💰The Deal Guy Newsletter - Issue #96

🧾 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.

🛒 Sam’s Club Plus Now Includes Walmart+: I was really excited to see this! Plus members can activate Walmart+ at no extra cost, with both memberships $120 annually.

If you’re already paying for both, you should go and link your accounts, because most members will now qualify for a prorated Walmart+ refund.

⛽ 26¢ Off Per Gallon at 7Eleven: If you text “STARSFAN” right now to 711711 and join free 7Rewards, you can receive 26¢ off a one time fill-up, up to 40 gallons, within 30 days.

Note: This does sign you up for their marketing texts and is only valid at participating locations, excluding NJ, WI, HI and AK.

💄 Sephora’s 30% Off Sale Goes Live Tomorrow: Get 30% off Sephora Collection through November 9 with a free Beauty Insider account and code ALLONSALE.

Rouge members save 20% on other eligible brands now, with VIB members getting 15% and Insiders 10% valid Nov 3rd until Nov 9th.

🚆 Discounted Amtrak Gift Cards now at Costco! Perfectly timed with Thanksgiving around the corner, Costco Members can buy $120 in Amtrak eGift cards for $99.99, a useful saving for any upcoming holiday train travel.

I was excited to see the gift cards don’t expire, but it is important to note they are non-refundable and exclude food and drinks.

🔨 Lowe’s Black Friday Deals Are Now Live: Early offers include tools, major appliances and holiday décor.

Some of their biggest savings arrive Thanksgiving week, but the items you’ll see on sale now are different from what comes later and a great way to beat the rush.

🍿 Half-Price AMC Tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Join the free AMC Stubs Insider program to get half off eligible movie tickets on either of those days.

The discount uses the regular adult evening price, so a $16 ticket becomes $8 before taxes and applicable fees or surcharges.

While it’s true most major purchases are a good buy between Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there are a few exceptions:

❌ Sofas, Recliners and Bedroom Furniture: If you don’t need them for holiday guests, I’d watch January and February clearance as stores make room for new collections. July and August offer another buying window.

❌ A New Car You Don’t Urgently Need: I’d compare late-December offers on outgoing model years. Year-end inventory clearance can create negotiating opportunities, especially if you’re flexible about color and options.

❌ Fitness Items and Equipment: With a few scattered exceptions on Black Friday, these are a much better purchase in January to coincide with New Year resolution campaigns.

❌ Bath & Body Works Candles: If you can I’d wait for their Candle Day event in early December, candles will be at some of their lowest prices of the year.

❌ Seasonal Beauty Gift Sets: I’d watch December markdowns if the exact set isn’t essential.

❌ New Skis and Snowboards: If your current equipment can handle another season, I’d save optional upgrades for March and April, when shops start clearing winter inventory.

Here are some recent subscriber submitted money-saving tips:

Chermaine R. writes: “Hey Matt! Some people don’t know this but the best way for you to avoid identity theft is to freeze your credit reports. Credit card companies won’t issue new cards if your credit report is frozen.”

Lilly from CT writes: “Matt, those big zippered bags that new sheets and comforters come in are too useful to throw away. I save them for Christmas linens and decorations. The clear sides make it easy to see what’s inside, and that’s one less storage container to buy!”

Michael from NV writes: “Before shopping for a replacement vacuum, check the hose for clogs, the brush for tangled hair and the manual’s filter-cleaning instructions. A little maintenance might get the vacuum you already own working properly again!”

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)

There are few things as frustrating as buying something and seeing the price drop a few days later. Before you spend more time returning it and buying it again, it is important to check whether the store will refund the difference. Here are the policies I’d keep handy while holiday shopping:

🎯 Target: Buy an eligible item November 1 - December 24 and you can request the difference if Target lowers its price by December 24. Purchases after that get the usual 14-day window. Clearance and promotional gift-card offers don’t qualify; online/app matching isn’t available in Alaska or Hawaii.

💻 Best Buy: If Best Buy lowers its price, you can request an adjustment during your eligible return window. Most October 30 - December 31 purchases have until January 15, 2027, or January 31 for Plus/Total members. Matching another store’s price is more restrictive: competitor Black Friday offers and November 19 - 30 prices are excluded, along with Marketplace and advertised limited-quantity offers.

🛒 Costco: If your Costco.com purchase drops in price within 30 days, you can request an adjustment while the sale is still running. For anything bought in the warehouse, you can stop by the returns desk with your receipt for an adjustment.

🏠 IKEA: You get 90 days of price protection if you used your IKEA Family membership (free to join) when buying, or 14 days otherwise. Keep your receipt and ask while the lower price is available.

🛍️ JCPenney: You have 14 days to request a qualifying price match, including on Black Friday, in the continental U.S. Bring your receipt and the current advertised price. Clearance, membership-only and coupon-required competitor offers don’t qualify.

🥾 REI: If REI lowers the price within 14 days, you can request the difference on the same item, size and color. REI Outlet purchases don’t qualify, and REI doesn’t match competitors.

🏬 Macy’s: For eligible online purchases, watch for price drops within 10 days of ordering. Furniture and mattresses have separate deadlines based on delivery or shipping. Last Act purchases don’t qualify, and you can’t combine promotional discounts with an adjustment.

👗 Nordstrom: If you paid full price, you can request one adjustment within 10 days of your store purchase or shipment. The same size and color must still be available. Sale and Marketplace purchases don’t qualify, and Nordstrom no longer matches competitors.

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.

Melissa from KY Asks: “We've recently purchased an "older" home (1974, how is that OLDER?), and it needs all new doors and windows. When is the best time to buy these? Also, when is the best time to buy new kitchen cabinetry? Thanks Matt!”

Congratulations on the new home! For windows and exterior doors, I’d get quotes now and ask whether scheduling a winter installation would lower the price. Some installers offer off-season savings, although there isn’t one cheapest month everywhere. For kitchen cabinets, I’d start comparing November’s Black Friday promotions now. Home Depot and Lowe’s already have cabinet sales running, so you don’t need to wait until Thanksgiving weekend to start shopping. My biggest tip is to get three itemized quotes covering comparable materials, installation, delivery and removal. A huge advertised percentage off doesn’t necessarily mean the lowest final bill!

Jeff from MN Asks: “I noticed you never talk about promotions on Costco's travel website. Is that because the promotions rapidly shift?”

Hi Jeff! Exactly! Those promotions change quickly, which makes them harder to feature in a weekly newsletter. Costco’s car rental deals remain among the best I find in the country though.

Miriam: Asks: “When would you recommend buying a 3d printer? My guess is this would go on sale with other computer accessories. Would you hold off till Black Friday, or are the best deals going to be around Cyber Monday? Thank you!”

Hi Miriam! I’d shop the Black Friday sales without holding out specifically for Cyber Monday. Bambu Lab and Prusa already have sales running through Cyber Monday, and waiting until Monday doesn’t guarantee a better price. Compare the full bundle, including printing filament, accessories and shipping, before buying.


‼️ 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. You will find the lowest prices at Home Depot, Lowe’s and Best Buy.

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!

💵 “5 of the biggest retail horror stories of 2026” - READ HERE.

💵 “Best cell phone plans of 2026” - READ HERE.

💵 “How to save on taxes while helping your kids buy a home” - READ HERE.

Welcome to the biggest saving months of the year! From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, I’ll be right here and on YouTube to break down every major deal for all the big players online and in-store.

Happy Savings!👋

The Deal Guy (Matt Granite)