san diego

San Diego Summer Fun on a Budget

Abby H.2 Comments

681517ea18b6760354438c6a7f6190f1.jpgIt’s time for kids to finish up school, and be let loose on the world.

Now that places are reopening at 100% capacity, there are a lot more options for summer adventures.

Free Music Lessons from Staump Music School.

Kids Bowl Free all Summer!

$1.00 Movies all Summer with Regal Cinemas

Free Summer School Lunches (Gotta keep them fed this summer). Lots of locations have events or activities nearby, so you can have fun and have a free lunch!

The splash ground at Santee Lakes is GREAT! It’s only $2.00 per kid (on weekdays, $3.00 on weekends) to play and if you park outside the Santee Lakes, you don’t have to pay to park! Take a picnic and it’s a great frugal outing! We go at least once a week in the summer and it’s always
a GREAT time!

If you are looking to beat the heat and need something free, check out the Waterfront Park downtown. They have a great splash pad area for kids, a really fun playground, and a big grassy area for picnics. Only downside- no shade trees.

Balboa Park still offers Free Tuesdays at various museums in the park. Another free activity in Balboa Park is the Botanical Garden and Lily Pond. Right next door is the Spanish Art Village, which is fun to explore as well. Pack some snacks and make a day of it.

San Diego County has great parks, as do most of the cities in San Diego County! Our favorite parks include Big Rock Park in Santee, Kennedy Park in El Cajon, La Mesita/Junior Seau Park in La Mesa, Harry Griffin Park in La Mesa (great for little kids).

I also find lots of local events and free fun stuff by checking the “Events You May Like” section on Facebook Events.

Free Music Classes from Staump Music School

Abby H.1 Comment

We received this email from the school district yesterday, and I wanted to share this free deal with y’all.

If you are looking for something fun for the kids to try this summer, Staump Music School is offering a free month of voice, guitar, piano, or ukelele.

Have you been thinking about enrolling your child in music lessons? Now’s your chance to try it 100% risk-free!

What is a 30-Day Lesson Pass?

Their 30-day lesson pass is good for four 45-minute class sessions throughout one month! In other words, you will have one 45-minute group class each week for four consecutive weeks.

How do you sign up for a lesson pass?

Visit Staump Music School’s website here and complete the form.

Your child will get to experience the joys of music for an entire month, completely risk-free! We want to make sure your child truly enjoys their class & has so much fun they want to keep coming back!

This is a really fun opportunity, and if your kiddo has expressed interest in learning an instrument or singing, this is a great way to see if this is something they can get into and enjoy without committing to a lot of lessons (or money).

Earn $100 in Gift Cards from Bitmo Perks!

Abby H.

Wow. this is a great deal, and pretty easy! I’ve written about Bitmo before, and while I don’t use it as much as other cashback/money-saving apps, I still feel like it’s a good app. One thing I love is that there isn’t much you need to do besides signing up, link your bank card/credit card and start shopping. You can use other cashback apps at the same time too. I frequently double dip with Dosh, Drop, and/or Ibotta with Bitmo.

I am all about double-dipping to save money and score deals!

Speaking of deals, Right now Bitmo is offering bonus points when you refer new friends. 20,000 bonus points (that’s a $20 gift card) for everyone that joins, connects a card, and does a transaction within 14 days of sign up.

You can repeat this offer 5 times. That’s $100 in gift cards in your pocket.

Oh, and your friends get a little something for signing up too!

Rockin’ Jump San Diego: 90% Savings are Back!

Abby H.

This deal just came through on my email and I had to share. We love Rockin’ Jump SD, in fact, we were just there a few weeks ago to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

If you aren’t familiar with Rockin’ Jump, here are the deets: Rockin’ Jump is San Diego’s largest indoor trampoline park and offers something for everyone.  In addition to the huge free-jump trampoline arena, attractions include an awesome four-lane Warrior Course with Three Lane Warp Wall, two dodge-ball courts, two basketball slam dunk lanes, two-lane stunt-bag jump area, four-lane rock climbing wall, X-Beam jousting,  an all-new 18 hole mini golf course and now a new arcade with over 25 of the most popular games to play and win prizes. It is a great place to play and jump and get all the kids (and adults) wiggle out.

Rockin Jump’s popular punch card offer is back.  Huge savings for your family and great family fun for the summer!

For only $49.99, the cards include the following:

  • Two (2) – 90 Minute Jump Passes
  • One (1) – 120 Minute Jump Pass
  • One (1) – All Day Jump Pass
  • One (1) – 50% Off Any Jump Time
  • Two (2) – 60 minute Jump Add-on’s
  • One (1) – 50% Off 120 Minute Jump Time
  • One (1) – FREE Large ICEE
  • One (1) – $1 Dollar Large ICEE
  • One (1) – $10 Large Pizza
  • One (1) – $3 Cafe Cash
  • One (1) – Free 60 Minute Open Jump Campanion Pass
  • One (1) – Buy One Get One Free 90 Day Pass
  • One (1) – 30% OFF ANY Party or Group Event

Fine Print:

  • Can not be combined with any other offer
  • Punch Card is non-transferable
  • May Not be Re-sold
  • May not be redeemed for cash
  • Valid only at Rockin’ Jump San Diego
  • Lost or stolen cards will not be replaced
  • Rockin Jump reusable Grip Socks are always required and not included ($3 at the park if needed)

You only have until June 7, 2021 to purchase your card(s). To buy your card(s), click here. 

 

Rubio’s Celebrates National Shrimp Day with $6 Shrimp Entrées

Abby H.

YUM! IF you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you know that I love Rubio’s. They started here in San Diego, and they have such a wide array of tasty food!

Celebrate National Shrimp Day at Rubio’s on Monday, May 10, when all Rubio’s shrimp entrées are just $6 with the purchase of any drink. Simply enter the coupon code MKTG1124 with your order through the Rubio’s app, or online at Rubios.com. Or, show the coupon when you order at any Rubio’s.

Guests can order any shrimp entrée on the menu, including the seasonal favorite, the Smoky Oaxacan Shrimp Bowl. Rubio’s shrimp is responsibly sourced and marinated in a blend of ancho chiles, garlic, cilantro, olive oil and lime. Next, it is pan-seared on an authentic Mexican comal.

Rubio’s locations across California, Arizona, and Nevada are open. Guests may order online, or through the app, for contact-free curbside or express pickup, or delivery for just $1.99. For more information and to view the menu, visit Rubio’s, Facebook and Instagram.

Free Donuts from Mary’s Donuts For Moms!

Abby H.

Hey moms! Do you like donuts? If you nodded your head or screamed out, “HELL YES!” This awesome deal is for you!

If you’ve read my past Birthday Freebie posts (the 2021 one can be found here), you’ve seen that I’ve posted birthday freebies from Birthday Club Hub, which works with businesses in eight states to disseminate birthday freebies and other freebies throughout the year to club members (BTW- it’s free to join).

Mary’s Donuts is part of the Birthday Club Hub, and they send out a free offer for moms.

Score a free donut on May 9, 2021 at either their Santee or Lakeside Location. Simply show the email to the cashier/friendly donut seller.

I’ll report back if I find any more Mother’s Day Freebies. And I’ll post a photo of my free donut on Instagram for sure.

 

Virtual Parent Workshop: Self-Monitoring Tools in the Home

Abby H.

This flyer showed up in my email inbox this morning and is a great opportunity to learn and help support your kids. My son’s class does Self & Match and it’s a great way to help kids learn about personal responsibility.

This Self & Match Virtual Parent Workshop takes place on May 11, 2021 at 9:00-10:30 am.

This interactive and hands-on workshop will provide an opportunity for parents and home providers to learn a well-defined, systematic self-monitoring intervention and motivational system to use in the home and school settings. A discussion of self-monitoring procedures incorporating a “match” component will be presented with a specific focus on Self & Match, a user-friendly, easy to implement.

Parents will be shared practice tools and tips that can be implemented immediately. Great workshop for individuals and/or teams (parents and in-home behavior analysts).

Make a note on your calendar and add this link to your online calendar.

Celebrate Día de los Niños All April Long with The San Diego County Library!

Abby H.

 

Día de los Niños is a celebration of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. San Diego County Library extends its celebration of Día throughout April.

At 19 parks throughout the county, you can read stories and enjoy nature at San Diego County Library Story Trails! These original stories were written and designed by library staff and we are so excited to share them with you. Choose your location, choose your Story Trail! Each site has two stories for your enjoyment. To find the park closest to you, click here.

And kids and teens 18 and under can stop by your local County Library location any time in April and pick up a Dia de los Ninos activity pack! I’m taking the kids to get theirs this week!

 

Free Food Resources for March 2021 (San Diego County)

Abby H.

I’m sorry this is a little late coming for March. Fear not, you haven’t missed out! There are still many free Neighborhood Distributions for this month!

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

Neighborhood Distributions for March 2021:

These Distributions are primarily produce/fruits & veg, however, some locations may also distribute canned goods, dairy, and bread.

Super Pantry Locations can be found here (this listing is countywide).

If you have a child attending public school in San Diego County, check to see if your school distributes free lunches daily.

In Eastern San Diego County, Grossmont Union High School District schools are distributing lunches to kids ages 2-18, Monday through Friday at various times  (Check your closest school to find out exact times and locations within each school). They also do Pizza Fridays, where each kid receives a pizza, drink, salad, plus food to be eaten over the weekend. It is definitely more than enough food to keep kids fed over the weekend.

Forgive the blurriness of this picture, but Grossmont Union High School District will be giving out two family meals over their Spring Break. Monday, March 15, 2021 and Monday March 22, 2021. The offers vary by week, but it’s a great chance to pick up some extra food to feed the kiddos. Yes, I know it says March 2020, but it is for this year.

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

Ready to Eat Meals from Meal Prep Sunday San Diego!

Abby H.

Friends- This review is for those of you who have told me that you like the IDEA of meal planning/meal prep, but you lack the time, kitchen space, or energy to do it.

I’ve reviewed other Meal Prep companies before, but they aren’t local, so the food is frozen and delivered, and it’s… meh. Full of salt/sodium, bland, squishy textures, or just not satisfying. Hold onto your pants, because…

Meal Prep Sunday San Diego is 1000% different. They are located here in San Diego. The food is prepared here in town, delivered fresh in a custom insulated bag with an ice pack with reheating directions. And if you aren’t in San Diego? No Problem!
Delivery is available in all San Diego, Orange, LA, Riverside, and Imperial counties.

How is Meal Prep Sunday different (aka why is it so cool??):

1. Personalized Meal Prep: By Inputting your physical information, and fitness goal, we portion, and select the right source of ingredients.
2. They Shop for You: Never Frozen, fully organic produce, free-range chicken, and grass-fed beef all provided by our local suppliers
3. They Cook for You: Their team of culinary professionals develops fresh seasonal recipes for you to enjoy
4. Advanced Packing Technology: Their modified atmosphere packaging system naturally keeps your meals fresh for up to 7 days
5. Free Delivery Every Sunday: Every Sunday 3-6 pm you will receive your meals in their custom insulated bag with an ice pack
6. Weekly Rotating Menu: They change your menu every week so you can have a variety of new meals week by week
7. 90 Days Workout Plan: They provide weight and cardiovascular training plans synced with your menu and fitness goals, included with your package
8. Save Time, Money: Save up to 10 hours, and $60+ per week, by removing shopping, cooking, cleaning, thus increasing your productivity

Meal Prep Sunday delivered 6 meals to me last week. You’ve probably seen pictures on Instagram.

Steak, Salmon, and Chicken. Yum. Not shown, but gobbled up quickly: An amazing omelet with andouille sausage, veggies, cheese, turkey bolognese with pasta, and a southwestern chicken dish with pulled chicken and southwestern veggies and black beans.

Everything was flavorful, tasty, and easy to re-heat.

One of the things I like about Meal Prep San Diego is that when you sign up, they ask for your age, weight, height, gender, fitness level (how much you are active per week), and what plan you want (build lean muscle, burn fat, balanced, or senior). Meal Prep Sunday San Diego uses these answers to generate a plan that is as unique as you.

They have three plans available.

For restaurant-quality, organic food that is ready to eat in 5 minutes or less and delivered straight to your door, that’s a great price.

The meals change weekly. For those of you who live alone, or if you are finding that you are eating out/getting delivery frequently, a meal delivery service once a week is a great way to save money and eat better.

A steak, mashed yukon potatoes, and green beans is a lot healthier than a burger and fries! not to mention more filling, and cheaper than a trip through the drive-thru.

Meal Prep Sunday San Diego delivered 6 meals to me to facilitate my review. I received no financial compensation. For more information, please see my disclosure page.