💰The Deal Guy Newsletter - Issue #88

🧾 INSIDE THIS WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

**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.

🛒 $14 BJ’s Membership: This is an awesome deal if you have a club near you. A standard BJ’s membership normally costs $60, so at just $14 for a 1 year membership.. this is great value!

Note: This is only valid for new members, includes an additional household membership, and automatically renews unless you turn that off.

📱 75% OFF Google Fi Unlimited Plans for One Year: New customers who bring their own compatible phone can get unlimited service starting at $9 per month instead of its regular price of $35.

Service is through T-Mobile’s network and the offer ends August 3.

🏷️ New Rebates from P&G: P&G just launched two new rebates on popular household essentials from brands like Tide, Bounty, Charmin, Cascade, Gain, Olay and more, where you can score up to $25 back depending on your spend.

BONUS TIP: Buying on Amazon? Stack this with their existing $15 back when you spend $50 offer for even more savings.

📦 The Deadline to Claim Up to $51 From the Amazon Prime Settlement is Today: Customers who were unintentionally enrolled in Prime or had trouble cancelling between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025 may qualify if they used fewer than ten Prime benefits during a 12 month period.

Claims must be filed by the end of today, July 27. Regulators said it was too easy to join Prime but harder to cancel. Not everyone will qualify, but it is worth checking if you might be eligible.

🍰 Half Price Cheesecake Slices: Dine in guests can get one slice from more than 30 cheesecake flavors for half price on July 30.

As someone who deeply appreciates desserts (which you might have noticed from my YouTube Videos), this deal is definitely one I will be taking advantage of.

🌊 Check Repositioning Cruises: Cruise lines discount certain one way sailings when ships move between regions. The nightly rate can be excellent and if the port is popular enough, airfare to get you home can still make the price cheaper by comparison.

🔎 Keep Checking the Price After You Book: Unlike airfare, I’ve seen crazy cruise deals drop last minute and you don’t need to be spontaneous to benefit. If your fare drops before final payment, call the cruise line or your travel agent. There are often many loopholes where you can get a lower price or a better cabin.

🚢 Consider an Older Ship: New ships usually command the highest prices. An older ship may visit the same ports and include similar meals and entertainment for hundreds of dollars less.

💻 Buy Extras Before Boarding: Internet access, dining packages, excursions, and spa treatments are often cheaper before sailing. Check your cruise planner regularly because promotions can change.

🗺️ Compare Independent Excursions: Local tour operators can charge much less than the cruise line. Book with a well reviewed company and leave plenty of time to return before departure.

📵 Turn On Airplane Mode: Your phone can connect automatically to an expensive maritime cellular network at sea. Turn on airplane mode and activate WiFi separately to avoid surprise charges.

💳 Check Your Account Every Day: Review your purchases and service charges through the cruise app. Typos and double billings are unfortunately all too common based on transactions being put through at rapid rates. Billing mistakes are much easier to fix before the final morning and very difficult to defend after the fact.

Want to see more travel secrets in future newsletters? Reply to this email and let me know!

Here are some recent subscriber submitted money-saving tips:

Kay from CA writes: “I'm a senior on a fixed income who recently moved to a desert city. Although I've been doing everything I can to minimise my electricity bill and to use other means to cool my home during the summer, it's impossible to avoid using A/C, and my bill has shot up. I checked the electricity company website, and they offer two programs that help cut the bill. Even though I'm the only person in my household, with my income I did qualify for one of the programs. I am now getting half off the base price (a fixed fee) and 18% off the rest of the bill.”

Melissa from TX writes: “I’ve been using my United care advantage plan rewards
The one I do is I walk 5000 steps 10 times a month (I really walk more than that but you’ve gotta do 5000 steps 10 times a month) and they give me $10 to spend through the MEDICARE ADVANTAGE plan catalog that’s online shipped through Amazon. They use the tracker on my phone for my steps. Just look under rewards. It’s for MEDICARE ADVANTAGE United health AARP. I do it with the United healthcare app everything‘s online and it gets to me within three days and shipping is free.”

Jerry from TX writes: “Every time I shop at Kohl’s, I buy a discounted Kohl’s gift card online first. I save about ten percent right off the bat, then still earn Kohl’s Cash on top. It feels like free money.”

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)

Here are 10 things worth waiting until August to buy, when prices are likely to drop even further.

✅ Mattresses: Labor Day mattress promotions usually begin before August ends, but compare the final price after delivery and removal fees.

✅ School Supplies: Notebooks, pencils, folders, and other classroom basics are heavily discounted, with additional savings available during state sales tax holidays.

✅ Laptops and Tablets: Back to school promotions bring strong computer discounts, and some states include eligible devices in their August sales tax holidays.

✅ Grills: Stores start clearing grills as the summer selling season ends, with deeper markdowns usually appearing later in August.

✅ Patio Furniture and Outdoor Decor: Patio sets, umbrellas, outdoor rugs, and planters move to clearance as stores prepare for fall merchandise.

✅ Lawn and Garden Equipment: Lawn mowers, trimmers, hoses, and gardening tools become harder to sell as fall approaches.

✅ Summer Clothing and Swimwear: Shorts, sandals, swimsuits, and other warm weather clothing are marked down while there is still time to use them.

✅ Air Conditioners and Fans: Cooling products can drop in price late in August as retailers reduce their remaining summer inventory.

✅ Vacuums and Robot Vacuums: August promotions often include traditional and robotic vacuums as households prepare for fall.

✅ In Ground Pools: With the exception of FL and TX residents, August is prime time to lock in a pool deal for late season construction of 2027 delivery. Local contractors and companies like Leisure Pools often end of season discounts that are highly impressive.

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.

💡 Rod R: Asks: “Hi Matt! I am looking for new furniture. A couch and maybe a lift recliner. Both on the higher side so I can get in and out of them. Side tables too. I will also need a new desk for my office. "L" shaped with drawers at each end. I'm moving soon and need it all. It's just me now, so I hope this will be the last time I buy a whole house full of furniture. Might as well make it one for the books.”

Hi Rod! I was excited to see your name in my inbox because I know you’ve been a supporter of mine for A LONG time and I really appreciate you. On the furniture front, Labor Day sales (that actually begin last week and a half of August) are the best time for furniture deals of all kind. Lift recliners and couches are hot items right now with discounts at both Sam’s Club and Costco. If you’re not a member, check local stores at the end of the month. Most promos reward bulk purchases or higher spends. Good luck with the move!

💡 Gus K. Asks “I really appreciate your emails, and especially your videos. I have a request. I'm looking for a small 5 cuft, or 7 cuft chest freezer, and I want to know when and where to get the best deal. Thanks in advance!”

Hi Gus! Thank you for the kind words and happy to help. Chest Freezers will drop for Labor Day from Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and warehouse clubs. If you need something now that’s within 5% of the deals we’ll see, this almost 5 cubic foot find is $170 at Lowe’s but only until July 29th.

💡Brandon S asks: “Something I have always wondered but haven’t had the patience to understand is the cadence of Costco’s regular sales. Most non-Costco grocery stores in my area run their ads weekly from Wednesday through Tuesday, but Costco seems to run a month long ad, with other shorter ads in between, sometimes seeming to overlap. Can you share in an upcoming newsletter the regular expected cadence for Costco’s ads? How long are they? What shorter ads are added in the middle of other ad periods? Not specific items, just the timeframe and duration of their ads.”

Brandon, you clearly know Costco and you’ve picked up on something both unique and confusing. If it feels like Costco runs two sale calendars at once, that’s because it basically does. The main Member-Only Savings book generally runs Monday through Sunday for about four weeks, followed by either the next book or a one-week break. Costco also releases smaller weekly deal sheets that overlap the main sale or fill those gaps, although some individual deals last longer to make matters more confusing. Before late 2025, these shorter promotions were usually nine-day Hot Buys placed between the larger books. My suggestion: treat the big book as Costco’s four-week sale, check for extra deals each Monday and always follow the expiration date beside the individual item. (The exception is late October through December, when holiday promotions pile on top of the regular schedule).


‼️ BONUS TIP.. for the MANY wonderful people who asked questions about fridges and other major appliances: Labor Day is your next best bet, including the last week of August. If you miss this chance, your next big chance are the Black Friday sales in November!

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!

💵 “Six money mistakes you’ll regret when you’re older” - READ HERE.

💵 “Major doorbell companies getting sued for privacy invasion” - READ HERE.

💵 “Sacrifice savings to enjoy life more now?” - READ HERE.

Where is the summer going? How are we just over a month until Labor Day? Please keep me in mind for any purchase questions as the holiday savings weekend approaches. I’m at your deal disposal!

Happy Savings!👋

The Deal Guy (Matt Granite)