$238 Xbox | $3 movie tix | Power-outage survival guide | more!
Cheeps! So much to tell, so little time. Read on for:
What I learned after a 36-hour power outage
$3 movie tickets
The secret to real-deal movie-theater popcorn at home
Much more!
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DISCLAIMER: Some of the links included herein are affiliate links (usually those in bold 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.
Quick hits: $238 Xbox and a record-low iPad deal
📱 The current-gen iPad 10.2 (Wi-Fi, 64GB) is down to $279, the lowest price on record for that model (reg. $329). The Amazon Fire HD 10 remains a vastly superior value, but I do think iPads afford a better user experience (dangit).
🎮 Game time! For a limited time, and while supplies last, top-rated eBay seller Antonline has the Xbox Series S (512GB) for $238 with promo code LABORDAYSAVE. That’s the lowest price I can recall seeing, ever, for the popular game console. (It’s normally $299.) This first hit my radar yesterday and will not last long.
📰 Want to read an article that’s behind a paywall? Something from, say, the New York Times or Wired? The fastest, easiest workaround: Open your browser’s incognito (aka private) mode and paste the link in there. This is only for once in a while; if you regularly consume content from sources like these, do the right thing and pay for it.
🍿 Mark your calendars: This Saturday, Sept. 3, is National Cinema Day, which is a big deal because most movie theaters will be offering $3 tickets. You could see, for example, the re-release of Spider-Man: No Way Home or the recent Brad Pitt vehicle Bullet Train (which was silly, funny, completely bonkers and a fun ride overall).
Raise your popcorn game with Flavacol
Speaking of movies, if you want theater-quality popcorn in the comfort of your own home, check out Flavacol popcorn salt – which is what theaters use.
I had my doubts, but good grief this stuff is bomb – and a little goes a very long way, meaning this one $9 carton will last you probably forever.
Here’s how I use it: Dump some kernels in the bottom of a silicone popcorn popper (best $12 you’ll ever spend, trust me), pour in a little oil, then add half a tablespoon (no more!) of Flavacol. Give it all a little stir, nuke till ready.
What I learned after a 36-hour power outage
Living for 36 hours without electricity is plenty of time to make you really appreciate electricity. A recent storm knocked out power to over 200,000 homes in my area; I’m quite grateful because lots of folks are still waiting to get it back.
My key takeaway: A little preparedness goes a long way. Here are a few tips:
Mobile chargers are your friend. You’re going to rely on your phone more than ever (flashlight, Netflix, Kindle, etc.), so I recommend keeping a couple mobile chargers on hand, and making sure they’re always charged. This no-brand 25,000-mAh power bank has three Type-A USB ports and is selling for just $10. Arguably the ideal thing to toss in a drawer until needed.
Consider a battery backup. Gas generators are fairly affordable, but, yeesh, what a racket. It’s like parking a running snowblower next to your house. I hauled out my Bluetti AC200, a battery-powered “generator” that was able to keep my refrigerator running for a solid 10 hours – enough to keep the food from going to waste. (I plugged it in the morning after the outage.) Make no mistake, it’s a pricey option, but it’s safe to use indoors and almost completely silent.
Headlamps! Sure, your phone has a flashlight, but it’s pretty weak – and you have to hold it. We found headlamps extremely helpful for hands-free living in the dark. Here’s a bright, rechargeable, motion-sensing 2-pack for just $16.
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