Echo Dot on Sale at Amazon - $30

 Amazon has the Echo Dot on sale for $30.  

I have written about the Echo Dot before, but with home-schooling in session there is another great use for them...an alarm/timer.  When the teacher releases the kids for a break, I am having my kids tell Alexa to set an alarm (or timer) for 5 minutes before their return time.  No stress, no worry, and very easy for my kids to manage themselves.  

When it isn't during school we will tell Alexa to play music for us, turn on the a/c (with our smart thermostat), turn on/off the lights (with our smart plugs),and she even controls our fans (smart plugs again)!