Saturday, May 14, 2011

Coupon News: College Student Faces Wire Charges for Creating Fake Coupons

A Rochester Institute of Technology student is now facing Federal Wire charges after using the internet to create and distribute a number of different coupons for products ranging from Play Stations to bear and cigarettes.

According to charges, Proctor & Gamble and other companies paid some $200,000 in false coupons thanks to the 22 year old from Texas.

These types of frauds are the real reason we see a decline in coupon availability and a tightening of store coupon policies.

To read the whole article, click here.

2 liter Sierra Mist for $0.28?!?!?

On Mother's Day, I was in Little Caesars picking up dinner. (yes, we had pizza for Mother's Day dinner LOL)  On the counter I noticed some coupons.  They were for $0.75 off ANY Sierra Mist Natural product (exp 9/30/11.)  At my Kroger that week (5/4 - 5/10) they had a sale buy 4 Pepsi 2 liters, Get 2 Free.  I knew that combined with this coupon I'd be getting a sweet deal.  So I took a bunch (leaving lots, I won't take all of something, its all about sharing the coupon love!)  and headed over to Kroger.  The total with tax on 12 - 2 liters of Sierra Mist Natural minus 12 -$0.75 coupons was $3.30!  That's a deal that can't be beat.  So if you happen to stop in to a Little Caesars, keep your eyes peeled for those coupons.

Kroger Trip 5/7/11

 Like I said on FaceBook earlier this week, we've had the plague here at our house. Between that and wrapping up the end of the school year plus the kids' sports, its been a long week here.  I wanted to share my very first large shopping trip with you all though.  I spent 227.83, but I saved 192.52, which is a savings of 46%. I'm happy with that. For some of the items on my list, we needed those items, but didn't have coupons for. Not everyone will save 99 percent on their grocery bill every time, like the people on Extreme Couponing, and I'm ok with that.

I broke down my list for you all so you could see exactly what I got, what coupons I used and what the price was after coupons, if I used them for that product. 

Kroger Mega Sale Items - buy 10 participating items, get $5 off. Prices shown are wth the mega sale savings taken off.

(4) Capt Crunch Cereal - $1.99
$0.50/1 Cap'n Crunch Cereal 4/17/2011 RP Insert (exp 8/31/2011)
Used 4 - making these $0.99 each
(12) Capt Crunch/Life Cereals - $1.99
$2/3 Quaker or Tropicana Product 5/1/2011 Moments to Save Insert (exp 5/21/2011) 
Used 4 - making these $1.32 each 
(5) Mom's Natural Brand Cereal  - $0.99
$0.75/1 Mom's Best Naturals Product 
Used 5 - making these $0.24 each 
(4) Kraft Mayo - $2.49
$.75/1 Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip 5/15/2011 SS Insert (exp 6/12/2011) 
Used 4 - making these  $1.74 each 
(20) Ronzoni Pastas (Garden Delight, Healthy Harvest, Smart Taste) $0.49
$1/2 Ronzoni Garden Delight Pasta, $1/2 Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta,  $1/2 Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Used 10 - making this pasta FREE!
(10) Ragu Pasta Sauce - $1.35
Printable Coupon $1/2 (have to register for Hannaford's to be able to print Q. This Q is not available anymore) 
Used 5 - making the sauce $0.85 each 
(1) Hefty Trash Bags - $6.47
$0.55/1 Hefty Waste Bags 4/10/2011 RP Insert (exp 6/30/2011)  
Used 1 - making the bags $5.37 
(10) Sargento Cheese Sticks - $4.20
$0.75/1 Sargento Natural Blends Snacks 4/10/2011 SS Insert (exp 5/22/2011)  
Used 10 - making them $3.45 each 
(4) Sargento Sliced Cheese - $3.82
$0.75/1 Sargento Natural Blends Slices 4/10/2011 SS Insert (exp 5/22/2011)  
Used 4 - making these $3.07 each 
(5) Dannon Light and Fit 4pk - 1.49
$0.40 an any Six (6) Dannon Light & Fit 6oz single serve or any one (1) Light & Fit 6oz. 4 pack SS Insert (exp 5/10/2011)   
Used 5 - making these $0.89 each 
(10) Capri Sun 10 pouch packs - $1.49 
No Q but we use so many of these at my house for baseball game snacks and school parties, it was a deal I couldn't pass up. 
(2) Nestle Toll house Refrigerated Cookie Dough - $1.99\
printable coupon Save, $.55 
Used 2 - making these $0.89 each 
(3) Skinner Pasta - $0.49
No Q

Other Items
(3) packs of Sanderson Farms Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast - $4.33, $3.92, $6.46
(1) 5lb Roll of Ground Beef - $12.45
(1) 5lb Roll of Ground Chuck - $13.95
(2) Duncan Hines Brownies - $1.50 each
$0.50/1 Duncan Hines Brownies 4/10/2011 SS Insert (exp 5/30/2011)
Using 2 - mkaing these $0.50 each
(4) Valsic Relish - 10/$10
Printable coupon, Save, $.55
Used 4 - Making these FREE!
(1) Dawn Dish Soap - $1.49
$0.50/1 Dawn coupon (P&G home mailer)
Used 1 - Making this $0.49
(12) 2 liters of Pepsi Products - B4G2 Free - making these $0.84 each!
(2) Kraft Shredded Cheese Touch of Philly - $4.59 - BOGO
Coupon from Kraft First Taste for 1 free Kraft Shredded Cheese Taste of Philly Product
Because these were BOGO already at my Kroger, I got both for FREE!
(10) Kool Aid Kool Bursts - 10/$10
(1) Kroger Canola Oil 1 gallon - $8.89
(1) 18 pack Kroger Eggs - $2.62
(1) Gallon Kroger Milk - $2.83
(2) 16 oz Kroger Bacon - $4.79
(1) Kroger Quart Size Freezer Bags - $1.05
(1) Kroger Gallon Size Freezer Bags - $1.05
(2) Pillsbury Grand Biscuits $1.64
$0.30/2 Pillsbury Refrigerated Grands Biscuits
(1) Hunt's Ketchup - $1.25
$0.25 printable - This is no longer available
Used 1- making this $0.75 
(4) loaves Kroger Wheat Sandwich Bread - $1.00
(2) Kroger Sandwich Buns - $1.00

Sunday Coupon Preview

We should see 2 coupons inserts in tomorrow's paper, 1 Redplum and 1 SmartSource.  You can check out the full Sunday Coupon Preview here.

The coupons I'm looking forward to:
  • Kraft dressing 14 oz or larger Save $1.50/2 (6/12)
  • Nivea Body Lotion 8.4 fl. oz – 13.5 fl. oz. Save $2.00/1 (6/26)
  • BAILEYS Coffee Creamer Save $1/1 DND (6/12)
  • LAND O LAKES 1 lb Deli Cheese Save $1.00 (7/31)
  • LAND O LAKES packages of Deli Cheese Products Save $1/2 (7/31) 
  • OSCAR MEYER Lower Sodium Turkey Bacon Save $1/2 (7/10)
  • OSCAR MEYER Hot Dogs Save $1/2 (7/10)
  • KRAFT Mayo or Miracle Whip Save $1/1 (6/12)
  • Kikkoman Products Save $1/2 (12/31)
  • PLANTERS Nutrition Bars (5ct box) or Big Nut Bars (5 ct box) Save $1/1 (7/31)


Review: Covergirl NatureLuxe Foundation

As I posted a few weeks ago, I've been given the opportunity to be a BZZAgent for the new Covergirl Natureluxe line of cosmetics.  In return for getting to try the product for free, I'm sharing my opinions and reviewing the products.

They sent me both the Natureluxe foundation and the Natureluxe lip balm.  I've now had a chance to try them both a few different times and my opinion still holds the same as it did the first time I tried it.  I LOVE the foundation, but not so much the lip balm.

First the bad.  The lip balm had a very waxy feel to it, rather than being smooth like I like a gloss to be it came off almost as if I was trying to cover my lips in candle wax.  I'm sure there is an increased protection in having something so thick on your lips, but it just didn't feel good to me.  I won't continue using that product.

However, THE GOOD.  I LOVE the Natureluxe foundation.  While I've used Covergirl products in the past, for the last 7 or 8 years I've been using Clinique products (including the foundation and the pore minimizer).  The first thing I noticed about the Covergirl Natureluxe foundation is that it gives me the same smooth feeling on my skin that I usually need the pore minimizer to achieve.  In addition to smoothing my skin out and leaving it feeling very soft and comfortable (not oily), it covers very well and blends well with my skin tone, hiding the red bumps and splotches.

Here are pictures of me both before (with no make-up at all on) and after with just the Natureluxe foundation.

You can see that in the second picture my skin tone is much more even and the red bumps are not nearly as noticeable.  Now, me being the full coverage girl that I am, I still felt the need to use some powder, as well as finish my look.
One thing I noticed about the Natureluxe foundation the first time I used it is that it lasts.  My face gets really oily and especially when it's hot and I'm out doing things, my make-up tends to  just melt off my face. I haven't found this to be the case with the Natureluxe and that makes me really happy.  Where foundation often melts off within just an hour or two or at the very least requires me to re-apply powder over and over again to calm the oil, I haven't had this problem with the Natureluxe.  If for no reason but that, I LOVE THIS STUFF!  Add to that that it's much cheaper than the line I've been using and I'm definitely making the switch!

Another great thing is that the Natureluxe foundation has SPF15 protection built in.  With fair skin like mine this is a must have.  With fair skin like mine you'd think I'd always remember to put on the sunscreen, but I don't!  So any help I can get in remembering is a huge bonus.

If you are new to this line and want to try it but are scared, keep in mind that Covergirl is offering a  "Love it or 2x your money back!" guarantee.  If you don't love this new foundation just send it back with your receipt and they will send you 2x what you paid for it!  I'm really pretty sure you won't need to take advantage of this offer, but it's great that it's there just in case.

- free product was provided to me by BZZAgent, all opinions are my own.