💰The Deal Guy Newsletter - Issue #90

🧾 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.

📚 50% OFF at Barnes & Noble: Hundreds of select hardcover books are 50% off online and in stores through Labor Day. This is one of B&N’s best book sales of the year and well-timed with back to school as some text books or novels for school may qualify.

🌯 Chipotle Is Giving Away More Than $1 Million in Free Food: Starting August 18 at 9am ET through August 20th, Rewards members can play this game once per day for chances to score food prizes, BOGOs and even free burritos for a year.

💰 New Amazon Credits: Amazon has three new offers worth checking before you place your order.

🧱 FREE LEGO Magazine For Kids: Parents can sign up kids ages 5 to 9 for LEGO’s printed magazine filled with comics, activities, puzzles and building ideas.

It is completely free, including delivery, and no credit card is required.

🚗 State Farm Is Sending $5 BILLION Back to Auto Policyholders: State Farm has started rolling out its largest-ever cash-back dividend, with eligible customers receiving an average of about $100 per vehicle.

If you had a State Farm auto policy at any point in 2025, payments are being sent out in waves by state. Depending on your account, you’ll either receive an email to claim a digital payment or a check automatically in the mail. You can also check your eligibility and payment status here.

📺 Get 2 Months of Paramount+ Premium for $0.99: If you’re searching for a new show, movie or series to binge, use promo code “p2mcs26prem” after selecting the monthly Premium plan from the “Get Started” page.

The offer works for new, returning and existing customers, but could end at any time!

Here are some recent subscriber submitted money-saving tips:

LJ writes: “Hi, Matt! Your videos and newsletter are so helpful to us retired old fogies! In response to Donna regarding Costco online vs in-store prices: The nearest Costco to us is a 2.5 - 3 hour drive one way. If we're not going to be up that way, the extra cost for the convenience of having items delivered to my home balances out my 5- or 6-hour drive time, gas, and vehicle wear and tear. Worth noting: some items are only available in store. Happy shopping!”

Barb from WI writes: “Regarding the reader interested in singles cruises, I suggest they reach out to a travel agent since their services are free of charge. I frequently watch a YouTuber, MH Family Adventures, who shares a lot of helpful information about singles cruising.”

Diana F writes: “Here's how I save a lot of money. I decide what things I want to subscribe to before Black Friday comes. Then, I subscribe during Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals. This allows me to resubscribe or change subscriptions, always during those deal periods. So, if I need a vpn, I pick the top two and then can switch off every year. I can also cancel my subscription early, and then I start getting offers "to come back", before my subscription even expires. I also switch around streaming services and don't subscribe to more than one or two per year. This way I can be flexible for the best deal.”

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)

Fall travel is right around the corner, and a few simple booking tricks now could save you hundreds of dollars on flights, hotels and rental cars over the next few months.

📈 Start Tracking Thanksgiving Flights NOW: Set a KAYAK Price Alert for your route and it will email you when fares change, instead of making you keep checking yourself. If you haven’t yet booked your holiday flight(s), I would do so before Labor Day.

🏷️ Don’t Get Fooled by a Flight That’s $100 Cheaper: A cheaper airport is not cheaper if you add parking, tolls, gas or a more expensive Uber. Compare the total door to door price before booking.

🧳 Use Google Flights For My Favorite Feature: Its Bags filter lets you enter the carry-ons or checked bags you need and adjusts the results to account for estimated baggage fees. That “cheap” ticket may suddenly not be cheapest.

🚙 Compare Airport AND Neighborhood Rental Locations: A short Uber to a nearby rental location can sometimes more than pay for itself. Costco members should also compare Costco Travel, which currently offers pay-at-the-counter reservations, free online cancellations and an additional-driver fee waiver at participating locations.

🏨 Compare the Hotel Member Rate AND Prepaid Rate: Join the hotel’s free loyalty program first, then compare its member, refundable and prepaid prices in actual dollars. If your plans are firm and prepaid saves $100 a night, I would absolutely consider taking the savings.

Back to school means more devices fighting for home WiFi. Before paying your internet company for a faster plan, try these first.

📍 Move Your Router: Get it out of a cabinet and into an open, central location. Walls, appliances and other obstacles can weaken your WiFi signal. It’s a good first step.

⚡ Use 5GHz for Devices That Need Speed: For TVs, laptops and gaming systems close to the router, 5GHz is generally faster. Use 2.4GHz when you need the signal to travel farther. You can make this selection on the network tab in most product apps.

🔌 Run ONE Ethernet Speed Test: Plug a computer directly into your router. If wired speeds are fast but WiFi is slow, you probably have a WiFi coverage or router problem rather than an internet-plan problem.

📺 Hardwire What Doesn’t Move: Smart TVs, desktop computers and game consoles can use Ethernet whenever possible. Wired connections can also reduce the number of devices competing over WiFi.

📡 Don’t Overbuy Your WiFi System: A smaller home or apartment may be better served by one strong router like the TP-Link Archer AX55. Mesh makes more sense in larger homes or where you actually have dead zones but don’t over-do it on access points. Start with what you need and add another only if coverage demands it.

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.

Elizabeth F Asks: “Hi! Thanks for finding and sharing the best deals!! I always enjoy watching your Black Friday videos, especially. I am a college student and have recently been interested in purchasing an Oura Ring, but the newest model is currently $400-500. Do you think these will go on sale for Black Friday? If so, please share which stores you think will have the best deals.”

Hi Elizabeth! Yes, I would wait. Last Black Friday the Oura Ring 4 dropped by $100, so I would watch Amazon’s October Prime event first, then Black Friday, with Amazon and Best Buy at the top of my list and Costco worth checking for a bundle (as the warehouse just started carrying the Oura 5.”

Jim S. Asks: “When would be a good time to buy a piece of luggage?

Hi Jim, your timing is good. Labor Day is your next solid window. Luggage deals can be surprisingly scarce between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, so if you see a strong Samsonite, Travelpro or similar sale over Labor Day weekend, I would buy rather than wait.

Amanda P. asks: ““Hi Matt, I love your videos and your newsletter! Here's my question. I have 2 dogs and one of them is this huge American Akita that she'd so much that I go crazy! What is the best vacuum for serious dog hair?”

Hi Amanda. Thank you for all the support! For Akita-level shedding, my first choice is the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 and it’s 40% off for a limited time (if maximum pickup is the priority).

If you want cordless, I’d look at the BISSELL PowerClean FurGuard Cordless. It has a self-cleaning brush roll built for pet hair, a separate tool for couches and furniture and up to 50 minutes of runtime. For someone vacuuming dog hair constantly, this would be my cordless pick

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!

💵 “Should you wait or buy? When mortgage rates will decrease.” - READ HERE.

💵 “Jalapeño salmonella outbreak gets even more serious” - READ HERE.

💵 “AI is giving out financial advice. Here’s where it can go wrong.” - READ HERE.

With one week to go until most of the big Labor Day sales drop, it would be an honor to steer you toward the savings that matter most to you. Reply to this email and let me know what you need and I’ll hunt those deals down.

Happy Savings!👋

The Deal Guy (Matt Granite)