💰The Deal Guy Newsletter - Issue #49

🧾 INSIDE THIS WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

• 🏷️ Top 5 Deals of the Week - Crazy Toy Deal and 5LB Candy Deals

• 🚨 NEW Shopping Info You NEED To Know - Pickup Savings + Lowe’s Freebies

• ✍🏼 SHARE YOUR SAVINGS! - Viewer Submitted Frugal Tips

• 🛠️ DIY Projects That Cost Less in August – When Timing = Big Discounts

• ❌ 5 Things You Can’t Return on Amazon – Avoid These Shopping Surprises

• 📰 IN THE NEWS - Latest money-saving headlines

• 🛒 WAREHOUSE DEALS! - Costco & Sam's Club Clearance!

1. 🧸 Surprisingly Awesome Toy Sale at Macy’s (Limited Time)

2. 🧼 24 Pack Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets JUST $8.99! 

3. 👟 Up to 40% Off Brooks Running Shoes at Zappos (Free Returns)

4. 🍭  5LB Tub of Twizzlers ONLY $6.91! (Only comes around once a year!)

5. 💻 M4 MacBook Air for $799.99 ($200 OFF - Cheaper than Prime Day!)

**These deals could end or sell out at ANY time. If you buy something through any of the links featured in this newsletter I may get a small share of the sale.

🚨 NEW Shopping Info You NEED To Know!

Fall Travel Deals: If any fall travel is on the horizon (excluding Thanksgiving), Expedia has an impressive 25% OFF or more hotel sale with an equally worthwhile flight deal list from Delta (just type in the airport closest to you and the list will populate).

Adidas Back To School Sale: Advertised as an up to 40% off storewide sale, the more realistic discounts range from 20% - 30% but are still quite good. The sale runs until August 8th.

$10 OFF When You Spend $40 for Walgreens 1 Hour Delivery: Not only can you save money, but this offer can also save you time. Order online and use code DELIVERY10 when you spend $40 or more at Walgreens with their 1 Hour Delivery Service.

Free Lowe’s Soccer Ball: On August 2 at 10 AM, MyLowe’s members (free for anyone to join) score a free kids’ soccer ball kit with pump and bag. This is available as an in-store only promo and stock may be limited to those who arrive on the earlier side.

✍🏼 SHARE YOUR SAVINGS!

Here are some recent subscriber submitted money-saving tips:

Jimmy from Missouri writes “Missouri has a no tax on appliances every April.  It’s called Show Me Green.  If you Google “Show Me Green Missouri” you’d find it.  Just thought I’d let you know since the no tax on school supplies is coming up.” 

Steve writes: “I keep a small price journal for things we buy often, like laundry detergent and cereal. It makes spotting a real sale easy, and I’ve avoided a lot of ‘fake’ discounts that way.”

Susan from Ohio writes: “Next time you make dinner at home, go ahead and pack a few portions into containers before you serve yourself. It’s an easy way to keep portions in check and you’ll have a couple lunches ready to grab for work.”

Reply to this email and share it with me! If I feature your tip, I’ll give you a shoutout in next week’s newsletter!

(Include your first name + the state you live in so I can add it to the shoutout)

🛠️ DIY Projects That Cost Way Less In August!

Shopping certain products and material in August is one of the best-kept secrets for saving on home projects. As the summer rush winds down, retailers start clearing shelves, which makes this the perfect window to plan upgrades without overspending:

• 🪵 Mulch and Garden Tools: Garden sections discount heavily at the end of the season. Stores often bring back 5-for-$10 the first week of August with terrific outdoor power tool deals just starting to pop up.
  

• 💦 Power washers: Outdoor tools see some of their biggest markdowns now, with prices often 25–50% below what you’d pay in March or April.
  

• 🎨 Paint: Many paint brands roll out summer promotions from now through the end of August, with up to 40% off. If you’ve been putting off a paint job, this is one of the cheapest months to do it.
  

• 🚿 Bathroom vanities: These drop by up to 40% through the first week of August as stores try to move large fixtures before fall inventory arrives.
  

• 🪚 Cabinetry: Now through mid-August is when prices start sliding as new kitchen and bath lines come in. This is superb end of summer timing for anyone planning a remodel or refresh.
  

• 🪜 Fence and deck replacement materials: By late August, these enter full clearance mode. If you’ve been eyeing a repair or replacement, the discounts can make a big difference on lumber and composite pricing.

❌ 5 Things You Can’t Return on Amazon

Amazon makes returns easy for most products, but there are a handful of categories where once you buy it, you’re pretty much locked in. These are worth knowing so you don’t get stuck with something you can’t send back!

• 🧸 Certain kids’ toys: Especially those with hygiene or safety seals. Once opened, they’re non-returnable even if unused.

• 🥫 Groceries and most perishable snacks: Anything with a short shelf life can’t be returned. If it arrives damaged or spoiled, Amazon will usually issue a refund, but they won’t take the item back.

• 💻 Digital purchases: Downloaded e-books, music, or video rentals are all final sale once accessed. In most cases there’s no way to undo a digital download.

• 🎮 Prepaid game and gift cards: These are always final sale to prevent fraud.

• 📦 Items shipped by third-party sellers: Many non-Prime items fulfilled by a third party only qualify for a replacement if the item is proven defective, not a refund. I always look very closely at whether Amazon or someone else is shipping before I place an order.

📰 IN THE NEWS

Every week in this section of the newsletter, I share some of the most interesting and helpful money-related articles I’ve read over the past week. I hope you find these as valuable as I did!

💵 “The ten worst U.S. states to retire in”  - READ HERE.

💵 “11 thing awesomely frugal people always leave in freezer” - READ HERE.

💵 “Mapped: 2025 Average house prices state by state” - READ HERE.

This portion of the newsletter is sponsored by Superhuman AI.

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💻 ONLINE-ONLY WAREHOUSE DEALS

TOP 5 COSTCO DEALS

1. Huge Online Appliance Savings Event (Ends Thursday July 31st)

2. Stanley Jr Garden Tool Set: $29.97 (Was: $49.97)

3. 72” x 24” Washable Runner: $19.97 (Was: $69.97)

4. Outdoor Push Sweeper: $99.97

5. 70” Samsung  4K TV + 3 Year Warranty: $429.97

TOP 5 SAM'S CLUB DEALS

1. 100 Pack Finish Dishwasher Detergent: $14.88

2. Back To School Essentials 42 pc Set: $9.98 (Until August 17)

3. 57” Smokeless Fire Pit w/ Wood Storage: $271.58 ($222 OFF!)

4. 16’ x 8’ Above Ground Pool: $279.91 (Was: $499)

5. 12V ATV Ride On: $88.91 ($71 OFF)

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this week’s newsletter. If there is anything you’d like to see in next weeks newsletter, reply to this email and let me know!

Happy Savings!👋

The Deal Guy (Matt Granite)