Getting Started!
Here are the basics for saving money in Sacramento.
Your main goal in shopping for groceries is to build a stockpile. What you put in this stockpile is groceries that you have purchased at a greatly reduced (or Free!) price. That way, when you run out of something, you can go shop in your stockpile instead of buying it for full price at the grocery store. Set aside some shelves in the garage, a closet or spare room for organizing your stockpile.
Getting those Groceries -
Here is where it gets fun! You are to only purchase items from the grocery store that are on sale and that you have a coupon for. The easiest way I have found to do this is to subscribe to The Grocery Game. They compare coupon prices and sale prices to print out a shopping list for you for a specific store each week.
If you decide to sign up, please use amber.barger@gmail.com for a referral!
You can also share and get good deals from other members of our community that find them!
Use the Binder Method to organize your coupons.
Thats where this group comes in. Whe any of us find deals (and you will learn how to spot them), send an e-mail out to the group so we can all take advantage of it.
After a few weeks, you will have enough food in your stockpile to not have to buy anything full price. In fact, you will have to start sending care packages to the troops and donate to food closets and animal shelters!
**Make sure you keep all of your receipts from EVERY store, you never know when you may have bought something last week that works for a rebate this week!**
The best place to get free or deeply discounted pharmacy products is Riteaid, Walgreens and Longs. All three have monthly rebate items, usually haircare and personal care. By combining coupons, sales and rebates, you can often get free products and make a profit on the rebate items.
Remember that you can use coupons on trial size items as long as they state "any size". Here is a list of stuff you can get for free with coupons.
Riteaid
Riteaid allows you to enter your receipt information online and request your rebate online. This is great because it allows you to use the receipt for additional rebates.
Walgreens
Walgreens will issue your rebate in the form of a gift card redeemable at Walgreens. If you select this option over a check, they will credit you an additional 10%. Check your rebate status here.
These three stores stock the rebate booklets in the stores. Watch the sale ads every week in the newspaper and match them with the monthly rebates to get the best deals.
Your best bet for produce is the local farmers markets. Everything is fresh and in season. You will be supporting local farmers and get outdoors!
Here is a list of Sacramento Farmers Markets
Don't ever buy a prescription at a pharmacy without getting a gift card for it. Target always has a $10 offer for a new or transferred prescription. Walgreens often offers a $25 gift card. There are always a few deals out there. Ask on the forum, someone will know!
