Rapid Travel Chai

DiscountsMags.com has a big Black Friday sale. Act quickly if you want something: there is no posted end date, offers tend to change without notice (this offer briefly appeared a few days ago, then vanished).

The headline of this sale is The Economist print or digital for $44.99, or $64.99 for both. This is a huge saving over rates elsewhere and among the lowest ever at DiscountMags.com, which usually does not heavily discount print and digital together. Highly recommend for those serious about learning and thinking about the world. If I could subscribe to only one publication, this is it.

Print is Good

Fortunately, I can subscribe to many publications. I proudly support print. My discovery, attention, comprehension, and retention are much higher for print than digital.

Last year I tried several new publications. For some, like Alaska Magazine and Backpacker, one year was enough to expose me to something new and then move on. Others, like Current World Archaeology, I am happy to renew.

This year I am trying a variety of publications to keep a swirl of ideas around me, such as the libertarian magazine Reason. Texas Monthly is one I am trying because I’ve seen in-depth stories from them that remind me of Harper’s.

Legit Magazine Subscriptions?

For several years I have juggled subscriptions at DiscountMags.com and MagsForPoints.com. Both are legitimate services and I’ve had no problems. I get various magazines this way, plus Barron’s and Wall Street Journal.

I may try NewspaperRewards.com for a Financial Times digital subscription, to go with my Black Friday $99 FT print subscription.

MagsForPoints.com has auto-renewal that you need to pay attention to. The positive view is that when you call to cancel you often get $2/year extensions.

DiscountLock to Lock in Savings

DiscountMags.com you can choose DiscountLock or opt-out.

If you opt-out, there is no auto-renewal.

If you opt-in, you get the same rate for future renewals. You get DiscountLock email notices well in advance of any charges. At any time you can log in to your DiscountMags.com account to cancel upcoming DiscountLock renewals. I always opt in to secure the rate, then decide later if I want to keep it.

Multi-Year Offers

Some magazines that have multi-year options have a way to save a bit more.

Add 1 year to your shopping cart.

Go to checkout and you may get an offer to get 2 years at a discount to the original multi-year offer. The new rate becomes your future DiscountLock rate, too.

Earn Points and Save $?

DiscountsMags.com has it set that you can either earn lots of miles or points via rebate portals or save on sales like this. If you try to get both, you’ll get stopped at screens like this:

Perhaps tech-savvy people know ways to get both with methods that probably would cross my ethical line. I prefer to play it fair. The cash discounts on these sales are consistently worth more to me than the miles I would earn. Double-check for yourself as portal earnings are regularly 20x.

Deals for Ideas

Exposure to new ideas and new subjects is the kind of Black Friday deal I value all year long.

Readers, what will you subscribe to?