💰The Deal Guy Newsletter - Issue #95

🧾 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.

🦃 Aldi's $39 Thanksgiving Dinner: Aldi just announced a complete Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people for under $39, which is $1 less than it sold for last year.

One important catch: the turkey won't be available until November 4th and the pumpkin pie mix arrives November 11th, so don't expect to buy everything in one trip just yet.

🧸 Amazon’s Free Holiday Toy Catalog: Remember the joy of circling toys in the Sears Wish Book or the Toys R Us Big Book?

Amazon’s new 2026 Kids Gift Book is bringing that tradition back with this completely free magazine featuring more than 600 toys, tear-out wish lists, stickers, and activity pages.

💰 New Amazon Credits Worth Claiming: I've spotted several Amazon promotional credit offers worth checking out this week, particularly if you're planning to stock up on snacks, beverages or household essentials!

Here are three different offers to explore, with qualifying products and restrictions varying by promotion.

- Spend $35 on Game Day Snacks, get $10 back
- Spend $50 on Household Essentials, get a $15 credit (Use code STOCKUPSAVE).
- Spend $25 on Always Products, get $5 off

🍩 Free Krispy Kreme Donuts for Halloween: Wear a costume to a participating Krispy Kreme on October 30th or October 31st and receive a free Original Glazed or Classic Ring Donut with no purchase necessary.

🍎 Costco's New $2.99 Apple Pie Sundae: Costco has just rolled out a new fall dessert featuring vanilla soft serve layered with apple pie filling and pieces of pie crust for just $2.99!

This is the first time I’ve ever seen such a concoction at the food court, and it’s only available for a limited time.

With the Amazon Big Deal Days sale behind us, we’re now just weeks away from the start of holiday deals season. Unless you find an unusually good price, I’d wait on buying these items in October:

❌ Televisions: I would hold off until Thanksgiving Day, November 26, when many of the best Black Friday TV deals begin appearing online. Shopping on Thanksgiving can give you a better chance of finding your preferred model in stock before the rush.

❌ Streaming Subscriptions: Many people are unaware that streaming services like Hulu, Disney+, Peacock and more slash their monthly plans up to 90% during Black Friday using limited time promotions. If your renewal is coming up, I’d hold off and wait to see if a discounted rate is available instead.

❌ Laptops and Desktop Computers: Cyber Monday would be my preferred target particularly on higher end models. I'd compare RAM, storage and processors rather than assuming every Black Friday doorbuster is actually a bargain and of course, I’ll be sorting through the best of the bunch for you on the channel next month.

❌ Video Game Consoles and Bundles: Black Friday is generally the better opportunity for console bundles that include additional controllers or games. I'd avoid paying full price in October.

❌ Major Large Appliances: I'd hold off on refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges and other major appliances until November, when Lowe's, Home Depot and Best Buy tend to compete aggressively.

❌ Mattresses and Adjustable Beds: I would hold off until Black Friday for mattress and adjustable base promotions, particularly from major national brands. Look beyond the advertised percentage off since some mattresses are discounted almost year round.

❌ Premium Robot Vacuums and Mops: Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday is worth watching for expensive models with self emptying, self washing and advanced navigation features.

❌ Cordless Power Tool Sets: The entire month of November is usually the better time to buy Milwaukee, DeWalt or Ryobi tool bundles. Home Depot and Lowe's often run combination offers involving batteries, chargers and additional tools that can beat an individual tool discount.

❌ Artificial Christmas Trees: I'd wait until Black Friday and the weeks that follow to shop for artificial Christmas trees, lights and holiday decorations. Retailers often offer substantial promotions throughout the holiday shopping season, although popular styles can sell out.

Here are some recent subscriber submitted money-saving tips:

Briana P from UT writes: “I’ve been a long time subscriber and really appreciate your videos and humor! Verizon has been running deals every week for their customers Tuesdays through Fridays on their app. If you go into the “Verizon Shine” portion of the app you’ll be able to see the deal of the day. Over the past few weeks I’ve gotten Starbucks, Amazon, Ulta Beauty, and Barnes and Noble e-gift cards, just to name a few! The only caveat is, you have be quick! The deal goes live at 1pm (mountain time) and typically runs out within the first few minutes!”

Steven B writes: “Just one thing I wanted to point out …. Costco only has Top Tier gasoline while Sam's Club does not offer it. I will only buy top tier gas for my car. I have a 2017 Hyundai Elantra and it's still purring today. Plus, I do all of my own maintenance. Top Tier gasoline contains higher-standard detergent additives that help prevent and remove carbon (“gunk”) deposits in an engine, especially on intake valves and fuel system parts. In AAA’s testing, non-Top Tier gas left about 19 times more carbon deposits and Top Tier helped reduce intake valve deposits by 45% to 72% over a 5,000-mile interval.”

Kim O. from IL writes: “Hi Matt, I have a money-saving tip for you! My local Jewel Osco (an Albertson’s grocery & pharmacy) is currently offering 10,000 points to customers who schedule a vaccination appointment in their app - a $10 value! I used mine for a $10 off $30 meat purchase. It’s a one-time offer. In addition, customers always get a coupon for 10% of a grocery shopping trip (up to a $20 savings) with every vaccine.”

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)

Thanksgiving and Christmas flights are about to get expensive, but there are some tricks that can save you hundreds. Here’s what I do to cut my holiday travel costs:

📅 The Dates Matter More Than You Think

If you're planning to fly around Thanksgiving, the Sunday after (November 29) is expected to be one of the most expensive days to head home. If you can push your return to November 30 or December 1, you could save quite a bit. Christmas is a similar story. Flights departing December 18 through 20, along with the December 27 return rush, are expected to be pricey. Shifting your departure to December 21 or 22 and returning January 2 instead could potentially save you hundreds of dollars.

🕵️‍♂️ Booking Tricks Most People Miss

Here's a trick that's especially useful if you're booking for the whole family. Search for just ONE passenger first, then compare that price with what comes up when you search for everyone. Airlines sometimes have only a handful of seats left at their lowest fare, so searching for four people at once could mean missing out on those cheaper tickets.

And don't automatically assume a round-trip ticket is the best deal. Booking two separate one-way flights on different airlines can sometimes cost less, and sites like Expedia and Priceline make comparing those options easy.

Another thing worth checking is Google Flights, where you can compare nearby airports side by side. Flying into Fort Lauderdale instead of Miami, or Baltimore instead of Washington, D.C., could knock a surprising amount off your airfare.

🚨 You're Not Done Saving After You Book

Just because you've booked your flight doesn't mean you're done saving. Keep an eye on the price, because some airlines will let you rebook if the fare drops and give you the difference back as travel credit. And if your airline makes a major change to your flight schedule, you may actually be entitled to a cash refund instead of a voucher. So don't automatically accept the first option they give you.

One final tip worth remembering: When you book directly with an airline at least seven days before departure, U.S. rules require either free cancellation within 24 hours or a free 24-hour reservation hold. Some airlines also offer longer paid holds, giving you extra time to decide without risking a price increase.

Do you have any holiday travel tips that save you money? 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.

Bea: Asks: “What is the best time to purchase a Windows laptop?”

Hi Bea! I'd wait for Thanksgiving (November 26), Black Friday (November 27) and Cyber Monday (November 30). Best Buy is typically my first choice for Windows laptop deals and often beats Amazon in this category. Costco and Sam's Club are also worth watching, with laptop discounts rolling out throughout November. You definitely don't need to wait until Black Friday itself to find a great deal!

PJ: Asks: “Any cheap (under $50) wireless over ear or clip on earphones that has good mic? When I use the ones that I have my family says that I sound like I'm under water during phone calls. I'm hesitant to buy more expensive ones because I always lose them.”

Hi! Before you buy headphones, just double check if your phone is making a call over WiFi - and sometimes your internet connection might be the culprit, not your headphones. Assuming it’s all calls, all the time, I'd consider the TOZO HT3 Hybrid Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones that are on sale right now and my favorite item for what you’ve described. They’re usually $50 but are under $30 right now, have built-in AI noise reduction technology that should offer better call clarity. If you’re looking for something more streamlined, these Anker Soundcore Open Ear Earbuds have great reviews as well!

Pat R. Asks: “Matt, We recently got a couple Vespa style scooters. With winter coming, we're going to need a way to store them since we don't have a garage. Any suggestions on cost effective options?”

Hi Pat! Assuming you're storing them outdoors, Home Depot has a Budge waterproof motorcycle cover (model MC-9) for around $40, or a COVERONICS 7-by-12-foot portable motorcycle shelter (model HD-CWG001-0712) for around $180, which could accommodate two scooters depending on their dimensions. For something more substantial, the Suncast Glidetop resin storage shed (model BMS4900) is around $549, although I'd confirm both scooters will fit. If you experience heavy snow, I'd favor a properly rated hard-sided shed over a fabric shelter. I'd also follow the scooter manufacturer's winter battery and fuel storage recommendations.

‼️ BONUS TIP.. for the MANY wonderful people who asked questions about major appliances: the two weeks before Black Friday through the first week of December are the best appliance deals of the year. Home Depot, Lowe’s and Best Buy offer the lowest prices.

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!

💵 “How your proximity to a Costco affects your home value” - READ HERE

💵 “The dark web isn’t someone else’s problem; it could be yours” - READ HERE

💵 “How to overcome the emotional toll of bankruptcy” - READ HERE

October marks the calm before the ‘storm of sales’ that inundate November. To assist with any holiday budgeting, please let me know what products you need, and I’ll make it my mission to hunt them down in my next newsletter!

Happy Savings!👋

The Deal Guy (Matt Granite)