Target is a mystical land that I almost always end up getting lost in. There is no such thing as a quick trip to Target. I stay there for hours. I gaze at the home section, fantasizing about the day I can fill up my apartment with festive rugs and throw pillows. I peruse among the children's section, imagining my four-year-old cousin, Elizabeth, in some of the sweet outfits. The gist is that Target is like Narnia to me. I think I've been there for a few minutes, but, in reality, I've been there for hours.
Target isn't all roses and adorable mugs. It can also be like Mordor, daunting and overwhelming. So if you're deciding on whether or not to journey to Target, here are the pros and cons to help with this life changing choice.
Pro: It's aesthetically pleasing
I mean seriously! The way the red and white compliment each other, the throw pillows, the seasonal sheets, the cute little baby clothes! I go into Target and end up spending so much time gawking at how beautiful and cohesive everything is (Have you seen their home section?!) that I forget what I even came there for. You don't get that kind of satisfying aesthetic at Walmart! It always makes me happy to see how everything flows in Target.
Con: You buy WAY more than you planned to
I always go to Target with a list and still manage walking out of there with things I don't need. I bought throw pillows one time. I DIDN'T NEED THROW PILLOWS. I bought Christmas lights the other day because they were $2.99. You lose all sense once you step through those sliding double doors and feel the whoosh of warm air brushing the winter weather off your coat. You think you're in there just to buy a Birthday card and a scented plug in, but that aesthetically pleasing floor plan I previously mentioned sucks you in. You end up in the clothes section, looking at leather jackets, or the food section, browsing for their fruit snacks. Then you stand in the checkout, the haze wearing off, and you wonder if you REALLY need that Christmas themed bath rug. That's when Target whispers,
Pro: It's a one-stop shop
It's like Walmart except for better quality. Everything you need is there-- pork chops, medications, highlighter, good quality lipstick, hot dog costume!
Con: You spend way more money than you thought
Do you remember that Christmas themed bathroom rug you treated yourself to? You allowed Target to lull you into the idea that you DO need that Christmas rug for the guests who need to use your bathroom to admire. So you bought it, among MANY other things you had somehow convinced yourself that you needed, and you hear that ping of your phone that announces that you have overdrawn your checking account.
Pro: Better quality
The quality of Target does not compare to any other mega shopping center. I got all of my college decor from Target and it still looks like new three years later. I got a mattress pad from Walmart my freshman year and it was so uncomfortable to sleep on. It was like I was sleeping on a graham cracker. So I bought a memory foam mattress pad from Target and it's like sleeping on a cloud.
Con: You have to leave the house
Who wants to venture out and deal with all those crappy drivers? NOT ME.
So after reviewing all the pros and cons of going to Target, you need to ask yourself one vital question: Is it worth it?