New Tips And Triks For You

Ready to save more money when you shop at your local Target store? Check out its Cartwheel app, which makes selecting offers and saving money a breeze.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

I love saving money, and I know I'm not alone. When Target first launched its Cartwheel program with Facebook, I thought it was interesting, but clumsy. The service wasn't integrated into the existing Target app, and it also wasn't easy to find through Facebook. There was no standalone app, which meant that you had to type in a Web address every time you wanted to select deals or redeem savings in the store.

Now there's a standalone app that lets you select up to 12 offers, and then easily get your discounts at the store. Here's how to get started:

Grab a copy of the Target Cartwheel app on your Android or iOS device.

Open the app and tap the Facebook log-in button. You will need to approve the access to your account, but you can skip allowing the app to post on your behalf. On your first log-in, you'll be presented with some samples of current offers. You can skip these and start looking at categories that matter to you by tapping the back button or menu button.

Target has added a search box for specific items and categories for casual browsing within the Cartwheel app. So far, I have had better luck with just browsing categories, since the search doesn't always find what I'm looking for.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

When you find an offer you want to save, press on it and then tap the Add button. Just be aware that you can only add 12 offers at once. However, if you try to add more than 12, you'll get a pop-up letting you know that an offer will have to be removed to add the current one.&nbspThere's also a details button on each offer, showing you how many times it has been redeemed globally, along with more information about the product (shown above). As you add offers, you may gain badges (like the ones Foursquare uses), which add a gamelike feel to the app.There's also a details button on each offer, showing you how many times it has been redeemed globally, along with more information about the product.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

Bonus tip: If you don't want to receive any notifications from the app, a simple check box in the Settings menu lets you toggle them off.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

Once you're done gathering your offers, tap on the "my Cartwheel" option from the menu and a bar code will be displayed, along with your list of offers. This is the bar code the cashier will need to scan at the register for your savings to be applied. The app also keeps track of your total savings in the Settings area.