💰The Deal Guy Newsletter - Issue #72

🧾 INSIDE THIS WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

BONUS: Get 22% OFF Particle's Gravité Cologne w/CODE: DEALGUY22 (*This deal is sponsored by Particle)

**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.

🍰 Bakery Orders Finally Going Digital at Costco: Your local warehouse will soon allow you to place cake and deli tray orders via the app, rather than filling out those paper forms in store.

This is LONG overdue in my opinion, especially if you’re someone like me who tends to go in for one thing and comes out with 20.

While we’re discussing Costco.. if you happened to purchase one of the Synergy restaurant gift cards from a warehouse in the past few years it may no longer work.

Costco is offering full refunds on any remaining balance, so bring the physical cards to customer service if you are affected.

🍳 Denny’s $14.99 Spring Break Pass: This limited Spring Break Pass includes one free Everyday Value Slam per day from March 2 through April 14.

It costs $14.99 and goes on sale February 24 at 11am ET for members (free to sign up) and noon for the general public although I don’t suspect there will be many leftovers.

🏷 New “Deal Bar” at Kohl’s: A store favored by many of you is rolling out a front of store “Deal Bar” in every location featuring items priced at $10 & under.

It is basically a value grab zone with seasonal finds although beware these are designed to be impulse buys right to catch your eye right when you walk in.

🥞 Free IHOP Pancakes on March 3rd: It’s hard to believe March is right around the corner so consider making your calendars for National Pancake Day where you can score a free short stack for dine in guests. No coupon needed, just show up hungry.

📸 CVS Photo Sale Through February 28: With a few days remaining, this is one of the best print sales I’ve ever seen.

Custom photo giftables are 50% off with code FEB50 alongside buy one get two free on select prints and enlargements with B1G2FEB.

Here are some recent subscriber submitted money-saving tips:

Lori from NE writes (in response to the a subscriber’s request for a stand mixer recommendation): “Hey, Matt! You had a question about a stand mixer. I'm not sure what a break hook is, but Pampered Chef has a really nice one. There are even attachments (sold separately of course) so that you can make pasta! I would suggest that you check it out.”

Mona writes: “RETURN TIP for TJ Maxx & Marshals: If you use PayPal for an online purchase, you cannot return the item in the store. You'll have to return it via mail and lose $11.99. Signed, Learned the hardway”

Mark from OH writes: “When Amazon shows a lightning deal, I still check Warehouse and open box first. I’ve found the exact same item for less, especially on small appliances. Most of the time the box is damaged, not the product.”

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)

❌ DON’T Use third party booking sites for tiny savings
If something changes, it can become a headache. Sometimes direct booking is worth the extra $15 for what’s typically better treatment from the hotel and better customer service if you need to make a last minute change.

❌ DON’T get lured by that teaser fare: That $129 “flight sale” can quickly become $199 once you add a carry on, seat selection, and taxes. Always click through to the final screen before deciding if a trip is within budget.

❌ DON’T Wait any longer on airport parking
Prepaid parking can jump in price or sell out as departure dates approach.

✅ DO Shift your travel dates if you can to save: Flying Thursday instead of Friday or returning Tuesday instead of Sunday can dramatically change pricing. Even a one day adjustment can move the needle.

✅ DO Check parking and resort fees before committing: A hotel that looks cheaper can add $40 to $60 per night in parking or “resort” fees, which can add up fast over a five night stay.

✅ DO Revisit rental car pricing: If you were smart and booked your rental car in advance, its worth rechecking pricing closer to departure in case rates have drop.

In the coming months, I'll be releasing a video on the top ways to save money with your Costco membership that most people don't know about.

Is there something you personally use your Costco membership for that most people have no idea is even a thing? Reply to this email and let me know!

To get your question answered, simply respond to this email with any money-saving related question and feel free to include your first name so I can address you properly.

💡 Carlee Asks: “Do you have any suggestions for the best vacuums for dog hair? Preferably a stick vacuum. We've gone through a couple Dyson's in the last couple years; while they work good initially, it seems like we're still going through them too quickly?”

Hi Carlee! I’ve had better luck outside of Dyson lately too. The Shark Stratos Cordless (model IZ862H) handles pet hair really well without tangling up, and the Levoit LVAC-300 is surprisingly powerful for the price and comes with a HEPA filter. Both are on on sale this week and easy to clean out if you stay on top of the filter and roller.

💡Theresa T Asks: “Hi Matt, Love your videos and newsletter. I'm looking for a travel backpack that I can use to help avoid baggage fees when flying. Any suggestions on one that holds a lot and doesn't cost a fortune?”

Theresa, thank you so much for being part of my YouTube life and here as well. I can completely relate on the backpack factor. The Osprey Farpoint 40 (or Fairview 40 if you want the women’s fit) is a go-to carry-on… and it's just under most airline limits and packs like a suitcase.

💡 Kevin Asks: “Love the YouTube channel and weekly newsletters. My son is a college freshman with a broken clip-on bed frame fan. Any suggestions for a powerful yet quiet rechargeable or battery powered replacement? Thank you! - Kevin M., Pittsburgh, PA”

Hi Kevin! I’d look at the Viniper 6-Inch Rechargeable Clip Fan. It's quiet, clips firmly, and runs for up to 30 hours depending on the speed. Another strong pick is the more high end 8-inch Koonie Rechargeable Clip Fan with a 10000+ mAh battery. Both would be great for a dorm beds and would stay whisper quiet.

If your yard looks anything like mine right now, there is snow, ice, and water everywhere. When it warms up, all of that has to go somewhere and where it goes can get expensive. (If you’re one of the lucky ones who doesn’t get snow where you live.. I hope this information makes you appreciate your zip code just a little more).

🏠 Letting snow sit against your foundation: Even if it is already melting, move the heavy piles a few feet away from your home. You want that water flowing away, not pooling at the base of your walls.

🪟 Ignoring window wells and exterior drains: If they are packed with ice or debris, water has nowhere to go but inside. Clearing them now takes minutes.

🪣 Waiting to test your sump pump: Pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure it kicks on, pumps the water out, and shuts off properly. Do this before a heavy rain hits.

🚰 Forgetting about the discharge line: Check that the pipe carrying water away from your house is not frozen or blocked. If it is clogged, your sump pump is working for nothing.

🧹 Skipping a quick gutter check: Overflowing gutters push water down the sides of your home instead of away from it. A quick visual inspection now can prevent damage later.

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!

💵 “Why homeowners are paying more for mortgage credit checks” - READ HERE.

💵 “Spirit airline launches new debit card with perks” - READ HERE.

💵 “6 brands to watch in 2026” - READ HERE.

With spring right around the corner, if there are any tasks your tackling or supply savings you need, I’m happy to cover any topic! Let me know what you’d like to see in next week’s newsletter, reply to this email and let me know!

Happy Savings!👋

The Deal Guy (Matt Granite)