frugal living

1/11/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

I was a little busy yesterday, so it’s freebie and deal time today.

I spent a few hours today meal prepping and batch cooking for the coming week. I made some really yummy meals, including lunches for myself and the kids.

My comprehensive list can be found here if you are looking for free food resources. I will be updating it in the coming week with a few new free and low-cost resources. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.

Let’s get onto the Freebies!!

Freebies:

Free Kraft NotCo NotCheese Cheddar Style Slices ReFUNd with Ripple Street
Get Your Free Teeth Whitening Samples: A Brighter Smile Awaits
Free NotCo NotMac&Cheese ReFUNd with Ripple Street
Free Laundry Sauce Laundry Detergent Pods & Scent Booster or Dryer Sheets
Score a Subscription to Vanity Fair Magazine – No Credit Card Needed
Free 2025 Midcentury Atlantic Calendar
Free Oscar Mayer NotCo NotSausage Italian Style ReFUNd with Ripple Street
Free Sample of Kristin Ess Signature Shampoo & Conditioner
Free Socks, Tote Bag, Keychain & More from Rewards Drop
Free Sample of La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum
Free Blue Buffalo NEW Nudges Grillers Salmon Chatterbox Kit
Free 21 oz. Bottle of Electrolit Electrolyte Beverage
Free Goonameez TryaDeal from Tryazon
Free Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Litter After Rebate
Free Stars That Connect Us Book
Free Sample of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Free Sample of La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum
Free McCrispy Chicken Sandwich at McDonald’s
Free Each & Every Raspberry & Mandarin Deodorant + Free Shipping
Free Sample of Lancome Advanced Genifique Ultimate Serum
Free Pack of Dorot Gardens Products
Free Cleanser, Moisturizer, Eye Cream or Serum
Free Sample of Xilerate Energy Boost Sachets
Free Bo’s Chicken Sandwich at Bojangles
Free 7e Wellness Spa Night Party Pack
Free Sample of Seaflora Natural Sun Shield Facial Moisturizer
Free Pack of Baby Wipes
Free Goldfish Crackers or Grahams
Free KIND Protein MAX Bar
Free Kinship LittleKin Puppy or Kitten Sample Pack – $200 Value
Free $10 Reward for Best Buy Rewards Members
Free Jar of Gooey Hazelnut Cocoa Spread After Rebate
Free 2025 Gibco Calendar
Free Like Air Puffcorn Snack After Rebate
Free Hims Hair Care Products
Free Hot & Cold Milk Frother
Free Medium Fries at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Wise Dental Floss Sample + Free Shipping
Free TYR Wodapalooza Wristbands
Free Care Bear Plush from SweetFrog

 

Deals:

End of Season Clearance at Kohl’s – Up to 50% Off
DSW has a New Coupon to Save up to $60 Off Shoes
Fashion Nova Discount Code and Coupons: Save up to 50% Off on Dresses, Jeans, Tops, and Accessories

Try New Fitness Classes with ClassPass for Free!

Abby H.

I saw someone online talking about this last week (and promptly lost the link), and after some searching, I found this offer!
I love to exercise, and I love trying new classes, however, my current gym doesn’t have a lot of classes that are available when I’m available.

ClassPass is an app that helps you find cool new workout opportunities near you! Right now, ClassPass has a 14-day free trial so you can try different classes and fitness centers in your to find a good fit. I love that ClassPass is affordable too. I have a basic gym membership that’s cheaper than a pizza, and I can supplement it with ClassPass.

Whether you want to sweat it out with a HIIT class, unwind with a massage, or stream a yoga class from your home, ClassPass makes prioritizing your health and wellness easy.

ClassPass gives you worldwide access to thousands of top-rated gyms, fitness studios, salons, and spas.

Looking for something where you don’t have to leave home? Check out these free streaming videos on Amazon Prime. 

**This post may contain affiliate links, for more information about how we use affiliate links, please visit our Disclosure page.**

Jar Salads- Healthy Meal Prep!

Abby H.

I love salad. We eat a lot of veggies because of our Yasukochi Famil Farms CSA box subscription, and I’m always looking for new ways to serve veggies and keep them fresh.

Jar salads have already had their heyday a few years ago, but they are an amazing meal prep idea. Many of us have Eating Healthy and Losing Weight are New Year’s Resolutions- Jar Salads are a great tool.

It’s quite popular to use wide Mouth quart Mason jars, but I’m a little clumsy, so I prefer Quart-sized deli containers.   I also find that Quart-sized deli containers are a little more economical and can easily be recycled when they wear out. And they stack really well in the fridge.

Whichever option you choose, here are some tips for perfecting your salad creations.

Whether you use a quart-size Mason Jar or a quart-size deli container, start with 2 tablespoons of dressing and build your salad.

Bottom Layer: The base where wetter ingredients go. Putting the wetter ingredients together helps keep the more delicate ingredients like lettuce crunchy. Ingredients for the bottom sections include: Dressing, salsa/sauce, tomatoes, guacamole, avocadoes, strawberries, citrus, and grains (rice, quinoa, pasta, farro).

Middle Layer: Beans, bell peppers, corn, seeds/nuts, onions, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, hard cheeses, sprouts, pickled veggies, hardboiled eggs, tofu, and other protein sources such as chopped chicken breast. Shredded cabbage or coleslaw blend/ shreds can also go on this layer.

Top Layer: Bite-size lettuce or other greens.

 

These salads can be really filling, depending on which ingredients you choose. 3-5 salads a week is a great start. Jar salads like this tend to last 5-7 days in the fridge, stored upright. 

DIY Salad Dressing- Easy and Tasty!

Abby H.

Making Salad Dressing is so easy, and for so long I had no idea.

I love cooking, and I have limited experience making salad dressings.

But with the cost of food rising, I thought I’d give it a shot.

Below is my “template” for making a quick salad dressing, and a few ideas for some tasty dressings.

This recipe makes enough to dress a few salads, but not as much as a full mass-produced bottle. With no preservatives, these sauces will last 7-10 days- if they don’t get eaten sooner.

  • 1/4 cup Olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil (Vegetable or canola)
  • 6 tablespoons acid- Citrus juice, vinegar (red wine, champagne, balsamic, rice wine, and apple cider are good choices)
  • 2 tablespoon tablespoons honey or other sweetener (agave, maple)
  • 1 teaspoon emulsifier (Stone ground or Dijon mustard or mayonnaise) 
  • Salt and pepper as needed 
  • Herbs or seasoning as desire

Here are a few of my favorite combinations:

  • Lemon juice, 2 Tablespoons lemon zest, 2 t. powdered ginger, honey, Dijon mustard
  • Red Wine Vinegar, honey, stone ground mustard, 2T. Italian seasoning, 1t. granulated garlic
  • Apple Cider Vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, 1t. granulated garlic

Remember to store these in the fridge after you make them and shake them well before using them!

And if you are looking for some of my favorite salads, here is a great round-up of salad recipes.

Penzeys Sale: $50 and $100 Gift Cards on Sale!

Abby H.

This is one of my favorite deals. It makes a great gift for the home cook, baker, or foodie in your life. It can be used in-store or online.

This deal is back, but only until midnight Monday, January 6, 2025.

Penzeys is offering a $50 Heal the World Gift Card for $35 and  $100 Care Gift Card for $70. 

The Fine Print:

*Penzeys Heal the World Gift Card Offer Details
Limit TEN Penzeys $50 Heal the World Gift Cards for $35. Cannot be used on date of purchase. Cannot be used to purchase other gift cards. Not applicable to prior sales, not valid with other offers. Not for resale. While supplies last. Offer ends midnight Monday, January 6, 2025.

*Penzeys Care Gift Card Offer Details
Limit TEN Penzeys $100 Care Gift Cards for $70. Cannot be used on date of purchase. Cannot be used to purchase other gift cards. Not applicable to prior sales, not valid with other offers. Not for resale. While supplies last. Offer ends midnight Monday, January 6, 2025.

Free Admission to SeaWorld for Preschoolers, Teachers, and Military!

Abby H.

SeaWorld has three amazing offers for free admissions.

 The 2025 Preschool Fun Card
The first park visit must occur on or before 04/28/2025 in order to activate the card. Preschool Fun Cards are valid for unlimited admission through December 31, 2025. Blockout dates apply*

All children must be accompanied by an adult with separate ticket admission, the 2025 Preschool Fun Card is not valid for adult admission. Preschooler’s age will be verified at the turnstiles upon park entry (please bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate, travel passport or other valid form of ID).

*Blockout date: 5/25, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/31

The 2025 Teacher Free Annual Fun Card
SeaWorld® San Diego is proud to offer a complimentary 2025 Teacher Fun Card to all certified K-12 Southern California and Arizona credentialed schoolteachers.
Log In with your Teacher ID here to qualify for this promotion and see the offer.

Veteran Military Offer
SeaWorld is proud to support Veteran Military Members with special offers.
To show their appreciation for those who have served our country, SeaWorld San Diego offers FREE tickets to SeaWorld San Diego for U.S. Military Veterans and up to three friends or family members. You can also purchase up to six additional tickets at 50% off.

Get your tickets by verifying your military status through GovX.com here.

 

And if you qualify for none of these free passes, SeaWorld has the 2025 Fun Card on Sale!

Holiday Sale: Fun Cards Only $94.99!
Enjoy unlimited visits to SeaWorld San Diego NOW through 2025! Valid until December 31, 2025.

2025 New Years Sale from Yasukochi Family Farms!

Abby H.


If you are looking to eat healthier this year, and save time, and money, this offer will help with all three!

Yasukochi Family Farms is offering a deal on all of their CSA box sizes through January 4, 2025.

They have deals on subscriptions from 1 month, all the way to 9 months!

To learn more, and see pricing, visit their website here.

We’ve been receiving their boxes for 4 years and it’s an amazing value.

New Years Resolutions for 2025: Let Me Help You!

Abby H.

It’s that time of year when folks start writing up their New Year’s resolutions. I don’t plan on doing any for the coming year, just continuing to do what I’m doing now.

As I have written extensively in the past about this, I thought I’d lend you some help if this is a project you are diving into. Some of the most popular NYR include saving money, earning money, spending less money, and getting organized.

Free Groceries (After Rebate) From WeStock!

Abby H.

Ready for another rebate website? WeStock is easy to use and you may have already seen some of the offers on social media.

Much like the other rebate sites, sign up, choose your rebates, and shop.

Once you have purchased the item, upload the receipt and in a few days you’ll have money via Paypal or Venmo.

Right now there are over 20 offers, here are just a few that I’m on the lookout for:

 

 

December 2024: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

Abby H.

 If you are into Organic/Natural/Healthy products, then Social Nature is right up your alley. Sign up and apply to sample products that you are interested in. I usually receive 4-6 offers/freebies per month, sometimes more if I have time to shop. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

In addition to the offers where they mail you a coupon for a free product, Social Nature has started offering 100% cash-back, similar to Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. I love this because I can select exactly what I want, Social Nature tells me which local stores have it, and I can add it to my next shopping list.

And it’s just as easy as Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. Snap a pic and upload it. You can select Venmo, Paypal, or an Amazon Gift Card for your rebate.

Here are just a few of the offers available now:

  • Diana’s Bday Cake Frozen Fruit Treat
  • Cleanery Household Cleaner Refills
  • Bellway Natural Fiber Supplement
  • Magic Mind Mental Performance Shots
  • Ocean’s Halo Organic Kimbaps
  • Lundberg Family Farms 90 Second Organic Rice
  • Plezi Kids Juice Boxes
  • VeggieCraft Veggie Pasta
  • Carbe Diem Lower Net Carb Pasta
  • Gorgie Sparkling Energy Drinks
  • Afia Foods Falafel