I admit, I love Target.  It seems that some of our readers think I love Target a little bit TOO much!  Here is what one reader wrote: "I am an addict to your website, but I am a bit disturbed by your frequent use of Target stores. I understand that Target offers many great bargains, But I have also found that Wal-Mart has GREAT deals also. Garanimals clothing for $1.95, winter coats for $10-$15, Baby furniture on clearance, and the same 10% discount for damaged items that you can get at Target. I would love to see some more Wal-Mart ideas in your site. I myself prefer Wal-Mart for there prices on many everyday items." 

I do agree that Walmart's everyday prices ARE lower.  However, I would have to say for finding deals, Walmart can't compare to Target's clearance merchandise.  Target marks down its merchandise by 30, 50, 75 even 90 percent.  A regular Target shopper knows how to take advantage of these markdowns to find AWESOME deals (See our Article: Hitting the Bullseye:  Strategies for Shopping at Target).  But don't let ME tell you where to shop!  See what our other readers have to say about both stores, and comparison shop for yourself! -- Kim Danger
 

Pros

I also shop almost exclusively at Wal-Mart. From past experience, I know that Target doesn't have layaway. Wal-Mart does, so they get my Christmas business. Also, one of the greatest bargains I have ever found, is "Wal-Mart Connect". This is their internet service. I originally had AOL as my server, but I tried Wal-Mart because they offered unlimited service for less than half the price of AOL. During my setup, I found that it was designed by Compuserve. It is set up a lot like AOL, and offers the same exact service. Unlimited service, instant messenger, parental controls, up-to-the minute news, and up to 7 e-mail accounts for only  $9.95 a month, and I have to add that I don't get kicked off very much at all. I love it, and I have encouraged some of my friends to try it also. Their disk is available for free in their electronics department. -- Angelia from TN

I had just placed a car seat on layaway for our son at Wal-Mart that cost $49.95.  In the meantime I noticed that there were many other car seats in boxes and out of boxes in the layaway department and I wondered what was going to happen to them.  About two weeks later I was strolling through Wal-Mart near the baby section.  Out on a skid were the car seats that had been in the layaway section.  The ones that did not have boxes had been drastically marked down.  I assumed they had been used for a display and the box had gotten lost.  The one I picked up was similar to the one I had placed on layaway, but it had a clearance tag on it for $19.00.  Needless to say I grabbed it and took the other off of layaway.  If you see merchandise in the layaway section keep an eye out for clearance sales on it later. -- Jackie from PA

I shop at both Target and Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart generally has the best prices, but Target has a little bigger selection (unless you hit a Super Wal-Mart) so I think it pays to shop both places! I usually hit Wal-Mart the day after Christmas and can get some great bargains! -- Allison from NE

Walmart sells crackers comparable to Triscuits for $1.00 a box, plus many other comparable types of crackers, cookies, etc. They also will often beat the price of local supermarkets on their specials of the week. For example, if the supermarket has granola bars at buy one get one free at 2.99 a box, Walmart will sell the same brand for less than 1.49 a box, and combined with coupons, you can really save. They also have great clearance racks full of $1 or $2 clothes. -- Suzanne from NY

I am a true Wal-Mart fan! There's a Kroger just down the street from my home (where I used to do all of my shopping-Kroger brands of course!), but Wal-Mart milk was $1.89 regular price compared to $2.99 or more. Their prices seem to be consistently 25-40% or so below a typical  store (depending on the item). I have shopped Target, Meijer, KMART, and even Sam's Club, but I have found the best deals at Wal-Mart. -- Jamie from MI

The best thing I find about shopping at the Walmart Supercenter is they will honor all competitor ads running that week.  This really saves a lot of time driving around getting everything on sale at each store.  Between going through the circulars and using coupons, I consistently save around $20.00 on $100 to $150 bill.  Also, regarding health and beauty, Walmart's Equate brand is great!  Most of the stuff is half of other brands (even if you have coupon on a name brand item!) -- Gayellen from OK

I agree w/ your reader, Target is OK, but Walmart DOES seem to have better prices on nearly ANY & ALL items one is looking for.  I saw a laundry basket on wheels w/ canvas cloth basket for $19.99 @ Target saw EXACT SAME item @ Walmart for $16.99.  That was a yr ago, now I see both stores have brought their price down on this item.  Point is: Although, Kim YOU seem to love Target store, I will look around in Target, but purchase in Walmart.  Because very nearly every time. . . . I can find same or near SAME item @ competition Walmart store for $1,2,3,4,$5 cheaper.  -- Brenda from VA

I have been grocery shopping at Walmart for about 3 years now.  I buy a lot of their store brand (Equate and Great Value) products.  I buy their Cortisone cream, pain relievers, mouthwash, shave cream, juices (frozen and ready to drink), spaghetti sauce, pasta, and most condiments, and more.  I found that on average (and with my coupons), I spend between $15 and $25 less than I would at other grocery stores. -- Missy from GA

I just love Wal-Mart. If you don't mind shopping ahead you can get some great deals. At my local Wal-Mart last week they had a whole selection of summer/early fall clothes on sale for $5.00 or less. Granted, you had to paw through some pretty weird items to find the cute ones. But for that price it's worth spending a few minutes. -- Megan from NV

Wal-Mart will match any competitor's sale price- no questions asked. I do this often with Pampers, wipes, and pretty much any grocery items that might be on sale for cheaper somewhere else. Often you will be shopping there and they already have seen the other store's ad and will have marked their price cheaper to compensate. So, even if you didn't know it was cheaper somewhere else, you still get the deal! -- Stephanie from IN

Our family started shopping at Wal-Mart about six months ago and the savings has been tremendous. Our Wal-Mart honors all competitor's prices within a 35 mile radius. This includes: grocers, home improvement centers, pharmacies, craft stores, etc. With that in mind, we asked discount stores outside our local area to send us their circulars each week. Wal-Mart honors their prices and, unlike Sam's, accepts all manufacturers coupons. We have regularly walked out of the store with two very full grocery carts for under $80.00. Needless to say, we focus on loss leaders and use coupons. -- Kathryn from TX

I agree, I use Walmart much more than Target, the prices are better.  For diapers you can't beat White Cloud.  The super mega pack is $16 vs. $23 or more for name brands, and I think the quality is as good if not better.  They often sell diapers in a box that is bigger than the mega pack for the same price.  I think there is probably 112 diapers in it.  That's when I stock up.  -- Sandi from CT

I agree hands down to the statement that Walmart has better prices than Target.  But I also know that within a chain of stores (Target, Walmart, etc), sometimes EACH store has different prices based on the financial status of the city where it is located (How sneaky!) So you really have to watch your prices.  Our Target has pretty good clearance deals, but Walmart has the better prices overall.  For example a jumbo pack of Huggies at Target is about $19.30, where the same thing is $17.32 at Walmart.  Last month I was shopping at Walmart in the toddler clearance section, and had picked out quite a few shirts and pants marked $3.99 when the manager made an announcement over the speaker that all red tagged clearance items were an additional 50% off for that day!!!  So I knew it had been worth my trip for $2 clothes!!  
-- Amy from MN

I am a Wal-Mart LOVER!  Their store brand diapers and wipes are the cheapest I have found anywhere and they are just as good as the name brand kind. -- Faye from MD

I go to Walmart on Sunday mornings before 7:00. The clearance stuff must be marked down late Saturday night as I can almost always find a good bargain. I teach and I love Walmart's clothing as it is cheap enough that if it gets ruined at school, I am not out too much money. Also, they carry brands that used to be considered "top" brands when I was growing up, such as, "Bobbie Brooks". -- Janet from LA

I have tried all the name brand diapers and my 4 month daughter either brakes out in them or I just don't like them (Huggies...they are so hard and stiff).  We both ended up liking White Cloud diapers.  They are only sold at Walmart though.  The price is $8.66 I believe, verses like $12.00 for Huggies/pampers.  Pro: 100% leak proof, not one leak yet (my baby does not crawl yet though) Con: If you don't have a slender baby these diapers most likely will not fit. -- Emily from TX

I love Walmart for the fact that they match all competitor's prices.  I used to go to 2 or 3 stores grocery shopping to get good sales, but now on Sunday I just go through the newspaper ads & write down the things that I need, the prices, & store so that when I go through the checkout at Walmart I can tell the cashier.  Also, many times I have bought things that I had no idea were on sale somewhere else & the cashier just changed it for me.  I have saved so much money at Walmart!  I do like Sam's, but you need to watch prices because I have found many things which are cheaper at Walmart. -- Lindsay from UT

As I live by Walmart Home office I kind of have a prefer it too.  I think that the best advice I have is to use the craft dept there.   I don't think that Kmart or Target have them.  Walmart has great prices on cloth, craft supplies, and cute home decor in this department.  They of course have fabric remnants and usually have great fabric on sale racks for $1 a yard.  I always check there first before going to a hobby or craft store. -- Natalie from AK

I LOVE Walmart! Their prices are excellent- it's the cheapest place I've found to buy formula and diapers. I often buy clothes on clearance too. They also have in-store specials that aren't advertised. Once I was shopping and they announced a sale for a Jumbo box of Pampers for $8.00 - I almost ran to the display for that one. A lot of times they put clearance stuff in carts by the registers. I've seen brooms for $1.00, water bottles for .25 cents, etc. They have very good prices on cleaning and personal care items. I buy their Equate brand a lot. All of this, plus their prices on food at the Super Walmart cannot be beaten- it's worth the trip even if you have go a little out of your way. Not to mention getting your child's pictures done for $4.96 and having more than plenty for family and friends. I go at least once a week, and they're open 24 hours at some stores! -- Kelly from NY

Walmart has the best deal on bath bubbles!  It's called Kid Zone and sells for $.99 for 32 oz.  (They also have a bigger container that is also cheap but the scent I like - Cosmic Dreams - doesn't come in the bigger size).  One time I gave in and bought my son the Johnson and Johnson Buzz Lightyear bubbles.  It's price was $2.98 for 16 oz.!  Now I just fill up the Buzz bottle with the Cosmic Dreams bubbles! -- Maren from GA

If you are charged a higher price than what was marked on the package of something you bought, Walmart will give you the difference and a "bounty" which is five times the amount you were supposed to be charged.  It's definitely worth the extra trip to the store to point out the mistake. -- Jenny from MI

Walmart and Super Walmart will price-match any advertised price on groceries ... even another store's "store brand" against their "store brand".  Just take in the add and show it to the checker.  This way you can get all the sales in the weekly ads without going from store to store. -- Melanie from NV

I Love Walmart! I have two kids in diapers and their Walmart Diapers White Cloud are the best! I have used them for both girls (2 years & 4 months) and never had a problem with them. They are much cheaper than Huggies or Pampers, but they work for my kids. You can also buy formula there much cheaper than at the grocery stores. I buy Carnation and it is at least $1.00-2.00 cheaper, plus they have the larger cans so you can stock up on them! The Huggies diaper wipes are $2.49 compared to $2.99 at the grocery store also. On another note, we have the Super Walmart which has the grocery store also in it. It is cheaper than any grocery store by far and they are just as fresh! They also take coupons and match all other store prices. My question is why shop anywhere else???? -- Melanie from NV

Wal-Mart Savings: Hit the clearance aisle(s), especially if you don't mind scratch and dent items.  We once bought a perfectly good electric skillet (it had a chip on one handle) for less than $10.00!! -- Paula from TN

Cons

I also shop at Walmart and have found deals. However I would not recommend the Garanimals clothing, because they do not last. A lot of people would argue that they real cheap. But if you have more then one child or if you trade clothes to consignment stores for credit or sell them on eBay. This clothes will not hold up to any wear at all. I find that other brands from Kmart or Target do wear better and I am almost always able to trade or sell them when my kids out grow them. -- April from CO

I LOVE Target!!! They are FAR SUPERIOR to those junky and crowded WalMart stores.  Please don't stop your specials for Target!!!!  THANKS! -- Heidi from MN

Regarding Wal-Mart. Several things come to mind. Garanimals in no way compares to the quality of clothing you get at Target. And Target is still cheaper when you hit a good clearance. Wal-Mart clothes are just a lot "cheaper" made than Target. Last year, as many of you did also, I got winter coats for next year for $6.97. That's 1/2 of what she's referring to at Wal-Mart. As for beauty items and such. A lot of times Wal-Mart is cheaper there. In addition for anyone that's not aware Sam's is one of the Wal-Mart companies which you've done a lot of articles on. The thing about Target is that regularly things go 75% to 90%. Wal-Mart doesn't do that type of thing as often. -- Valerie from TN

With regard to the reader who is a "Walmart Shopper", I have had very few good experiences with Walmart in the last few years.  I often don't have time to shop at Walmart because I have to stand in line for at least 30 minutes each time I go.  There are usually about five registers open though there are about 50 registers across the front of the store and each line is backed up into the main aisle.  Customer service is usually the same or even worse.  The prices may be better on some things but is it really worth the time and hassle? -- Laura from TX

Wal-Mart doesn't double or triple coupons, honor "Buy one get one free" ads, or sales ads which give a percentage reduction rather than an actual price. I've also heard from friends that some Wal-Mart stores no longer accept checks. Rather than take a check, they do an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) at the register. -- Kathryn from TX

In response to the reader who suggested more support of Walmart along with the Target information: You may not be aware of the fact that Walmart sells bullets.  As a mother and concerned citizen I am not going to give any of my money to a store that sells bullets.  For more information on this see Michael Moore's latest movie "Bowling for Columbine." -- Shelle from MN