I love saving money as much as the next person, and buying big-ticket items used is a good way to do it. Facebook Marketplace is a super easy way to score deals near you … but there are certain things you should stay far away from.
Not-so-spooky meal deals for Halloween in 2023
Halloween is lurking around the corner, and you know what that means — spooktacular treats and deals! 👻 I’ve rounded up some fang-tastic offers for you to sink your teeth into this season. No tricks, just treats, as we dive into these mouthwatering deals.
Don’t miss these Halloween bargains
- Auntie Anne’s: Get ready for a taste explosion with 20% off the new confetti pretzel nuggets and a drink when you join its rewards program. But hurry, this deal only lasts until Nov. 13!
- Baskin-Robbins: If candy didn’t satisfy your sweet tooth, don’t worry. Enjoy 31% off scoops of ice cream on Oct. 31. The perfect way to top off Halloween.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Enjoy buy-one-get-one 50% off wings with 26 sauce and seasoning options for dine-in, takeout or delivery. A Halloween feast awaits.
- Carvel: Score $5 off orders of $25 or more on Uber Eats, Grubhub and Doordash from Oct. 28 to Oct. 31.
- Krispy Kreme: For a sweet and scary delight, head to Krispy Kreme on Oct. 31 in your costume and snag a free donut. It’s become a sugary Halloween tradition.
- Jamba: Celebrate National Pumpkin Day (Oct. 26) with 50% off any item when you purchase a pumpkin smash smoothie online or on the app.
- Johnny Rockets: From Oct. 25 to Oct. 31, enjoy free chocolate chip cookies with any in-store purchase. No need to wait until Halloween for your dessert fix.
- Sonic: On Halloween, savor 50 cent corn dogs all day and half-price cheeseburgers after 5 p.m. A savory twist on Halloween treats.
- TGI Fridays: You can pick from 10 lunch offerings available for $10 on Oct. 31. Choices include chicken alfredo fettuccine and a whiskey-glazed chicken slammer combo. Plus, all month long, indulge in $4 cocktails, $5 wine and $2 beers.
- White Castle: One deal leading up to Halloween is 13 cheeseburger sliders for the price of 10. The offer lasts through Oct. 31. Also, keep an eye on its social media for daily specials, such as a buy-one-get-one breakfast combo and 25% off all mobile orders on Halloween. These are the deals Harold and Kumar live for.
Halloween just got a whole lot sweeter with these devilishly delicious discounts. Enjoy, and have a ghoulishly good time!
Memorial Day weekend do’s and don’ts
Do you want to do some shopping this Memorial Day weekend? Here’s what’s worth buying and what you should definitely wait on, courtesy of the shopping pros at RetailMeNot.
✅ Check this secret link out: Amazon’s having a huge Memorial Day Sale. Savings of up to 50% across every product category. Here’s a link where you can search just what’s on sale.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Cancel out noise
- Outfit your office with acoustic panels. These are under $20 and work on different types of surfaces.
- Slide this stopper (25% off) under the door, and your room is instantly cushioned from sound outside.
- Reduce up to 90% of noise with these over-the-ear headphones (43% off). Switch to Transparent mode when you need to hear the dog or kids.
- White noise machines can help cancel out chatter coming from elsewhere or help you focus. This one is portable and offers six white noise sounds. Get it on sale for $24.
- New parents (or grandparents) can keep this noise-canceling ear protection on hand for infants and toddlers up to age 2. These kid-approved earmuffs are on sale for $16 and last.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Get free eBooks, movies and more
When’s the last time you got something for free? Your local library offers tons of free eBooks, audiobooks, movies, and more — all online!
🛡️ Microsoft offers built-in ransomware protection for Windows PCs: The catch? You must use OneDrive to back up your data. Keep in mind it’s not 100% foolproof, either. If you want to try it, open the Windows Security app > Virus & threat protection > Manage ransomware protection, and turn on Controlled folder access. It’s free for now, but I’ll bet they’ll start charging for this soon.
15 affordable products you didn't know you needed
There are tons of little ways technology can impact our lives. Get enough gadgets, and they add up to a significantly improved quality of life. With our list of affordable products you didn’t know you needed, you don’t have to worry about the little things anymore.
HP Pavilion x360
HP’s Pavilion x360 is 2-in-1 laptop that offers the best of both worlds: Good performance at an affordable price. Business News writer Brett Nuckles calls it “the fastest low-cost hybrid we’ve ever tested.”
In essence, this tiny but mighty laptop has a lot to offer. It comes with multiple modes and a flexible hinge that lets you flip the display. It’s well made, nice to look at and gets good battery life. Check out the specs below.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Mental health help: The first FDA-approved app to treat depression is now available. Rejoyn offers a six-week program with brain-training exercises and short skill-based therapy lessons. You’ll need a prescription, which means you must be diagnosed with major depressive disorder, currently on antidepressants and at least 22 years old. More info here.
Over 2 million American teens vape: “This is Quitting” is a free texting program that offers clinically proven advice from experts and other young people who’ve quit. It’s effective, too — 35% of kids who enrolled were more likely to give up the habit after seven months. Pass it on: Text DITCHVAPE to 88709.
No more credit card offers in the mail: Visit optoutprescreen.com to stop financial junk mail you later have to shred. Choose to opt out for five years or forever. Opting out permanently? You’ll have to use snail mail, but it’s worth it. Print, sign and mail a confirmation form. I did it.
Need to brush up? Microsoft offers free online training for its Office programs, including video tutorials, interactive guides and practice exercises.
👨👩👧👦 95% of teens have a smartphone: Smartphone Free Childhood is an organization that offers support for parents who don’t want to cave to the social pressure. They’ve set up local WhatsApp groups to “empower each other.” Here’s another option: Teach your kiddo to use their smartphone responsibly.
Medical breakthrough: An 8-year-old girl in Oklahoma is the world’s first patient to have a deep brain stimulator implanted by an AI robot. She suffers from a neurological disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions. Post-op, she’s controlling her movements and voice better. This tech offers hope for folks with Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and Tourette syndrome.
🥩 The password “beefstew” is not stroganoff: Hackers are still going after password manager LastPass. If someone calls and offers help changing your LastPass login, hang up because it’s fake. You really need a better password manager.
Apple Watch who? Oura’s smart rings just got smarter with two new heart health features. The first compares your cardiovascular age to your real-life age and offers tips for improvement. The second estimates your VO2 max — the oxygen your body can use during intense exercise. Content Queen Allie wears one and loves it!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Bonus episode: The Kim Komando Show, April 13
A new tech ban is coming, this time it targets Russia. Trade your data for money? I tell you the real cost of cash-incentive offers (it’s not pretty). True crime lovers — here’s a side hustle you won’t want to miss. Plus, a gal wonders if her Roomba records her. Creepy!
Acer Aspire 3
If you want a larger screen, the Acer Aspire 3 is the perfect fit. With 15 inches of vivid, colorful digital real estate, it’s affordable and easy to use.
The Aspire 3 uses the latest Intel or AMD Processors for solid performance, offers up to 16GB of memory, and is a solid work, home, gaming or just all-around machine. Check out its specs below.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.