Don’t book a flight without checking for these ‘secret fares’

Plus, 3 things that are cheapest this month 💰 No Images? Click here       It’s May now, obviously, which means a few things: You should definitely be booking your summer vacation, certain products are deeply discounted and – thank goodness – many of us will have Memorial Day off. Just in time, we’ve got a hot tip on “secret” discounted airfare, three things that go on sale in May, some practical tips and this foolproof whole fruit margarita recipe. What more could you want? Just don’t forget, if you’re planning a Memorial Day barbecue, that nondrinkers need something tasty, too. Xx, Janie   Take back your life Has it felt like years since you got a truly great deal on a flight? It has for me, now that so many charges are tacked onto the cost of airfare, like baggage fees and seat selection. But the travel app Hopper just announced something promising: a new feature called "Secret Fares" that will offer exclusive discounted flights. Tickets on 60,000 routes will be available for up to 35 percent cheaper than on other booking sites, which means you could save something like $500 on a long-haul flight. Yahoo Finance explained that since Hopper is an app and its push notifications are private, airlines can offer lower prices without sparking a fare war. That’s a win for you.   How to find the secret fares   Deal with it Don’t wait until Black Friday to make all your big purchases: Some of the deepest discounts on certain products will happen this month. If a new mattress, blender or refrigerator is on your list, you should know May is the best time to buy them. Mattresses are often cheapest during Memorial Day sales, blender prices get chopped before barbecue season, and new models of refrigerators are released, meaning last year’s appliances go on sale for Memorial Day, too (you might have noticed it’s already “Maytag Month”). Do your research on products now, keep your eyes out for those holiday flyers and online sales, and keep this monthly master list handy throughout the year. Consumer Reports' best time to buy things Pro Tip: Did you know Alexa can remember birthdays and other details for you now? Amazon just announced “Remember This,” a new feature that turns your Amazon Echo device into an information catch-all (and brings Echo alongside Google Home, which has had a similar ability for a while now). Just say something like “Alexa, remember Sharon’s birthday is January 12.” And later, when you can’t remember and ask, Alexa will reply “This is what you told me: Sharon’s birthday is January 12.” It will also remember your nephew’s shoe size, the make of that bridesmaid’s dress you need to order, your boyfriend’s mother’s name, and when your mom is going on a cruise. Want more practical magic? Why you need to wash your towels more often in the summer [HuffPost] How investing $100 a month can be life-changing [Motley Fool] Use this cost-per-wear calculator before you buy new clothes [Glamour]    .     HuffPost is now a part of Oath and a part of Verizon. On May 25th 2018 we will be introducing a new Oath Privacy Policy which will explain how your data is used and shared. Learn More. No moon dust. No B.S. Just a completely essential daily guide to achieving the good life. Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Can't get enough? You'll also love HuffPost's Entertainment newsletter. ©2018 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe    .     - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe