Fed up with streaming price-hikes? Here are 30 great movies to watch on totally free services
Plus: A $9 rechargeable book light, free remote tech support for non-techies, and an adorable Halloween decoration you can 3D-print!
DISCLAIMER: Some of the links included herein are affiliate links (usually those in bold blue type), meaning if you make a purchase via one of them, I may get a small commission. I promise you, now and forever, that I won’t choose deals based on whether there’s an affiliate option available.
New here? Welcome! Deal Secrets brings you a weekly batch of curated deals, money-saving tips, product reviews, and more. It’s ad-free, reader-supported, and curated by me, Rick Broida — a man who celebrates cheapness and won’t rest until there’s a discount to be had. (Honestly I’m still buzzing over the big Sling TV win from last week.)
QUICK HITS
💻 I’m about to start some testing of GoGoQuincy, a tech-support service designed for non-techie users. It’s extremely affordable, offering 14 minutes of free support per month, a pay-as-you-go option for $5 monthly, and an unlimited-support tier that’s just $20. I’ll give you a more complete rundown in a future issue, but for now I’m just bringing it to your attention in case you or someone you know could benefit.
📖 I find myself reading more print books these days because I can typically get them much faster from the library (as opposed to waiting weeks or months for the e-book versions). But this returns an age-old problem: reading in bed without disturbing the spouse. The nearly-as-old solution: a book light. These things have evolved nicely over the years; I just bought a rechargeable clip-on LED book light for a measly $8.93, and it’s great. Three different light modes, brightness-adjustable, USB-C charging, 80-hour battery. Love it.
👻 Fun with 3D printing! I just discovered this print-in-place ghost on Thingiverse, and a more adorable decoration I have rarely seen. I’ve been experimenting with different sizes, but the standard print is perfect for pairing with these LED tea lights, which were just $5 for a pack of 12 (!). You can see one example in the photo above, but the lights actually flicker a bit, which makes it even cooler. Oh, and if you’re wondering, I’m cranking these out on AnkerMake’s new, blazing-fast M5C 3D printer, which is currently $40 off (making it $359) with promo code WS24M5C40.
✅ For those wondering about last week’s quiz: Gotcha! All five of those crazy Amazon company names were real. Just having a little fun. 😜
Why it’s time to start learning a new language (and how you can do it for free)
I’m terrified of dementia. I saw what it did to my dad, and I feel like every time I turn around, someone else I know is dealing with it. (This recent AARP article, for example? The author and her mom are family friends.)
Can it be prevented? Unknown, but I’m going to do anything and everything I can based on available research — including at least one study indicating that learning new languages can help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.
It makes sense: You lift weights to build muscle in your body; this is like lifting weights with your brain.
My advice: start with Duolingo, a totally free app that’s widely regarded as an excellent learning tool, with over 40 languages to choose from. It feels like it’s skewed toward kids, but you can’t argue with the price.
If you want a less cutesy, more serious instructional tool, Babbel is among the gold standards in language learning. It prioritizes grammar, natural sentence structure, and conversational skills.
Alas, it’s definitely not free. But for a limited time, StackSocial is offering a Babbel Language Learning Lifetime Subscription for $169.97. It normally costs $349; the best deal I’ve seen prior to this is $200.
It’s still a big investment, yes, but I can’t help thinking about the astronomical costs associated with caregivers, memory-care facilities, etc. Relative to all that, this seems like a drop in the bucket. (I similarly justify expenses on things like gym memberships and exercise gear. As Mrs. Deal Secrets and I often joke, quite morbidly: It’s cheaper than a bypass.)
Have you tried learning languages with Duolingo, Babbel or anything else? Would love to hear if it was mui bueno or pas bon.
30 fantastic (or at least pretty good) movies you can watch on free streaming services
Sigh. Another day, another piece of disappointing streaming news: Amazon is going to start adding commercials to Prime Video content unless you pay an extra $3 per month. Wasn’t the whole point of streaming services that we wouldn’t have to suffer ad breaks? Guess that wasn’t a sustainable business model.
Meanwhile, Netflix, Hulu, Max and its ilk continue to hike prices. But even if you pull the plug on one or more of your subscriptions, there are plenty of free streaming services — Freevee, Kanopy, Pluto, the Roku Channel, etc. — offering plenty of good stuff. Yes, they’re all ad-supported as well, so expect occasional commercial breaks. But that’s when you hop off the couch to do your squats, push-ups, and what-not, right? Active couch potato-ing!
With a few exceptions, these are mostly older titles — but I’ve seen the majority of them and can vouch for their awesomeness. (Actually, I thought Everything Everywhere All at Once was pretty overrated, but it won of bunch of Oscars and it’s here for you to watch for free!)
Freevee: Hot Fuzz, Ip Man, Jurassic Park (all three!), Nobody, The Graduate, The Illusionist
Kanopy (requires library card): C’mon, C’mon, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Triangle of Sadness, Uncut Gems
Pluto: A Simple Plan, American Hustle, Clueless, Forrest Gump, Primal Fear, The Big Chill, The Fugitive, Top Gun, Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil, Up in the Air
Tubi: 21 Jump Street, American Graffiti, Back to the Future (all three!), Get Out, Hidden Figures, Momento
Have you found a free-to-stream gem lately? Name it in the comments!
Thanks for reading Deal Secrets! Questions? Comments? Hit me up on Twitter or Facebook, or shoot me an e-mail. I’ll do my best to respond to all inquiries! Want to show your support? Buy me a coffee!
How could you leave out Hoopla?? Also via public library card, and ad free. Chinatown, Memento, The Act of Killing, There Will Be Blood, Sophie's Choice, Heaven Can Wait . . . Plus many, many TV shows (especially British), ebooks, audiobooks, music (including the latest pop releases), and a superb selection of graphic novels. More widely available than Kanopy, I think. Kanopy is terrific for art house, but Hoopla has a lot more kid fare, and random B-movies for silly moods. Oh, also, binge passes for Great Courses, Kidz Vidz and Puzzle Palace.
I’m a neurology PA and see patients with dementia on a regular basis. The best ways to prevent dementia: stay physically active (150 minutes of exercise minimum per week), keep your blood pressure perfect (<130/80) and aim for a Mediterranean style diet. There are other things too of course but those three have the biggest effect. And if you have concerns about yourself of family members, get them seen by a neurologist asap. I can help slow the progression but I can’t do much once it’s happened.