frugal

Celebrate Southwest Airline’s Birthday with Deals!

Abby H.

Y’all- This deal has the potential to be amazing!
Southwest Airlines is celebrating its birthday with low rates- One-way as low as* $39.

Here are some of the most important fine print details:
*21-day advance purchase required. Book by 6/19 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Cont. U.S. travel valid 8/5-12/17/25.

Thanksgiving Travel? End of Summer Travel? Wanna just escape your home for a weekend or longer? Is Vegas calling? Whatever and wherever, it’s a great time to pack a small carry-on/personal bag and head out of town!

 

And if you are a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards member, this deal gets better- You can use your points!

The rest of the fine print:

Cont. U.S. travel to/from Hawaii, intl., and San Juan, PR valid 8/17-12/10/25. Interisland HI travel valid 7/8-10/1/25. Cont. U.S. blacked out 9/1, 10/13, 11/24-11/26, and 12/1. Cont. U.S. travel to Hawaii, intl., and San Juan, PR blacked out 8/28-9/2 and 11/20-11/24. Cont. U.S. travel to Hawaii, intl., and San Juan, PR blacked out 8/28-9/2 and 11/28-12/2. Interisland HI blacked out 9/2. Nonrefundable. Seats, travel days, and markets are limited. Fares are valid on nonstop service where indicated; if not indicated, fares are valid on single connecting service. Points bookings do not include government fees of $5.60 per one-way flight. Additional fees may apply.

 

 

Magazine Subscriptions: no credit card required from bPerx!

Abby H.

bPerx is hooking us up! Ready to Claim Your Magazine Gifts? They just need a little info to get your gifts ready (like your mailing address). No credit card required. Enjoy a few magazine subscriptions sent directly to your mail box monthly!

The best part: No Credit Card Needed

 

Win 3 Months of FREE Rent with Piñata!

Abby H.

I discovered Piñata Piñata while listening to a true crime podcast yesterday while I was exercising.

Piñata is the world’s first and only rent rewards platform that gives you rewards for paying rent and is free.

If you join the $5/mo Piñata membership between May 1 – June 30th, you will be automatically entered to win 3 MONTHS OF FREE RENT!

For just $5/month, Piñata reports your rent payments to all three credit bureaus—giving your credit the boost it deserves. This is an amazing benefit, especially if you rent from a private party!

Enroll in the $5/month Piñata membership and enter the giveaway automatically to win 3 months of rent (up to $4,500 in total)! Sign up today here.

Even when it’s not rent day, Piñata gives renters exclusive deals and discounts to help you save on everyday expenses from CVS and Costco to Best Buy and Sprint to Papa John’s and Disney World. You get an average of $4,000 in yearly savings. You can also get cash back on special deals from your favorite brands.

Giveaway ends June 30th, 2025.

Want to Eat Out & Save? Check out Restaurant.com!

Abby H.

I’ve been a fan of Restaurant.com for at least a decade.

Seriously! You purchase a discounted gift certificate (make sure to check the certificate for restrictions, such as a minimum purchase amount or mandatory gratuity) for a local restaurant. You have a year from the date of purchase to use it.

Right now the following deal is available:

$100 eGift Card for only $18.00
$200 eGift Card for only $36.00

The Restaurant.com eGift Card can be redeemed at over 62,000 restaurants and providers nationwide. Available denominations vary by restaurant, and certificates are subject to minimum spend requirements and other restrictions. You can split up the $100 or $200 among a few local restaurants.

Here are two examples of how to use the certs to your advantage.

Cafe XYZ- Certificate for $15.00. Terms of cert: $15 off the purchase of $30 or more.

The check comes to $30.00
Minus Cert amt. -$15.00
Total New Bill: $15.00
Gift Certificate Cost $6.00
The price for this complete meal is $21.00 (that includes the cost of the certificate). The total amount saved $9.00.

ABC Cafe- Certificate for $25.00. Terms of the cert: $25.00 off the purchase of $35.00 or more.

The check comes to $35.00
Minus Cert amt. -$25.00
Total New Bill: $10.00
Gift Certificate Cost $10.00
The price for this complete meal is $20.00 (that includes the cost of the certificate). The total amount saved $15.00.

Don’t forget to tip your server!

6/13/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

We’re free! School is over for the year, and the kids and I are so excited for tons of adventures.

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 Happy Hippo Sample Pack
FREE Ocean Spray Bold Snacking Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Air Wick Plug In Scented Oil Advanced Gadgets After Walmart Cash (Get 3 Free)
FREE Toucan Mobile Workshop at Home Depot
Free Baby Samples & Full Sized Products from Amazon
FREE 8×10 Photo at Walgreens
FREE NESCAFE Espresso Lemonade Kit on June 13th, 20th & 27th
FREE Sample of TEMPTATIONS Cat Treats
FREE Frozen Drink at Casey’s Every Friday in May thru August
FREE GoVerden Guac It Up Chatterbuy Kit
FREE OLAY Cleansing Melts
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE Large Slurpee, FREE Grill Spatula & More
FREE Pair of Garden Snips at Lowe’s
How to Score Free Feminine Hygiene Products and Save on Essentials
Father’s Day Freebies & Deals RoundUp
FREE Movie Ticket to The Unholy Trinity
FREE Full-Size CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 50
FREE Powered by Love Sticker
FREE Samples of Maneuver Men’s Grooming Products
Get The Top 17 Free Baby Boxes in 2025: Walmart, Target, Amazon
FREE $25 Purchase at Nike After Cash Back
FREE Diet Cherry Coke at Kroger
Here Are 6 Ways To Get Free Baby Formula Samples
FREE $5 Shop Cash
FREE Royal Canin Chewable Supplements for Dogs Chatterbox Kit
FREE Sample of Nutree Hair Mask
FREE Sample of Moroccanoil L’Originale Eau de Parfum
Over $1 Million in FREE Chipotle During the Summer of Extras Promotion
FREE Sample of AAVRANI Hair Thickening Blowout Primer

 

Deals:

Women’s Dresses on Clearance – Prices From $7.39 at JCPenney!
Father’s Day Gifts as low as $5 at Target – Free Store Pickup!
Additional Service Benefits BJ’s Members Enjoy
Doorbusters Sale at JCPenney: Save up to 60% Off Select Styles
Shop Sneaker Deals – Save on Top Brands Like Adidas, On Cloud, Vans & More
67% Off Kate Spade Sadie Small Crossbody + Free Shipping
13 Bath & Body Works Fragrance Dupes that Smell Just as Good as Luxury Perfumes

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)

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.