Free Backpacks & School Supply Round Up (San Diego County)

Abby H.Leave a comment

It’s that time of year- Back to school is looming. School supplies and backpacks are getting more expensive. However, there are several opportunities in the San Diego, CA area for free backpacks, school supplies, and even free haircuts for kids at selected events. For more information about each event, click the links or images (they are linked to the events).

 

 

 

 

 

 Back 2 School Jam – Spring Valley School supplies, backpacks,  and resources.
Spring Valley Gymnasium, 838 Kempton St, Spring Valley, CA 91977
Sat, August 1, 2026 10:00 AM –1:30 PM

 NAACP’s 24th Annual Back 2 School Stay in School Rally
MiraCosta College (Clock Tower Area), 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056
Sat, August 1, 2026 10:30 AM –12:30 PM

Buddy’s Backpacks is WILDLY popular here in East County. It starts at 9am, but last year, when we drove by at 8 am, there were already over 200 people in line. If you are dedicated to attending this event, consider arriving very early.

Backpack & School Supplies Giveaway
Radiant Life Church, 10060 Carmel Mountain Road, San Diego, 92129
Sat, August 1, 2026 10:00 AM –12:00 PM

Southern Indian Health Council – Back to School Bash
Golden Acorn Casino & Travel Center, 1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo, CA 91906
Sat, August 1, 2026 11:00 AM –2:00 PM
CCAE is in Central Escondido, CA. This is a newer event, and they have supplies for 200 students. There will be backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, and more. 

Back 2 School Jam – Lakeside.  School supplies, backpacks,  and resources.
Lakeside Teen/REC Center, 9911 Vine St, Lakeside, CA 92040
Fri, August 7, 2026 3:00 PM –6:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

Super Saturday | CSAM ’26 Community Event Backpacks, school supplies, and resources.
County of San Diego Child Support Services, 3666 Kearny Villa Rd, San Diego, CA 92123
Sat, August 8, 2026 9:00 AM –1:00 PM

Backpack Giveaway and Family Resource Fair
The O’Farrell Charter School (outdoors lower lot), 6130 Skyline Dr, San Diego, CA 92114
Sat, August 8, 2026 8:00 AM –10:00 AM

Talk Back: If you know of other similar events, please leave a comment!

Q-insights Kia Owner Research Pays $180-$330

Abby H.Leave a comment

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. Currently, they are conducting an online study for Kia Owners.

Who: Current owners of 2024-2027 Kia vehicles.

What: The study involves trying out various features and video recording your thoughts.  You’ll get to try out some premium subscription features and will be compensated $180.

Additionally, select people will also be chosen for a follow-up 90 minute interview which pays an additional $150 ($330 in total).

Participants will be requested to share their vehicle VIN as proof of qualified vehicle ownership.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the survey here. A recruiter will contact you if you pre-qualify and ask additional screening questions.

Q-insights Cell Phone Research Pays $200

Abby H.Leave a comment

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. Currently, they are conducting an online study about Cell Phones.

Who: Adults aged 18+
Time: 90-minute focus group regarding cell phones
Date: Thursday, July 30th, between 9am-10:30am Pacific / 12pm-1:30pm Eastern
Incentive: The research pays $200 for 90 minutes of your time.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the survey here. A recruiter will contact you if you pre-qualify and ask additional screening questions.

7/24/2026 Friday Freebies and Deals!

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Comic Con is this weekend, and while the littler and I aren’t going, the big guy is going with his dad on Sunday.

The rest of the week is full of gym visits, swimming at night, and playing video games during the day to avoid the heat. I’m so tired of it being hot and humid.

The love affair with shaved ice continues… If you are looking for a good electric shaved ice machine, this is the one. 

My Birthday Freebie list can be found here. The list mostly offers what you can find in Southern California.

If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

Looking for some summer fun for you and the kids? Here is my list of frugal fun activities in San Diego County.

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

Freebies:

Here Are 6 Ways To Get Free Baby Formula Samples
FREE GREENIES Dental Chew Treats
FREE Week of Smoothies at Tropical Smoothie Cafe
FREE Internet for 5 Years and a FREE Hotspot for Students
4 FREE Frozen Drinks at Casey’s Every Friday
FREE Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, Night Cream and Neck & Face Roller
FREE Handcrafted Drink Every Monday at Capital One Cafe
FREE Coffee Mate Situation-Sip Mixed Fruit Flavored Creamer on July 27th
FREE Lunchables Snackables Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Febreze Fabric Refresher After Walmart Cash
We Rounded Up The Best Free Stuff for Senior Citizens: 20+ Freebies
Get Free Seeds for Your Garden
FREE Sample of Halo Holistic Dog Food
Free Charburger at The Habit Burger Grill for Your Birthday
FREE Whopper at Burger King with the Whopper Guarantee
FREE e.l.f. Hair Collection Event at Target
Sign up for a Free Healthy Snack Box
FREE Reward Every Week with Panda Express Wok Wednesday
FREE Wireless Zone & TCC Backpack & School Supplies Giveaway
Kids Eat Free: Big List Of Verified Restaurants Where Kids Can Eat For Free
3 FREE Boxes of Kraft Mac & Cheese Restaurant Edition
FREE Sample Pack of Saba Pads or Liners
FREE Moonpig Greeting Card + FREE Shipping
FREE Sample of Thayers Hydrating Milky Cleanser
Get Free Travel Guides: No Credit Card Needed
FREE Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Food Storage Set at Walmart
FREE Tree Hut x Lisa Frank Sugar Scrub at Target After Cash Back
FREE Maison Aurélle Designer-Inspired Fragrance Sample
FREE Pure Leaf Mental Focus Iced Tea
FREE 8×10 Photo Print at Walgreens

Deals:

Subway BOGO Deal: New Subway Coupons for July and August
Up to 30% Off Sandals at Target
P&G brandSAVER Coupons: Get Digital & Printable Coupons From Your Favorite P&G Brands
Kate Spade Gemini Mini Bag ONLY $69 (Reg $189)
Get The Latest Upside Promo Codes: Instant Discounts & Cashback
Craftsman 5-Gallon Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum ONLY $39.88 (Reg $70)
Bogg Bag Accessories on SALE – Score Phone Holders, Dividers & More | Prices Start at $5.99
Moving? Sign up for these RARE Coupons
Reebok Back to School Sale: Up to 40% Off + Extra 50% Off Sale Styles
Huge Walmart Furniture Clearance – Prices From $19.60
Elmer’s Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks 30-Pack ONLY $7 on Amazon
Victoria’s Secret Sale – New Coupons, Freebies & Deals on Panties, Bras, & More as low as $2.99
Eureka Max Swivel Deluxe Upright Vacuum ONLY $49.86 (Reg $90)
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Air Fryer 3-Qt ONLY $31.97 (Reg $50)
Save on 12-Pack Coca-Cola & Pepsi with These New Soda Deals For as Low as $0.33/Can
Disney Store: 20% Off Back to School & Sleepwear Orders of $60+
Ninja 10-in-1 Everyday PossibleCooker Multi-Cooker ONLY $66 at Walmart + Free Shipping!
Blink Wired Floodlight Camera ONLY $29.99 (Reg $100)
Lenox Butterfly Meadow Melamine 4-Piece Bowl Set ONLY $9.35 (Reg $21)
Spider Man Toy Organizer ONLY $14 (Reg $35)
Home Expressions Bath Towels From $3.24 at JCPenney (Reg $12)
3-Piece Comforter Sets as Low as $19.99 (Reg $80)

6 Weeks of FREE School Supplies at Staples

Abby H.Leave a comment

It says 7 weeks, but the first week has already passed.

Enjoy 6 weeks of FREEBIES with Staples! From now through September 12th, Staples is offering a series of weekly freebies with a qualifying purchase, both in-store and online.

Plus, find classroom essentials as low as 25¢ all season long!  Available in-store and online.

Here’s the freebies:

  • July 12-18th: Free Astrobright Solar Spark colored paper (100 sheets)
  • July 19-25th: Free Sharpie S-Gel pens (2-pack)
  • July 26-August 1st: Free Post-it Pop-up Notes Dispenser
  • August 2-8th: Free Eccolo Password Journal
  • August 9-15th: Free Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens (2-pack)
  • August 23rd (Sunday Only): Free NeeDoh Groovy Glob
  • September 6-12th: Free Staples Tote Bag

About Staples Rewards: Staples Rewards is a free loyalty program that lets members earn points and cash back on purchases made in-store, online or through the Staples app. Members earn 1 point per $1 spent, with opportunities to double or triple points by selecting bonus categories tailored to their shopping habits. Points can be redeemed at checkout, and active members enjoy perks like exclusive deals, free delivery, and rewards for recycling ink cartridges

It’s Sample Thursday with PinchMe!

Abby H.Leave a comment

Love samples? Check out PinchMe! Join PINCHme and receive free samples that you can provide feedback on.

PinchMe is awesome! Once you are signed up, they will email you reminders when new samples are about to drop, and remind you when it’s time to leave feedback.

Answer a series of questions about your household and shopping habits in the Member Profile. PinchMe learns what you like and offers samples just for you.

Once you’ve had a chance to try the samples, complete a short feedback survey to tell PinchMe what you think of the samples.

I get PinchMe samples every month. Here is a box that I recently received.

What are you waiting for? Sign up here and get on the free sample bandwagon! I’ve gotten all kinds of awesome sample/trial size items, as well as full-sized items to try out from PinchMe!

 

Kevin’s Natural Foods for Breakfast – New TryaBox

Abby H.Leave a comment

Kevin’s Natural Foods is back and ready for breakfast in this Tryazon Featured TryaBox opportunity, from Kevin’s Natural Foods! Try two of the following incredible freezer scramble starters: Denver-Style Ham & White Cheddar and Spinach & Bacon Florentine. Just add eggs for a clean, delicious & filling start to your day!

Tryazon has 275 sampling spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a TryaBox with two coupons for FREE Scramble Starters from Kevin’s Natural Foods to be picked up at Target, Kroger, Harris Teeter, Giant Banners, or Hannaford from the freezer aisle to sample and review at home – no party needed!

Learn more and apply here.

 

7/19/2026 PRC Research Study Round Up!

Abby H.Leave a comment

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 of them can be completed from the comfort of your own home, using your computer or laptop.

 

Topic: Vitamins and Supplements for kids
Who: Parents and their children (under age 18)
When: 5 weeks total (Aug 31-Oct 6, 2026)
Where: Online
Length: various types/levels of daily participation throughout, a lot of it being quick daily diary-type entries
Incentive: $500

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

 

Topic: Business Security Decision Makers
Who: Adults, 18+ years of age
When: July 20 – August 3, 2026
Duration/type: 45-minute online interview (webcam required)
Incentive: $350
Location: From the comfort of your home or office

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

 

Topic: Water Filtration Systems
Who: Adults, 25-44 yrs old
When: August, 2026
Where: Online
Length: 6-months – Online surveys
Incentive: $300

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

 

Topic: Health & Wellness-July/August 2026
Who: Adults ages 18-64
When: Online Bulletin Board: 7/27-28/2026, Web-assisted interview: 8/3-5/2026
Where: From the comfort of your home
Length: Online Bulletin Board: 60-mins, Web-assisted interview: 60-mins
Incentive: Online Bulletin Board: $125, Web-assisted interview: $125

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

 

Topic: Business Cleaning Tools
Who: Business Decision Makers of cleaning supplies
When: July 22 – August 7, 2026
Where: Online Interview
Length: 1-Hour + short video + pics of cleaning items.
Incentive: $250

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

Topic: Medical Conditions
Who: Adults, 18+
When: Various dates and times in August
Where: 60-minute Online (Virtual) or 90-minute in-person
Incentive: $150 online or $250 for in-person (NYC area)

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

Format: 75-minute Online via Webcam
Who Qualifies: Adults aged 18-69 willing to discuss their thoughts and experiences on weight management, health and well-being.
Dates: Various dates and times in July 2026
Requirements: A desktop or laptop computer with a working webcam. No tablets or mobile devices allowed

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

Topic: Credit Cards
Who: Adults, 18-64 yrs old
When: July 28-29, 2026
Where: Online focus group
Length: 2-hours
Incentive: $200

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.

Fetch: Score 6,000 points per friend!

Abby H.Leave a comment

It’s back! Fetch Rewards is hooking us up with points. Earn an extra 6,000 points when you invite a friend to Fetch, and they snap a receipt. Head to the app and share your referral code now through 7/19/2026.

I cash out my Fetch Rewards points for gift cards that help me stretch my budget- grocery stores, Amazon, even Bath and Body Works!  I cashed out about $120 in rewards in 2025. I’ve been doing a lot more shopping at Aldi, so I don’t usually score the extra points for buying name brands, but every little bit helps.

Signing up is quick and easy if you aren’t already using Fetch Rewards! You learn more when you check out my post here. Find the Fetch Rewards app in your app store, and when you download it and scan any receipt, use my code ND2TB when you sign up, and you’ll score 2,000 bonus points. I scan all of my receipts (grocery, mass merchandiser, gas receipts, restaurants, you name it) and take advantage of extra point offers- the points really rack up!

 

 

 

Q-insights: Car Study- Earn $250

Abby H.Leave a comment

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. Currently, they are conducting an online study about Cars.

  • Who: Adults between the ages of 35-54 to participate in a study online regarding cars.
  • Dates: June 23rd – August 3rd (Only need to complete 3 days)
  • Method: Consists of completing some activities online on a digital platform called Aha! These activities should take you about 45 minutes per day to complete.
  • Incentive: $250

You will also have to provide proof of vehicle ownership in order to get confirmed.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the survey here. A recruiter will contact you if you pre-qualify and ask additional screening questions.