Author: Abby H.

Outdoor Enthusiasts! Online Paid Research Study – $150 Paid Focus Group

Abby H.

Focus Group Connections is a research company located in Southern California. They conduct studies and surveys all over the US.

Focus Group Connection is currently recruiting for a new Focus Group.

It is an Online Consumer Research Project hosted by Focus Group Connection, running from July 21st to August 4th, focusing on the wonderful world of travel!

This is not just any research project; it’s a unique opportunity to share your passion for travel while providing valuable insights that could shape future experiences for fellow wanderers. To ensure a seamless experience, they kindly request that you have access to a working Desktop or Laptop computer equipped with high-speed internet, audio, and a functioning webcam, because they want to hear every detail of your travel tales!

This study will be 60 minutes. As a token of their appreciation for your time and valuable insights, selected participants will receive a generous compensation of $150.00.

If you are interested, please click here to complete the pre-screener survey.

Please note – Not everyone will qualify to participate and not everyone will receive a call-back.

7/20/2025 National Lollipop Day- Celebrate with See’s!

Abby H.

Visit any See’s Candy location for National Lollipop Day on July 20, and you’ll receive a free lollipop — no purchase necessary.

Flavor availability may vary by location, but here are the flavors you may have to choose from:

Chocolate
Vanilla
Butterscotch
Sugar Free Butterscotch
Café Latté
Cinnamon

Freebies and Deals- 7/20 is National Ice Cream Day!

Abby H.

National Ice Cream Day is next week!! I recommend that you download any apps required for these deals at least 1 day prior to ensure that you have the app and are all signed up for any clubs or offers. Not all of these offers are available in my specific area, but I included them because I have readers outside of San Diego.

Dairy Queen: Score a free Dilly® Bar on any order of $1 or more.
Exclusively through the DQ® app and website, DQ® rewards members can enjoy the delicious sweet treat (one per fan) from July 14 to 20. Order digitally, earn rewards, and unlock more all summer!

Dipping’ Dots: Dippin’ Dots is giving away FREE mini cups of Dippin’ Dots (any flavor!) during a two-hour window at their franchise locations. Plus, the first 100 people in line will score a super cool, collectible take-home cup, in addition to the free mini cup of Dippin’ Dots. Find your closest location here.

Marble Slab Creamery: Download their app because on July 20, loyalty members will receive a free small Ice Cream offer, valid for seven days. Find your closest location here:

Burger King: Check your app for this offer- free soft serve with a purchase of $1 or more at Burger King on National Ice Cream Day, Sunday, July 20.

Baskin-Robbins: Check your Baskin-Robbins app for an offer; offers may vary by app, including a discount on ice cream cakes or shakes.

And while there are no deals right now, check the following apps in the days before the 20th for possible freebies and deals: McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, Del Taco, Wendy’s, and Yogurtland.

And if you want to make your own ice cream at home, you can find my recipe here. It’s very easy, and you can make it your own with a few tweaks!

Score Free Groceries with Rebates!

Abby H.

Rebates have been around forever.

I remember my grandmother doing rebates when I was a kid. However, nowadays, you don’t need to send in a form with proof of purchase/UPC and a receipt; most rebates can be completed online or via text.

Sometimes you get lucky and get 100% back rebates, making your item free. You will find a lot of those with apps and websites like:

Ripple Street has tons of reFUNd programs where you can buy a product and receive the purchase price back. These are only available via their app.

If you consume alcohol, check out BYBE.  It is available in most states. This app has rebates for beer, wine, and liquor.

Here are a few current rebates I found out about this week while starting my Back to school shopping:

7/13/2025 PRC Research Study Round Up!

Abby H.

PRC aka iOpinion 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.

TOPIC: Babies & Postpartum Health
WHO: Adults aged 18 and older
Dates: July 11-31, 2025
Format: Online Session
Duration: 60 minutes
Incentive: $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: Personal Finances
WHO: Adults aged 18 and older.
Dates: July 21-31, 2025
Format: Online Session
Duration: 30 minutes
Incentive: $200 or $250 (depending on which segment you qualify for)
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: Adult Beverages
WHO: Adults aged 22-49.
Dates: July 22-25, 2025
Format: Online Individual Interview
Duration: 30 minutes
Incentive: $100
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: Feminine Products
WHO: Females aged 16-45.
Dates: July 23, 2025
Format: Online Webcam Session
Duration: 1 hour
Incentive: $100
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: IT Decision Makers
Who: Adults aged 25 and older.
Dates: July – December 2025
Format: Online Interviews and Surveys
Duration: 6 months
Incentive: 60-minute Interview $225
Incentive: 10-minute survey $75
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 the web browsers Google Chrome or Firefox to complete the pre-qualification survey.
Only one participant per household.
Our 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.
Due to the many survey responses, PRC can only contact those who seem to fit well.

7/12/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

This week has been very hot, so the kids and I have been hiding inside enjoying the AC (set to 77 degrees). With the heat finally breaking today, we’re heading out to the pool and a few fun, frugal activities!

Here are a few ways that we will be having fun and being frugal:

  • The Summer Library Reading Program post can be found here.
  • Fun Free Summer Activities for Tweens and Teens here.
  • The Summer Movie Deals can be found here.
  • Don’t forget about Cheap Stuff to do with Tweens and Teens here.
  • Kids Bowl Free is back for 2025- More info here.

I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.

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

Let’s get onto the Freebies!!

Freebies:

FREE Sample of Sheba Perfect Portions Kitten Food
FREE Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Face Scrub After Walmart Cash
10 FREE 4×6 Photo Prints at CVS
FREE Sample of Vetality Twist + Lick SimPill Gel
Calm and Cozy: Free Baby Sleep Music for Restful Nights
FREE Lunchables PB&J Chatterbuy Kit
National French Fry Day Freebies & Deals Round Up
FREE Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Set at Sephora After Cash Back
Get Free Beauty Product Samples With Topbox Circle
FREE Sample of Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
FREE Sample of PopTopz Pre-Roll Tubes
FREE Welch’s Juicefuls Fusions Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Sample of ACANA Lickables Cat Treats
FREE Sample of Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum Sample
FREE Sample Bag of IAMS Puppy Food
FREE $20 Purchase at Home Depot After Cash Back
FREE Splish Splash Water Park Splash Pad at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE Ghost Fragrance Samples
FREE LYSOL Wipes at Target Chatterbuy Kit

 

Deals:

Top 10 Grocery Store Coupons This Week
The Pioneer Woman 2-Slice Toaster ONLY $13.79 at Walmart (Reg $29)
Epson Workforce Pro WF-3823 Wireless All-in-One Printer ONLY $79 (Reg $150)
SKIMS Discount Codes & Coupons: Up to 60% Off an Order of Panties, Bras and Shapewear
Target Women’s Tees and Tanks As Low As $3.50! TODAY ONLY

Potluck Dish Round Up

Abby H.

Summer means potlucks, picnics, barbecues, and all sorts of fun events with family and friends.

If you’re looking for a new dish to bring, here are some of my favorite recipes to share.

Food As Medicine Initiative: Free Food with Medi-Cal

Abby H.

In California, those who have Medi-Cal may be eligible to receive free food delivered to their home if they have certain health conditions.

Several programs partner with Medi-Cal that deliver pre-cooked meals or fresh fruits and veggies. To qualify, check with each program listed below. Each program has its own perimeters and availability.

The following programs appear to be available throughout Southern California. I recommend verifying that they are available in your county.

To find out about the Food is Medicine movement and medically tailored meals, I recommend checking out the California Food is Medicine Coalition and the California Department of Health Services website here.

If you have questions, it’s best to contact your Medi-Cal provider, as they know all of the details of your specific plan.

If you need help finding free or low-cost food resources near you, check out my page here.

It’s back! 7/11 is Free Slurpee Day!

Abby H.

July 11, 2025 marks a special day for 7/11!  Tastebuds across the country are in for a treat on Friday, July 11 (7/11), when the world’s largest convenience retailer celebrates its 98th birthday by offering a free small Slurpee drink at participating 7-Eleven®, Speedway® and Stripes® locations nationwide ( *Valid only on 7/11/25. Available while supplies last. Offer good at participating 7-Eleven, Stripes and Speedway stores. ©2025 7-Eleven, Inc. All rights reserved.).

And it gets better!  Loyalty members  (download the 7/11 app and sign up for the loyalty club) can keep the celebration going all month long by scanning their rewards information on Slurpee Day to get a coupon for another free small Slurpee drink to redeem before July 31- Valid 7/12/25-7/31/25. Limit 1 per customer.

Talk back: What is your favorite Slurpee flavor? I love a frosty Coke Slurpee, but any citrus flavor is a close second.

Teens & Young Adults 13-29!! Online Paid Research Study – $200 Paid Focus Group

Abby H.

Focus Group Connections is a research company located in Southern California. They conduct studies and surveys all over the US.

Focus Group Connection is looking for Teens & Young Adults aged 13-29 to be a part of an engaging 90-minute Online Research Study on the vital topic of “Social Media,” scheduled to start July 21, 2025. The teens need to complete the intake survey found here.  Please make sure they complete this themselves.

This is not just an opportunity to share their valuable insights, but also a chance to earn a competitive compensation of $200.00 for their time and expertise!

Please note – Not everyone will qualify to participate, and not everyone will receive a call-back.