Let’s face it, most of us never want to spend more money than necessary. I actually get a charge out of getting THE BEST POSSIBLE deal. Especially with big purchases. Okay, really any purchase. I am NOT a financial wizard by any means. I just have a few tools that help me finagle the web or ways to save with apps that really don’t take much of my time.

Target…oh Target you are my haven. Some people like going to the spa. I like going to Target alone. My new Target even has a Starbucks in it. Seriously this is a genius pairing. The only thing that would make it better is if there was a Mojito bar as well.

• If you’re not using the REDCARD you are insane. I personally use the debit version. You automatically save 5% on everything.
• The Target App is another must for the frugal Target shopper. Open the app’s Cartwell section and scan everything as you put it in your cart. In the time I’ve used my Target App I’ve redeemed 480 offers and have a lifetime savings of $429.37. That’s on top of the 5% for using my Redcard.
• Check for coupons in Cartwheel. The other day they had a deal for a $15 gift card when you spent $50 on certain items. It was a great day to stock up. Also look for deals if you opt to pick up vs shopping in store. If you spent $50 on household items and opted for pick up (therefore eliminitating any spontaneous Target purchases) they emailed you a $15 gift card. I put both of these gift cards in my Target Wallet and save them for another day, like Back to School Shopping Day.

Rakuten, formerly known as Ebates is another simple way to save, especially if you’re an internet shopper. The way it works is Rakuten receives commission from sending shoppers to the store’s website. In return they share part of their commission with you. There is an extension you can add to Chrome and when you’re shopping on the store’s website that offers a Cash Back deal. You receive your payout quarterly and they can just deposit it into your PayPal account. My lifetime’s savings at this point is over $350. PLUS oftentimes instead of opting in for the PayPal payout, you can choose to receive your payment as a gift card and they will increase your payout by 15%.

Honey is another great tool to have on your browser. When you’re shopping online and you go to checkout it will search for working coupon codes and try them all to find you the best deal. One word of caution, when you click on the Honey extension it will cancel the Rakuten offer. My trick is to get the coupon code then log in to Rakuten to get the cash back offer. If a store doesn’t offer a Rakuten deal not to worry, many are joining up with Honey and you can receive rewards in the form of gift cards. So far since joining Honey I’ve received $20 in Amazon gift cards. Obviously Rakuten has better payouts, but the way I look at it is I got $20 in Amazon money while getting coupon codes.

What are some of the ways you’ve found to save? Do you have a favorite app? Feel free to share in the comments below!