed the EOS lemon drop the other day at CVS! Love! I didn’t even know it was half off until I was scanning things! I need to see if I can find it at another CVS. I hope this doesn’t mean they are discontinuing this flavor?! I do think I need to go back to get those skinny girl minis, though.
~Kristin
Oooooo! I need those Baby Lips!!
do you know why Target doesn’t mark the clearance items?!
Thanks for the info on the Target clearance. I need to stop there soon.
The Body Shop has an awesome clearance sale. I have gotten some steals at children’s place and p.s. aeropastle. I went to CVS here close to my home. Not too many finds but will try some other locations.
In your posts about Target, I’m always amazed with the size of the inventory. At my local Target people buy almost everything at 30% off. What is wrong with the people in my town?! For post-Christmas and other bigger holidays, I’ll drive one town over to find better deals.
I love shopping at our local Target. This month I was able to get several summer clothing items on sale and save 5% with my Red Card Debit .
Thank you for the info! I’ve been stalking target this past week, knowing that they are only at 30% I will hold off until next week! I went one year and got $300 dollars with of towels, coolers, plates, blankets, and other fun summer items for my sisters and mom and payed only $100! It was my biggest high!
I went to Target yesterday and the day before and NONE of the summer stuff was on clearance yet.