This is not a picture of Glenn's new shoes. Credit: Stocksnapper/Fotolia.com

Longtime reader Glenn shared an incredible deal he got by triple stacking discounts. His story is almost too good to be true:

I just saved 90% off retail on a pair of Docker dress shoes at the Men’s Warehouse today. This isn’t a savings that everyone can get. As a member of the MW email club, I was sent an email giving me a chance to buy dress shoes for 40% off. Earlier, after buying two pairs of dress slacks, they sent me a $50 gift certificate on any purchase good through 12/31/11. I took the coupon and gift certificate with me, and they said I could use them together.

The shoes I selected were priced at $100. I saved $40 from the coupon and applied the $50 certificate to the balance leaving only $9.99 that wasn’t covered. Add $.87 sales tax, and I got a good pair of dress shoes for only $10.86! Plus, I used my Visa rewards card, so I’ll be earning 1% cash back on the purchase.

Glenn, I should not be surprised after you scored $199 in birthday freebies for just $4, but wow! I haven’t saved 90% off a new item for sometime so this is inspiring.

Got a hot deal to share? Email me.

Karen's new 84% off curtains!

Karen snagged a totally hot deal at JC Penney this past weekend – 84% off new curtains. Her deal was too good not to share!

I had an experience last week I just had to share with the queen of bargains. I have desperately wanted to purchase new curtains for my living room. We’ve had the same ones for 11 years, so we were way overdue for a change.

However we are primarily  a single income family ( I make enough subbing at my kids’ school to cover piano, horseback riding etc.), and we have 6 windows in our living room which makes it a pretty big expense.

I received an e-mail from JC Penney about winter clearance up to 80% off, and I had a coupon come in the mail for an additional savings, so I decided to check it out. I found some panels I liked that had originally been $40 each for $12, and matching valances that were $20 for $6 each!

That would have been $30 per window [two panels per window plus the valance] which was still a little hard to swallow, so I checked the measurement of the panels and realized they were wide enough to order just one per window if I cut them in half and sewed up the edge.

I am no Martha Stewart, but we’re talking straight lines here! This brought the cost down to $18 per window, and after using the coupon that came in the mail, my grand total (with free shipping to the store) was $97.18. I am amazed that for under $100 I have a fabulous makeover, and just had to share.

Yay me!

Karen, I’m so flattered you think I’m the queen of bargains! Hehehe. And super impressed that you brought down the original retail cost of the curtains from $600 (two curtains and a valance equals $100 times 6 windows) plus tax to $97.18.

Using a coupon with a sale item (called coupon stacking) is the best way to maximize savings. You took it a step further when you realized you could buy fewer curtain panels, cut them in half, and sew them up yourself. Big kudos to you!

Got a great deal recently? Email me your story!

Hamburger Helper, Rice A Roni or Pasta Roni $1
Use 75 cents/3 from 3/7 or 4/11 Smart Source
Final price: 67 cents each when you buy 3

Nabisco Snack Crackers or Sunshine Cheez-It Crackers $1.99
Use $1/1 Nabisco Ritz Munchables Pretzel Crisps from 3/14 Smart Source, if included in sale
Final price: 99 cents

Snuggle Fabric Softener $3.99
Use $3/1 Snuggle from 3/28 Red Plum
Final price: 99 cents

Hershey’s or Reese’s Candy Bar 50 cents
Use 55 cents/1 Reese’s Dark Peanut Butter Cups from 3/14 Smart Source
Final price: free

Check out the rest of her deals at Ralphs this week. Thanks, Cathy!

“You’re going to the drugstore? Are you going to use coupons?”

“No,” I said sheepishly.

“Really?”

“I was too lazy to look through anything but the Sundays coupons,” I confessed.

“Ohhhhh. I’m going to out you on your blog,” he teased.

“Hmph.”

At Walgreens, however, I realized there were a ton of ways to stretch my dollars – without coupons. I bought everything you see in the above picture, which has a retail value of $49.07, for $3.42! Here’s how I did it.

• I first checked the Walgreens store circular for coupons for items on my list (see below). I found two.
• I wasn’t brand loyal. Instead, I started with a general list and took advantage of a buy-one-get-one free sale on batteries and other deals.
• I carefully reviewed cosmetic prices and leveraged a sweet deal on Revlon products, which were 40 percent off. Plus, if I bought $10 in Revlon products I would get a $5 voucher to buy more Revlon products.
• I bought off-brand candy (the gummy bears).
• I bought products on sale (Hershey’s chocolate, beauty tools, polish, batteries, tissues).
• I went back to ask the manager when I noticed a pricing mistake on my receipt and got a refund.
• I quickly used my bonus $5 Revlon voucher before it could expire. (Walgreens Register Rewards have to be used on your “next” purchase, which means you can come back another day or wait in line again. RR are only good for a few days so I like to spend them on the same trip.)

Even if I did not have the $25 voucher, my tab would have come to $28.42 – a 42% discount over the $49.07 retail price. Not too bad for leaving my manufacturer coupons at home.

Becoming Green/Flickr

Get a free subscription to one of the top (read: trashy) celebrity gossip mags, OK! For a limited time only.

Get a free Butterfinger candy bar if you are one of the first 100,000 to fill out a form via the manufacturer’s Facebook page.

Coupon stacking rocks, especially when combining sales with coupons gets you amazing products for free, like this Target scenario for three Seventh Generation products.

Get 80% off at Restaurant.com for a limited time only.

Coming later today on my WalletPop blog: a 30% off coupon for Borders books. Check all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.

qmnonic/Flickr

Cathy from ChiefFamilyOfficer shared this week’s Ralphs deals. If you’ve never used coupons, read my post on the basics of clipping coupons. Or fast forward to advanced coupon clipping techniques in my interview with master clipper Erin Gifford of Coupon Cravings.

Farmer John Bacon – $1.97
Use $1 off 1 Farmer John Bacon printable coupon
Final price: 97 cents after coupon

French’s Mustard – $1.67
Use $.50 off 1 Frenchs Classic Yellow Mustard from the 1/24 Smart Source (exp 3/31) or 3/21 Smart Source
Or use $.50 off 1 Frenchs Mustard Spicy Brown, Honey Mustard or Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce from the 1/24 Smart Source (exp 3/31) or 3/21 Smart Source
Final price: 67 cents after double coupon

Welch’s 100% Juice – $2.99
Use $1 off 1 Welchs 100% Grape Juice or 100% Grape Juice Blend from the 2/7 Smart Source
Final price: $1.99 after coupon

The following deal will be available only during the 8-hour sale on Thursday:

Tropicana Pure Premium OJ – $1.88 (limit 2)
$1 off 2 Tropicana Pure Premium or Trop 50 from the 2/21 Red Plum or $1 off 1 Trop 50 from 3/14 Red Plum
Final price: as low as 88 cents after coupon

Read the rest of the deals at Ralphs Cathy found. Thanks, Cathy!