Why are we paying $12+ for cocktails when these $3 cans are freaking delicious?

PLUS: Binge alert! Do NOT miss this Apple TV+ deal. Just $2.99 per month!

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.

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SPONSORED

I’m all-in on home-smartening, because nothing gives me greater satisfaction than lights that switch on or off at scheduled times or when I bark a command to my smart assistant. (“Alexa, do this! Google, do that!”)

And here’s a crazy-cheap way to smartify four rooms: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Meh has the Etekcity Smart WiFi Switches 4-pack for $19.99, or $29.99 if you choose the dimmable version (which also have the cool LED accent pictured above). Once upon a time, these were selling on average for $20 each.

Note that these are single-pole switches requiring a neutral wire. If you don’t speak electricity, a few YouTube videos should be able to help you with installation.

Shipping adds $6, but that’s mostly offset with this exclusive coupon code: DSLIGHT. Apply that at checkout (click “Got a coupon code?”) to take $5 off your order.

This comes courtesy of Meh, a company I’ve worked with for years and wholeheartedly recommend. (Plus I’ve always loved the tongue-in-cheek name and hilarious product write-ups.)

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HELLO!

Sorry for the radio silence the past couple weeks! Between a bit of travel and a dearth of noteworthy deals, I took an unintentional break.

Speaking of travel, if you ever get the chance to visit Phoenix, your first stop should be the Musical Instrument Museum. It’s utterly fantastic; we were there nearly three hours and left only because it was closing time.

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QUICK HITS

📺 SAVE ON STREAMING: Whether you’re wondering what all the Severance fuss is about or you want to binge yourself silly on the excellent Slow Horses, here’s an extremely rare deal from Apple: 3 months of Apple TV+ for just $2.99 per month. (Reg. price: $9.99 per month.)

This isn’t for current subscribers, unsurprisingly, but rather new and returning ones. If you’re unfamiliar with Apple’s streaming service (which has great content but a maddening interface), check out my just-published review. And see below for my take on Apple’s latest must-see series.

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🔋 SAVE ON PORTABLE POWER: I can’t resist a good power bank deal — and this one is exceptional. For a limited time, and while supplies last, Amazon Prime subscribers can get the Baseus Picogo 10,000-mAh mobile charger for $18.74 after clicking the Redeem button on the product page or applying promo code ES2ZWVSV at checkout. (Let me repeat: You must be a Prime subscriber, otherwise $24.99 and no coupon.)

It’s normally $30-$40; this is the lowest price to date on something that was already a solid buy. Love the built-in USB-C cable, digital status display, compact design, and impressive 45-watt output.

📚 SUPPORT LIBRARIES, GET A FREE AUDIOBOOK: Libro.fm is an Audible alternative that supports the local bookstore of your choice with every purchase you make. And if you hurry, you can get a free audiobook by donating at least $15 to a public library or the American Library Association. Make that donation by tomorrow, April 12, then submit the necessary form by April 18; you’ll receive a Libro.fm credit after that. Love this!!

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Travel hack: Tired of paying $15 for cocktails? Do this instead

Mrs. Cheapskate and I enjoy a cocktail from time to time, but we don’t enjoy paying $12 each for a small, mediocre margarita (which is exactly what happened at the hotel bar during this last trip). And as you probably know, many a cocktail these days will set you back $15 or even more. What a racket.

Because I follow the delightful TikTok creator Loryn Powell, I know that science is doing amazing things with canned cocktails. With that in mind, we popped into the local grocery store in search of something cheaper to sip by the pool. What we found: The Club Cocktails. The brand offers a variety of classics; we chose the Manhattan, Long Island Iced Tea, and Moscow Mule.

Price per can: $2.99. Booze per can: anywhere from 10-20% ABV. (Given the price, we thought these would be light on the liquor. Nuh-uh.)

Taste: delicious. We sampled all three and loved them; absolutely “would drink again.” (Now for the bummer: Can’t get them in Michigan. Not yet, anyway.)

I’m sure this is no great revelation; liquor is always cheaper when you buy it off the shelf. But we never thought to do that while traveling, and we hadn’t yet tried any premade cocktails. So what if we have to imbibe before or after dinner instead of during, or do a little discreet smuggling? Literally one-fourth the price.

Have you tried any canned cocktails? Hit the comments and let me know what you liked or didn’t like!

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PLAYLIST

📺 The Studio (Apple TV+)

I’ve watched only three episodes of this new satire and I’m absolutely hooked. It’s a smart, funny takedown of the Hollywood machine, with some of the most impressive one-shot scenes, well, ever. (The entire second episode is a masterclass in the “oner,” which is also the episode title.)

My daughter put it best: “Is this why so many movies are so bad?” Pretty much! I won’t give this a rating until I’ve finished the season; for now, just an enthusiastic thumbs-up recommendation.

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📕 The Women, by Kristen Hannah (Libby, Hoopla, etc.)

If you think the country is torn apart now, you didn’t live through the Vietnam era; I’d argue it was even worse, because not only were we deeply riven, people were actually dying.

Hannah’s book shines a spotlight on all that, but from the under-represented perspective of the women who served. (Well, one woman, mostly. The title is a bit misleading.) What I found most interesting (and sad) were the parallels between then and now, especially with regard to what the government and media reported to the country. Most of what I know of the Vietnam war is what I learned watching movies; I learned a lot more here.

Make no mistake, this isn’t great literature. It’s an engaging story that chugs along at a fast clip and throws in lots of twists, but the writing is pretty hackneyed. Overly earnest, some might say. Even so, I think this is worth reading, if only for the history.

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.