Purina Whisker Lickin’s cat treats bag TPC for .99
-$1/1 TQ from target.com
=free treats

Hunts Canned Tomatoes 15oz TPC for .87
-$1/3 or $1/4 or .45/3 Hunts tomatoes from 10/2 SS
-.50/2 TQ from target.com
(3) hunts using $1/3 MQ
=1.11 or .37 each
(4) hunts using $1/4 MQ
=1.48 or .37 each
(6) hunts using two $1/3 MQ
=1.70 or .29 each

Earth’s Best Elmo fruit snacks 1.25 regular price
-$1/2 any Earth’s Best product from 10/2 PS
=1.50 or .75 each

Extra gum 15stick single pack .99 to 1.29 regular price
-$1/2 TQ from target.com
-$1/2 single from 10/2 RP
(2) extra .99 packs
=FREE
(2) extra 1.29 packs
=.58 or .29 each

Mission Tortillas TPC for 2.25, select types
-$1/1 Mission product peelie (bright pink and yellow circle)
=1.25 each
*varieties include soft taco and burrito-other types are in the 2.59 to 2.79 range

Fage greek Yogurt 1.09
-$2/5 fage cups MQ tearpad coupon
(5) fage cups
=3.45 or .69 each

Buy 10 Fuze, Vitaminwater or Smartwater ($1 each) and get a $5 GC
tearpad coupons for .55 on vitaminwater but hard to find
(10) drinks
=5.00 or .50 each

Select Pantene Stylers $3.50 each
-$3/2 Pantene MQ from 09-25-11 RP
-$2/1 pantene TQ peelie
(2) pantene stylers
=free

Oral-B Crossaction rechargeable toothbrush 12.99 (prices may vary)
-$10/1 any oral-b rechargeable toothbrush from 10-16-11 P&G
=2.99 each

I’m also keeping an eye out for a nice pumpkin at only $3.99 each.

Some of these coupons are no longer available from Target.com, or may not be found in all areas, but if you’ve got them, now is the time to spend them.

Let me start by saying that many of the couponers shown on this show are legitimate couponers and I respect not only them but their efforts to teach others how to coupon without breaking the rules. Obviously not everyone falls under that category though. Most people who are shown the errors of their ways realize they are wrong and change their ways, after all what good does it do to make it harder to get the next deal?

And then there is the couponer who calls herself the “Extreme Coupon Diva”. She was featured on the first new episode the other night. Her real name is J’aime. She is shown getting over $1,000 in merchandise from Safeway for just over $100. While the store in question (at the location she shopped) apparently doubles an unlimited amount of coupons, as compared to the normal handful, but several of the coupons do not seem to match the items purchased. We are shown a couple types of cereal going into her carts-yes more than one cart are are needed-and a completely different coupon being used, although its from the same brand. We are also treated to a mustard incident where she has 77 coupons and once there are only three left on the shelf she tells her husband to grab two more. He comments that he doesn’t even like mustard. Sheesh. Her coupons are shown being scanned-and put in by hand-since she locked the computer by buying so many items in one transaction. The cashier hand keys in the items, skipping the scanning/matching process normally used as the second line of defense against fraud. The first being reading them, which we don’t see either-although it could be edited out. Her shopping list includes the items and a list of family codes from the coupon barcode and the amount each should take off. The episode description says she uses 2,500 coupons to buy 1,500 items. We’ll hope she didn’t redeem some in her box of coupons, although in the pre-shopping prep she states she plans on using all of them. Also on the list of items not appearing to match are Pillsbury rolls/italian bread, yoplait cups/yo plus 4 packs, Nivea body wash/nivea lotion, buddig small packs/big packs and others.

While touring her stockpile we are shown a treasure trove of Bounty big packs and Tide detergent. While its often possible to get a good deal on these, the big packs are rarely free. Which lead to people remembering that she had been all over the net and YouTube last summer with her videos on how to save at Target. However these showed her misusing coupons as well. Windex, Tide, Bounty, Schick and other items are shown in the two videos. When she was called on it she promptly pulled them down. Her one trip is shown to cost only 0.03 and she remarks she couldn’t get her bag credit (five cents each bag used) because her total was so low. The screen flashes red at times before the cashier hits a button and moves on. This is indicative that the register cannot match the coupon to the product purchased. While it happens even when using a coupon correctly, it is often a (literal) red flag that there is something amiss. People who remember the videos and other information given, including those who have taken her class at $25-$35 per person, report that Crest White Strips coupons which are often for $5-10 were used on other items from the same brand. One of the important parts of the totals after coupons is that she shops in a state where they are taxed pre-coupon. So even if she got the items for free after coupons, she is taxed on the original total. So 0.03 is simply not legally possible without some very shady business. And we all know how the state and federal government don’t like to share their ill gotten gains…

Several forums and couponers with blogs and websites have publicized the information. The Youtube videos were dug up off someone’s hard drive and recirculated. J’aime herself said she would answer the accusations in a blog post and then that would be the end of it. Over 24hours later we have yet to see that post though. She has been posting from her Twitter account all day. She was called out on a JC Penny coupon posted, as it was apparently shared through e-mail to select people and a unique barcode. When it rains it pours.

What saddens me is how she has ruined her life and name for a couple hours of fame and the residual traffic to her blog. It is pretty impossible that everything is on the up and up so she will never be able to clear her name. She will forever be known for defrauding stores and manufacturers and giving couponers a bad name. She has a husband and kids, and they too will be open to the intense scrutiny of the world. I haven’t even touched on her appearance, as she primps on the show several times and says she thinks its important to look real nice while shopping. Her shiny tall boots aren’t my style and several disparaging comments have been made…I think its unnecessary if you’ve seen the clip. It speaks for itself. what sickens me is she states she has taught 750 people in her classes, which makes 750 potential people doing the same thing, although likely not on the same scale as she is.

And to Tiffany who had to share the episode: I am sorry you have been overshadowed by her. I think you have a wonderful family and a great outlook on life.

For more information feel free to browse the following information:
Complete Episode: Watch here
Target Video One: video here
Target Video Two: video here
Jill Cataldo’s Post on the Topic: go to blog
We Use Coupons Post on the Topic: read here

Register Reward Offers:

Always products 2.99 get $2 RR, manufacturer coupon for .50/1 or $1/1 in the 02-27-11 PG if you are lucky I only got $/2 in mine

Softsoap Body Wash 2/$7.00 get $5 RR, no manufacturer coupons

Other Sales:

Cottonelle Wipes 84ct 2.99 with in-ad coupon, manufacturer coupon for $1/1 72ct or bigger from 01-23-11 SS (expires 3/6 though-shop early or PM elsewhere)

Hanes socks, undies or undershirts 2/$10.00, manufacturer peelie for $1 good only at WAGs

32oz WAGs honey 3.99 with in-ad coupon

My RR don’t expire again until 3/13 so I am feeling kind of picky. I need the wipes and the body wash looks interesting depending on what scents are included. Hanes products is a nice way to spend RR though, much rather use funny money than cash to buy undershirts we always can use.

RR Offers:
Rephresh Brilliant tampons 5.99 get 5.00RR, manufacturer coupon from website for $1.00
Goody Hair Elastics 2.99 get $2.00 RR, no manufacturer coupon (but I’ve got wicked long hair and these never seem to last)
New Olay Luscious Embrace, Silk Whimsy or Purely Pristine 3/$12.00 get $3.00 RR, manufacturer for free Secret deodorant when you buy Olay bars or body wash from 01-30-11 P&G
Gillette Fusion Proglide 9.99 get $4.00 RR, manufacturer coupons for $4 off in 01-30-11 P&G
Pampers Jumbo Pack 8.99 get $2 RR, manufacturer coupon for $2 off diapers and wipes in 01-30-11 P&G, WAGs coupon in infant booklet for $2 off

Other Deals:
Arizona drinks 2/$1.00 with in-ad coupon limit 4
Theater Boxed candy .69 limit 6
Hunts sauce 3/$1.00 with in-ad coupon limit 3
Kraft Mac&Cheese .69 with in-ad coupon limit 3
Cadbury creme eggs 2/$1.00 with in-ad coupon limit 6, manufacturer coupon for .50/2 from tearpad
Purex 3-n-1 sheets bogo free (7.99 price), manufacturer coupon for $3/1 from 02-20-11 RP
American Seed Packets 5/$1.00 with in-ad coupon limit 10
Hyponex Potting Soil 8lbs .99 with in-ad coupon limit 3
Dove deodorant 1.99 with in-ad coupon, limit 4, manufacturer coupon for $2 off in 01-30-11 RP

There are also some soda deals, but I haven’t gotten my hands on an actual ad so I’m not sure what my region was offered. Hoping for the Dr. Pepper deal perhaps. If not I’ll pick up some Pepsi Throwback at Rite Aid instead.

Will be trying to order at Shaws to use the remainder on Mr. Clean liquid. Shaws is running a Buy 30 get 10 CAT offer. So a set of 8, using 4 bogo frees is 9.96 get 10 back.

I’d love to find somewhere to use the Dove or Tide Stain Release for a good deal. Might have to keep digging.

Shelf price of Align was 29.99 when I looked. It shows as 28.99 in their online store. 28.99 is advertised week of 3/7-3/13. Maybe we’ll get lucky and it will go on sale the last week or so.

(1) Align 28.99
-(1) $5 Align manu coupon (2/7 P&G insert)
-(1) $5/20 or 5/25 RA VV coupon
18.99 oop, get $10 align SCR, and 28.99 toward P&G

If the Gillette Sating Care double dips as well you can toss that in to finish the P&G. A few scents are on unmarked clearance (avocado is the one I bought for 1.49, get $1 SCR).

Should be free or a moneymaker after both rebates clear. Which is pretty good since this stuff has been $20ish since it came out.

My math looks like this:

20.00 dog food plus filler

-$5 CAT

-$5 in redbox codes

10.00 for 17.5lbs which is below my price point of $1/lb for doggie food.