Power to go: Get a top-rated Anker mobile charger for just $12.94

PLUS: Free Microsoft Copilot, all-time-low AirTags, and the surprisingly effective way I updated my wardrobe.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links included herein are affiliate links, 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.

Everyone! Guess who definitely didn’t turn into a blubbery mess after really listening to the lyrics of the Cheers theme song while comfort-watching the dedicated Cheers/Frasier channel on the free Pluto streaming service? I mean, “Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got / Taking a break from all your troubles, sure would help a lot”??

That was a rhetorical question, of course, something to whet the appetite for a discussion about cheap streaming, below. I’m what they call a manly-man, someone who would never choke up at the mere suggestion of solace from the mighty weight of the world [indignant snort].

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QUICK HITS

🏷️ All-time-low AirTags: If you’re an iPhone user, it’s not a bad idea to own a few AirTags. They’re helpful for locating things like keys, purses, backpacks and suitcases. And right now you can get an AirTag 4-pack for $64.49, the lowest price on record. (It originally sold for $99.) You may want some keychain holders to go with them; here’s a 4-pack of those for just $6.99.

📚 Need a new book to read? I often share recommendations in the Playlist section, below, but check out this neat tool: Recommend Me a Book gives you the first couple pages of a random novel, and if you like it, you can click Reveal Title & Author to get the details. But you can also filter by genre (up to three), classics/non-classics, and fiction/non-fiction. It’s like browsing the aisles at a bookstore, but on your phone or PC instead.

🗣️ Need someone to talk to? I’ve written before about Microsoft Copilot, the AI tool that’s remarkably good at conversation. Better-known ChatGPT offers something similar, but it’s limited unless you subscribe. Last week, Microsoft unveiled free and unlimited access to its two best Copilot features, including voice assistant. You can get plain-English answers to just about any question, but you can also just… have a conversation. About anything. It’s pretty cool and even a little therapeutic. Read more in Microsoft’s official announcement.

😂 Need a few laughs? I used to love reading humorist Dave Barry’s newspaper column, but then newspapers went away and I kind of forgot about him. Thanks to my awesome brother Bill, I just learned that Barry is alive, well, and funny as ever. (I repeatedly laughed out loud at his recent piece on air-travel safety.) And because he’s also here on Substack, we’re practically colleagues. (Side note: I’ve also enjoyed reconnecting with Garrison Keillor, who’s downright prolific on this platform.) Substack FTW!

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Don’t pass up this Anker power bank for just $12.94

Whether you’re packing for a trip or just want to be better prepared for the inevitable dead-phone-battery-at-the-worst-possible-time, make sure you have a power bank (aka mobile charger).

Like this one: For a limited time, and while supplies last, the Anker Zolo 10,000-mAh drops to just $12.94 when you click the Redeem button (or, if you can’t find it, apply promo code ANKER1688011 at checkout). Reg. price: $26.

Compact but capable, the Zolo can output up to 30 watts, meaning it’s a pretty fast charger (for phones that support fast-charging).

It has a built-in two-way USB-C cord, a separate USB-C port, and a USB Type-A port. Translation: It can charge pretty much anything, and up to three things at a time. There’s also a digital display that shows remaining charge.

Oh, and there are four color choices available: black, white, blue, and pink. The code should work for all of them.

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DirecTV’s new ‘genre packs’ are an interesting and affordable way to keep live TV in your life

I’m a strong proponent of ditching live TV, thereby saving yourself $80+/month on the likes of DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. (Remember when streaming was supposed to be cheaper than cable? Yeah, that ship has sailed.)

I’m not alone in this view; check out this recent article on Pocket-lint: Why I'm done with YouTube TV (and all other live streaming services) forever. It echoes my sentiments on the subject.

Of course, some folks have favorite channels they don’t want to give up, and some like the familiarity of a channel guide, to say nothing of the fun of channel-surfing. If you’re in that group, check this out: DirecTV launches Genre Packs, a more affordable way to get channels you actually want.

These are essentially subsets of DirecTV Stream, which itself is an offshoot of the DirecTV satellite service. I’ve tested the former; it’s good, with a familiar, logically designed interface and features like unlimited DVR.

But full-blown DirectTV Stream starts at $87 — and may indeed include a bunch of channels you don’t want. Why pay for them? Enter Genre Packs, the standout (IMHO) being MyEntertainment.

Priced at $35/month, it includes 40+ channels (Bravo, FX, Food Network, The History Channel, etc.) along with — this is surprising — Hulu, Disney+, and, coming soon, Max. These are all the “with ads” tiers, but that’s a lot of additional content outside DirecTV’s channel lineup.

I don’t know why the MyEntertainment pack has a few news networks in the mix — there is nothing entertaining about the news — but no matter: This is arguably one of the best deals in live-TV streaming right now, and probably worth a look for anyone looking to lower their costs.

Your thoughts?

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I did not expect to like StitchFix. I was wrong

Like many of my adult-male brethren, I’m sartorially challenged. (That means I suck at dressing myself.)

Part of the problem is figuring out where to buy clothes. Historically — and I’m talking decades ago — I’d hit the mall, but what little is left at retail seems mostly intended for younger shoppers. So I usually end up with generic, ill-fitting stuff from Costco or cheap, ill-fitting stuff from Amazon.

Recently, I noticed that a friend who typically adorns himself in ratty CES swag was suddenly dressing a lot sharper — to the point where I asked him, “Where are you getting those clothes?”

Answer: StitchFix. Available for men and women, it’s a subscription service that helps you upgrade your wardrobe with custom, hand-picked clothes, all based on your preferences and requests.

Skeptical, I signed up, filled out a pretty lengthy questionnaire regarding said preferences, then waited for my first box to arrive. There’s zero risk; anything you don’t like, you can send back using a prepaid mailer.

Spoiler alert: I kept everything. And when I subsequently ordered some new summer-minded items for an upcoming trip, I kept that entire box, too. My assigned “stylist” magically picked out stuff that was exactly to my liking. (And in fact she expanded what I considered my “liking” to be.)

Let me be clear: This is the opposite of a Deal Secret. The clothes come from real labels and aren’t often discounted. But you definitely save a lot of time in the long run, and I found I enjoyed letting someone else outfit me.

So it’s more of a Life Secret, I guess?

Anyway, if you want to try StitchFix for yourself, use this link to get $25 off your first order.

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PLAYLIST

📺 Resident Alien (Netflix, Peacock): I started this lite-sci-fi show a few years back, then got sidetracked between seasons and never returned to it. Now all three seasons are streaming on Netflix, and it’s just as delightfully oddball as I remember. Total fluff — Starman meets Northern Exposure meets ET — but with plenty of laughs from beloved character actor Alan Tudyk (as the titular alien) and surprisingly robust performances from the supporting cast. It’s a show that shouldn’t work, but somehow does. (And a fourth season is coming later this year!) Rick’s Rating: B+

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Thanks for reading Deal Secrets! Questions? Comments? Shoot me an e-mail. I’ll do my best to respond to all inquiries! Want to show your support? Buy me a coffee!

There's also my book: Everything I Need to Know, I Learned Playing Pickleball. And check out my curated book list at Bookshop.org, which donates to local bookstores with every purchase.