4 things you can stop paying for right now
PLUS: An unusually good deal on the Meta Quest 3 VR headset and more, more, more!
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.
It’s Labor Day, friends, which means I can finally, er, labor on a new issue. It’s been too long! In my defense, my time has been consumed with not only a full-time job (Yahoo ❤️), but also my adorable grandson (❤️❤️), my beloved daughter’s wedding (❤️❤️❤️), and that pesky book I’ve been writing (final draft completed 😍). When will the dust settle enough for me to resume normal Deal Secrets operations? Very soon, I hope. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, some odds and ends from the summer…
Finance the genuinely excellent Meta Quest 3 VR headset for just $25 per month, 0% interest
I’m a huge fan of the Meta Quest 3 VR headset, but the $499 price tag is tough to swallow. Good news: You can now finance a Meta Quest 3 with zero money down and zero percent interest.
For $25 monthly, you get not only the headset, but also a Meta Quest+ subscription and an extended Meta Warranty Plus. It’s a 24-month plan, so you’ll pay about $600 all told — less than if you purchased those three items individually. That’s for the 128GB model; it’s $35 monthly for 512GB, definitely a better deal if you want lots of storage.
Either way, you get to spread out the payments rather than cough up a big chunk of change. That’s the kind of “reality” I can get behind.
4 things you can stop paying for right now
1️⃣ Anti-virus software: If you’ve been a computer user for more than a decade or so, you’re probably, er, programmed to use anti-virus software — which, for a long time, was necessary to keep rampant malware at bay. But as long as you’re careful about not clicking links you shouldn’t, you can safely ditch your subscription.
I’ve held this belief for a long time, and I’m not the only one: Veteran technology journalist Ed Bott recently explained why you don’t need anti-virus software. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I’ll turn you over to his well-reasoned article.
2️⃣ Live TV: I know I’m crossing into broken-record territory here, but if you’re paying big monthly bucks for the likes of Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, or YouTube TV, ask yourself why. For news? You can stream that free to your heart’s content on Pluto and The Roku Channel, apps available on every major streaming device. For sports? OK, that’s a little tougher, especially for the likes of college football and NFL games. But just get whatever service you need for the months you need it, then cancel. (Pro tip: Sling is usually the cheapest sports-streaming option.)
3️⃣ Security cameras with subscription fees: Is it a good idea to outfit your home with one or more security cameras? Definitely. Do you need to pay $5-10 per month for cloud storage? Nope, not if you choose cameras that don’t have that requirement. Some let you opt for “local” video storage (meaning on an inexpensive microSD card inside the camera).
For example, I’m currently using a Eufy Video Doorbell E340 (here’s my Yahoo review), which has proven very solid after several months of use and doesn’t cost me a dime extra. There’s also a new Tapo Smart Video Doorbell that can operate subscription-free; it’s in the queue for testing. Bottom line: Look for no-fee options. They’re out there.
4️⃣ Audiobooks: I listen to lots of them but can’t remember the last time I actually paid for one. On a fairly regular basis (I’d say once a year, at least), Audible offers 2-3 months free, with a free book credit per month. You just have to remember to cancel your subscription before it rolls over to become a paid one.
Meanwhile, Hoopla and Libby offer a ton of free audiobooks courtesy of your library card. And if you have a Spotify subscription, you’re entitled to 15 hours of audiobook listening per month.
A few listening recommendations: The Anthropocene Reviewed (free on Hoopla) by John Green (don’t be put off by the schoolwork-sounding title, it’s delightful); Entrances and Exits by Michael Richards (a must-listen for Seinfeld fans).
How I spent my summer vacation (without spending a lot)
Every July 4 we flee our neighborhood because of fireworks madness (yes, I have reached crochety-old-man age), and this year we returned to Tennessee in search of more dazzling waterfalls. Friends, we were not disappointed.
Can I just say? All throughout the state, from Nashville to Chattanooga to tiny Tracy City, we encountered nothing but polite, friendly people.
🚗 Anyway we needed a car, so once again I turned to car-sharing service Turo, which I’ve used for years. For a grand total of $330 (including taxes, fees, and insurance), we rented a pristine 2018 Lexus (!) SUV for five days. It was delivered to us right outside airport baggage claim within about 10 minutes of our arrival; no shuttle bus, no long line at a rental counter, no Seinfeld-ian hassles.
If we’d paid the same at a traditional Budget/Avis/Priceline/whatever, we’d have ended up with a small sedan, not a luxury SUV. I’d say nine out 10 Turo experiences I’ve had were top-notch. (Note to self, however: Remember to always make sure the rental has Apple CarPlay. Never occurred to me a Lexus wouldn’t, but I guess back in 2018 it was less common. Android users, it’s Android Auto compatibility you want.)
🚶♂️➡️ Like before, we packed our hiking poles, and like before I was reminded how crucial they are when you’re hitting steep, rocky, and/or root-encrusted trails. Dummy that I am, I wore athletic shoes instead of hiking boots; without the poles I’d have slipped or tripped countless times. Amazon is home to zillions of these things; don’t pay more than $40 for a pair.
🏊♂️ True what they say: The best things in life are free. On one of our hikes, we passed a waterfall and said, “Huh, it looks like you could swim down there,” then walked on past because we weren’t wearing bathing suits. Then we stopped and said, “Wait, when will we get this opportunity again?” Shirts off, socks off, boots off, splash! We swam beneath that waterfall! The water was cold because of course it was. Something nipped at my ankle while I sat beneath the falls. I had to finish the hike in squishy wet shorts. And I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. It was exhilarating. Thank goodness I have a life partner who’s equally game for such in-the-moment adventures.
💦 Not free, but well worth the price of admission: Ruby Falls. How am I 55 and never heard of this place? The Chattanooga attraction has the look and feel of a tourist trap, but it’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever laid eyes on. First you walk through half a mile of dazzling caves, then you witness the tallest and deepest underground waterfall in the U.S. (that’s open to the public, anyway). Oh, and did I mention all this takes place over a thousand feet beneath a mountain? It’s incredible, a must-see.
PLAYLIST
📕 Sea of Tranquility: I tried my best to get into Emily St. John Mandel’s widely praised (and eerily prescient) Station Eleven, but for whatever reason I couldn’t. Different story with her latest, Sea of Tranquility: Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Ripped through that book in just three days, which is rare for me. It reminded me of Cloud Cuckoo Land, another book I loved, but without the thousand-page investment. (This one’s only about 250.) Skip the summary; just grab the sample chapter and dive in, keeping in mind that the first character you meet definitely isn’t the last.
📺 Baskets (Hulu): I always liked Zach Galifianakis’ web series Between Two Ferns, but never bothered with Baskets during its four-year run. Honestly I was put off by the name, the premise, and the show art depicting Galifianakis in some seriously weird clown makeup.
On a whim I watched the first episode, and I’ve been binging it hard ever since. It’s a comedy, first and foremost, with a [chef’s kiss] blend of slapstick, absurdism, and discomfort, but with some sweetness and pathos woven in. It's Galifianakis’ show, but co-stars Martha Kelly and Louie Anderson routinely steal it. I’m midway through the third season (out of four), and I’m already sad to know it’s ending. Pure gold.
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Thanks for the update. Is the 'beloved daughter's wedding' the daughter that did Winter Drumline/Marching Arts? Best to her on her new life . . .
love, Love, LOVE your column. I wish it would come out more often. You have wonderful things to share. Thank You!