Living in a rural area limits the money-saving, sale shopping, coupon using deals. We do not have a CVS, Walgreens or Kroger (Gasp!).
We do have a Rite Aid. I'm learning to maximize my savings.
Here's what I've learned:
The first step is to sign up at Rite Aid's website for the Single Check Rebates (SCR). Combining the SCR's with coupons will allow you to get items for free and many times make money on your purchases.
After you've signed up, you'll need to login at Rite Aid's SCR website and enter information from your receipt to receive your rebate. The rebate will be credited to your account. At the end of the month you request your check. It will arrive in the mail a few weeks later. The best part is once you receive your first check you can use that money to purchase the next rebate items. You'll be rolling your rebates and you won't have to use money from your budget.
The second step is to gather your coupons. I use Crystal's coupon organization method. My coupon box is an empty baby wipe box. The best place to find coupons is your Sunday paper. Make all your friends and family who don't use coupons give you theirs. Next print coupons online. A word of caution: some stores do not accept internet coupons and some stores accept them up to $1. I've never had trouble with internet coupons at my local Rite Aid. They've always accepted them. Check out this article on how to find internet coupons.
Third step, read your Rite Aid Weekly Circular and Monthly Single Check Rebates. Start by looking for the items that are on sale for the entire SCR amount making them FREE! There will usually be one to three of these items each week. Get out your coupon box and find any coupons for those items. If you have a coupon, you will have overage (you are actually getting paid to buy that item). You want to buy these items even if you don't need or want the item. You can donate it to someone who does. The items that you don't have coupons for, purchase if you need, want or know someone who could use them. You are not making money on them but they are still free!
Now scan the circular and rebates for items that are deeply discounted with the SCR or are on sale. This is where price books come in handy. Prices are changing so much that I can't remember how much things cost. If I can't remember how much things cost I don't know if I'm getting a good deal. (If you live in my area and make a price book, I'd be delighted if you'd share.) So, you've found the items with a hefty SCR or that are on sale for an excellent price. Look for coupons! When you combine SCR or sale prices with coupons you can get items for FREE or for pennies.
You can apply this to all the stores you shop at. The idea is to build up a stockpile of stuff so that each week you only shop the sale items. Watch the savings pile up!
Your husband might look at you a little weird when you put the 10th free tube of toothpaste in the closet but you know what? It's FREE! I use to spend money on toothpaste.
Thinking of giving it a try? I'll post the current deals I find to get you started. Happy Savings! 
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