frugal living

New Samples from PinchMe Drop 10/13/2020

Abby H.

Sample Tuesday is Coming tomorrow, 10/13/2020- Mark your calendars, set an alarm on your phone!

Don’t have any idea what I am talking about? 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 offer samples just for you.

Here are the companies participating in the October Sample boxes:

  • Eva NYC,
  • Ocean Spray,
  • Harmless Harvest,
  • HelloFresh,
  • BioTrue,
  • SlimFast,
  • Nut-Thins,
  • Boiron,
  • Hartz,
  • Vero Gusto Sauces,
  • HARIBO,
  • Nexcare,
  • LUMIFY,
  • Purina,
  • Nexcare

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

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!

10/12/2020 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgI’ve started doing weekly meal planning on Sundays, but yesterday was a busy day (swimming reservation at the Y, a special needs conference, and lots of playtime), so I didn’t have a chance to post.

It’s easier to do it while I’m writing up the weekly calendar/schedule and prepping the snack box for the week.

I’m hitting up the store this morning for some last-minute items that I thought we had (note to self: Do not put empty cereal box back in the cupboard). I’m thinking about making a batch of cookies today to have a sweet dessert for the kids.

Thanks to some local deals, offers, and the school lunches the kids bring home, I have been able to keep our grocery budget to $60 per week for the past 3 weeks! It’s amazing. The extra money is going into our holiday savings account.

If you have kids between 2-18, check with your local school to see if they are offering free lunches and/or breakfasts. You can also check the USDA Website– but it might be a little out of date.

For those of you that are new to meal planning, I’ve got an easy 101 style post here with super easy tips and steps. After you get that down, here is info about batch or freezer cooking.

I’ve gotten a pretty good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge done (I update it after every shopping trip), so I’m able to plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste. If you are looking for kitchen inventory printable, I like the kitchen inventories here. They are great printables.

I only post our dinner plans for the week, because our other meals are usually the same each day.

Breakfast: Coffee with 1/2 and 1/2  for me, and pancakes or something along those lines for the kids (they love the Kodiak Cakes Mix).  I also keep sandwich Ziploc bags of other frozen fruit on hand to make the kids smoothies when they request them (a few times per week). Berries, peaches, and mangos are pretty popular. recently the Big Kid has been on a protein shake kick in the AM.

Lunches will be whatever the kids want for the time being. The big kid has lunch at school, so it’s whatever he chooses from the lunch box in the cupboard, plus some fruit and juice or milk. Since the little girl is in the morning cohort at school, she has lunch at home. Buttered noodles, yogurt, apple slices, and a popsicle are her go-to lunch.

Usually, I do a crockpot meal on Mondays, but now that we are home all the time, we’ve been having an odd combination of fully home-cooked, scratch meals, and frozen entrees and veggies. I have been posting our meal plans on Instagram too- As well as pics of stuff we are doing to keep busy.

  • Sunday:   Salsa Chicken and veggies ( I didn’t end up making it last week like I had planned)
  • Monday:  Entrees & Salad
  • Tuesday:  Chick’n nuggets (vegetarian nugs for our buddy) and fruit
  • Wednesday:   Sausage and Peppers in the Crockpot, noodles, and veggies
  • Thursday: Chicken Tika Masala, rice, veggies
  • Friday:  Pizza Night!
  • Saturday: Breakfast for Dinner

Please stay safe you guys! The sooner we flatten the curve, the sooner life can go back to normal- whatever that means.

Talk Back: What are you cooking for dinner this week?

Cents of Style Fashion Friday: TWO Pairs of Earrings ONLY $12

Abby H.

** This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

It’s time to Glitz Up! Cents of Style is hooking us up with a sweet deal on earrings this week. I love deals like this one- it’s a great way to pick up a few holiday gifts without breaking the bank.

Earrings

Earrings

And with over 25 styles to choose from, you are bound to find something for you and a few friends!

The coupon code for this deal is  GLITZUP and it makes the final price just $12… that’s ONLY $6 a pair when 2 pieces are purchased!

Don’t forget the FREE Shipping over $35!

And it keeps getting better-  when you check out you’ll have the chance to add ANOTHER pair for only $0.99!

 

Family Recipe: Bean, Rice, & Cheese Bowls

Abby H.

You may have noticed that BRC Bowls is a regular item on our weekly meal plan posts.

Beans and Rice are pantry staples in our home. You can do a lot with both, but the BRC bowl is a quick, easy, and healthy meal that everyone in our home can agree on. If I’ve got more time, I can add roasted veggies too.

We use vegetarian, fat-free refried beans because a lot of commercially made refried beans contain lard, and since I’ve got a small vegetarian in the house, I gotta keep meals vegetarian as often as possible.

It’s also a great recipe to make extra servings of and store in the fridge for lunches throughout the week.

Here is the basic recipe:

Bean, Rice, & Cheese Bowls

Ingredients

  • 1 large can refried beans– approx. 28 ounces (or make your own from scratch), heated per package directions. Sometimes we use Ranch-style Beans instead.
  • Rice (I usually make 2 cups rice with 4 cups veggie broth so we have lots of leftovers)- The variety of rice is up to you, but we love jasmine or basmati rice. Did you know that you can freeze cooked rice in portions?
  • Cheese- your choice of variety. I really like the Mexican blend, which generally consists of a blend of Monterey Jack Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Queso Quesadilla, And Asadero Cheese.
  • Roasted vegetables (optional, but I recommend). I like to roast onions, garlic, bell peppers, potatoes, broccoli, and carrots. Cut them up into bite-size pieces, toss in avocado oil, sprinkle with kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper. Roast in the oven on a baking sheet for 30-ish minutes at 450 degrees. You can also add 2 T. of fresh lime juice for some zest.

Directions

Once all ingredients are cooked, assemble individual bowls as follows (from the bottom up):

  1. Rice
  2. Roasted veggies
  3. Beans
  4. Cheese

You can do it in whatever amount each person wants. Kids don’t like cheese? Skip it. Watching your carbs? Go easy on the rice.

As I said before I make a few extra servings in leftover containers and stash them into the fridge for lunches later in the week. The girl kiddo loves rice with butter for lunch, so I always make extra rice for her.

10/9/2020 Friday Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.
bright boxes

This Friday’s freebies and deals have some awesome goodies! I’m headed out to do errands this morning, but I’m so excited to share all of this great stuff with you!

As always, if you find an amazing deal or freebie, please share it in the comments below.

Freebies:

Ulta – Free Tarte Mascara for Your Birthday
Free Covergirl Simply Ageless Skin Blurring Serum
Free 8×10 Photo Print From Walgreens
Free Magazine Subscription -Allure, Food Network, Instyle & More
Free Goody Bag at buybuy BABY Stores
Free Bowl of Queso at On the Border
Free Pair of Nike Air Zoom Pulse Shoes for Medical Professionals
Free Box of Kraft Mac & Cheese at 7pm EST
Free Midterm Survival Kit Tote Bag, T-Shirt, Candy & More
Banfield Pet Hospital – Free Office Visit & Consultation
Free Mika & Sammy’s Dog Treats
Free Sample of Estee Lauder Beautiful Belle Fragrance
Free Climate Can’t Wait Sticker
Free Sample of La Mer The Concentrate
Free Chobani Probiotic Beverage for Kroger & Affiliates
Free Bud Light Seltzer Friendsgiving Chatterbox Kit
2 Free Moisturizers
Free Jar of Vero Gusto
Free Persona VitaminPacks
Free Subscription to Watch! Magazine
Free Vote Face Mask
Free Hairlaya Hair Extension Sample
Free Sample of Valentino Voce Viva Fragrance
Free $5 Off $20 with Flu Shot at CVS
Free T-Mobile Test Drive Hotspot Device
Make Extra Money From Home for the Holidays
Free Flu Shots at Walgreens
Free $20 If You Have a Fishing or Hunting License

 

Deals:

A Tale of Magic Hardcover Book ONLY $7.70 (Reg. $19)
Kids Shoes as Low as $3.75 at Macy’s
Mini Chupa Chups Lollipops ONLY $0.04 Each on Amazon
Free 7 Piece Clinique Gift Set (Worth $105) with Purchase
Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Body Lotion ONLY $4.66 Shipped
Martha Stewart Down Alternative Comforter $25 (Reg. $110)
Disney Baby My First Library 12-Book Set $8.67 (Reg. $16)

San Diego, CA Area Residents: FREE Produce and Perishable Groceries- Every Friday in October!

Abby H.

It’s back for the month of October! Every Friday in October, our friends over at Faith Chapel understand that with all that’s going on in the world that some of us still need help finding healthy food during this difficult time. And that’s it not always safe for us to go to the store or hit up a farmers market.

Distribution is happening this every Friday in October (8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th), beginning at 10:00am.

This is a drive-thru style event, so you don’t have to leave your vehicles.

Here is a picture of what was available in previous weeks! Sometimes you get produce, sometimes is eggs, milk, and other dairy products and meat- it changes weekly!

Faith Chapel is located at 9400 Campo Road Spring Valley, CA 91977

Pinecone Research- Updates and a New App!

Abby H.

If you’ve been a reader of this blog for a while, you know how much I love Pinecone Research. I’ve been singing its praises for years.

It’s getting better! Now there is a Pinecone Research Mobile App. The new and convenient mobile app gives you access to the full experience of your membership on the go. Not only are you able to take surveys and redeem your rewards, but you also have the ability to make updates to your panelist profile.

To get started, click either the iOS or Android download links below.

Rewards Site: The Pinecone Rewards site is receiving a facelift! Browsing rewards options is now easier than ever and new catalog options are available. Starting October 6th, you can redeem your rewards via Direct Deposit (ACH) to a bank account of your choice. They added this as a secure way to receive cash rewards quickly and direct to you!

In addition, their offerings include virtual Mastercards and Amazon Gift Cards. Keep in mind that if you have joined the panel in the last 30 days, your first redemption must be via ACH Direct Deposit to verify your rewards account. After your first ACH Direct Deposit redemption or 30 days of being an active Pinecone member (whichever occurs first), you will have the ability to redeem your points for any reward option in the catalog.

I downloaded the app yesterday and did 3 surveys. It was a lot quicker and easier than using my iPad or laptop! I can’t wait to redeem my points for an ACH deposit.

UCSD Eyemobile for Children- Free Eye Exams and Glasses!

Abby H.

The UCSD Eyemobile for Children will be making its way around San Diego County this month offering free eye exams and free eyeglasses to kids 3-16-years old. Call to make an appointment (858)822-2585.

  • Chula Vista 10/13/2020
  • National City 10/15/2020
  • City Heights 10/20/2020
  • Barrio Logan 10/22/2020
  • El Cajon 10/27/2020

For more information, please visit their website. Thanks to Lena at San Diego Regional Center for the heads up on this program!

 

And if you are looking for freebies and deals on glasses and contacts for adults, check out my post here from July 2020.

10/5/2020 Weekly Meal Plan!

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgI’ve started doing weekly meal planning on Sundays, but yesterday was a busy day, so I didn’t have a chance to post.

It’s easier to do it while I’m writing up the weekly calendar/schedule and prepping the snack box for the week.

I didn’t have a chance to shop over the weekend, so this morning after school drop off, I’m hitting up Food4Less for a few things. I stocked up on fresh fruit last week (there was a produce giveaway locally, and that filled both fruit bowls). Big Kid has requested home made apple sauce, so I’m going to make it this morning as well as Kodiak Chocolate Muffins.  The free school lunches that our school is providing gives us some yummy stuff the kids like (baby carrots, milk, and apple slices to name a few), and the stuff that they don’t care for or contains meat we share with some of our friends who have kiddos that aren’t able to stop and pick up free lunches.

For those of you that are new to meal planning, I’ve got an easy 101 style post here with super easy tips and steps. After you get that down, here is info about batch or freezer cooking.

I’ve gotten a pretty good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge done (I update it after every shopping trip), so I’m able to plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste. If you are looking for kitchen inventory printable, I like the kitchen inventories here. They are great printables.

I only post our dinner plans for the week, because our other meals are usually the same each day.

Breakfast: Coffee with 1/2 and 1/2  for me, and pancakes or something along those lines for the kids (they love the Kodiak Cakes Mix).  I also keep sandwich Ziploc bags of other frozen fruit on hand to make the kids smoothies when they request them (a few times per week). Berries, peaches, and mangos are pretty popular. recently the Big Kid has been on a protein shake kick in the AM.

Lunches will be whatever the kids want for the time being. The big kid has lunch at school, so it’s whatever he chooses from the lunch box in the cupboard, plus some fruit and juice or milk. Since the little girl is in the morning cohort at school, she has lunch at home. Buttered noodles, yogurt, apple slices, and a popsicle are her go-to lunch.

Usually, I do a crockpot meal on Mondays, but now that we are home all the time, we’ve been having an odd combination of fully home-cooked, scratch meals, and frozen entrees and veggies. I have been posting our meal plans on Instagram too- As well as pics of stuff we are doing to keep busy.

  • Sunday:  Leftover Extravaganza
  • Monday:  Entrees & Salad
  • Tuesday:  Pancakes and fruit
  • Wednesday:   Patty Melts made with Veggie Burgers
  • Thursday: Salsa Chicken and veggies
  • Friday:  Pizza Night!
  • Saturday: Breakfast for Dinner  (I’ve been itching to make blueberry waffles with vanilla ice cream)

Please stay safe you guys! The sooner we flatten the curve, the sooner life can go back to normal- whatever that means.

Talk Back: What are you cooking for dinner this week?

10/24/2020 Free Paper Shredding Event! (San Diego and LA)

Abby H.

 

If you are like us, you’ve been doing a lot of cleaning and organizing during the quarantine. That might mean you’ve got a box of paperwork to dispose of. Thankfully, North Island Credit Union and California Credit Union are hosting a Shred Day on October 24, 2020 from 9am-2pm at the following locations-

LOS ANGELES

  • Glendale HQ 701 N. Brand Blvd. Glendale, CA 91203
  • Rosenell Branch 420 N. Rosenell Terrace Los Angeles, CA 90026

SAN DIEGO

  • San Diego HQ 5898 Copley Dr. San Diego, CA 92111
  • South Bay Branch 45 N. Broadway Chula Vista, CA 91910

Shred Day will be a PAPER ONLY event. No electronic items will be processed.
At this contactless drive-thru event,   all members must stay in their vehicles and have their shred items packaged in a bag(s) or box(es) in their back seat or trunk.

For more information, please visit the North Island Credit Union website.