Nielsen Consumer Panel

Now if your even vaguely familiar with T.V ratings you will have heard of A.C Nielsen Company. What you may not know is that do more than just TV ratings they also have a Home Scan program where buyers record all their purchases into a scanner and upload it once a week. They also have the participants answers surveys about their buying habits and why they buy what they buy. I applied to join their National Consumer Panel (which is what the renamed the HomeScan program to) to be one of their panelists and I was chosen to receive a scanner and become a panelist.

I've always had a love of making my opinion know and I love to answer surveys. I actually was a radio ratings participate when I was a teen in New Zealand where they gave you a cute little notebook to write down what radio stations you listened to, at what time and for how long. Everyone in the house had their own and were to record their listening for 2 weeks. I was overjoyed. Of course I didn't really listen to that much radio but pencilled in what I though were cool teen appropriate choices. Alas my mother started recording her stations into my notebook so the ratings people probably thought I was a very dorky 13yo that listened to Cool FM which you KNOW is anything but.

So fast forward to about 10 days ago when my scanner finally arrive. It's a very cool retro looking thing and it took a bit of learning to get the scanning down right as it has this little pointy protrusion that you run over the barcode to scan. Though once you got that down it's fun and easy to use.

Transmitting was a bit of a challenge though it was eventually pinpointed down to the fact that the mouthpiece of my retro Pottery Barn phone could not make a tight seal with the speaker on my scanner. Plugged in a old phone with a regular mouthpiece. Works like a charm. I had assumed when I joined the panel that the scanner would sync via the internet but it actually transmits over the phone like a fax machine. A little weird but I guess they want a cross section of opinions not just those with the internet. Fair enough.

Now I would have done this just for the smugness that comes from know my opinion counts just a little bit more than yours. However they do allow you to earn points to earn gifts so thats a plus. But the BEST part about it? The scanner has a coupon button on it. I am going wear that thing out!

Lumene Your Life

Now I originally did not see this in last week's flyer when I first looked over it so was not fully prepared for this sale. While Don Coupon was getting his flu shot at the Minute Clinic I took the time to wander up and down the aisles as CVS and stumbled across a sale for Lumene for Buy One Get One 75% off. Of course I silently squealed with delight knowing I could order some $4/1 coupons and combine them with the $5/20 skincare coupons that the magic coupon machine was spitting out. I ended up doing 4 transactions over 3 cards to score all kinds of lotions and potions.

So here is how it broke down. The prices listed are the regular full price for that item. Each pair of items rung up as one at full price and one at 75%. I ordered 10 of the $4/1 Lumene coupons. The coupons excluded trial sizes and 10c wipes. I DID have to exchange one of the wipes packettes because after I unpacked my haul I noticed one had been opened and some of the wipes used. EEEWWW. Luckily CVS did not give me any hassles about that.

Trans #1 11/2 
10 Lumene 10ct wipes. $3.19 

No manufacturers coupons used. Used $5/20 skincare. Was $15 for 10 packs paid for with GC and ECB's $0 OOP

Trans #2 11/3
Pure Radiance Night Cream $23.99
Pure Radiance Beauty Drops $23.99
Used $5/20 and 2x $4/1 Qs Came to $13.88 after Qs $3.88 OOP after ECB

Trans #3 11/3
Radiant Touch Toner $11.79
Radiant Touch Moisturizing Cream Cleanser $11.79
2x Arctic Touch Deep Cleansing Peat Masking $10.49

Used $5/20 and 4x $4/1 Qs $6.84 OOP $1.84 after ECB's

Transaction #4

2x  Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover $6.79

Used 2x $4/1 Qs OOP $0.48c. Gave last two coupons to the cashier. Grand total $5.42 + tax OOP. I earned $5 Beauty Bucks on each account which gives me $15 to replenish some of the ECB's I used to lower my OOP.

Total Retail Value : $138.02 I could have dropped that at Sephora for one cream and a toner. I am proud of my haul. My goal of buying one of everything in the line is almost complete. 

Wet n Wild Haul.

So I decided to get the Wet N Wild 8 Shadow Palettes with some of my $1/1 coupons.  I got "Blue had me at hello" "Comfort Zone" and "Petal Pusher". The regular price is $4.99 so with the $1 discount they came out to $3.99. Only a 20% savings over retail but the real value come when you compare them to MAC eyeshadows as many of the colors are near duplicates of MAC shadows and the quality of the Wet n Wild Palette is pretty good the colors are very pigmented.

Ok so for each palette there are 8 shadows at a cost of 25c each.  A Mac shadow is about $15 so retail at MAC the same colors would cost you $120 for a palette. Now the Wet n Wild pans are about 1/2 of a normal MAC so in reality about a $60 value.

A 97% savings?

Free and Wild!

This coupon in my sunday preview paper makes me happy. I like Wet n Wild that make cheap but fairly good quality makeup items if you know what to look for. Their "666" lip pencil is infamous. W n W is good for trying out crazy new colors you'd NEVER pay full price for. With many items for 99c or less this makes a nice free thrill.

The wording is weird though. $1 off on any wet n wild eye, lip and nail products/

So is it $1 off any 1 or just $1 off any products you happen to be buying. IDK Theres no one per purchase disclaimer either. It seems like it was written by a copywriter who is not used to writing coupon fine print.

I'm going to use it as a $1/1 because that makes sense but if I buy more than 1 item does that preclude me from using more than one coupon? Thoughts?

Bargain or Bust?

I'm a Stila makeup girl ( Smashbox too ) I've been really good and haven't bought any very high end makeup in over a year. Last year Stila released a holiday eyeshadow palette that was like a color wheel. I really really really wanted that but refrained because it was a need. So I've been pining over it ever since.

This year they released another one a "Dreamcatcher" palette that also included blush and came with a free eye pencil. This year it seemed like a better bargain coming with 7 blushes and 29 eyeshadows and the aforementioned smudge stick eye pencil. The cost $39 a bargain for prestige cosmetics but a fortune when you can compare it to what you can get at the drugstore will deals and coupons.

I had just received my $10 P&G rebate gift card so I used that to reduce my OOP to $29. Now on the box it states you are getting a $366 value which I guess is based on the concept of you buying each eyeshadow individually  A single eyeshadow from Stila is $18 and blushes are $20 and I HAVE paid that in the past. Of course these aren't full size pans but let's compare anyways  29 x $18 = $522 plus 7 x $20 = $140 plus the smudge stick alone is $22 so bought individually it would cost you $684 so I guess the retail value figure is probably correct prorated based on how much of each color you get.

Of course good couponistas would NEVER pay that much for fear of having their binder seized and their coupon privileges revocked. So lets see how this compares to other bargains. So I paid $29 for it. Now lets assume that we got the $22 smudge stick for 50% off so $29 - $11 = $18.  Ok divide that by the 36 eyeshadow + blushes it comes out to 50c per color which is exactly what I paid for the Covergirl singles in this weeks CVS sale. Now the pros and cons. Pro = better quality shadow than Covergirl. Cons = Less product than the Covergirl singles.

I think its a bargain. I have Stila palettes that have lasted me for years and colors are fantastic. What do your think. Bargain or Bust?

Mailbox Surprises: Target Beauty Bag

I received this little gift from Target yesterday in the mail. I had submitted for it months ago when I first started being a "extreme couponer" All the other bloggers had reported receiving theirs so I assumed I was SOL. Before whenever I used to try and get those little beauty giveaways I would always be the last to know and miss out. Now I'm connected to the freebie matrix I've had ALOT more success.

The best part about this freebie is the bag. Its a nice quality lined little cosmetics bag and came at the perfect time as I was hunting around for something to put my eye pencils and mascaras in. Problem solved! The coupon booklet was disappointing. Not because the coupons weren't goo but because they expire in 2 weeks. Sadness :( . The samples were a 5pk of Ponds Cleansing Wipes. Always useful. A sample of John Frieda's Full Repair Shampoo and Conditioner. Probably more excited about the attached coupon though it's actually printed on an empty foil packet. I know the cashier I present that one to will be like Huh? There are also samples of Tressemme and Garnier and a sample of L'Oreal's Youth Code. Have wanted to try there creams but they don't have the super coupon deals like Olay does.

All in all a nice little mailbox surprise.

Got a dirty mouth? Clean it up!

Now when I first started using coupons one of my goals was to find a good deal on whitening strips for your teeth. I had first started to use them when they came out several years ago and the price was reasonable but then they started to add more claims and features I started buying them less and less as the price when up and up. I  think a set of white strips costs now between $35-50. Even with a $10 coupon that is pricey especially since I don't do the full course but just use one here and there to just lift the surface stains off. I've heard there are trial packs of the white strips but I've never seen them.

The night before I found this deal I had had a coupon dream about finding a killer deal on Crest White Strips. So you can imagine my delight at discovering that the Krazy Coupon Lady had posted a deal to get a 7 day supply of white strips for free. The deal was that you signed up as a new customer of SaveMore.com and they gave you a $10 credit. Then under the daily deals was a deal from Smile Bright for a 7 day supply of white strips for $7 ( normally $29 ). Use your $10 credit and they were free. If its free it's me.

Now this deal wasn't without it's hassles. I received my order on 11/1/11 but the order was originally placed on 9/9/11 so 8 weeks for the product to arrive and I had to contact Smile Bright several times and eventually had to contact SaveMore to ensure I got my order. Based on that alone I would not reorder. Also the strips come in very plain unmarked packaging. I'm sure they will work just the same maybe better but if you love fancy packaging this may not be the deal for you.