content: merge founder story with data stats per Penny's review (v1.1)

Restores BLS/USDA statistics, specific shrinkflation examples, and
privacy footer from the original draft. Keeps the founder pasta story,
three-things framework, and cleaner positioning from the CMO content-spec.
Combined version addresses all points raised in Penny's changes-requested review.

Co-Authored-By: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>

content/marketing/blog/best-grocery-price-tracking-apps-2026.md

@@ -1,144 +0,0 @@
----
-title: "Best Apps to Track Grocery Prices in 2026"
-slug: best-grocery-price-tracking-apps-2026
-status: draft
-version: 1.0
-last_updated: 2026-03-20
-description: "Comparison of the best grocery price tracking apps in 2026 — CartSnitch, Flipp, Basket, and Ibotta. What each does, what each misses, and how to choose."
-seo_keywords: ["best grocery price tracking apps", "grocery price comparison app", "track grocery prices", "shrinkflation app", "CartSnitch vs Flipp", "CartSnitch vs Basket"]
----
-
-# Best Apps to Track Grocery Prices in 2026
-
-Grocery prices are up. Shrinkflation is widespread. And most apps designed to help you save money are built around a frustrating assumption: that you'll do the work.
-
-Scan receipts. Enter prices manually. Browse flyers and clip coupons. These tools exist, but they require effort that most people do not have on a typical grocery run.
-
-This guide compares the four most-used grocery price tools — CartSnitch, Flipp, Basket, and Ibotta — on what actually matters: what they track, how much work they require, and whether they catch things like shrinkflation.
-
----
-
-## Quick Comparison
-
-| | CartSnitch | Flipp | Basket | Ibotta |
-|---|---|---|---|---|
-| **Tracks your actual prices** | Yes | No | Partially | No |
-| **Automatic (no manual entry)** | Yes | Yes | Manual | Partially |
-| **Shrinkflation detection** | Yes | No | No | No |
-| **Price alerts** | Yes | No | Yes | No |
-| **Store comparison** | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
-| **Works from your purchase history** | Yes | No | No | No |
-| **Free** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
-
----
-
-## CartSnitch
-
-**Best for: people who want automatic, personalized tracking without any effort**
-
-CartSnitch connects to your store loyalty accounts (Meijer, Kroger, Target) and imports your purchase history automatically. From there, it tracks prices on everything you buy, detects shrinkflation, compares prices across your stores, and alerts you when prices drop.
-
-The key difference: CartSnitch tracks what you actually paid, not theoretical store prices. If you bought Cheerios at Kroger three times in the last two months, CartSnitch shows you your actual price trend — and whether the box has gotten smaller.
-
-**What it does well:**
-- Shrinkflation detection — tracks unit prices (price per oz, per count) and flags when you are paying more for less
-- Zero manual entry — your purchase history comes from your loyalty accounts automatically
-- Price alerts on items you actually buy, not random products you have never purchased
-- Store comparison that is grounded in your real shopping patterns
-
-**What it does not do:**
-- Digital coupons or cash-back rewards
-- Stores without loyalty programs
-
-**Supported stores:** Meijer, Kroger, Target (Walmart, Costco, Aldi coming)
-
----
-
-## Flipp
-
-**Best for: browsing weekly deals before you head to the store**
-
-Flipp aggregates digital store flyers from hundreds of grocery chains. You can search for a product and see which stores have it on sale this week.
-
-Flipp is genuinely useful for one specific thing: finding what is on sale right now. What it does not do: track your actual purchase history. It has no idea what you have paid in the past, whether a sale price is actually a good price, or whether products have gotten smaller.
-
-**What it does well:**
-- Weekly flyer aggregation from hundreds of stores
-- Quick search across retailers for current sales
-- Meal planning features tied to deals
-
-**What it does not do:**
-- Track your purchase history
-- Detect shrinkflation (no unit price tracking)
-- Tell you whether a sale price is actually better than usual
-
----
-
-## Basket
-
-**Best for: price-conscious shoppers willing to do some work and contribute to community data**
-
-Basket is crowd-sourced. Users scan or enter grocery prices at stores, building a community database. Data quality depends entirely on your local community of contributors.
-
-**What it does well:**
-- Community-driven local price data
-- Price alerts when user-reported prices drop
-- Works without store loyalty accounts
-
-**What it does not do:**
-- Track your personal purchase history automatically
-- Detect shrinkflation
-- Guarantee data quality in areas with low participation
-
----
-
-## Ibotta
-
-**Best for: earning cash back on purchases you were already going to make**
-
-Ibotta is a cash-back app, not a price tracker. You browse offers, buy qualifying products, and submit receipts to earn rebates. Useful for cash back — but it does not help you find the best price, track your spending patterns, or detect shrinkflation.
-
-**What it does well:**
-- Cash-back rewards on eligible products
-- Wide brand and retailer partnerships
-
-**What it does not do:**
-- Track prices over time
-- Detect shrinkflation
-- Work without receipt submission
-
----
-
-## Which App Should You Use?
-
-**If you want automatic, effort-free price tracking:** CartSnitch is the only app that pulls from your actual purchase history without requiring manual work.
-
-**If you plan your shopping around weekly deals:** Add Flipp. It is the best tool for browsing what is on sale right now.
-
-**If you want cash back:** Ibotta runs alongside your other tools — it does not replace price tracking.
-
-**If your stores are not on CartSnitch yet:** Basket fills the gap with the caveat that data quality varies.
-
-These apps are not mutually exclusive. CartSnitch handles ongoing tracking. Flipp handles weekly deal browsing.
-
----
-
-## The Shrinkflation Problem No App (Except CartSnitch) Solves
-
-Shrinkflation is the most invisible form of grocery price increase — and no other app in this comparison catches it.
-
-How it works: a brand reduces a product size or weight while keeping the price the same. A box of pasta that was 16 oz is now 13.25 oz. The shelf price might even drop slightly, making it look like a deal. But the price per ounce went up.
-
-Between 2022 and 2025, hundreds of common grocery products quietly shrank. Consumer Reports tracked it. The Federal Trade Commission flagged it. Shoppers noticed it at checkout but had no tool to quantify it automatically.
-
-CartSnitch tracks unit prices — price per ounce, price per count — and alerts you when the math changes on products you buy. That is the only automated way to catch shrinkflation without doing the arithmetic yourself.
-
----
-
-## Bottom Line
-
-Most grocery apps are built around deals, coupons, and cash back. Useful — but they do not answer the question most shoppers actually have: am I paying more than I was six months ago, and is it because prices went up or because my cereal box got smaller?
-
-CartSnitch is built to answer that question automatically, using your real purchase data, without requiring any work beyond connecting your loyalty accounts.
-
-[Get started with CartSnitch — free, no subscription required.]

content/marketing/blog/why-we-built-cartsnitch.md

@@ -1,66 +1,84 @@
 ---
-title: "Why We Built CartSnitch: Your Grocery Bill Shouldn't Be a Mystery"
+title: "Why We Built CartSnitch"
 slug: why-we-built-cartsnitch
-date: 2026-03-22
-author: CartSnitch Team
-category: Company
-tags: [launch, grocery prices, transparency, shrinkflation]
 status: draft
-description: "Grocery prices have risen 25% since 2020, but tracking what you actually pay — and whether you're getting a fair deal — has been nearly impossible. Until now."
+version: 1.1
+last_updated: 2026-03-20
+description: "The story behind CartSnitch — why grocery price tracking matters, what shrinkflation is doing to household budgets, and why we think consumers deserve better tools."
+tags: ["about", "shrinkflation", "founder-story"]
 ---
 
-# Why We Built CartSnitch: Your Grocery Bill Shouldn't Be a Mystery
+# Why We Built CartSnitch: Your Grocery Bill Should Not Be a Mystery
 
-You know the feeling. You're at the register, the total pops up, and it's... more than you expected. Again. You could swear that box of cereal was $3.49 last month. Was it? You can't remember. You can't prove it. And that's exactly how it's designed to work.
+You know the feeling. You are at the register, the total pops up, and it is more than you expected. Again. You could swear that box of cereal was $3.49 last month. Was it? You cannot remember. You cannot prove it. And that is exactly how it is designed to work.
 
-## The numbers don't lie — your gut is right
+---
 
-According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices have risen **25% since January 2020**. The USDA's food price outlook for 2026 projects another 2-4% increase this year alone. But those are averages. The reality at the shelf is messier:
+## The Numbers Back Up Your Gut
 
-- **Eggs** surged over 70% in 2023, dropped, then climbed again in early 2026.
-- **Snack foods** have seen steady 8-12% annual increases — often masked by shrinking package sizes.
-- **Store-brand products**, once the reliable budget option, have seen price increases outpacing name brands in some categories.
+Grocery prices have risen **25% since January 2020** (Bureau of Labor Statistics). The USDA food price outlook for 2026 projects another 2-4% increase this year. But those are averages. The reality at the shelf is messier.
 
-The problem isn't just that prices go up. It's that you have no way to track *your* prices, at *your* stores, on the products *you* actually buy.
+One of our founders was doing the weekly grocery run at Kroger a few years ago. Same box of pasta, same brand, same shelf, roughly the same price. Something felt off. The pasta was gone faster than usual.
 
-## The shrinkflation problem nobody talks about
+She checked. The box had gone from 16 oz to 13.25 oz. The price had dropped slightly — from $1.89 to $1.79. The price per ounce had gone up 15%.
 
-Here's something that won't show up in inflation statistics: your favorite ice cream went from 1.75 quarts to 1.5 quarts. Same price. Same shelf space. Same packaging design — just slightly shorter if you look closely.
+She had been buying less and paying more, and she had no idea. That is shrinkflation. And it is everywhere.
 
-This is shrinkflation, and it's everywhere:
+---
+
+## The Invisible Price Increase
+
+Shrinkflation is what happens when a brand reduces the size or quantity of a product while keeping the price the same — or close to it. The shelf tag barely moves. But you are getting less for your money. It is legal, it is common, and it is almost impossible to detect without tracking unit prices over time:
 
 - **Cereals** have lost 1-3 oz per box across major brands since 2021
-- **Toilet paper** rolls have fewer sheets (some brands dropped from 1,000 to 900 sheets per mega roll)
-- **Chip bags** contain more air and less product — sometimes 2+ oz less than the same SKU two years ago
-- **Detergent** loads-per-bottle claims have quietly decreased while prices held steady or increased
+- **Toilet paper** rolls have fewer sheets — some brands dropped from 1,000 to 900 sheets per mega roll
+- **Chip bags** contain 2+ oz less than the same SKU two years ago
+- **Detergent** loads-per-bottle counts dropped while prices held steady
 
-Inflation numbers don't capture this. Your receipt doesn't show it. But your grocery budget feels it — an invisible 10-15% price increase that nobody is tracking.
-
-## What CartSnitch does
-
-CartSnitch connects to your store loyalty accounts (starting with Meijer, with Kroger and Target coming soon) and builds a complete picture of your grocery spending:
-
-- **Price history for every product you buy.** See exactly how much that gallon of milk cost three months ago vs. today.
-- **Store comparison.** The same item at two stores 0.3 miles apart can differ by $1 or more. We show you where.
-- **Shrinkflation alerts.** When a product's package size decreases, we flag it — so you know you're paying more per ounce even if the sticker price didn't change.
-- **Price drop notifications.** Set a target price and we'll let you know when it hits.
-
-No manual entry. No scanning barcodes. Just connect your loyalty account and we do the rest.
-
-## Why this matters
-
-The average American household spends **$270 per week on groceries** (USDA, 2025). That's over $14,000 a year. Even small optimizations — switching stores for key items, timing purchases around price drops, catching shrinkflation before it eats your budget — can save hundreds annually.
-
-But you can't optimize what you can't see. And right now, the data asymmetry is massive: retailers and brands have detailed analytics on every price change, promotion, and package adjustment. Consumers have... a fading memory of what they paid last time.
-
-CartSnitch flips that equation. We give consumers the same price intelligence that retailers have always had.
-
-## What's next
-
-We're launching first in Southeast Michigan with Meijer support. Kroger and Target follow within weeks. If you want to be among the first to track your grocery prices and catch shrinkflation in real time, [sign up for early access](#).
-
-Your grocery bill shouldn't be a mystery. Let's fix that.
+Inflation statistics do not capture this. Your receipt does not show it. But your grocery budget feels it.
 
 ---
 
-*CartSnitch is a consumer price transparency tool. We track prices from public loyalty account data with your permission. We never sell your data. [Learn more about our privacy approach](#).*
+## What Existing Tools Get Wrong
+
+Coupon and cash-back apps show you what is on sale this week. Useful — but a sale price is not the same as a fair price. A 10% coupon on a product that shrank 15% is not a deal.
+
+Crowd-sourced price trackers require manual entry. Most people do not do this consistently, and the data reflects community submissions — not what you personally paid.
+
+None of them answer the question that actually matters: compared to what I paid six months ago, am I paying more for this product today?
+
+---
+
+## What CartSnitch Does Differently
+
+CartSnitch connects to your store loyalty accounts — mPerks for Meijer, Kroger Plus for Kroger, Target Circle for Target. When you shop, your purchase history flows in automatically. No scanning. No manual entry. No behavior change.
+
+From that data, CartSnitch tracks three things:
+
+**Your price history.** What you actually paid for each item, over time. Not the store advertised price. Your price.
+
+**Unit prices.** Price per ounce, price per count — whatever is appropriate. When the box shrinks and the price stays flat, the unit price goes up. CartSnitch catches this automatically.
+
+**Price comparison across your stores.** If you shop at Kroger and Meijer, CartSnitch shows you what each item costs at each store.
+
+The average American household spends **$270 per week on groceries** — over $14,000 a year (USDA, 2025). Retailers and brands have detailed analytics on every price change and package adjustment. Consumers have a fading memory of what they paid last time. CartSnitch closes that gap.
+
+---
+
+## Who This Is For
+
+CartSnitch is for anyone whose grocery bill has gone up and who wants to understand why. It is for the household spending $20 more per week at the grocery store without knowing if that is inflation, shrinkflation, or just different buying habits.
+
+It is not for couponers looking for their next deal. CartSnitch is for people who want to understand their actual spending, over time, with real data.
+
+---
+
+## Where We Are
+
+CartSnitch is launching public beta on April 24, 2026. Three stores at launch: Meijer, Kroger, and Target. Free. No subscription.
+
+[Join the beta — launching April 24.]
+
+---
+
+*CartSnitch is a consumer price transparency tool. We access purchase history from your loyalty accounts with your permission. We never sell your data.*

content/marketing/faq.md

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+---
+title: "CartSnitch FAQ"
+status: draft
+version: 1.0
+last_updated: 2026-03-20
+description: "Frequently asked questions about CartSnitch — how it works, data privacy, supported stores, and troubleshooting."
+---
+
+# Frequently Asked Questions
+
+---
+
+## General
+
+### What is CartSnitch?
+
+CartSnitch is a free tool that tracks grocery prices, detects shrinkflation, and compares prices across stores. Connect your store loyalty accounts and CartSnitch does the rest — no barcodes, no receipt scanning, no manual entry.
+
+### How does CartSnitch track my prices?
+
+When you connect a store loyalty account (like mPerks, Kroger Plus, or Target Circle), CartSnitch securely accesses your purchase history. It records what you bought, what you paid, and the package size. Over time, this builds a complete picture of your grocery spending.
+
+### What is shrinkflation?
+
+Shrinkflation is when a brand reduces the size or quantity of a product while keeping the price the same (or raising it). A cereal box that was 15 oz last year and 13.5 oz today — at the same price — is shrinkflation. CartSnitch tracks unit prices (price per ounce, per count) to catch this automatically.
+
+### Is CartSnitch free?
+
+Yes. CartSnitch is free to use. No subscription, no trial period, no credit card required.
+
+---
+
+## Stores & Data
+
+### Which stores does CartSnitch support?
+
+Currently: **Meijer**, **Kroger**, and **Target**. We're adding more stores regularly — Walmart, Costco, and Aldi are on the roadmap.
+
+### How do I connect my store account?
+
+Go to **Settings > Connect a Store**, choose your store, and enter the email and password you use for that store's loyalty program. CartSnitch imports your purchase history within minutes. See our [Connecting Your Store Accounts](onboarding/connecting-stores.md) guide for details.
+
+### Can I connect multiple stores?
+
+Yes. Connect as many supported stores as you have accounts for. More stores means better price comparisons and more complete tracking.
+
+### Does CartSnitch work if I don't have a loyalty account?
+
+Not yet. CartSnitch currently requires a store loyalty account to import your purchases. If you don't have one, signing up for mPerks, Kroger Plus, or Target Circle is free and takes a couple of minutes.
+
+---
+
+## Privacy & Security
+
+### Is my store login information safe?
+
+Yes. Your store credentials are encrypted and stored securely. CartSnitch uses them only to access your purchase history — nothing else.
+
+### What data does CartSnitch collect?
+
+CartSnitch collects:
+- Your purchase history (items, prices, dates)
+- Product information (names, brands, package sizes)
+- Price data across stores
+
+CartSnitch does **not** collect:
+- Payment methods or credit card numbers
+- Personal demographics beyond your account info
+- Location data
+- Data from any source other than your connected store accounts
+
+### Does CartSnitch sell my data?
+
+No. CartSnitch does not sell, share, or monetize your personal purchase data. Aggregated, anonymized price trends may be used in public-facing content (like our blog posts about shrinkflation), but your individual data is never shared.
+
+### Can I delete my data?
+
+Yes. You can disconnect any store at any time, and you can delete your CartSnitch account entirely. When you delete your account, all of your data is permanently removed.
+
+---
+
+## Features
+
+### How do price alerts work?
+
+Set a target price for any product. CartSnitch monitors prices from your connected stores and notifies you when the price drops to your target or below. See our [Setting Up Price Alerts](onboarding/setting-up-alerts.md) guide.
+
+### How does store comparison work?
+
+For any product, CartSnitch shows you what it costs at each of your connected stores, sorted from cheapest to most expensive. It highlights the best deal and tells you how much you'd save. See our [Comparing Stores](onboarding/comparing-stores.md) guide.
+
+### What are coupons in CartSnitch?
+
+CartSnitch surfaces digital coupons from your connected store accounts. You can browse available deals, see expiration dates, and copy coupon codes — all in one place instead of checking each store's app separately.
+
+### Does CartSnitch work offline?
+
+Yes. CartSnitch is a progressive web app (PWA) that caches your data locally. You can browse your purchase history, check product prices, and view your shopping list even without an internet connection. New data syncs when you're back online.
+
+---
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+### My purchases aren't showing up.
+
+Some stores take a few hours to make recent purchases available. If you just shopped, check back in a few hours. If it's been more than 24 hours, try disconnecting and reconnecting the store in **Settings > Connect a Store**.
+
+### I can't connect my store account.
+
+Make sure you're using the same email and password you use on the store's website or app. If you recently changed your password, use the new one. If your store uses two-factor authentication, you may need to adjust those settings temporarily.
+
+### The app isn't loading or looks broken.
+
+Try refreshing the page. If you installed CartSnitch to your home screen, try opening it in your browser instead. Clear your browser cache if the issue persists.
+
+### How do I install CartSnitch on my phone?
+
+Visit CartSnitch in your mobile browser. You'll see a prompt to "Add to Home Screen" — tap it and CartSnitch gets its own app icon. No app store download needed.

content/marketing/onboarding/comparing-stores.md

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+---
+title: "Comparing Stores"
+status: draft
+version: 1.0
+last_updated: 2026-03-20
+description: "How to use CartSnitch's store comparison feature to find the best prices."
+---
+
+# Comparing Stores
+
+The same item at two different stores can differ by $1-2 on any given day. CartSnitch's store comparison shows you exactly where each product costs less — so you can make smarter choices about where to shop.
+
+---
+
+## How to Compare
+
+1. Go to **Products** and find the item you want to compare
+2. Tap the product to open its detail page
+3. Tap **Compare Stores**
+
+CartSnitch shows every connected store that carries the product, sorted from cheapest to most expensive.
+
+`[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Store comparison page for a product showing Meijer, Kroger, and Target prices sorted by lowest first]`
+
+---
+
+## What the Comparison Shows
+
+For each store, you'll see:
+- **Store name and icon**
+- **Current price**
+- **Last updated date** — when CartSnitch last saw this price
+- **Best price highlight** — the cheapest option gets a green border
+
+If there's a meaningful price difference, a savings banner appears at the top: "Save $1.47 by shopping at Meijer."
+
+---
+
+## Getting the Most Out of Comparisons
+
+**Compare your regulars.** The biggest savings come from items you buy every week. A $0.30 difference on eggs doesn't feel like much once, but over a year that's $15 — and it adds up across your whole cart.
+
+**Check before you shop.** Before heading out, search for the 5-10 items on your list and compare. You might find that this week, Kroger beats Meijer on dairy but Meijer wins on produce. A quick check takes 2 minutes and can save you $5-10 per trip.
+
+**Connect multiple stores.** Store comparison works best when you have at least two stores connected. The more stores you link, the more comparison data CartSnitch can show.
+
+---
+
+## Why Prices Differ
+
+Store pricing is complicated. Factors include:
+- **Regional pricing** — the same chain can charge different amounts in different zip codes
+- **Loss leaders** — stores intentionally underprice certain items (like milk or bananas) to get you in the door
+- **Promotions and sales cycles** — most grocery items rotate through sales every 6-8 weeks
+- **Store brand vs. national brand** — store brands are typically 20-30% cheaper for equivalent products
+
+CartSnitch tracks all of this so you can see the patterns without doing the research yourself.

content/marketing/onboarding/connecting-stores.md

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+---
+title: "Connecting Your Store Accounts"
+status: draft
+version: 1.0
+last_updated: 2026-03-20
+description: "Step-by-step guide for linking Meijer, Kroger, and Target loyalty accounts to CartSnitch."
+---
+
+# Connecting Your Store Accounts
+
+CartSnitch pulls your purchase history directly from your store loyalty accounts. No receipt photos, no barcode scanning — just your existing login credentials.
+
+---
+
+## Supported Stores
+
+| Store | Loyalty Program | What CartSnitch Imports |
+|---|---|---|
+| **Meijer** | mPerks | Purchase history, item prices, digital coupons |
+| **Kroger** | Kroger Plus | Receipts, item prices, digital coupons |
+| **Target** | Target Circle | Purchase history, deals |
+
+More stores are on the roadmap (Walmart, Costco, Aldi). Request yours in the app.
+
+---
+
+## How to Connect
+
+1. Open CartSnitch and go to **Settings**
+2. Tap **Connect a Store**
+3. Choose your store (Meijer, Kroger, or Target)
+4. Enter the email and password you use for that store's loyalty program
+5. Tap **Connect**
+
+CartSnitch will verify your credentials and start importing your purchases. This usually takes under a minute for your recent history.
+
+`[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Account Linking page showing Meijer connected, Kroger connected, and Target available to connect]`
+
+---
+
+## What We Access (and What We Don't)
+
+**We access:**
+- Your purchase history (what you bought, when, and how much you paid)
+- Item prices and package sizes
+- Digital coupon availability
+
+**We never access:**
+- Payment methods or credit card numbers
+- Personal information beyond what's needed to log in
+- Your store account settings or loyalty points balance
+
+Your store credentials are encrypted and stored securely. CartSnitch never shares your data with third parties.
+
+---
+
+## Disconnecting a Store
+
+Changed your mind? Go to **Settings > Connect a Store**, find the connected store, and tap **Disconnect**. CartSnitch stops importing new data immediately. Your existing purchase history in CartSnitch remains available unless you delete your account.
+
+---
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+**"Connection failed" error**
+Double-check that you're using the same email and password you use to log into the store's website or app. If you recently changed your store password, use the new one.
+
+**Purchases aren't showing up**
+Some stores take a few hours to make recent purchases available through their systems. If you just shopped, check back later. If it's been more than 24 hours, try disconnecting and reconnecting the store.
+
+**Two-factor authentication**
+If your store account uses two-factor authentication, you may need to temporarily adjust your security settings to connect. We're working on native 2FA support.

content/marketing/onboarding/getting-started.md

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+---
+title: "Getting Started with CartSnitch"
+status: draft
+version: 1.0
+last_updated: 2026-03-20
+description: "First-time user onboarding guide — from signup to first savings insight."
+---
+
+# Getting Started with CartSnitch
+
+Welcome to CartSnitch. Here's how to go from zero to tracking your grocery prices in about two minutes.
+
+---
+
+## Step 1: Create Your Account
+
+Open CartSnitch and tap **Create Account**. Enter your name, email, and a password. That's it — no credit card, no subscription, no trial period.
+
+Once you're in, you'll land on your dashboard. It'll be empty for now. That changes fast.
+
+---
+
+## Step 2: Connect a Store
+
+This is where CartSnitch gets useful. Head to **Settings > Connect a Store** and link at least one loyalty account:
+
+- **Meijer** — your mPerks account
+- **Kroger** — your Kroger Plus account
+- **Target** — your Target Circle account
+
+CartSnitch uses your store credentials to pull your purchase history automatically. No receipt scanning. No barcode swiping. Your past purchases start appearing within minutes.
+
+For detailed instructions, see the [Connecting Your Store Accounts](connecting-stores.md) guide.
+
+---
+
+## Step 3: Explore Your Dashboard
+
+Once a store is connected, your dashboard comes to life:
+
+- **Recent purchases** — your last few shopping trips, pulled directly from your store account
+- **Price trends** — sparkline charts showing how prices are moving on everyday items like eggs and milk
+- **Triggered alerts** — if any prices you're watching have dropped, you'll see it right at the top
+
+`[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Authenticated dashboard showing recent purchases, sparkline charts, and alert banner]`
+
+---
+
+## Step 4: Set Up a Price Alert
+
+Spot something you buy regularly? Set a price alert so CartSnitch tells you when the price drops.
+
+1. Go to **Products** and search for the item
+2. Tap the product to see its price history
+3. Tap **Set Alert** and enter your target price
+4. CartSnitch notifies you the moment it hits
+
+For the full walkthrough, see [Setting Up Price Alerts](setting-up-alerts.md).
+
+---
+
+## Step 5: Compare Stores
+
+If you've connected more than one store, you can compare prices side by side. On any product page, tap **Compare Stores** to see where it costs less.
+
+CartSnitch highlights the cheapest option and tells you exactly how much you'd save by switching stores.
+
+See the [Comparing Stores](comparing-stores.md) guide for details.
+
+---
+
+## What Happens Next
+
+CartSnitch keeps working in the background. Every time you shop, your new purchases are imported automatically. Prices are tracked. Shrinkflation is flagged. You don't need to do anything — just shop like you normally would and check in when you want to see what's changed.
+
+---
+
+## Quick Reference
+
+| Feature | Where to find it |
+|---|---|
+| Connect a store | Settings > Connect a Store |
+| View purchases | Purchases tab |
+| Search products | Products tab |
+| Set price alerts | Product detail > Set Alert |
+| Compare stores | Product detail > Compare Stores |
+| Browse coupons | Coupons tab |
+
+---
+
+## Installing CartSnitch on Your Phone
+
+CartSnitch is a web app that works like a native app on your phone. When you visit CartSnitch in your mobile browser, you'll see an "Add to Home Screen" prompt. Tap it, and CartSnitch gets its own icon on your home screen — no app store download needed.
+
+It works offline too, so you can check prices and your shopping list even when you're in a store with spotty reception.

content/marketing/onboarding/reading-your-dashboard.md

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+---
+title: "Reading Your Dashboard"
+status: draft
+version: 1.0
+last_updated: 2026-03-20
+description: "Guide to understanding your CartSnitch dashboard — purchases, price trends, and alerts at a glance."
+---
+
+# Reading Your Dashboard
+
+Your dashboard is your home base. It gives you a quick read on what's happening with your grocery spending without digging through menus.
+
+---
+
+## What You'll See
+
+### Triggered Alerts Banner
+
+If any of your price alerts have fired, a green banner appears at the top of the dashboard. It tells you how many alerts triggered and links directly to the Alerts page. This is your "time to buy" signal.
+
+### Price Trend Sparklines
+
+Small charts that show recent price movement for key items. These aren't detailed analyses — they're quick visual checks. Is the line going up or down? That's what they're for.
+
+Each sparkline shows:
+- **The product name** (e.g., "Large Eggs — Meijer")
+- **The current price**
+- **A trend line** over recent data points
+
+`[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Dashboard sparkline cards showing egg and milk price trends with current prices]`
+
+### Recent Purchases
+
+The last three shopping trips from your connected stores. Each card shows:
+- **Store name and icon**
+- **Date** of the purchase
+- **Total spent**
+- **Number of items**
+
+Tap any purchase to see the full receipt breakdown with individual item prices.
+
+### Quick Actions
+
+Links to the features you'll use most:
+- **Products** — search and browse tracked products
+- **Alerts** — manage your price watches
+- **Coupons** — see available deals from your stores
+
+---
+
+## When You First Sign Up
+
+The dashboard starts empty. That's normal — it fills in as soon as you connect a store account. Within minutes of connecting, you'll see your purchase history and price data start flowing in.
+
+If you've connected a store but the dashboard is still empty after 15 minutes, try pulling down to refresh, or check **Settings > Connect a Store** to verify the connection status.
+
+---
+
+## Dashboard vs. Other Pages
+
+The dashboard is the summary. For deep dives:
+- **Purchases** gives you your full purchase history with search and filters
+- **Products** lets you explore individual product prices and history
+- **Alerts** shows all your price watches in detail
+- **Coupons** lists available deals from your connected stores
+
+Think of the dashboard as the headlines. The other pages are the full articles.

content/marketing/onboarding/setting-up-alerts.md

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+---
+title: "Setting Up Price Alerts"
+status: draft
+version: 1.0
+last_updated: 2026-03-20
+description: "How to create, manage, and use price alerts in CartSnitch."
+---
+
+# Setting Up Price Alerts
+
+Price alerts let you set a target price for any product. When the price drops to your target (or below), CartSnitch notifies you. It's the easiest way to stock up when prices are right.
+
+---
+
+## Creating an Alert
+
+1. Go to **Products** and search for the item you want to watch
+2. Tap the product to open its detail page
+3. Tap the **+ New Alert** button
+4. Select the store you want to watch (or all stores)
+5. Enter your target price — this is the price at or below which you want to be notified
+6. Tap **Create Alert**
+
+That's it. CartSnitch checks prices automatically and notifies you when your target is hit.
+
+`[SCREENSHOT PLACEHOLDER: Price Alerts page showing triggered alerts at top and watching alerts below, with + New Alert button]`
+
+---
+
+## How Alerts Work
+
+CartSnitch tracks prices from your connected stores. When a price update comes in that matches or beats your target, the alert triggers.
+
+Triggered alerts show up in two places:
+- **Your dashboard** — a green banner at the top shows how many alerts have fired
+- **The Alerts page** — triggered alerts are separated from active watches so you can see what's ready to act on
+
+---
+
+## Managing Your Alerts
+
+### Viewing alerts
+Go to the **Alerts** tab to see all your alerts. They're grouped into:
+- **Triggered** — prices have hit your target. Time to buy.
+- **Watching** — still waiting for the price to drop.
+
+### Deleting an alert
+Tap any alert card and hit **Delete** to remove it. You can always create a new one later.
+
+---
+
+## Tips for Better Alerts
+
+**Use price history to set realistic targets.** Before creating an alert, check the product's price history chart. If eggs have bounced between $3.49 and $4.99 over the past six months, a target of $3.49 is realistic. A target of $1.99 probably isn't.
+
+**Watch staples, not impulse buys.** Alerts are most valuable for things you buy every week — milk, eggs, bread, chicken. A $0.50 savings on something you buy 50 times a year is $25 back in your pocket.
+
+**Set alerts across stores.** If you've connected multiple stores, set the alert to watch all of them. The same product can vary by $1-2 between stores on any given week.