Five things you shouldn't buy at Target — and five you should

Target isn't a store you simply shop at, it's a store you experience. The bright lights, the shiny floors, and the abundance of the color red flood the senses and make even the most shop-phobic folks get excited to buy everything from laundry detergent to jewelry. Some stores even sell hot pretzels, pizza, and Starbucks coffee.

We are honestly blessed with Target. With a clean and bright aesthetic, it’s a one-stop shop for supplies, snacks, home decor, clothing, and more. It's a gift and a curse, considering how easy it is to drop a hundred bucks or more during a casual visit. It's one of the few retailers that makes returns a breeze, with a 365-day window on Target-owned brands like Cat and Jack, All in Motion, Goodfellow, Casaluna, and Good and Gather, and a 90-day window on everything else. Aside from how welcoming the red dot retailer is, it's one of the easiest places to shop, especially with same-day pickup, and fairly quick shipping on everything from kitchen appliances to short pants.

However, some things are pretty overpriced and worth making another stop at a more appropriate retailer. Plus, the big box store is still limited in its selection, so you can also find better products at a better price at other stores. It's already hard enough to not spend $100 on your next Target run, and we want to make sure you're getting the best price on your products.

Here are the five items you should never buy at Target, and five you absolutely should.

What not to buy at Target

1. Bulk items

Shopping at Target is great, but the Costco and Sam's Club approach won’t render the same great results. For example, this 18-pack of candy bars breaks down to about $1.19 per bar. Buying a 30-pack of candy bars comes out to about just $1.07 per bar. Target is great for everyday shopping, but stocking up on essentials is best left to price clubs. The selection of bulk items also pales in comparison.

Shop Bulk Items at Costco

Shop Bulk Items at Sam's Club

2. Pet supplies

In a pinch, buying food for your cat, dog, or fish at Target works, but it’s certainly not worth the trip if you’re anywhere near a Petsmart or Petco. The selection at Target is better than you’d expect, but there’s far more variety at a dedicated pet store, especially if your fur baby needs a specialized kibble.

Shop Pet Supplies at Petsmart

Shop Pet Supplies at Petco

3. Art supplies

Buying school supplies at Target is a Proustian activity that crosses generations. If you’re an artist looking to stock up, you’re likely better off buying supplies at Michaels or Joann Fabrics. There, you’ll not only be able to buy professional-grade supplies but there’s far more in the way of selection there.

Shop Art Supplies at Michaels

Shop Art Supplies at Joann Fabrics

4. Books

When walking down the aisles of Target, you might find yourself asking the question, “Who the heck is buying books at Target?” If you're already there, picking up the latest must-read new releases is probably okay. But shopping for deeper pulls, not to mention, audiobooks, is best done at Amazon or smaller destinations like BookShop.org. The selection will be night and day, whether you're buying books for yourself or as a gift. We'd also recommend simply visiting your local independent bookstore if you're lucky to have one near you. Browsing through the aisles there may unlock some sense memories, and there's no beating that roast coffee/new book aroma.

Shop Books at Amazon

Shop Books at BookShop.org

5. Video Games

Target has a wide selection of popular electronics like televisions, cameras, and video games. For new releases, you're far better off shopping at Amazon, where many triple-A titles arrive at your doorstep on release day with Prime shipping. The abundance of sales on games for Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft simply can't compete with Amazon either.

Shop Video Games at Amazon

What to buy at Target

1. Housewares

There's a chance you've fallen prey to the siren song of the Target housewares section, and for good reason: it's amazing. Whether you're redecorating a bedroom, living room, or kitchen, Target offers a great selection of popular brands with plenty of collaborations including Hearth and Hand (made with Chip and Joanna Gaines from HGTV's Fixer Upper) and Opalhouse (made with designer Justina Blakeney's Jungelow label).

Shop Target Housewares

2. Clothes

Like its houseware brands, Target is renowned for collaborating with popular designers like Kendra Scott and Houston White. There's also an impressive selection of pajamas for everyone in the family. Speaking of family, your kids will love the formal and casual wear Target offers, including the graphic tees featuring their favorite TV shows, movies, and even video game brands.

Shop Target Clothing

3. Toys

The toy store isn't a thing anymore, but luckily, Target's toy aisles bring out the kid in everyone. They're stacked with everything from educational toys for budding minds, popular plushes like Squishmallows, action figures, collectibles, and of course, piles of Legos. Target is also a great destination to buy new and legacy board games like Monopoly and Cranium.

Shop Target Toys

4. Snacks and Grocery

Shopping at Target on an empty stomach can quickly become dangerous. Its Good and Gather grocery line including everything from tomato sauce to mac and cheese is both high quality and within any budget. Like Trader Joe's, Target's Good and Gather sings when it comes to snacks and frozen foods. The Good and Gather Frozen Pork Bao Buns will soon be your new lazy day go-to.

Shop Grocery at Target

5. Beauty Goods

Unlike your local pharmacy, making Target your one-stop beauty product shop is not just doable, but recommended. For one, Target beauty consultants scour the aisles to help pick the right products you're looking for, especially if you're new to the beauty space. Our Style Editor Anthony Palliparambil loves Target's Fine'ry label, which has inexpensive dupes of pricey brands like Tom Ford and Le Labo. Reviewed writer Amina Khan loves stocking up on products from the Byoma, NYX, Elf, and Pacifica brands, while also picking up everyday beauty essentials like cotton pads.

Shop Beauty at Target

Five reasons to shop with Target Circle

Tons of retailers have some sort of rewards program, but Target Circle is truly astounding, especially if you are a regular Target shopper. Here are five perks of shopping with Target Circle.

• 1. Earn 1% back on all Target purchases to redeem at a later date, or 5% when shopping with a Target Red card.
• 2. Tons of exclusive deals on Target.com and in stores.
• 3. Get 5% back on any single purchase on your birthday. This discount is valid 30 days from your birthday.
• 4. Earn Community Support Votes, which lets you pick where Target should local community causes Target should support.
• 5. Gain access to exclusive Target Partnership deals.

Using Target Circle couldn't be more simple, either. Simply shop normally, online or off. When checking out, use the phone number associated with your Target Circle account when paying. Alternatively, you can scan your receipt using your Target smartphone app. It's even more simple when you shop online. All you have to do is enter your receipt numbers within 14 days of your purchase to tap into Target Circle rewards.