Memorial Day deals for under $50

Memorial Day is not designed to be a day for special sales and barbecues, although there will be plenty of both. And while we value and appreciate all the veterans and active-duty military, it’s not their day either. 

This is a solemn day of remembrance. A day to honor all those who have given their lives, to protect yours. In tomorrow’s newsletter, I have wonderful ways to honor fallen soldiers in your family.  

Today though, Amazon’s having a huge sale. If you don’t want any deals on some handy stuff you’ll actually use, just scroll on down to the latest tech news I also handpicked for you so you’re always tech ahead.

👛 Stop digital pickpockets: Shoppers like you deserve the best card protection. These RFID-blocking wallets for men ($28) and women ($12) are compact and stylish.

Smarten up your screen: No need for a new smart TV. Plug in an Amazon Fire TV Stick HD ($20, 43% off) or the Roku Express 4K ($30, 25% off) for an instant upgrade.

🔊 Pool party MVP: This waterproof Bluetooth speaker ($27, 33% off) pumps HD sound for up to 20 hours. Perfect for a beach day or drowning out your neighbor’s lawn mower.

Tower of power: Bending behind your desk to reach that one sad plug? Get a surge protector ($28, 22% off) with 16 outlets, four USB ports and a long 10-foot cord.

🔦 Pocket-size light: Snap an OLIGHT iMini 2 ($14, 30% off) onto your key chain to never fumble in the dark again. It’s a must-have for those “just in case” moments.

Feeling crabby? Meet Red the Crab ($14, 30% off). Yes, a crustacean-shaped spoon rest holds your silverware and releases steam while clinging to your pot. Practical and cute.

🥬 Spin to win: Freshen your produce with Farberware’s pump spinner ($23, 30% off). One press and your greens go from soggy to crisp.

The “Goldilocks” zone: Not too hot, not too cold, this insulated food jar ($28, 20% off) keeps your leftovers just right. Bonus: It’s BPA-free.

🪰 Shoo fly: No sprays or smells. Thermacell’s mosquito repeller ($32, 20% off) creates a 20-foot bug-free zone.

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Best travel gadgets for any trip

You rolled into your “deluxe” hotel room only to be stuck with dim lighting, mystery smells and Wi-Fi that makes you nostalgic for dial-up. Having fun yet?

Seasoned travelers know this secret: Pack smart. I tracked down the best gadgets on Amazon that are worth your carry-on space. Let’s check in.

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Big Memorial Day sale

💸 Long weekend + Amazon = serious savings. Let’s go.

🇺🇲 More finds here: Click this special link for more Memorial Day steals that are too good to scroll past.

Crypto kidnapping: What really happened

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A Manhattan crypto investor allegedly kidnapped and tortured an Italian man for his Bitcoin. Lesson: If you own crypto, zip it. Plus, jobs AI might wipe out, what’s next from Apple, and is your Amazon Echo always listening?

Alexa has your secrets: Amazon says that Alexa is only listening for the wake word, but we know that’s a pile of horse crap. One dad asked Amazon for all of Alexa’s recordings over nine years. He got thousands of voice files, spreadsheets and revelations, from “Alexa, play a fart sound” requests to his daughter’s late-night questions about sleep, dating and what “knickers” means. It’s like a little spy, but with bedtime stories and jazz. Wonder what Amazon has on you? Click here to request your data.

130 million

U.S. viewers now watch Prime Video, with ads. Amazon’s ad-supported Prime Video tier has more than a third of the country tuning in, commercials and all. 88% of them also shop on Amazon, so those pause-screen ads? Basically product placement with a buy button. Wow.

📦 Share your Amazon Prime: Here’s how to split the perks with someone you live with. Go to Account & Lists > Account > Your Amazon Family or click here to set it up. You can add another adult to share free shipping, streaming and more.

10 true tech stories you can stream right now

I’m way more into movies based on true stories. Real people, real drama, that’s my kind of thing. You can keep the wizards and aliens. Give me a story where something unbelievable actually happened. 

I put together this list for you as proof that tech isn’t just lines of code or shiny gadgets. It’s ambition, hype, brilliance and yeah, sometimes a total train wreck. You’re gonna want to see each one.

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Don’t sweat it

💪 Want that summer bod? Let’s help you get there:

🔥 Feel the burn: Amazon’s Memorial Day sale has more deals on summer favorites you’ll want to check out.

Flip your old books into cash

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Jeff Bezos started Amazon selling used books. While you might not build a trillion‑dollar empire, your shelves could hold big money.

Long overdue: You may get a refund from Amazon for a really old order. The company “found” a ton of unprocessed returns, going as far back as 2018. Why now? There’s a potential class action lawsuit about missing refunds. Here’s the kicker: Some folks are getting refunds for items they never returned, while others are still waiting. Ouch.

Head-to-toe glow

🧽 You’re about to clean up without breaking a sweat.

😌 Stock up: Don’t miss Amazon’s Memorial Day sale for more personal care steals you’ll actually use.

Computer goals

👩‍💻 “Kim, what are your laptop and desktop recs?” I got you: 

💻 Before you log off: Check out 15 more picks on my new Amazon page to fit your budget and needs.

Dirt stops here

🧽 Cleaning doesn’t have to suck (unless we’re talking about vacuums).

👠 Shoe, don’t bother me: Toss these deodorizer bags ($11) in your gym bag or sneakers to soak up any funky smells.

Don’t miss ‘Amazon Pet Day’

🐱 Today’s your last chance to fetch more savings.

  • Walk with a no-pull harness (11% off) that won’t choke your pup.
  • Muddy paws? This washable doormat (28% off) catches all that dirt.
  • Snag a pet door (22% off) with three flaps to lock the weather outside.
  • This smart fountain (43% off) tracks if your kitty is drinking enough water.
  • Clean your furball with a vacuum (20% off) that comes with seven tools.
  • And a pet bed (5% off) shaped like ramen. Weird? Yep. Comfy? Totally.

🐾 More pawsome picks: That’s just a taste. Hit this link for more Amazon pet steals your furry friend will bark (or purr) for.

‘Amazon Pet Day’ starts now

🐶 Don’t miss your chance to snag some barking good deals.

  • Pet hair everywhere? This fur removal tool (15% off) scrapes it all away.
  • Lavender-scented poop bags (23% off) sure make scoop duty easier.
  • Grab a two-pack of containers (10% off) to roll and scoop your pet’s food.
  • These rubber balls (45% off) are way better than your old tennis ones. 
  • Large pups? This back seat extender (33% off) holds up to 400 pounds.
  • Take your cat anywhere in a backpack (14% off) with a built-in fan and light.
  • Btw, no need to pay Apple prices for high-quality earbuds. These give you great sound, noise isolation and are 15% off.*

🦴 More to chew: Click here to see everything Amazon’s got for your furry friend in their full sale.

📅 Alexa, what’s on my calendar? Link it to your Amazon Echo to add or delete events hands-free. Open the Alexa app > More (three lines) > Settings > Calendar. Tap Add Account, choose your provider and follow the prompts. FYI, your events may be seen by anyone using your Alexa.

🤲 Amazon’s touchy new robot: Vulcan has a “sense of touch,” which is either a sci-fi dream or the start of our future metal overlords politely handing us our orders. Amazon swears it’s “not replacing workers,” just lifting the heavy stuff so humans can … watch? For now, it’s just in Spokane, but Germany’s next.

Outside’s calling

☀️ The weather’s heating up. Here’s how to make the most of it.

  • Keep your cool with a portable fan (23% off) that hangs around your neck.
  • These outdoor string lights (37% off) give your patio space a glow-up. 
  • Bring the bass to the pool or beach with a waterproof speaker (25% off).
  • Old seat cushions? Freshen up with comfy new chair pads (20% off).
  • This dog doormat (26% off) catches dirt before it hits your floors.
  • Stick on a mosquito repellent patch (28% off) instead of a messy spray.

👩‍💻 “Kim, what tech do you use?” Glad you asked, check out my page for gear I love and rely on daily.

14,900MB/s

How fast Western Digital’s new SSD claims it can read data. It’s basically a caffeine-fueled cheetah on a PCIe 5.0 racetrack. A listing on Amazon leaked the SN8100 ahead of launch. At nearly 15 GB/sec, it could be the fastest consumer SSD on the market.