frugal living

October 2022: 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 get probably 1-2 products to sample each month. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

Social Nature has rounded up products that are available to try at a local grocery store or mass merchandiser near you.  Apply to Try the products that interest you to see if you’re a match here.

Here are some of the new sampling opportunities:

      • Veggie Pasta by Veggiecraft Farms
      • No Sugar Bacon by Pederson’s Natural Farms
      • Uncured No Sugar Kielbasa Sausage by Pederson’s Natural Farms
      • Almond Yogurt by AYO Almond Yogurt
      • Squeezable Smoothie by Sweet Nothings
      • Barley Milk by Golden Wing
      • Plant-Based Protein Bar by Lupii
      • Quick and Easy Breakfast by Belgian Boys

And More!

And one of the things I love about Social Nature is that they don’t leave our friends with food allergies out.

There are sampling offers for Gluten-free, nut-free, and meat-free foods frequently.

Canadian Friends- You are in luck, there are sampling opportunities for you too! So if you love trying new products, check out Social Nature!

2022 San Diego Halloween Events!

Abby H.

It’s that time of year: Spooky Season! We’ve got our Halloween decor up, and I’ve started the kid’s costumes. They love wearing their costumes as much as possible, so we’re always looking for fun Halloween events.

Here are just a few that are big hits with my little ghouls:

As more events pop up I will add to this post, and post on Social Media as well.

Talk Back- If you know of any free Halloween events in San Diego, please leave a comment!

 

 

 

10/10/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgThis coming week is full of extra appointments and errands, so I’m leaning heavily on the meal prep I did yesterday, and stuff that can be cooked quickly.

We’re leaning heavily into the pantry this week as well, and I found a large package of ground beef in the freezer (under a few large bags of frozen veggies), so we’ll be using that to make both meatloaf and a big batch of bolognese sauce (half will go into the freezer for future use).

The big kid and I went to the grocery store yesterday, redeemed a bunch of coupons (thanks to Social Nature), and did our usual weekly shopping.

We’ve been trying a lot of new foods lately, thanks to the really great freebies from Social Nature lately too. It’s fun to try new foods.

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 try to update it after every shopping trip), so I’m able to plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste.

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 are also into fruit and bagels for breakfast. Lately, the big kid has been digging protein shakes in the morning. This is his favorite kind. 

Lunch: I have a plastic tote in the cupboard full of self-serve snacks. I buy treats and snacks in bulk and fill up snack-sized zip-top bags. The big kid brings his lunch from home daily, and the littlest buys her lunch at school about half the time. In California, all public schools provide breakfast and lunch for free.

Dinner: This week is packed as far as appointments, so I’m leaning on stuff that’s easy and tasty. I prepped fruits and veg over the weekend and made up the last Dream Dinner and portioned it into lunch-sized servings.

  • Monday:  Soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit

  • Tuesday: Waffles, eggs, bacon, fruit

  • Wednesday: Nuggets, fruit, crackers, and cheese

  • Thursday: Meatloaf, Roast Veg, Rolls

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:  Spaghetti Bolognese, garlic bread, salad
  • Sunday:  Leftovers

Cents of Style Clearance- OVER 100 Items ONLY $10 (up to 80% OFF)!

Abby H.

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

Cents of Style is hooking us up this weekend.  Their  MOST POPULAR and BEST SELLING items are ALL $10!

This amazing $10 collection includes tops, sweaters, shorts, cardigans, pants, sets, and dresses.

There are OVER 100 different items to choose from with TONS of colors and sizes ranging from S-3XL.

The best part: There is no code!! This ENTIRE collection is marked at ONLY $10– that’s up to 80% OFF!! The sale is valid until 10/11/22 at midnight! FREE shipping for purchases over $40.

10/7/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

We made it through another week or work and school!

Friday means pizza night at our house, and that’s something to be excited about.

Oh, and the Freebies are super fresh this week!

Don’t forget all of the 2022 Birthday Freebies! Make sure to check this article out and sign up for birthday freebies at least 2-3 weeks before your birthday.

Freebies:

Free Abbott Sequoia Fragrance & Non-Toxic Candle Sample
Free Pretzel with the Wetzel’s Pretzel App
Free Orijen & ACANA Dog Treats
Free Sample of Replenix Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Serum
Free Turkey Craft Kit at Joann
Free Custom Cordless Window Shade
Free Planters Sweet & Spicy Peanuts at Select Stores
Free Coffee Every Friday at Cumberland Farms
25 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Aura Bora Sparkling Water After Rebate
Free Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub Sample
Free Custom Tabby Alert Pet ID Tags
Free Member’s Mark Fruity Snacks at Sam’s
Free Sample of ClarityRx Return to Calm Facial Moisturizer
Free Movie Night Bingo Activity Booklet at Sam’s
Free Massel 7’s Stock Cubes Chicken Style
Free Gardein Plant-Based Chili at Kroger
Free Suavitel Liquid Fabric Conditioner
Free Dos Equis Ranch Water Hard Seltzer Chatterbox Kit
Free HEINZ 57 Collection Dinner House Party Pack
Free Hot or Iced Coffee at Dunkin
Free Sample of Hermes Paris Fragrance
Free Tom Ford Perfume Sample
Free Else Plant Powered Super Cereal Sample
Free Salonpas Lidocaine FLEX Patch Sample
Free BEYOND MEAT Game Day House Party Kit
25 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Fresca Mixed House Party Pack
Free Verb Ghost Shampoo
New Amazon Kids+ is Free for 30 Days
Free RIND Snacks Product at Select Stores
Free SoPost Product Samples
Free Candy at Lowe’s Spooky Trick or Treat Event
Free Hurricane Ian Relief Rides From Modivcare
1-Year Subscription to Apple TV+
Free Slain: Back From Hell PC Game

Deals

Halloween Costumes BOGO 50% Off at Target
Foldable Twin Baby Double Stroller ONLY $133.99 (Reg $260)
Barbie Winter Sport Snowboarder Blonde Doll ONLY $9.97 (Reg $23)
Infant Changing Table with Pad ONLY $67.99 (Reg $120)
Cuisinart AirFryer Toaster Oven ONLY $99.99 (Reg $230)
Target Deal Days is LIVE – Save up to 80% Off Early Black Friday
12-Piece Cookware Set with Ultra Nonstick ONLY $78.59 (Reg $150)
Melissa & Doug Double-Sided Tabletop Easel ONLY $20.99 (Reg $53)
Women’s Satin Pajama Set ONLY $10 (Reg. $27)
Wet n Wild Megawear Mascara ONLY $0.98 (Reg. $2)
Farmhouse Dining Table ONLY $355 (Reg. $710)
Women’s Stars Above Robe ONLY $18 (Reg. $30)
Stars Above Women’s Pajama Short Set ONLY $13.19 (Reg. $22)

Baby on the Way? Three Freebies Opportunities for Expecting Parents!

Abby H.

If you are expecting a baby, or know someone who is, this post is for you!

Here are three great offers, all with various freebies and opportunities to save money.

First up- BuyBuy Baby! Start your online baby registry, then visit a buybuy BABY stores to receive a free Goody Bag full of free samples and a buybuy BABY coupon!

And when you shop for essentials: Start earning points for every $1 spent. You”ll earn 10 points for every $1 spent – no exclusions.

Enfamil is hooking you up with some goodies!

Join Enfamil Family Beginnings® and get up to $400 in FREE gifts including coupons, formula samples, Belly Badges™, and more! (Available while supplies last!)

This is a great opportunity to try different formulas without breaking the bank.

If you are looking for other formula samples, check out this post about Kabrita. My kids loved this formula.

And finally- Walmart has a great offer! Create a Walmart Baby Registry & you can sign up for a free Welcome Baby Registry Box.

This offer is not mobile-friendly, so you’ll need to use a laptop/desktop.

 

Please feel free to share this post with anyone you know who might be expecting or adopting soon. The best part about these offers is that you will continue to receive coupons and discounts for baby and kids items for an extended period of time!

Kohl’s Rewards Members- Check your Accounts!

Abby H.

I love shopping at Kohl’s. They have great deals on clothes and home goods. Did you know they have a bussin’ toy department (at least according to my kids)?

If you are a Kohl’s Rewards Member, log on to your account and check your wallet for a $10 of $50 toy department coupon (exclusions apply)! They are valid through 10/31/2022 in case you have a birthday to shop for, or if you’re like me and you want to get a jump on your holiday shopping.

And to sweeten the deal, through 10/31/2022, select Lego sets and toys are 20% off!

October is Kids Go Free Month 2022 Edition!

Abby H.

October is a great time to be a kid in San Diego!

This October 1-31, kids 12 and under receive free admission at many arts, cultural, and science museums and historical sites in San Diego County.

For those of us with curious kids, this is perfect! Kids can get into over 40 museums in the San Diego area free with paying adults (all the info can be found here).

Some of the participating organizations include:

Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Fleet Science Center (Galleries only)
Heritage of the Americas Museum
Japanese Friendship Garden
Living Coast Discovery Center
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Marston House Museum & Gardens
Mingei International Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Museum of Making Music
Museum of Photographic Arts
San Diego Air & Space Museum
San Diego Automotive Museum
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
San Diego History Center
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
Timken Museum of Art (it’s always free for everyone FYI)
Women’s Museum of California

A full list can be found here. Oh, and as part of free October, Kids can get into the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park free when accompanied by a paying adult!  Other Kids go free attractions include: Legoland, Sea World, and the USS Midway!!

*Some museums charge fees for special exhibitions, programs or films. Some museums may limit offer use to once per month per guest. Purchase of a Balboa Park Explorer Pass does not qualify as a paid adult admission for the Kids Free in October program. Purchase of a Go San Diego Pass or card does not qualify as a paid adult admission for the Kids Free in October program at most museums; call museum(s) before visiting to enquire. 

October 2022: New Month, New Coupons!

Abby H.

file000786402730Here is your monthly reminder!  A new month means new printable and electronic coupons!

The printable coupon market is slowly coming to an end. Smartsource no longer offers printable coupons, and you may notice that there are fewer coupon inserts in your Sunday newspaper. This is in favor of more offers available on apps. But if you love printable coupons….

  • Coupons.com (printable coupons, e-coupons, and a cashback app)

Remember if clipping coupons isn’t your thing, but saving money is, check out my list of Smartphone apps that can save you the big bucks! New offers are added on the Smartphone Savings Apps all the time!

Here are a few of my favorite printable coupons:

Save $0.75 on any ONE (1) Café Bustelo® Coffee Product (excluding instant)
Save $0.75 on ONE (1) Waterloo Sparkling Water 8 pack or ONE (1) Waterloo Sparkling Water 12 pack
Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) Folgers® Coffee product (excluding instant)
Save $0.75 on THREE (3) Avocados From Mexico
Save $1.50 on any ONE (1) Primal Kitchen® Sauces or Ketchup
Save $1.00 on any TWO Kellogg’s® Cereals (Including Kellogg’s® JUMBO SNAX)
Save $5.00 on ONE (1) Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel 150g or larger
Save $2.00 On any ONE (1) ARM & HAMMER™ CLUMP & SEAL™ Cat Litter

October is the beginning of The last three months of the year. And those months are packed full of holidays and entertaining possibilities. Sales, rebates, and cashback offers will most likely be for the types of food and beverages that are associated with entertaining.

  • Candy, nuts
  • Fall/Winter clothing
  • Fabric, Patterns, sewing machines (Halloween)

For a complete list of types of foods and items that will be on sale, check out this post on the cycle of sales.

Free Food Resources for October 2022(San Diego County)

Abby H.

Woo! A new month means a reminder about all of the free food options there is here in San Diego County.

Keep in mind there are still supply chain issues, so there may not be a lot of food at some distributions, especially those that serve a large portion of the community.

I recommend showing up a little early with a bottle of water and a book and waiting in line. Time passes quickly in these lines, and it’s a great time to learn from others about community food options. Remember to socially distance and follow local masking regulations.

You can find resources here for Central and East County, and Here for North County.

Our friends at Faith Chapel are super ahead of the game and sent out information regarding their 2022 food distributions early on in the year.

If you are located outside San Diego County, call 211. If you are not familiar with 211, here is their website and it can point you in the right direction.

San Diego Food Bank Distributions for October 2022 can be found here. Enter your address (or just your zip code) and the map will show you all of the distributions in your area or closest to you. You can filter by the days of the week to find food when you are available. If there is an income requirement/limit to participate, each location/listing will say such. You can learn more here about the Feeding San Diego Together Tour.

Neighbor distributions are intermixed with the San Diego Food Bank Distributions, however, they have no income requirements, and you come as you are. These Distributions are primarily fruits & veg, however, some locations may also distribute canned goods, dairy, and bread.

If you know of other resources, please leave a comment! And feel free to share this post with anyone you may know in need.