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You get only one pair of ears in this life -- so you better keep them safe.
Whether you attend a lot of concerts or just have sensitive hearing, earplugs are a must. Unfortunately, the foam kind merely muffle the sound, to say nothing of looking pretty dorky sticking out of your ears. (Why are so many of them neon green or orange?)
Here's a better option: For a limited time, StackSocial has the Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs for $15.99 when you apply promo code cnetvibes at checkout. Shipping adds $1.99 (and may take 1-2 weeks). These sell for $24 just about everywhere else.
If the Vibes look familiar, you're probably a fan of "Shark Tank." Creator Jackson Mann appeared on the show a little over a year ago. While the sharks were all impressed with the product and Kevin O'Leary went so far as to make an offer, Mann ultimately left without a deal.
But Vibes lives on. Unlike foam earplugs, these promise to enhance the sound you're hearing, not just block it. They're also nearly invisible, with just a small, clear-plastic tube protruding from your ears. Dork-factor: almost zero.
I haven't had the chance to test-drive these myself, but just about everywhere I looked (Amazon, Guitar Center, Walmart and so on), buyers collectively rated them between 4 and 4.5 stars.
That's why I'm springing for a pair for Mrs. Cheapskate, who routinely brings earplugs to movie theaters because she finds the volume too loud. I'm also getting a pair for myself, because my daughter's percussion-group performances -- usually held in school gyms -- can be ear-splitting.
Interestingly, the $23.99 price tag was a key reason the sharks balked at Vibes. I agree that seems a little high for earplugs (though can you really put a price on your hearing?). At $15.99, though, I'm more than willing to -- as the sharks say -- take a flier.
Your thoughts?
Bonus deal: Everything is awesome! Especially if there's a Target near you, because for a limited time and while in-store inventory lasts, you can score "The Lego Movie" (on Blu-ray, DVD and with a digital copy) for just $5 plus tax. That's the the pickup price. Shipping will run you about $6, unless you buy enough other stuff to get your cart total up to at least $35.
This is among my all-time favorite kid movies. It's smart and silly at the same time, with a really sweet and surprising ending. Toss the DVD into the minivan, use the Blu-ray in the living room and redeem the digital copy for your phone or tablet.
One small caveat: The accompanying image suggests this is just the Blu-ray edition. So when you get to the store, make absolutely sure you request the Blu-ray and DVD that comes with a digital copy.
Bonus deal No. 2: I've never been a big fan of massage chairs, in part because they're big, ugly and expensive, and in part because I feel like I don't have a lot of control over the massage action.
Indeed, I'm usually just in it for the neck and shoulders, and those chairs don't seem to hit those spots well. But I found a gizmo that does, and it's cheap: The Tekjoy Shiatsu Massage Pad for $36.95 with promo code TSPN3695. Reg. price: $50.
You "wear" this thing around your neck, shoulders or back, using the hand straps to adjust the position and pressure. That's the beauty of it: If you want the heads to really dig in at a certain spot, you just push a bit on the straps.
This model has three speeds, a heat option and two direction modes. I've noticed there are many others just like it on Amazon, some seemingly identical (just branded differently), most priced anywhere from $37-50.
All I can say is, I've tried this one and I like it a lot -- though you do have to stay parked relatively close to an AC outlet unless you use an extension cord. It also comes with a car adapter for your lucky passengers!