Long time readers will know that I am absolutely obsessed with Target’s semi-annual toy clearance. Every January and July, I take to the toy aisles of Target, ready to furnish gifts for Christmas, Easter, Birthday, and Arbor Day celebrations at 50, sometimes 70%, off.

The drill is simple. The sales start at the beginning of the month and last the entirety. January tends to end a little more sharply than July, which can sometimes go well into August.

Except this is 2020 and nothing goes according to plan, so why start now?

Tis my tradition to do a quick sweep of the toy section whilst enjoying a Christmas clearance hunt. Sometimes stocking stuffer type gewgaws are still in the toy section but sporting that 50% off, and sometimes the clearance has begun a little early, with a few smatterings of 15% off here and there.

But this year? This year Target went full 30% off BEFORE WE EVEN HIT JANUARY.

And I didn’t get anything. Because let us be real, I’m not out here paying 30% for Toy Clearance. Not when I can remember those halcyon days where we would routinely get up to 90% off. I just can’t make 30% happen for anything that is not LEGO.

So, I left Target with some Christmas clearance and nothing else, thinking I would try again a little later in the month. With the rumpus, I haven’t been going to the store as often. Because. You know. Rumpus.

I decided to stop in today, and the clearance fairies rewarded me! A ton of stuff, mostly in the 50%-70% off range, with a few 30%s sprinkled throughout.

One quick word of advice before we hop into it: In these clearance climates, I would grab anything you really want if you see it at 50%. Only consider waiting for a drop if there is a large inventory. But with so much at 70% off, there might not be another drop…

The one thing I do love about this new clearance method is that they put the new price on the label for you. Less time doing math, more time deal hunting!

If there is something you really want but the price isn’t right, check online! The store will price match for you! All you have to do is take the item to guest services and show them the online price. This FurReal Mama Jose Kangaroo is full price ($69.99) in the store, but 50% off ($34.99) online!

Make sure you’re reading all the info in yellow, as sometimes the discounts don’t match up. This Baby Shark toy is 50% off, at $2.49. The smaller label is correct, but the larger one mistakenly says 30%.

$3.99 for Driven automobiles.

Dolls dressed as penguins, reindeers, and elves for $4.99 each.

I got the last one! Ya da da da da da da, bringing this baby home.

All manner of slime and slime related things from 30%-70% off. Be sure to price check!

Same with Play-Doh. I loved these little sets for $1.49.

This troll doll has interactive hair. Don’t ask me how. $29.99.

Make your own entirely too large bow for 50% off, $12.49.

Nice try, game. I’ve seen how this ends.

$59.99 for this Hot Wheels set that feels as big as an actual speedway.

This gift feels too soon, even if it is 2021.

This life size Water Nokk was originally $149.99. It is now $74.99. It lights up on the inside and is bigger than my two year old…

These Poopsie Slime surprises were 70% off. I couldn’t price check them because there was someone trying to shop and I was trying to take pictures and it felt weird to keep reaching past this nice lady and her singing child…Oh good news, I just remembered the internet exists. So I looked them up, and they’re $9.99 normally (for real???), which should make them $2.99. Thanks, internet!

Fingerlings of many species down to $4.49, 70% off.

Originally $8.69, these Unicorn blind bag things I have never seen before in my life and suspect I will never see again, are $2.61.

I just liked this picture. I was accidentally artsy.

$4.49 for Princess Dress Up.

And only $5.99 for a Baby Shark shape sorter submarine. I have so many questions. Why are the sharks in a submarine? They’re sharks. Wouldn’t the submarine be harmful to them?

Speaking of babies, start the coffee addiction early for only $2.99.

Another holiday season, another limited edition Shopkins doll! $5.99.

Okay, Target almost got me with this one. Chelsea’s Soccer Playset was 50% off, $12.59.

Lots of Barbie styles for 50% off.

But I held out for the 70% off! For $5.99, this is a great addition to the gift closet.

Okay, these blind boxes (blind starfish?) are totally cute…But what is in them?? Mermaids? There were no pictures on the back and I didn’t want to risk it at 30% off. $3.49.

Gaggles of action figures for 70% off.

This fly wheels thing is $2.99. Don’t know what it does, but it sure is a good deal!

I snagged a bunch of these Hairstyle Sets for the gift closet. $2.99 a piece.

There were so many toys I have never heard of or seen in my life. It was like a fever dream. This doll is $2.99.

This cute Lori set was $4.79, originally $15.99. Why didn’t I get this?

Paw Patrol clearance galore! The twins were down to $4.49.

This vehicle set was 50% off, $17.49.

Blind boxes were $1.99.

There were also some collectibles that would up in the toy clearance. Like this Transformer and this X-Men set, both originally $49.99, down to $14.99.

What are these? Are they real? Is this all in my head?? $3.99.

Don’t forget the outdoor toys! Jump ropes were only $3.50.

This Dude Perfect Nerf set was 50% off, so $9.99.

Look at these cute toss games for 70% off! I grabbed the flamingo one for $7.50.

The Queen of Arendelle was $9.99.

I love mystery things for little dudes. I feel like the ladies get most of the blind bag love. These were $4.99.

My small, but mighty haul.

• Flamingo Toss-$7.50. Originally $24.99.
• Hairstyle Sets (4)-$11.96. Originally $39.96.
• Barbie Noodle Bar-$5.99. Originally $19.99.
• Paw Patrol Blind Box-$1.99. Originally $3.99.
• Lucky Fortune Blind Box-$1.49. Originally $4.99.
• T.O.T.S Blind Bag-$3.99. Originally $7.99.

                                      Total Spent: $32.92

                                     Original Retail Price: $101.91

                                     Total Saved: $68.99

Considering the crazy year it has been for clearance, I am not mad about this at all! I’ve got Easter gifts well in hand now! Did you find anything great during January clearance? Let’s see it!

Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey three years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!

Y’all. Target has fully betrayed me.

It started last year, with the advertising of “Holiday Dash Clearance.” When people who never bothered with clearance sales were suddenly alerted to the trove of treasures they were missing out on. Now, I cannot be mad that more people get great deals. There’s deals enough for all of us. Come get your deals, people!

But the problem was, these inexperienced deal chasers didn’t know that 30% is just the starting point for negotiations. They didn’t know that the real good dealing happens after 50%. So they scrambled to buy everything at 30% off, and because things were flying off the shelves at 30%, Target had little incentive to move up to higher discounts.

This year, Target advertised their sales once again. But this time, they started earlier than EVER. It was 30% off on Christmas Eve! Now, on New Year’s, we’re seeing 50% off for food and 70% off merchandise. Crazy fast! And the way my local stores were looking, we won’t hit 90% off at all. Great for Target, not as great for me.

But there are still deals to be found, while company is true. So let’s get to it!

50% off select Hearth & Hand Merchandise.

These playing cards would be a great White Elephant gift, or stocking stuffer.

The vibe this Christmas clearance. NONE of my stores had any wrapping paper.

Wreaths were running $3 to $5 with the discount.

Lots of fun Bullseye’s Playground type gifts were marked 50% off, but actually scanning at 70%. These pencils were $.30.

Decor and decorations like little trees and pillows as low as $3!

$2.50 for these ornaments.

Great deal! $5 for Wondershop craft kits that can be used all year round!

Be sure to check the Beauty department for gift sets, like this fun scrunchie set. They might be in holiday clearance, but they might also be in their regular department.

Or they might be on a random table between the wine and checkout. Life’s a journey.

$5 for all these nail polishes. It comes out to $.50 a polish. Stocking stuffers! Birthday treat bags!

Troll and Frozen Teapot sets were down to $7.

A bow and ribbon set for $2.50.

Okay, so I love when Target does these kinds of gift sets because we all have like, three uncles we never know what to buy for Christmas, right? There was a flashlight set for $7.50, A Multi-Tool for $8.50. They also had a cool old time looking mug with pliers inside for $5.

Festive LED lights for $5.

All the bags! As low as $.75.

This cute 3D puzzle was $3, but scanning at $.90!

I love Stocking Stuffers that can also easily double as Easter Basket stuffers.

Game sets like Pachisi and Backgammon were 50% off at $5. Some of these games are also available on the website, but for $8.

This Llama Stainless Steel cookie cutter is $.50. They also had Gnomes!

Ain’t no shame in eating Christmas cookies on New Year’s.

Build Your Own Gingerbread (but actually paper) Dollhouse is $5.

Y’all help me out. Why is this moose blue? Is there a Christmas moose situation I am unaware of? Anyway, he was $.90 and now I am thinking I should have gotten one because if there is no blue moose tradition on Christmas, there should be. I could start the trend!

Ornaments as low as $3, though the pickings were slim.

They are wasting NO time getting the Valentine’s set up going.

I grabbed this coloring book for 70% off at $.90.

Also these cheap Skittles.

50% off holiday hand sanitizer! $2 a bottle to have clean, Christmasy smelling hands!

Be sure to check ALL the departments. Baby Christmas Clearance was surprisingly hopping. This cute Mickey Christmas set was down to $17.

I don’t have a baby anymore (she’s full on toddler) but that reindeer teether for $11.04? Get out of here…

Baby outfits and jammies starting at $7.

More Christmasy scented cleaning discounts.

$.75 for these mini sanitizers. I bought these when there was a 30% off Cartwheel deal during the 56 day Black Friday event and can confirm that the Sugared Lemon smells amazing.

All of the holiday clothes were hidden away in a random corner of the Women’s department. Pajamas and festive shirts as low as $2.

$7.50 for this adorable dog treat advent calendar.

These blankets don’t scream Christmas, making them a good year round gift for anyone who likes being warm and cozy. $14.

Even though pickings were a little slim, there were still some merry deals to be had. Have you been to Christmas clearance at your Target yet? Think your store will get to 90% off? Any great scores? Tell me about them in the comments!

Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey six years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!