Update 11/11/11: Target has added another benefit to the Target REDcard. You now get free shipping with no minimum purchase when you shop at Target.com and checkout using your REDcard.
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Regular Target shoppers may already know about the benefits you can receive when you open a Target REDcard, but if you don’t know about the different options and benefits available, we’ve spelled them out for you in this post.
You may have heard that you can save 5% on all Target purchases when you use your Target REDcard. But you also may have thought (as I – Laura – did), “Sure, that sounds great, but I don’t use credit cards.” Well, the Target REDcard has three different options:
- Target Credit Card
- Target Visa Credit Card
- Target Debit Card
Each of these options gets you an automatic 5% savings on all Target purchases (however, note that the Debit Card cannot be used online). The Target Debit Card draws right from your existing checking account just like a check. You can even use it to request up to $40 cash back at checkout without any fees.
Plus, you can enroll in the Take Charge of Education program to have 1% of your REDcard purchases made at Target and Target.com donated to a school of your choosing.
You can also get an extra 5% off (in addition to the automatic 5% savings) each time you use your REDcard to fill five prescriptions at Target Pharmacy when you enroll in Target Pharmacy Rewards.
Your turn: What type of Target REDcard do you have? How do you use your REDcard to maximize your savings at Target?
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About Laura Wales
I JUST signed up for my RedCard (the debit option) last week and have been LOVING the 5% benefit! Much better than any debit card rewards through my financial institution!
You can no longer apply for a Visa REDcard, only the Target REDcard, which is used only at Target. The Visa is accepted as payment but the option to sign up is no longer available.
Oh we LOVE the target debit card. 5% off everything but prescriptions. We haven’t run into anything that we can’t use it on. For groceries it gives you an extra bit off (when using coupons on sale items with the 5% off its like a triple whammy). Clearance you get it for more off and things that have tax it feels like it almost pays for the tax (I use this in thinking of buying electronics and other extra expenditures. We have one unused credit card so we opted for the debit card to stay away from debt.
We tell everyone to sign up for it. :-)
Are there advantages of a debit card over a gift card? Can I purchase a debit card as a gift? Are there any current promotions for gift cards?
Mary Ellen – These aren’t pre-paid cards, but regular credit and debit cards. I prefer the debit card since it takes the money right out of my account so I can’t rack up a big bill, then run out of money to pay it at month’s end – like can happen with a credit card.
So if you can’t use the target debit online, can you use it to get free shipping or is that only with the credit card option? Can you still get 5% off using the debit card online?
You can use the debit card to make online purchases. It is like any other debit card. You can use it in store or online. You get 5% off of purchases at Target.com and at Target stores, plus free shipping from Target.com.
I’m a little confused: Near the top of this page it says that the debit card can’t be used to make online purchases. Also, can I apply for the RedCard online, or do I have to go in to a store?