10/30/2026 Friday Freebies and Deals!

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October is officially the longest month of the year. At least, it feels that way. I’m tired. And I’m glad it’s Friday!

Here are some freebies and deals that are available year-round!

For free food resources, see my comprehensive list here.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.

Freebies:

Spooktacular Halloween Food Deals & Food Freebies You Can’t Miss in 2026: Pizza, Fast Food, and More
Free 2026 National Parks Entrance Days
FREE Sample of Edna Day Moisture Cream & Overnight Cream
FREE PhotoJoy Photo Postcard
FREE Sample of Kiehl’s 1cc CollaShot Plumping Serum
FREE $15 to Spend at CVS
Get Free Samples by Mail: List of Legitimate Freebies & Free Samples From Brand Name Companies
FREE 2027 Wall Calendars
Free Baby Samples & Full Sized Products from Amazon
FREE Holiday Engine Kit Workshop Event at Lowe’s
FREE 8×10 Zombie Print at CVS
FREE Sample of YSL Libre Santal Couture Fragrance
FREE Sample of Earth’s Care Eczema Lotion
FREE Playing Cards from Black & Mild
Here’s How to Score FREE or Cheap Photo Prints: 2026
Get Free Magazine Subscriptions: No Credit Card Needed
FREE Rare Beauty Hydrating Eye Patches at Ulta
FREE Sample of CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo
FREE Actispot II Cat Flea Treatment
FREE Pokemon Trick or Trade BOOster Pack at GameStop on 10/31
FREE Lysol Sample Pouch at Target
FREE Week of Smoothies at Tropical Smoothie Cafe Nov. 2 – 8
FREE Sample of Soluvia Shield Dissolvable Mouth Comfort Patch
FREE $15 to Spend at Walmart
Unlock the Magic of Your Big Day: List Of The Best Free Wedding Samples & Freebies
FREE GREENIES Dental Chew Treats
FREE Beech-Nut Product
Get 5,000 FREE American Airlines Miles – First 65,000 People
FREE Injinji Socks
FREE $30 Purchase at UGG
FREE 2027 Unity Calendar
FREE Bag of Happy Candy at Target
FREE Cuddle Clones Custom Pet Pajamas
FREE Big Buford Burger at Checkers & Rally’s
FREE Box of Keebler Cookies at 12pm EST – Daily Through Oct. 31st

 

Deals:

CHI Original Ceramic Flat Iron ONLY $38.49 (Reg $100)
Old Navy 50% Off Giftober Deals + Extra 10% Off
Top Tips for Shopping Walmart Hidden Clearance Sale in 2026
SKIMS Dupes That Will Flatter You, But Not Flatten Your Wallet
Sling TV Deals: Save Money With Affordable Live TV Packages
Valvoline $15 Off Instant Oil Change
Snag Your Krispy Kreme Deals Here + Ways to Save & Get Free Krispy Kreme Donuts
Best Walmart Cash Freebies and Deals This Week: Tide Detergent, Vicks VapoRub, Bounty & More
The Best Walmart Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals for 2026 – Dates Released
Step2 My First Christmas Tree 12-Piece $44.99 Shipped (Reg $60)
Digital Calendar 10.1 Inch ONLY $59.99 (Reg $100)
How to Use Kohl’s Cash: Everything You Need to Know earn, use, and maximize
Coach Outlet Wristlet as low as $35 (Reg $88)
Acqua di Gioia Eau de Parfum ONLY $60 at Ulta (Reg $120) + FREE Beauty Break 6 Piece Gift Set
Regency Heights Queen Size Comforter Set 9-Piece ONLY $42.84 (Reg $130)
50 Dog Toys UNDER $5 on Amazon – Prices Start at Only $2.89 Shipped

2026 Halloween Candy Buy Back!

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Now that you’ve started all of the Halloween 2026 fun with carnivals, trunk-or-treats, and community events, do you have a pile of unwanted candy?

The best part of trick-or-treating is candy.

The worst part can be candy that your kids (and you) don’t like, goes against your family’s dietary restrictions, or that you’re allergic to.

If you are looking for something to do with unwanted candy, here are a few ways your kids can turn Tootsie Rolls into something your kids will like (cash).

Candy Buybacks are a way businesses, usually dentist offices, can get unwanted candy out of families’ hands. Businesses usually donate the candy to the USO or nonprofits like Soldiers’ Angels, which collect candy and ship it overseas.

Here are a few located in San Diego County for Halloween 2026:

 

PRC Global Market Research High School Juniors & Seniors pays $150

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PRC is a nationwide research study company. They are always conducting studies and seeking additional respondents. They email me once a week about the online studies they are looking to fill. Research studies are a great way to earn a little extra money, and most can be completed from the comfort of your home using your computer or laptop.

 

Currently, they are looking for high school students, Juniors and Seniors, to participate in an upcoming study regarding Prospective Students.

This survey must be completed by the High School Student.

Topic: High School Juniors & Seniors
Who: High School Juniors & Seniors
When: November 10, 2026
Where: Online Virtual Group
Length: 90-minute Zoom
Incentive: $150

If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

A few notes about PRC:

It is recommended to use Google Chrome or Firefox to complete the pre-qualification survey.
Only one participant per household.
Their surveys are open to U.S. Residents.
Incentives are paid via Digital Incentive unless otherwise stated.
To participate in any study that requires a webcam, please use a laptop or desktop computer ONLY—No smartphones or tablets.
If you use ChatGPT or any other AI assistance for your responses/feedback during any of the research projects, please keep in mind that you will not receive compensation and will be removed from the database.
If you pre-qualify, a PRC Global Market Research recruiter will contact you via phone.

Oatmeal Recipe Round Up- National Oatmeal Day

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Today is National Oatmeal Day, and oatmeal can be a forgotten ingredient in the kitchen.

In addition to a nutritious breakfast, it can also stand in place of breadcrumbs in Meatloaf and meatballs, or be ground in a food processor to be used in place of AP flour in baking recipes.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes using oatmeal:

Recipe: Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe: Oatmeal Mix

Tasty Chewy Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies!

Recipe: Oat Flour Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Stockpile Cooking: Yummy Strudel Pumpkin Muffins

Oat Flour Banana Bread Recipe

Family Recipe: Apple Crisp

10/29/2026 National Cat Day!

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October 29th is National Cat Day; however, if you own a cat (or are owned by a cat), you know EVERY DAY is Cat Day.

To help you celebrate your fierce feline, Fiona the cat helped me compile a list of her favorite treats, toys, and grooming essentials.

Treats:

Toys:

  • Silvervine Sticks for Cats. These are her favorite toys. She carries them around, meows, and gnaws on them.
  • Bird Toys (with Catnip)- She “hunts” these and brings them to us.
  • Cat Laser– the classic toy, still a favorite.

Grooming:

  • Brush with a fur-release button
  • Equigroomer– I discovered this from the Girl with Dogs, and it’s really great for getting the undercoat out in the spring or when the weather changes. It’s also good for dogs (and horses).
  • Grooming wipes– Sometimes Fiona is stinky and needs to be cleaned up, but a full bath isn’t feasible. These wipes definately help.

Just for fun, I made a kitty coloring packet. You can download the PDF for free here.

Talk Back: I want to hear about your kitties must haves!

Q-Insights 10-Week Research Study – Receive up to $675 in compensation

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QI-logoNOslogan.pngQ-Insights is another company where I do research groups, focus groups, and online surveys to earn extra money.

They have a lot of stuff in South Orange County and less often in San Diego County.

They are currently seeking adults to participate in a research study about consumer products. This study is expected to last approximately 10 weeks and will involve completing online surveys and evaluating a study product at home. Participants who qualify and enroll may receive study products shipped directly to their residence at no cost. Study details are described in the informed consent form and study materials

Study activities may include:
Completing an online screening questionnaire to determine eligibility
Completing a baseline assessment questionnaire
Completing up to 10 online surveys over approximately 10 weeks

Participants who qualify, enroll, and complete study activities may receive compensation of up to $675, based on completed study tasks. Compensation is not related to product use and is based solely on participation in study activities.
Participation is voluntary. Completing the screening questionnaire does not guarantee qualification or enrollment in the study. If selected, a recruiter may contact you to confirm eligibility and provide additional information.
If you are interested in learning more about the study and determining whether you may be eligible, please complete the screening questionnaire.

Wide Shoe Round Up!

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I’ve got wide feet. I always have, but after 5+ years of walking 12,ooo+ steps a day and taking stairs daily (multiple times), they’ve managed to get a little wider.

The search for wide shoes is exhausting, y’all.  Here are a few companies that sell wide (D) and extra-wide (2E) shoes.

I’ve only included ladies’ shoes because I found out that men’s 2E wide shoes are not as wide as ladies’ 2E shoes. I need all the room I can get.

  • JCPenney has wide, extra-wide, and wide calf shoes. They also sell narrow shoes if you have narrow feet.
  • Zappos has over 2000 pairs of wide shoes across all categories of shoes. Including my favorite sneakers.
  • Reebok has a decent selection of sneakers that have a wide footbed.
  • Brooks has wide and extra-wide shoes. These are one of the brands that my Podiatrist recommends.
  • Taos is a brand that a couple of coworkers wear, and they recommend it if you are on your feet and don’t want to wear sneakers all day. They don’t sell shoes in my size, so no personal recommendation.
  • Vivaia also came recommended- they have a lot of cute flats that come in wide. They also don’t sell my size.
  • Dicks Sporting Goods has a good variety of wide and extra-wide shoes. What surprised me most is that they sell more than just sneakers and cleats!

And for those who say that sometimes you have to suffer for beauty, wearing shoes that are too small or too narrow can damage your feet permanently. My grandmother ended up with hammertoes because she wore shoes that were too narrow and small for years. Other medical conditions one can develop from wearing improperly sized shoes include calluses, corns, ingrown toenails, nerve damage (including Morton’s Neuroma), and bunions. Don’t risk it.

 

 

 

Celebrate National Pumpkin Day- Recipe Round Up!

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October 26th is National Pumpkin Day. Whether you celebrate with a pumpkin spice latte or by carving pumpkins, this day has something for everyone.

Here are a few of my family’s favorite pumpkin recipes:

Don’t forget to check out my Halloween Events and Activities post here. There are all sorts of fun (and free) events all over San Diego County!

Procter & Gamble: Holiday Savings Rebate!

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Have you heard?

Now through November 30, 2026, Procter and Gamble is offering some new rebates! Participating brands include Tide, Downy, Olay, Bounce, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Prilosec, Pepto-Bismol, Always Discreet, ZzzQuil, Herbal Essences, and Gillette. For the full list of brands included, go to the rebate page here.

There are three tiers of rebates:

• Spend $20, get a $5 reward
• Spend $50, get a $15 reward
• Spend $75, get a $25 reward

If this rebate isn’t your cup of tea, but you still want to save money, check out Procter & Gamble’s website here for more savings like:

  • Over $100 in P&G digital coupons you can send straight to your Coupon24 app.
  • Answer quick surveys and scan receipts when you purchase P&G products to earn points you can redeem for digital rewards and more.
  • P&G Good Everyday is your hub for exclusive P&G savings. Unlock exclusive coupons and rewards like entries into monthly sweepstakes.

October is National Pizza Month!

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October is National Pizza Month, so I thought I’d share with y’all some of our favorite pizza stuff: recipes, pizza swag, and even ways to save money on ordering pizza.

Goodness knows we have pizza about once a week (Friday take-out night is usually pizza), so I have all kinds of tips and tricks.

If you are new to making your own pizza at home, here is a list of my must-haves, including ingredients and kitchen tools!

Need a break from cooking and want to order takeout? Here are a few suggestions for saving money and/or earning cash back on your next pizza night:

  • Domino’s has its Piece of the Pie rewards club. For every $10 spent, you earn 10 points; once you reach 60 points, you’ll earn a free pizza. More details can be found here.
  • If Pizza Hut is more your style, they have Hut Rewards. Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend. They have several different rewards, depending on point values. From breadsticks (75 points)  to a Large pizza (300 points), there is something for everyone.
  • Little Caesar’s has an app with various deals, and they also have a merch shop with all sorts of cool stuff. They are the Official Pizza of the NFL; with Football season coming to a close soon, there may be some playoff deals afoot.
  • GrubHub: One of the perks of Amazon Prime is that you get a free subscription to GrubHub+ with $0 delivery fees on orders over $12 and reduced service fees.
  • 7-Eleven : Seriously- their app has all sorts of deals on pizza, both by the slice and whole pizzas.  Get up to $15 in value when you download the 7-Eleven app, including 1,800 points, 11¢/gal off fuel, & more.