2026 Halloween Candy Buy Back!

Now that you’ve started all of the Halloween 2026 fun with carnivals, trunk-or-treats, and community events, do you have a pile of unwanted candy?

The best part of trick-or-treating is candy.

The worst part can be candy that your kids (and you) don’t like, goes against your family’s dietary restrictions, or that you’re allergic to.

If you are looking for something to do with unwanted candy, here are a few ways your kids can turn Tootsie Rolls into something your kids will like (cash).

Candy Buybacks are a way businesses, usually dentist offices, can get unwanted candy out of families’ hands. Businesses usually donate the candy to the USO or nonprofits like Soldiers’ Angels, which collect candy and ship it overseas.

Here are a few located in San Diego County for Halloween 2026:

 

Oatmeal Recipe Round Up- National Oatmeal Day

Today is National Oatmeal Day, and oatmeal can be a forgotten ingredient in the kitchen.

In addition to a nutritious breakfast, it can also stand in place of breadcrumbs in Meatloaf and meatballs, or be ground in a food processor to be used in place of AP flour in baking recipes.

Here are a few of my favorite recipes using oatmeal:

Recipe: Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe: Oatmeal Mix

Tasty Chewy Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies!

Recipe: Oat Flour Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Stockpile Cooking: Yummy Strudel Pumpkin Muffins

Oat Flour Banana Bread Recipe

Family Recipe: Apple Crisp

10/29/2026 National Cat Day!

October 29th is National Cat Day; however, if you own a cat (or are owned by a cat), you know EVERY DAY is Cat Day.

To help you celebrate your fierce feline, Fiona the cat helped me compile a list of her favorite treats, toys, and grooming essentials.

Treats:

Toys:

  • Silvervine Sticks for Cats. These are her favorite toys. She carries them around, meows, and gnaws on them.
  • Bird Toys (with Catnip)- She “hunts” these and brings them to us.
  • Cat Laser– the classic toy, still a favorite.

Grooming:

  • Brush with a fur-release button
  • Equigroomer– I discovered this from the Girl with Dogs, and it’s really great for getting the undercoat out in the spring or when the weather changes. It’s also good for dogs (and horses).
  • Grooming wipes– Sometimes Fiona is stinky and needs to be cleaned up, but a full bath isn’t feasible. These wipes definately help.

Just for fun, I made a kitty coloring packet. You can download the PDF for free here.

Talk Back: I want to hear about your kitties must haves!

Celebrate National Pumpkin Day- Recipe Round Up!

October 26th is National Pumpkin Day. Whether you celebrate with a pumpkin spice latte or by carving pumpkins, this day has something for everyone.

Here are a few of my family’s favorite pumpkin recipes:

Don’t forget to check out my Halloween Events and Activities post here. There are all sorts of fun (and free) events all over San Diego County!

Procter & Gamble: Holiday Savings Rebate!

Have you heard?

Now through November 30, 2026, Procter and Gamble is offering some new rebates! Participating brands include Tide, Downy, Olay, Bounce, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Prilosec, Pepto-Bismol, Always Discreet, ZzzQuil, Herbal Essences, and Gillette. For the full list of brands included, go to the rebate page here.

There are three tiers of rebates:

• Spend $20, get a $5 reward
• Spend $50, get a $15 reward
• Spend $75, get a $25 reward

If this rebate isn’t your cup of tea, but you still want to save money, check out Procter & Gamble’s website here for more savings like:

  • Over $100 in P&G digital coupons you can send straight to your Coupon24 app.
  • Answer quick surveys and scan receipts when you purchase P&G products to earn points you can redeem for digital rewards and more.
  • P&G Good Everyday is your hub for exclusive P&G savings. Unlock exclusive coupons and rewards like entries into monthly sweepstakes.

October is National Pizza Month!

October is National Pizza Month, so I thought I’d share with y’all some of our favorite pizza stuff: recipes, pizza swag, and even ways to save money on ordering pizza.

Goodness knows we have pizza about once a week (Friday take-out night is usually pizza), so I have all kinds of tips and tricks.

If you are new to making your own pizza at home, here is a list of my must-haves, including ingredients and kitchen tools!

Need a break from cooking and want to order takeout? Here are a few suggestions for saving money and/or earning cash back on your next pizza night:

  • Domino’s has its Piece of the Pie rewards club. For every $10 spent, you earn 10 points; once you reach 60 points, you’ll earn a free pizza. More details can be found here.
  • If Pizza Hut is more your style, they have Hut Rewards. Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend. They have several different rewards, depending on point values. From breadsticks (75 points)  to a Large pizza (300 points), there is something for everyone.
  • Little Caesar’s has an app with various deals, and they also have a merch shop with all sorts of cool stuff. They are the Official Pizza of the NFL; with Football season coming to a close soon, there may be some playoff deals afoot.
  • GrubHub: One of the perks of Amazon Prime is that you get a free subscription to GrubHub+ with $0 delivery fees on orders over $12 and reduced service fees.
  • 7-Eleven : Seriously- their app has all sorts of deals on pizza, both by the slice and whole pizzas.  Get up to $15 in value when you download the 7-Eleven app, including 1,800 points, 11¢/gal off fuel, & more.

Amazon Haul- Unbelievable Deals from $2.99!

 

Have you heard of Amazon Haul? Think Temu-style deals and prices, but offered via Amazon. All kinds of unbelievable finds from just $2.99. Everyday staples, viral trends, clothing, beauty items, and electronics– everything you want. To learn more about their shipping time frames and how to score free shipping from Amazon Haul, click here. 

I discovered Amazon Haul after looking for new USB chargers for work. I found this 6-piece set of 2-meter-long charger cables for less than $10!

Whether you are looking for a stocking stuffer for the upcoming holidays, filling a goodie or boo basket for your kids, or just want to buy yourself a little something fun, I recommend Amazon Haul

 

Cleaning Supplies for Specific, Stubborn Messes

There are tons of videos and posts online across multiple platforms about multi-use cleaners for your home, or why one singular ingredient is better than others. Everyone knows that one person in their life who swears by vinegar.

I know a lot of people like to clean with vinegar, and some people swear by Fabuloso or Pine-Sol.

Having lived in the same house for 11 years, I have realized that there are some things that just need a specific type of product to clean.

And here are my favorite “niche” cleaners, or tools that really get the job done, and aren’t terribly expensive.

Drain fly remover. The way our house is set up, fruit flies and drain flies come in, but they never go out. So I recently discovered drain fly remover, and it has been an absolute game changer. It’s also good for fruit flies and house flies.  The best part is, it is safe to use in a garbage disposal.

Pumice stones . These are great for hard water or calcium buildup. We live in a place that has very hard water, and the hard water stains our toilets. These pumice stones are easy to use and are very inexpensive. You can get them at Dollar tree/Family Dollar, Walmart, and even on Amazon. No additional cleaner is needed; you just scrub at the hard water stains in your toilet with the pus stone, and it basically just exfoliates the stain/buildup right off.

Dishwasher cleaner . You would think something full of hot water and detergent would be clean, right? Wrong. Your dishwasher also has a filter/trap that collects all of the food particles that are blasted off of the dishes. Using a dishwasher cleaner is pretty easy. You just clean your filter, add the dishwasher filter, and run on an empty cycle.

In a similar vein, use a washing machine cleaner. I use this kind once a month.

The other ways that I keep my washing machine nice and clean are pretty simple: when you are not using the washing machine, keep the lid up. This only works if you have a top loader; if you have a front-loading washing machine, it can be difficult sometimes to keep the door all the way open, depending on where your washer is stored in your house. If you can keep it cracked open just a little bit. If it’s a space concern, it will keep your washing machine fresh and mold-free. The other thing I like to do is I like to take a cloth about once a week and wipe down the top of the washing machine, including the gasket that is around the top of the drum. It can get a little funky sometimes.

10/23/2026 Friday Freebies and Deals!

October is officially the longest month of the year. At least, it feels that way. I’m tired. And I’m glad it’s Friday!

Here are some freebies and deals that are available year-round!

For free food resources, see my comprehensive list here.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.

Freebies:

FREE Swag, Treats & More at PetSmart on October 25th
Seeing Clearly Without the Cost: A Guide to Free Contact Lenses
FREE Haircut for Veterans & Active Military at Great Clips
FREE ARM & HAMMER Platinum Cat Litter
FREE TevraPet Cat Flea & Tick Drops
200 FREE Photo Prints + FREE Shipping with Shutterfly
2 FREE Sets of Retro Mini Prints at Walgreens
500 FREE E-Tickets, FREE Candy & More at Chuck E Cheese
FREE Movie Tickets to Christmas at the Kringles
FREE Sample of Aveeno Positively Radiant Vitamin C Serum
FREE Donut at Krispy Kreme Through October 25th
FREE Wasa Crispbread Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Sample of Murad Retinal ReSculpt Overnight Treatment
USPS Operation Santa – Possible FREE Gift or Send a Gift to a Child in Need
6 FREE 5×7 Photo Cards at Walgreens
FREE $15 to Spend at Sephora
FREE Sample of IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Wet Pouch Dog Food
How to Score Free Feminine Hygiene Products and Save on Essentials
FREE Fluval Aquatics Products
FREE Denny’s Triple Play Combo Meal
FREE $15 to Spend at Old Navy
FREE $5 Best Buy Rewards Certificate – 1st 200,000
FREE Roxley Radlands Game Night Party Pack
FREE Tiffwich Ice Cream Sandwich at Tiff’s Treats on October 24 & 25
FREE Sample of CESAR Mini-Pouch Dog Food
FREE 2027 Hallmark Datebook
FREE LEGO Ghost Street Build Event
5 Legit Ways to Get Free Toys in 2026

Deals:

Home Expressions Bath Towels From $3.49 at JCPenney (Reg $12)
Women Denim Tote Bag Casual Trendy Crossbody ONLY $14.49 (Reg $29)
Disney Dash Stitch Fresh Pop Popcorn Maker ONLY $13.99 (Reg $40)
Halloween Light-Up Sherpa Ghost w/ Pumpkin ONLY $14.99 (Reg $35)
Up to 85% Off Kohl’s Women’s Tops – Prices as Low as $2.62
Turandoss Cross Necklace for Women ONLY $4.99 (Reg $10)
Birkenstock Coupons & Promo Codes: Up to 20% Off HOT Birkenstock Sandals
MEGA BLOKS Race Car Building Block Toy 26-Pieces ONLY $7.49 After Walmart Cash (Reg $15)
How Much is Amazon Prime for Seniors in 2026?
Shark Steam & Scrub Scrubbing Steam Mop ONLY $98 (Reg $150)
medicube Exosome Shot Zero Facial Serum ONLY $11.90 (Reg $39)
Save Big on Your Next Move with USPS Mover Coupons
Fall Gel Nail Polish Set ONLY $7 on Amazon (Reg $13)
UGG Women’s Classic Slippers ONLY $99.96 (Reg $130) + FREE Shipping
We Found the Best Air Fryer Deals: Up to 42% Off
Best Halloween Candy Deals Online and Instore: 2026
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Iconic Lip & Cheek Kit ONLY $24.50 (Reg $35)
32-Inch Small Computer Desk ONLY $19.99 on Amazon

These Are The Best 150 Student Discounts: Tech, Clothing, Streaming Services and More!

Fetch Rewards App Fetchtopia is back 10/21-10/27!!

Fetchtopia is back October 21-27th! During that time, there will be extra rewards, higher point payouts per dollar spent at featured restaurants (e.g., up to 120 points per dollar), bonus points on online purchases through the app, and extra point bonuses for completing mobile gaming tasks- just to name a few of the opportunities to earn more points.

If you are new to Fetch, now is a great time to sign up, so you won’t miss any of the points. Points can be redeemed for gift cards- I’ve been cashing out my points for Barnes & Noble Gift Cards all year. It’s going to make Holiday Shopping a breeze.

If you are still unfamiliar with Fetch, learn more here. It’s my go-to app for scanning receipts and earning gift cards.