Author: Abby H.

Earn Up to $650 – Online Insects Study

Abby H.

PRC aka iOpinion is a nationwide research study company.

PRC Global Market Research is conducting a study on Insects. They would like to speak with adults aged 18-65 residing in San Diego, California. If you qualify for the study, you will be required to participate in an online discussion board that will last 4-5 weeks (depending on qualification). You MUST LOG on each day to answer questions (5-10 minutes/day). The study will take place between June 23, 2025 – July 25, 2025. Compensation would be $400-$500 (depending on your qualification) + $150 (if chosen for part 2).

If you qualify, a PRC Global Market Research team member will contact you directly with more details. The study reference number is P257001I-K.

If you are interested in taking part in this study, please complete the pre-screener questionnaire here.

Q-Insights Online Focus Group On Members Rewards pays $150

Abby H.

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 recruiting participants for an Online Focus Group on Member Rewards.

This is an Online study, and all that are invited will need to commit to 90 min Focus Group Via Discuss.IO.

  • Topic: Member Rewards
  • Who: Men and women of all ages.
  • Dates: June 17th-18th
  • Incentive amount is $150.00

If you are interested, please fill out the survey here, and one of their recruiters will contact you.

6/6/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

Today was our last Friday of school! We celebrated with pizza (yes, I had a coupon).

  • 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 Govertex Skincare Serum and Fragrance Products
FREE Riversol 15-Day Anti-Aging Sample Kit + FREE Shipping
FREE $10 Off Groceries or Trail Mix Item for Target Circle 360 Members
FREE $5 Shop Cash
FREE Wasa Crisp Creations Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Sample of Eva NYC H2-Whoa Shampoo & Conditioner
FREE Sample of Rodan + Fields Active Hydration Serum
FREE Fragrance Samples from Macy’s
FREE Dog Treats Box from Zigzag – a $15 Value
Sweet Surprises: How to Score Free Chocolate
2 FREE How to Train Your Dragon Movie Tickets for Xfinity Rewards Members
FREE Sample of Cesar Mini-Pouches Dog Food
FREE Bloomingdale’s Little Freebies Box
Get Free Condom Samples Online and In-Person From Your Favorite Brands
FREE Suavitel Advanced Liquid Fabric Softener at Sam’s Club Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Chocolate Dipped Fruit Cone at Edible Arrangements for Graduates & Teachers
FREE Friendly Loom Crafting Party Pack
How to Score Sticker Freebies – Sticker Mule, Keds, Netflix and More
FREE $35 Purchase at Walmart After Cash Back
Get Your Free Teeth Whitening Samples: A Brighter Smile Awaits
FREE Entree at Chipotle During the 2025 Men’s Professional Basketball Series
FREE $35 Purchase at Sephora After Cash Back
FREE Sample of Dolce & Gabbana No-Puff Caffeine Eye Patches
10 FREE 4×6 Photo Prints at CVS
Unlock Your Wellness Journey with Free Nutrition Samples: Try Before You Buy
Score a Subscription to Condé Nast Traveller Magazine – No Credit Card Needed
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE Large Slurpee, FREE 1-Week Access to Local Cool Treats Perks & More
92,000 FREE Pints of Kroger Ice Cream on June 20th
FREE Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Cobalt & Bad Boy Elixir Fragrance Samples
FREE Army of Good Magnet
FREE Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread

 

Deals:

Under Armour Shorts From $5 Shipped – Limited Time ONLY!
Bogg Bag Accessories on SALE – Score Phone Holders, Dividers & More | Prices Start at $2.55
Latest Panda Express Coupon Code: Get Two Large Sides & Three Large Entrees for $30
Bella Pro 6-Qt Touchscreen Air Digital Fryer ONLY $39.99 (Reg $100)

6/4/2025 PRC Research Study Round Up!

Abby H.

PRC aka iOpinion is a nationwide research study company. They are always running studies and looking for more respondents. They email me once a week about the online studies they are looking to fill.

Topic: Pediatric Obesity
Who: Children ages 12-17 who are overweight or obese. The parent or guardian may fill out the survey, but the child will participate.
Format: Online webcam interview
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 2025
Duration: The discussion will last 90 minutes
Incentive $150 Digital Incentive

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: Restaurant Dining
Who: Adults aged 21-70.
Format: Online group interview via Zoom (webcam required)
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 9-12, 2025, at various times
Duration: The discussion will last 90 minutes
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.

Topic: Insurance Agents
Who: Insurance agents and brokers nationwide.
Format: Online webcam interview
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 16-20, 2025
Duration: The interview will last 60 minutes
Incentive: $300 Digital Incentive

 

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: Fast Food
Who: Adults aged 18 and older.
Format: Online discussion via Zoom (webcam required)
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 17, 2025
Duration: The discussion will last 60 minutes
Incentive: $100 Digital Incentive

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.

Summer Events for Teens and Tweens at San Diego County Libraries

Abby H.2 Comments

My kids need to get out of the house this summer. Yours might too. I spent a few hours looking up some fun free stuff for teens and tweens at our favorite San Diego County library branches. Both the county of San Diego and the City of San Diego have library branches, but they are not connected.

City of San Diego library events can be found here.

The complete list of County Library events can be found here. 

Here are a few of the events my kids are excited about going to:

 

Lakeside Branch

SLC Teen Afterhours: Laser Tag and Trivia
Saturday, June 14, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

SLC Teen Afterhours: Art with Miss Wendy
Saturday, July 12, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Kids SLC: SD Animal Sanctuary and Farm
Thursday, June 26, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Super Science Super Show
Thursday, July 17, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Critter Encounters
Thursday, July 3, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Don’t Try This at Home-Scientific Serenade
Thursday, July 31, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Santee Branch

Animal show with Zovargo
Friday, August 1, 2025
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
At Mast Park

La Mesa Branch

Construction Club (LEGO club) Ages 4+
Monday, June 2, 2025 meets weekly
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Summer at your Library: Mad Hatter Tea Party
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Teen Backyard Bird Experience
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

 

Casa de Oro Branch

Game Night Unplugged
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (takes place weekly)
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Teen Video Game Hour
Monday, June 16, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

 

El Cajon Branch

Tween Tuesdays
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Tweens ages 8-13 to explore the RIASEC framework while socializing with other El Cajon tweens. Join us each week for games, music, and a RIASEC-themed activity:

* June 24: Catapult Challenge (Realistic)
* July 1: Make Your Own Slime (Investigative)
* July 8: Mask-Painting (Artistic)
* July 15: Lotería with Prizes (Social)
* July 22: Sharpie Mugs (Enterprising)
* July 29: Bingo with Prizes (Conventional)

 

Rancho San Diego Branch

Tween Craft – Perler Beads
Thursday, July 3, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Tween Craft – DIY Bags
Thursday, July 17, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Tween Craft – DIY Shirts
Thursday, July 31, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

 

As you can see, there are tons of great events going on for free this summer! And if your kiddos are looking for more fun, check out my post about Summer Reading Programs!

Yankee Candle Sale! 30-50% off!

Abby H.

If you’ve ever been to my house, you know I love candles.

Specifically Yankee candles because they last a long time, and have a great range of scents and sizes of candles.

Right now, Yankee Candle is offering up to 50% off almost everything. 30% if you aren’t a rewards member.

Becoming a rewards member is quick and easy, and there are lots of benefits, including a freebie for your birthday!

Did you also know that in addition to candles, Yankee Candle sells car air fresheners? Yup. They are shaped like tiny candle jars. Two of my favorites are the Macintosh Apple and Midsummer’s Night.  I know, two completely different scent families, but both are amazing.

If candles aren’t your “thing”, Yankee also sells plug-in Scent Plug diffusers, Wax Tarts, and Room Sprays.

2025 Summer Lunch Programs for Kids (And Other Free Food Resources in San Diego)

Abby H.

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I’m back with as many free summer lunch resources as I could find for 2025!

Y’all know I love to keep everyone’s kids fed.

San Diego Unified School District has partnered with San Diego Parks and Recreation to have food available at neighborhood schools and Recreation centers throughout the city of San Diego. The complete list of locations can be found here. Times vary by location.

Feeding San Diego has a list of locations in San Diego County offering free food for kids 0-18 here.

Feeding San Diego has many other programs to help families and individuals all over San Diego County. You can learn more about all of their programs here.

Lunch at the library:

City of San Diego library has two locations participating; more information and hours/times can be found here.

County of San Diego library locations include Ramona, Casa de Oro, and Spring Valley. Check to see if your county library branch is participating here.

Lunch at the Park is hosted by several libraries throughout the City of San Diego!

To find schools near you participating in free summer lunches for kids, the California Department of Education website has a map for the entire state of CA, separated by County with free lunch locations for children.

If you need assistance feeding yourself and/or your family beyond these free meals, and you are looking for free and low-cost food resources, check my page here.

 

My secret tip to saving money…

Abby H.

The number one secret tip to saving money that I love to share is: take care of your stuff.

It seems simple, but taking care of your possessions can save you time and money in the coming years. With prices continuing to rise and wages stagnating, taking care of what you have has become more important. Here are a few ways that I take care of what I’ve got to save money.

Keep clothes in good repair/mending them as needed. This also means laundering them appropriately and folding or hanging them up once they are clean. 

Shoes: clean/polish/scuff free, and stuffing them with newspaper when they’re unworn and living in your closet. Or, if available, utilizing shoe trees.

This also means taking your car in for routine maintenance like oil changes, mileage-based tuneups, having your tires rotated, and making sure that your tires are properly inflated and in good repair.

Laundering your blankets and linens per the directions on the tag.

Vacuuming/cleaning carpet/rugs/flooring frequently as directed with appropriate cleaners.

Purchasing quality products that will last. This might mean saving up to make purchases, but this is better than buying cheap stuff and constantly replacing it.

To facilitate this at my house, I use Google shopping, or coupon and deal sites, where I’ll help you find the best deals and coupon codes. I use Mypoints and Topcashback. I’ve also used Honey in the past.

The secondhand stores are a great way to save money. Recently, there has been an uptick in new with tags and like-new items in thrift stores because people like the time or energy to return items or when you purchase items online, sometimes retailers is no longer want the items returned. They’ll issue the refund and ask the consumer to donate or dispose of the item.

Earn Money This Summer with Surveys!

Abby H.

Even though I’m working summer school this year, pay day is net 30, meaning I won’t receive most of my summer pay until the end of August.  I need a little extra cash to take the kids on fun adventures, and snacks cost money! I try to spend 30 minutes a day doing surveys, usually early in the morning after the cat has demanded her breakfast, before the kids have woken up.  Here are some of my favorite survey companies:

PaidViewPoint– They only send you surveys that you qualify for, so there is no wasted time. Payout is only $15.00, so I make a payout about once a month. It’s not tons of work, and every little bit helps!

Pinecone Research: Get Paid $1-3 per survey!– My favorite survey company. $1-3 per survey you complete and they only send you surveys that you are already pre-qualified for!

I’ve been a member of Swagbucks for years, and it’s an easy way to earn free gift cards and cash.

Members join for free and will have access to all of our earning verticals, including, but not limited to, watching videos, shopping for cash back, taking surveys, and redeeming special offers.

Swagbucks is the web’s leading rewards platform, dedicated to providing FREE gift cards to its 12+ million members.

Choose from top retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, Starbucks, PayPal, and tons more.

Join Inbox Dollars free and get paid to take surveys, shop online, try name-brand products, and play games online.

You do online activities: Take Surveys, Watching Videos, Shopping, and More.

You earn real CASH!

Take Surveys and earn cash, sweepstakes and prizes for your participation from SurveyClub.com.
Earn cash for participating in online surveys, private panels, focus groups, clinical trials, in-home usage tests, online bulletin boards, taste tests, and mystery shopping studies.

SurveyClub gives companies the unique opportunity to access its panelists by posting studies directly on its website.

Receive cash back from Kashkick when you read emails, complete surveys, take quizzes, refer your friend, and subscribe to special promotions.

Earnings are deposited into your Paypal account!

 

And I post market research and focus group invitations from PRC and AO Opinions at least once a week, so keep your eyes peeled for those opportunities as well.

7/11/2025 All-Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair!

Abby H.

It’s time again for the All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair on Friday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Miramar Hourglass Recreation Center – 10440 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92126.

All activities and resources are available free of charge and open to the public.

Kids of all abilities will love this event, brought to you by the Special Needs Resource Foundation. Below is just a glimpse of what to expect:

Activity stations

  • Prizes
  • Crafts
  • Character meet and greets
  • Family resources 
  • Networking
  • Shopping
  • Games
  • Free parking 

 

Sign up to join us for this amazing day of inclusivity.

Activity stations for kids include favorites: Olaf Snowball Toss, Pokémon Scavenger Hunt, Super Wheelchair Awareness Course, Super Hero City Speedway, Crown-a-Polooza, and more!

Character meet and greets: Say hello to Princess Ariel and other beloved characters at this fun-filled event that the family will love.

Family resources and networking: Resource and service providers will be on-site to speak with parents and offer helpful information. Be sure to pick up a copy of Flourishing Families at our Special Needs Resource Foundation booth.

ShopAble Bazaar: Stop by to browse and buy amazing products and valuable services from business owners with disabilities.

Sensory Time: From 11 to 11:30 a.m., families who need a quieter environment can enjoy the event with just one opening announcement and no music.