Money Management

Your mobile phone plan could help you reduce your streaming service spending. Find out which T-Mobile plans qualify for a free Netflix subscription. 

When choosing a mobile service provider and mobile service plan, it’s essential to consider what’s included in the price you pay. This way, you select a plan that meets your budget and usage needs. But you should also review the details beyond how much mobile data you get.

For example, some mobile service brands provide customers with valuable freebies. You may be eligible for free streaming app benefits. Here’s how T-Mobile customers can get a complimentary Netflix streaming subscription.

Select T-Mobile plans include a free Netflix subscription

Having T-Mobile as your mobile phone provider could be valuable, as select T-Mobile plans include a Netflix subscription at no additional cost. The type of Netflix subscription included with your service depends on your phone plan.

Select T-Mobile customers are eligible for a free Netflix Basic subscription. The standard rate for this is $9.99 per month (soon to be $11.99), so this benefit can save you about $120 (soon to be $144) yearly. With this Netflix subscription, you can stream HD ad-free content on one screen at a time.

This free subscription is available to customers with the following one-line T-Mobile plans:

Go5G NextGo5G Plus

This free subscription is available to customers with the following multi-line T-Mobile plans:

Go5GGo5G MilitaryGo5G 55Go5G First Responder

T-Mobile customers with select plans get access to a free Netflix Standard subscription. The standard subscription price is $15.49 per month, so that’s a savings of over $185 yearly. With this Netflix subscription, you can stream HD ad-free content on up to two screens. Customers with these plans must have at least two lines to be eligible for this offer.

Go5G NextGo5G Next MilitaryGo5G Next 55Go5G Next First ResponderGo5G PlusGo5G Plus MilitaryGo5G Plus 55Go5G Plus First Responder

If you love a good deal, don’t ignore free perks like this. Your complimentary subscription is valid as long as you remain a T-Mobile customer. If you’re not a current customer but are considering switching cellphone service providers, select an eligible plan so you don’t miss out. After becoming a T-Mobile customer, you can activate your free Netflix subscription.

Make sure you’re not paying for a service you get for free

If you’re already a T-Mobile mobile phone service customer, your plan may include a complimentary Netflix subscription. Now is an excellent time to review your plan details to make sure you’re not paying for a streaming service that you could get access to for free.

If you have a different T-Mobile plan, you may want to compare options to see if switching to a plan with free Netflix access is a good idea. If a qualifying T-Mobile phone plan costs more, consider whether the streaming savings are worth it. If you’re not interested in subscribing to Netflix or won’t use the service, switching may not make sense.

Don’t overlook easy ways to save money

As everyday living costs climb, many people seek additional ways to save money. With valuable deals like this, keeping more cash in your checking account is possible. Are you looking for more tips that could offer savings? Check out our free personal finance resources.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Finding the best deals has never been easier. Find out which apps you shouldn’t go without when you’re looking for low prices. 

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, I would always go with my dad to a discount grocery store called Marc’s. Anytime we needed some to buy something, whether it was batteries or apples, we would go to Marc’s first, not because it was the closest store to us, but because nine times out of ten Marc’s had the lowest prices.

These days, finding the lowest price looks a lot different. While I’m sure Marc’s still has good deals, you could do more for your personal finances by downloading price comparison apps. These apps save you time and money by comparing items across thousands of merchants and telling you if you’re getting the absolute best deal. They can also give you coupons and cash back offers, set price alerts when things go on sale, and reveal price histories to give you an idea of how an item’s price fluctuates over time.

With that in mind, let’s look at how the following three apps could help you find some good deals.

1. Price.com

If you know what items you want to buy in advance, Price.com is an app that can help you scout out low prices. The app checks multiple stores for new and used items and will give you a list instantly of merchants who are selling what you want. It also has coupons and cash back offers, which you can apply at checkout.

For example, I’ve been hunting for a deal on a new Canon camera lens — the EF-S 10-18mm. If I buy this lens directly from Canon, I’m going to spend $300. But Price.com tells me I could buy the same lens new off eBay for $182 or from Walmart for $198. It also tells me I can get 3% cash back at both stores.

This app can also show you travel deals. So if you’re leaving home for the holidays, check out what hotel coupons it has to offer before you book with your favorite travel credit card.

2. Krazy Coupon Lady

The Krazy Coupon ladies really love saving you money: Somehow they find every deal. While the app can be super overwhelming with its notifications (I get like 20 per day), it can clue you in on the hottest deals happening at popular retailers. You can also get custom deal alerts from your favorite stores, like Costco and Amazon.

One thing I like about it is that it can tell me about deals happening near me. This has come in handy when we’re trying to decide what restaurant to go to, as the app can tell you about secret dine-in offers and hacks to get the best value for your money.

3. BuyVia

BuyVia is a price comparison app. The biggest perk for me is the barcode scanner, which I use in stores to see if I can find an item cheaper elsewhere. The scanner isn’t super advanced, however, and requires a strong internet connection. Once you have a barcode, you’ll be taken to a webpage on which you can find popular retailers — like Amazon, Target, and eBay — that may be selling the product you’re looking to buy.

Like Price.com, you can use the app’s search bar to compare prices for certain products. When I searched for my Canon lens, I found the cheapest price was $181. That’s only $1 cheaper than the eBay page I found through Price.com, but get this — BuyVia found this $181 price from Walmart. While it’s not being sold by Walmart directly (it’s sold via a third-party retailer), that’s still $17 cheaper than the Walmart page I found through Price.com, which goes to show you that you should always use multiple apps.

All in all, these apps can be used in tandem to help you scout out the best deals. Even if you don’t have specific gifts in mind, they can show you what’s on sale and give you some inspiration. And if you’ve already made a holiday shopping list, good on you — take a look at these apps and see how much cash you can free up for your savings account.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, Costco Wholesale, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Just like anyone else, men love receiving thoughtful gifts. Keep reading to learn if any of these gift ideas fit the man in your life. 

If you’re going to pick up a sweet deal from Sam’s Club this holiday season, you’re going to want to order it online, as many of the items featured in its catalog are not available in all stores. And if you’re going to shop for, purchase, and wrap a gift, you want it to be “just right.” Here are five gift ideas for the special men in your life that may fit the bill without totally draining your checking account. Prices are accurate at time of writing, but are subject to change.

1. The Ninja Woodfire™ Outdoor Grill & Smoker: $300

Why we like it: This grill and smoker may be small enough to sit on a picnic table, but it packs a powerful punch. You achieve all the performance of a full-size grill (including the char and searing) without the space-gobbling size of a large grill. If you know someone who’s interested in smoking meats, all this foolproof system requires is 1/2 cup of wood pellets. Electronically powered with 120 Volts, it carries a 1-year limited warranty. Oh, and it’s also priced $170 lower than the same model at Walmart. That’s an extra $170 to put toward something less fun, like homeowners insurance.

2. Chef iQ Smart Thermometer 3 Probe + Hub: $150

Why we like it: This Smart Thermometer takes the guesswork out of grilling. If a man in your life considers himself quite the gourmet chef, he’s going to love having such a sophisticated thermometer at his fingertips. Chef iQ uses an advanced algorithm to calculate the precise cooking time and temperatures, getting the meat just right every time. The fact that the probe is ultra-thin means meat is left intact and better able to hold in the juices. If you were to buy it on Amazon, you would pay $30 more.

3. ProForm 25 lbs. Select-a-Weight Dumbbell Set: $30

Why we like it: What’s great about this dumbbell set is the revolutionary Easy-Adjust Weight Selection system. It takes just a moment for the user to modify the weight so their time can be better spent working out. The durable steel set stays secure in a storage tray that clearly shows the total weight of the dumbbell at each adjustment. A similar set goes for $100 on Amazon.

4. Lee Men’s Workwear Vest: $20

Why we like it: If you haven’t shopped for men’s garments at Sam’s Club lately, you might be surprised to learn how many brands the warehouse carries. This vest manages to look tough and stylish at the same time and comes in three colors: tobacco, black, and chocolate. If you’re interested, you might want to pick one up while sizes small to xxx-large are still available.

5. MSI 31.5″ FHD Curved 250 Hz 1ms FreeSync Gaming Monitor: $199

Why we like it: The FreeSync Gaming Monitor is built with a speedy 250 hz refresh rate + 1ms response time VA LED panel. It’s great for fast-paced games like racing, sports, and fights. In short, if a game requires fast movements, this monitor can handle it. In addition to a multi-monitor 180-degree set-up, your gamer is sure to appreciate the way it syncs the refresh rate of the monitor with their GPU to eliminate the irritation of stuttering.

As we’re all looking for ways to save money this holiday season, it’s good to know that Sam’s Club has a wide selection of gift ideas at a reasonable price.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read our free review

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Dana George has positions in Amazon and Walmart. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Flying business class can transform your journey. But the price tag can transform your bank account — in the wrong way. Try these tips to save. 

Even a glimpse of a long-haul business class seat can be envy-inducing. I mean, if you have to spend hours and hours on a plane, it may as well have lie-flat seats and chef-curated meals, right?

Except there’s that small — alright, very large — problem of the price tag. Who is paying $3,000 and up for a one-way ticket?! Happily, enjoying a business class flight doesn’t have to mean forking over a mortgage payment (or three). Here are just a few tips for finding affordable business class flights.

Points and miles redemptions

If you’re of the mind to pay as little cash as possible for a seat in business class, points and miles are the way to go. Every business class flight I’ve been on was purchased with rewards. And yes, the bulk of those rewards came from a credit card. Specifically, credit card welcome bonuses, which are the best (read: fastest) way to accumulate a lot of points.

I’ll admit that earning those points is always easier than putting them to use, however. Booking award travel can be a bit of a process, especially if you’re trying to travel during a popular time and/or to popular locations. That said, it’s absolutely doable with some planning and patience.

Many of the methods we’ll discuss to find deals on cash tickets will also apply to finding award space. So, let’s dive in.

Web specials and seasonal deals

Some amount of finding deals on flights is luck of the draw. You just happen to catch that sale, or see an article touting a limited-time deal. Most airlines offer web specials and seasonal deals when they need to fill space on undersold flights.

While it’s impossible to predict when these offers will become available, you can up your odds of finding a deal by:

Looking for deals in off-season periods or locationsBookmarking and visiting airline deal pages regularlyFollowing websites and/or social media accounts that post deals

Changing your departure/arrival location

If you’re one of the millions of travelers whose home airport can count its terminals on one hand, you’re going to struggle to find affordable business class itineraries no matter how you pay. The smaller the airport, the more you’ll probably pay to include it in your travels.

You’ll often find much better award availability and lower prices if you can fly out of and into a major hub. This might mean taking a train ride, or driving and parking, to get to the new airport, but if you can save a few hundred bucks or find a better award flight, it could be well worth the hassle.

Using the price calendars

When you’re booking your trip will have a huge impact on both availability and price, be it in cash or points. You can typically start booking about six months out.

Since most airlines limit the number of award seats per flight, booking as soon as possible can help you find the best availability. It won’t necessarily guarantee you the best price, however.

To find your lowest ticket price, make use of the pricing calendars most airline websites offer. (Marking the box indicating “flexible dates” can trigger the calendar.) These will show you the cost of travel for a variety of dates, and you can page between months to see when might be the best time to travel.

Take advantage of mixed itineraries

One gotcha that I warn people about on award flights is the mixed itinerary. This is basically when an itinerary has multiple flights — i.e., a layover — but not every segment is in upper class.

I see this most often with positioning flights, which are flights that take you from a smaller airport to a larger hub. For example, if you’re flying from Buffalo, New York, to Paris, France, you’ll likely have a layover in a New York City area airport. On a mixed itinerary, the flight from Buffalo to New York City may be in economy, while the flight from NYC to Paris would be in business class.

While not ideal, if you don’t mind spending an hour in economy before your layover, you could save a few bucks (or points) by booking a mixed itinerary. This is especially tolerable if you know you’ll visit an airport lounge during your layover to enjoy the perks you missed out on while you saved money in coach.

Be careful when booking third-party discount flights

A lot of people are quick to suggest using a third-party discount travel website to find cheap flights. And it’s certainly true that you can find some enviable deals on these sites.

But — and this is a big “but” — you may be in trouble if anything goes wrong. If your flight is cancelled, for instance, you’ll likely need to sit on hold with Expedia or Kayak (or whichever service you used) to get yourself rebooked, rather than the helpful airline agents at your gate.

Additionally, you could miss out on other perks, like earning miles on your flight. Travel rewards card perks, like free checked bags, may also only apply if you book directly through the airline.

Other perks, like checking in through the app and getting prompt notification of changes, may require extra steps. In particular, you’ll still need to download the airline’s mobile app and manually add your itinerary so you can get your boarding pass, as well as any updates about your flights.

There are a lot of ways to make flying business class more affordable, though they’re all going to take a little time investment. For me, the experience and benefits have been worth it so far, but as with anything, your mileage may vary.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read our free review

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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If you’re going to spend money, it should be on gifts that will be appreciated. Here are seven kids’ gifts from Costco that won’t break the bank. 

The ideal gift sparks joy in a child. And that’s part of what makes shopping for holiday gifts fun. However, you’re not just focused on the holidays. You’re paying for pesky little things like groceries and auto insurance, too.

Fortunately, these seven gifts represent holiday excitement at a discounted price.

One quick note: If you see anything you like, consider ordering it online, as it may not be available in your local Costco store.

1. LEGO® Friends Heartlake City Community Center: $95 (with $30 manufacturer’s savings, valid through Dec. 4, 2023)

Recommended ages: 9 and up

Why it’s a great deal: LEGO blocks never go out of style. With time, they only take on more meaning to kids who opened them on long-ago Christmas mornings. Snagging the $30 manufacturer savings means you’ll pick the Heartlake City Community Center up for $45 less than it costs on Amazon.

This community center has it all, including a recording studio, music room, chill-out zone, and video room. The set comes with 1,513 total pieces and can be combined with the LEGO Friends Heartlake City Community Kitchen.

2. LEGO® Friends Main Street: $95 (with $30 manufacturer’s savings, valid through Dec. 4, 2023)

Recommended ages: 9 and up

Why it’s a great deal: It’s not often you find a discount on LEGO sets, so we wanted to include one more option. With the manufacturer’s savings, Main Street costs $45 less than you’ll find it for at Target. That’s enough money to buy another gift or tuck away into a savings account.

Main Street features four different buildings: A three-floor hotel, a music store, a record store (with a band on the rooftop), and a cafe. Buildings can be detached for separate play or connected to form a traditional scene. It comes with 1,459 pieces.

3. VTech KidiStar DJ Mixer Sound-Mixing Music Maker: $40

Recommended ages: Any

Why it’s a great deal: You can pick the same music maker up at Walmart, but it will cost you $14 more.

Imagine how much a kid would love playing DJ, creating custom mixes along with the 15 included songs, or connecting to their own music player via Bluetooth. They can dazzle you with a performance and record their very own sound effects using the internal mic.

4. American Girl Dolls No. 123 and No. 111: $105 each (with $25 manufacturer’s savings, valid through Dec. 4, 2023)

Recommended ages: 6 and up

Why it’s a great deal: With the manufacturer’s savings, you can pick these little beauties up at Costco for $10 less (each) than you’d pay at the American Girl store.

We can’t guarantee that it will work, but if you have a little one who’s not wild about going to bed at night, one of these American Girl dolls may be all the inspiration they need. Each comes with pajamas, a fold-out bed, a donut pillow, a blanket, a robe, a silky eye mask, blue slippers, and more. Doll No. 123 has dark brown eyes, a dark skin tone, and curly black hair. Doll No. 111 also has dark brown eyes, a light skin tone, and wavy long black hair.

5. Made By Me Arts & Crafts Creative Studio: $25

Recommended ages: 6 and up

Why it’s a great deal: Walmart offers this same 1,000-piece crafting set, but for $14 more.

For the art lovers in your life, this all-in-one set gives kids all the supplies they need to craft to their heart’s content. You name it, it’s in there. The set includes everything, from rainbow craft sticks and easy-squeeze paints to scissors, tape, brush markets, and watercolors.

6. MEGA Pokémon, Pokémon Discoveries: $70

Recommended ages: 8 and up

Why it’s a great deal: This Pokémon Discovery bundle will set you back $70 at Costco. At Walmart, you’ll pay $81.

Kids who know the Pokémon characters are passionate about their favorites. This bundle includes Zubat’s Midnight Flight, Jungle Ruins, Pikachu’s Beach Splash, Charmander, and Galarian Ponyta. In total, there are 884 pieces, each compatible with other Pokémon building sets by MEGA.

7. The World of Tolkien: 7-Book Boxed Set: $46

Recommended ages: 12 and up

Why it’s a great deal: You can pick these books up at Walmart, but you’ll pay $7 more.

If you have a J. R. R. Tolkien fan in your life, you know how deeply they immerse themselves in the people, creatures, and powers Tolkien’s books bring to life. This boxed set is a guide to the Tolkien world, providing everything a child needs to know to understand the vernacular, history of battles, heroes, ring legends, and more. In addition, there are more than 200 illustrations to help a reader capture the full lay of the land. These hardbound books will look beautiful on any bookshelf.

Naturally, the holidays are about far more than gifts (or saving money, for that matter). Still, if you can elicit a smile or two from the children on your gift list, it’s a nice bonus.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025

If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

Read our free review

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Dana George has positions in Amazon, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Gala, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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