Microsoft Office $36 (!) | Walmart warning | Best $8 you'll spend this week

Plus: I don't always go cheap. Here's one thing I think is worth the premium price (and how to get it for less).

Hey, cheeps! Been trying a new thing: Whenever I interact with someone wearing a name tag (server, person working a register, etc.), I don’t just say, “Thank you.” I say, “Thank you, Frank!” (But only if the person’s name is Frank. Otherwise it’s weird.) I feel like this creates a little connection and makes the thank-you come across more earnest. People seem to like it. I’m going to keep doing it.

➡️ Quick follow-up on last week’s Amazon discussion: With the arrival of 5th-gen Echo Dot smart speakers, here come the discounts on 4th-gen Dots: They’re down to just $25, the lowest price on record (reg. $50). That’s a solid buy for a smart bedside companion, especially if you intend to use it as an Eero Wi-Fi extender — which you’ll soon be able to do. Heck, you could buy it for that purpose alone and come out ahead.

➡️ I’m starting to investigate battery-based power stations for little stuff like camping and big stuff like surviving power outages. These things can get expensive, so I’m wondering about your interest level:

Battery-based “generators” like these are starting to look like the next big thing in backup power.

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.

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Is Walmart overcharging you? Very possibly maybe

Do you shop at Walmart? Time to start checking your receipts — closely. There’s growing anecdotal evidence that some displayed prices don’t match what you’re being charged at checkout — and what you’re being charged is often considerably higher. Here’s one example (click/tap to view the video):

@cw.becks#walmart #fraud #ripoff #consumerfraud @Walmart #theft #falseadvertising #disgusting #cwbecks

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Whether this is intentional on Walmart’s part or, more likely, a case of price tags not getting updated frequently or accurately enough, it can indeed end with you getting screwed at checkout. As a customer, the law is clear: You’re entitled to the displayed price. In fact, here in Michigan we have the “Scanner Law,” which says you’re entitled to a 10x bonus (!) when you get credited the difference (up to only $5 max, though).

Unfortunately, the only real way to protect yourself (short of switching to online shopping) is to take photos of price tags as you add items to your cart, then cross-reference your receipt afterward. All this hassle just to get the price you thought you were paying.

I’m not meaning to indict Walmart specifically; I think this can (and does) happen at other stores, especially supermarkets. The key takeaway: Check your receipts. Then be courteous and patient with the manager, who may be aware of the problem and may not, but either way deserves to be treated kindly.

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Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license: $36. Really.

This is a rerun, but the very best kind: Same deal, even lower price.

History lesson for the kids out there: Once upon a time, you bought a piece of software and you owned it, end of story. It might have been expensive, but at least you weren’t roped into the pay-forever subscription thing that’s pretty much the norm these days.

This has long been a thorn in my side, especially for Microsoft Office. So here’s good news: You can own the suite outright for the lowest price I’ve seen – though there is one thing missing that might be important to some.

Here’s the deal: For a limited time, StackSocial has Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 (Windows/Mac) lifetime license for $36. It includes full versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. (Alas, the Mac version doesn’t have those last two.) It’s a single-user license, with updates included (ostensibly for as long as Microsoft continues to support this version).

For sake of comparison, a single-user Office 365 Personal license costs $70 per year. However, this is the important part: That includes 1 terabyte (TB) of OneDrive cloud storage, which is arguably the easiest, most effective set-it-and-forget-it backup solution for all your documents. This deal: No OneDrive.

And here’s one more consideration: If you were to buy that storage separately, guess how much it would cost you? Exactly $70 per year. (Pretty good deal, if I’m being honest.) Assuming that’s something you need, you’d effectively be getting Office free as part of that expense.

Meanwhile, a 6-user Microsoft 365 Family license costs $100 per year and includes 1TB of storage per user. Much as I hate subscriptions, I can’t argue with that value.

But if it’s just you, and you don’t need cloud storage, this lifetime license for $36 is a fantastic deal. By the way, I’ve confirmed with StackSocial that these licenses are legitimate and come from an authorized Microsoft reseller.

P.S. Yes, of course I know there are totally free alternatives: LibreOffice, WPS Office, Google Docs, etc. But some folks need – or even just prefer, gasp! – the Microsoft option.

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Why Dyson vacuums are worth the money (and how to save on yours)

As a rule I balk at crazy-expensive brands like Apple, Dyson, Sonos, and Vitamix, largely because there are cheaper (sometimes much cheaper) alternatives that get the job done.

I do make a few exceptions, however, and Dyson is one of them. I’ve used a DC31 hand vac since way back in 2010 (I know this because that’s when I reviewed it for Wired), and it’s been a champ. So I was dismayed when recently it stopped holding a charge. Time for a new one, I guess, right?

Nope: Dyson designed the DC31 with a removable, sled-style battery, similar to what you find in modern power tools. I honestly didn’t even realize this until I looked closely; I’ve always just plugged in the power cord to let it charge.

So a quick online search later and I’ve got a replacement battery coming for about $28. In all other respects the vacuum works as well as it did on day one, and I’m expecting to get a lot more use out of it. In an age when you’re lucky to get 5-6 years from an appliance, I’m pretty sold on Dyson being worth the money.

My advice: Grab a certified-refurbished model like the Dyson V10 Total Clean, which runs $380 (reg. $500) and is rated “good as new,” with a full 2-year warranty. (As it happens, the refurb route is also the best way to save on gear from, you guessed it, Apple, Sonos, and Vitamix!)

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Charge your gear on the go for just $8 (plus shipping)

Whether for home or travel, you can’t have too many AC adapters for your mobile gear — especially when they’re this powerful and this cheap. For a limited time, and while supplies last, RavPower’s 65-watt PD Dual Port Wall Charger drops to just $7.80 when you apply promo code DNL001 at checkout. Shipping adds about $4. Regular price: $30!

It has one Type-A USB port, one Type-C, folding prongs, and GaN construction (which means less heat and a smaller, safer design). Total steal at this price.

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What I’m watching right now

🎵 This ‘Old Man,’ he has dogs, he kills attackers one by one, with a knick-knack Paddywhack… 🎵

The Old Man (Hulu) It’s kind of a cliché by now — retired super-spy gets dragged back into action because reasons — but when said spy is national treasure Jeff Bridges and said dragger is other national treasure John Lithgow, how can you resist? I’m only three episodes in but already completely hooked on this riveting series, which features one of the most amazing fight sequences this side of Atomic Blonde.

Andor (Disney+) Disney’s Star Wars TV series track record is pretty abysmal. Boba Fett: objectively terrible. Obi-Wan: mediocre. The Mandalorian: meh. (Sorry, I know I’m in the minority there.) So imagine my surprise at really enjoying the first four episodes of Andor. Because it’s a prequel series, it’s already at a disadvantage (no stakes!), but the show feels different than all the others: smarter, more sure-footed, and far more interesting. (I literally gasped during the first episode, which isn’t nearly as “slow” as you’ve heard.) It’s also visually stunning, more movie-like than any of the other series. Anyway, if you were thinking you’d pass on this one, I think it’s well worth your time.

Reboot (Hulu) Taking a decidedly meta approach to the reboot-old-TV-shows trend, Reboot is a show about rebooting an old TV show. After watching the first handful of episodes, I’d call it good, not great. For one thing, it’s weird to hear hard-R language in what otherwise feels like a network sitcom. And I’m not sure if the premise is really sustainable. But it’s an amusing diversion, a nice lighthearted chaser after the seriousness of Andor and The Old Man.

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