Best HBO Max deal ever | New AirPods Pro alternative: $49 (save $21) | Cool ice cream alternative: $35 (save $15) | And more!
Rick 'The Cheapskate' Broida
Hi, everyone! It seems almost criminal to spend any time indoors right now, what with the sun still shining and the temperatures still pickleball-friendly, but I’ll cop to some couch-planting of late:
📺 Reservation Dogs (Hulu): A little rough around the edges, but ultimately a really funny and heartwarming show that got better with every episode. A-
📺 The Bear (Hulu): The premise didn’t sound all that interesting (“big-city chef comes home to run his dead brother’s restaurant”), but the buzz was right. It’s funny, sad, and incredibly intense at times, with some of the best acting I’ve seen in recent memory. A+
🎥 True Grit (2010): I rewatch this every few years; it’s forever embedded in my Top 10 Movies list. Word for word, shot for shot, it’s just a perfect film. Funny, sad, incredibly intense at times… hang on, I think I have a “type.” A+
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.
Make HBO Max's 40%-off deal even better
Things are a little bonkers at HBO Max right now.
Nevertheless, there’s never been a better time to sign up: You can save 41% on an a prepaid annual HBO Max subscription. That works out to just $8.75 per month (for the ad-free tier), by far the best deal I’ve seen.
Even better, head to cash-back service Rakuten first and you’ll get $16 back. That effectively brings your out-of-pocket cost down to $89, or $7.42/month. New to Rakuten? Sign up here for a $30 bonus. Then use it for the HBO subscription.
By the way, this deal is for new and returning customers alike. In theory, you could cancel your existing subscription and then sign up again at the discounted rate. (If there’s a required waiting period, I haven’t seen mention of it.) Me, I have HBO Max as a Hulu add-on, so I’m going to cancel that and then sign up directly.
Turn old bananas into an amazing healthy dessert (and save 30%)
I’m always surprised by how few people know about Yonanas. The product has been around for years – I think I’ve had mine a decade or so – but it seems to perpetually fly under the radar.
That’s too bad, because it’s amazing. Yonanas turns frozen bananas and other fruit into delicious, healthy “ice cream.” (That’s in quotes because obviously there’s no cream in it, but the consistency is spot-on.)
It works best with bananas that have developed those brown spots. Peel them, cut into chunks, and toss into the freezer. Then, 15 minutes before you’re ready for dessert, take them out to thaw a little bit. Do likewise with frozen strawberries, mango, pineapple, cherries, or whatever.
Fire up the machine (prepare yourself, it’s pretty noisy), drop your fruit chunks in, and push down the plunger. Presto! Fruity soft-serve ice-cream goodness, right into your bowl.
Could you accomplish the same thing with a blender or food processor? It’s worth a try, though those things shred the fruit, resulting in something a little firmer. The Yonanas is more of a masher, which makes a difference.
Anyway, the machine retails for $50 pretty much everywhere (including Amazon), but for a limited time and while supplies last, this top-rated eBay seller has the Yonanas for $35 shipped. Highly, highly recommended.
Radio Garden: The coolest thing you can do in your browser right now
Combine Google Earth with internet radio and what do you get? Radio Garden, one of the cooler things I’ve discovered recently. Live stations around the world are represented by little green dots; just drag the globe until the little selector circle lands over one. Presto: It instantly plays a live stream from that station.
Even if you’re not into international music, it’s fun to experience live radio from, say, Khartoum, Sudan, or Tomsk, Russia. Kind of makes the world feel a little closer. For example, in Seria, Brunei (wherever that is), turns out they enjoy a little Funkytown. Me, too!
This works in mobile and desktop browsers alike; just point it to radio.garden (yes, that’s the exact URL). Give it a try!
EarFun Air S mini-review: Nearly perfect earbuds for $49 (save $21)
Oh, EarFun. Why do you torture me this way?
This company makes some of my favorite budget earbuds, including the all-new EarFun Air S. They’re straight-up AirPods Pro lookalikes (though black instead of white), with features like active noise-cancellation (ANC), touch controls and wireless charging. They fit comfortably and sound extremely good.
The same is true of the slightly older EarFun Air Pro 2, which I found to be nearly perfect save for one omission: A companion app for things like switching modes, tweaking equalizer settings and adjusting controls.
But EarFun finally has one! The new app works with the Air S and does everything I want it to. But magic always comes with a price: The new earbuds lack in-ear detection, a feature I really like. The Air Pro 2 has it – but doesn’t work with the app. Why, EarFun, why?
So as a consumer I’m forced to pick between a companion app and in-ear detection.
Actually, there’s a bit more that distinguishes the Air S. It offers multipoint connectivity (meaning it can stay paired with two different devices; very handy), the latest AptX technology (promising ultra-high-quality sound), and a low-latency mode for gaming and video.
So, here’s the upshot: If you like the sound of all that (eh? eh?), you can get the EarFun Air S true wireless earbuds for just $49 with promo code EFAIRSANC. That’s a $21 savings.
If you’d rather have in-ear detection and don’t mind giving up the app, you can also get the EarFun Air Pro 2 for $44.79 with code AIRPRO2. That’s actually the lowest price on record for those bad-boys.
You really can’t make a bad decision here. For a fraction of the price of AirPods Pro, you get great sound and solid ANC. Of course, you could probably also wait for the inevitable EarFun Air S Pro? Maybe that’ll finally give me all the features I want.
Save time with these little-known keyboard shortcuts
I was reminded recently that not everyone knows the little tips and tricks I’ve been using forever. Here are a few I consider essential:
⌨️ You know about Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V, right? That’s how you copy and paste from the Windows clipboard. But Windows actually keeps a lengthy clipboard history, which you can access by pressing Win-V. (“Win” means the Windows logo key.) Now you have access to multiple items you’ve copied instead of just one. Cooler still, if you’re using Windows 11, you can sync that clipboard history between PCs!
⌨️ Ever wish you could quickly convert a block of text to all-caps? In Microsoft Word, just select the text and press Shift-F3. It works in reverse, too, converting all-caps text to lowercase. Note that depending on your keyboard, you may also need to add the function (“fn”) key into that mix.
⌨️ Reading a lengthy web page your PC? You don’t have to reach for the mouse every time you want to scroll; just tap the space bar. You can also press Shift-Space to scroll up.
⌨️ If you have an iPhone, you can easily move the cursor wherever you need it to go. Just tap and hold on the space bar for a second or two, then drag your finger slowly around the screen. The cursor will move around as though controlled by a mouse. Position it as needed, then lift your finger. This is incredibly handy for correcting text messages and such.
Deal Secrets Q&A: How do I get an Ancestry.com discount?
Reader Rick G. submitted this question:
I’m interested in some info from Ancestry.com, but my son tells me that they have some real bargains four times a year or so. Any clues on that?
Your son is spot-on, at least if you’re talking about the AncestryDNA Genetic Ethnicity Kit: It typically sells for $99, but drops to $59 on a fairly regular basis. If history repeats itself, watch for the next discount in late October; it will likely run through the holidays.
If you’re referring to an Ancestry.com genealogy subscription, start by signing up for a free 14-day trial. If you want to continue after that, it gets pricey: $299 for 12 months of the World Explorer tier, $449 for All Access. However, AARP subscribers can save 30% on either of those, a substantial discount.
(Pro tip: Do you know that anyone can sign up for AARP, regardless of age? It’s true, and the $16/year membership fee can quickly pay for itself with a myriad of discounts. I also find AARP’s monthly magazine extremely enjoyable and worth $16 all by itself – but I’m 53; YMMV.)
Want me to answer your question in this space? Send it to mydealsecrets@gmail.com with “Q&A” in the subject line.
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