There's nothing more satisfying than finishing up your holiday shopping for friends and family, looking back at the receipts and realizing exactly how much you saved. Though Black Friday has come and gone, Cyber Monday invites a whole new slew of deals for you to shop smart on a budget while grabbing rave-worthy gifts for your friends and family.
Target has an especially competitive lineup of Cyber Monday deals, including major discounts on electronics, beauty products, and cookingware. We've compiled a list of the five hidden gems you might have missed at this sale-savvy retailer — suggestions we're sure would make perfect holiday gifts at a range of price points.
Don't wait until the last few days before the holidays when stores are jam-packed, items are full price, and stock is limited. Your best bet is to grab these items now, while they're at the lowest prices you'll see all year.
Settlers of Catan Board Game - $25.49
Settlers of Catan is one of the most bestselling strategy board games of all time, according to company data provided to NPR. And if you've played it for yourself, it's no surprise why. Each game is different depending on the amount of players, who you're playing with, and a little bit of luck. For the friends and family in your life who haven't tried it, or maybe don't have their own copy, you can grab the base game from Target right now for just $25.49, shaving $18.50 off its list price of $43.99.
It's a simple game to learn, dealing primarily with turn-based strategy and bartering among players. The goal of the game is to reach 10 or more victory points before anyone else, which you get from creating villages and cities with resource cards you randomly receive each turn based on other players' dice rolls. I won't get into the nitty gritty of it all, but it's a modern classic beloved among board game fans, and the ideal game to pull out for family gatherings on cold December nights (just don't blame us when things inevitably get heated).
The best part of this deal is that Target is also currently offering a Buy 2, Get 1 Free promotion on a variety of other board games in their collection, which means you can pair the base game with a couple expansion packs for an incredibly fair price.
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer and Hot Air Brush - $32.99
Let me assure you, this one-step hair dryer, volumizer and brush can truly do it all. Speaking from personal experience, I use this product religiously for a quick blow-out every morning, and it works wonders. You can grab this brush from Target for $32.99 — a 40% off discount from its list price of $54.99, which is a steal when you consider the money you'll save the lucky recipient from skipping trips to the salon.
This Revlon brush leaves hair feeling smooth and silky, eliminating frizz and hair damage that's par for the course with a regular blow-dryer. Plus, if you're impatient like me, this device gets the job done in minutes — it offers three different heat settings to get your hair dry at rapid speed.
For my fellow ladies out there with curtain bangs, it's the perfect device to seamlessly swoop your front layers to the side with ease. The blend of brush and blow dryer in one makes it so you can shape and style while removing moisture from your hair. Plus, there's a built-in cooling option so you can flexibilly style according to your hair type.
Keurig K-Iced Plus Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker with Iced Coffee Option - $64.99
If you're stumped on what to get your kid in college, look no further. Sleepless nights preparing for exams are a whole lot easier with your own coffee maker. But Keurigs are especially great because they do all of the work for you, aside from turning it on, adding water, and placing a pod with the roast of your choice into the machine. These are also just a great kitchen addition to any home for those days where you only want a single serving of coffee rather than the whole pot.
What sets the Keurig K-Iced Plus machine apart from other models is that you can even brew coffee over ice directly from the machine. The brewer will auto-adjust the temperature, starting hot to extract the full flavor, and then cooling down significantly to minimize ice meltage so your coffee never tastes watered down. It's a quintessential multi-use machine for both hot and cold beverages, and like other Keurigs, it comes with options for three brewing sizes — 8, 10, and 12oz.
Plus, at just 5" wide, it can easily fit on any countertop or in the confines of a dorm room. You can pick up a Keurig K-Iced Plus Single-Serve Coffee Maker from Target for $64.99 right now — a 50% off markdown from its $129.99 list price. You'll save $65.00 on this purchase, but the recipient of this gift will save hundreds from switching to at-home brews instead of coffee shop excursions. Take this gift a step further by pairing it with a box of starter pods: Target is selling La Colombe pods in medium and dark roasts right now for 26% off.
Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Earbuds - $79.99
For the music lovers in your life, Target's deal on the Beats Studio Buds is pretty unbeatable. These ear buds usually sell for $149.99, but right now you can get them for just $79.99. At a hefty 47% markdown from their retail value, it's well worth it to pick these up while the sale lasts. These buds are an excellent alternative to AirPods if you're in the market for a more cost effective option.
Like modern AirPods, the Beats Studio Buds offer noise reduction technology that allows users to toggle between Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency modes to control how much they can hear of the outside world. Three different eartip sizes are provided with purchase to ensure a comfortable fit that also optimizes acoustic delivery.
These ear buds actually provide even more playtime than standard AirPods, allowing users to keep jamming for up to eight hours with noise reduction features turned off, or five hours when these features are being utilized. When plugged into the pocket-sized charging case, these buds can keep going for a maximum of 24 hours.
If you're more in the market for a standard pair of headphones, the Beats Studio Pro Bluetooth Wireless Headphones are also heavily discounted at Target. You can purchase a pair right now for $159.99, which is 54% off from the list price of $349.99, saving you a total of $190.
Elephas 1080p HD Mini Projector - $99.99
A mini projector is a fantastic gift for any film buff to take their movie-watching experience to the next level. Or, give it to a friend who loves camping so they can bring a compact theater with them wherever they go. Right now, Target is selling these mini projector sets (tripod and bag included) for $99.99, which is $100.00 (or 50% off) from their retail value of $199.99.
This is one of the latest models from Elephas, so it's equipped with all of the best technology to ensure crisp, high resolution picture quality. The projector supports 1080p HD video and uses a German emerald glass lens to deliver vibrant color. Don't be deceived by its tiny appearance; with this device, video can be projected on a screen as big as 200". The Elephas Mini Projector also comes with several ports, so you can connect to your laptop, PC, TV, Chromebook, tablet, Blu-ray or DVD player, smartphone, or a USB flash drive on a whim.
The Target bundle comes with a carrying bag, which is essential to ensure the safety of your device while you're on the go, as well as a tripod, which means you won't have to craft a DIY stand to get the best angle for projecting.
Katie Reul is a freelance journalist whose entertainment reporting has been featured in IGN and Variety.
