Kids Eat Free at Rubio’s Thursdays in July!

Abby H.

When you join the Rubio’s Rewards Program (download the app found wherever you get apps), you can score a FREE KIDS MEAL every Thursday in July.

Sounds like a pretty decent deal to me, especially if you and your munchkin like Rubio’s!

For Rewards Members Only. Offer valid for one (1) free kids’ meal with purchase of any entrée. Entrées include two taco plates, burritos, salads, bowls, Shrimp Trio, and The Coastal Trio®. Excludes tasting plates and kids’ meals. Not available for third-party delivery orders. Not valid with any other offer or discount. One offer permitted per transaction. Upcharges for extras and premium items may apply. No substitutions. No cash value. Valid at participating restaurants only. Only valid on the following days: 7/3, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, and 7/31/2025

7/28/2025 is National Waterpark Day- Splash for Less!

Abby H.

July 28 is National Waterpark Day, and if your kids are anything like mine, they love swimming and splashing.

Here are some of the local splash pads that my kids love:

Hilton Head Park (wristband costs $4)

Santee Lakes (you can walk in for free, but there is a cost for the wristband $4)

Santee YMCA– This is only a good deal if you are a YMCA member or live in Santee. On certain days, Santee Residents can enjoy the pool and splashpad for free. 

Civita Park– small, but free and the playground at the top of the hill is super fun.

The city of San Diego Parks and Recreation department has info about all of the city-run splash pads and pools here.

Groupon has offers for the Southern California area here.

Legoland has a fun waterpark, and the kids and I recently went and had a blast. Here is our review. 

The Plunge at Belmont Park is a fun indoor pool and water playground.

Sesame Place– I was not a fan of this place when we went right after they opened. The water isn’t heated, so on overcast summer days, it can be pretty chilly. Sometimes they have Groupons available.

Q-insights – Lifestyle Changes Study $150

Abby H.

QI-logoNOslogan.pngQ-insights is another company where I do research groups, focus groups, and online surveys to earn extra money.

They have a lot of stuff in South Orange County and less often in San Diego County. Currently, they are conducting a study regarding lifestyle changes, and they are looking for respondents over the age of 18 to participate. The study will be on a webcam interview on Wednesday, July 24th, 2025, for 1 hour, and you will receive $150.

If you’re interested in participating, please click here and fill out the survey below, and a recruiter will contact you if you pre-qualify and ask additional screening questions.

7/19/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

My smallest kiddos’ bestie is coming to stay with us for the next 10 days, and we are so stoked. I’ve got tons of fun, frugal adventures planned. I can’t wait to go get her from the airport this morning, but first- Freebies!

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 RYZE Coffee, Chai, Hot Cocoa & More
2 FREE 5×7 Photo Prints at Walgreens
Get Free Catalogs by Mail: No Credit Card Needed
FREE Capri Sun Single Serve Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Sample of Nature’s Recipe Wet Dog Food
FREE Hallmark Card Every Month
FREE Internet for 5 Years and a FREE Hotspot for Students
Free 20 oz. Bottle of Starry Soda
FREE Svinka Art Postcard
FREE Royal Canin Chewable Supplements for Puppies Chatterbox Kit
FREE 4-Pack of Gutzy Fruit & Veggie Pouches After Walmart Cash
FREE Movie Ticket to The Home
FREE L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil
FREE Wireless Zone Backpack & School Supplies Giveaway (Closest Location in SoCal is Ontario)
FREE Food at SONIC Every Friday Through August 29th
FREE Promensil Peri-Menopause Supplements
FREE Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Acne Patch
Possible FREE Bag of Lay’s Potato Chips

 

Deals:

Sandals & Flip Flops From $2.99 at JCPenney
P&G Coupons: Get Digital & Printable Coupons From Your Favorite P&G Brands

Outdoor Enthusiasts! Online Paid Research Study – $150 Paid Focus Group

Abby H.

Focus Group Connections is a research company located in Southern California. They conduct studies and surveys all over the US.

Focus Group Connection is currently recruiting for a new Focus Group.

It is an Online Consumer Research Project hosted by Focus Group Connection, running from July 21st to August 4th, focusing on the wonderful world of travel!

This is not just any research project; it’s a unique opportunity to share your passion for travel while providing valuable insights that could shape future experiences for fellow wanderers. To ensure a seamless experience, they kindly request that you have access to a working Desktop or Laptop computer equipped with high-speed internet, audio, and a functioning webcam, because they want to hear every detail of your travel tales!

This study will be 60 minutes. As a token of their appreciation for your time and valuable insights, selected participants will receive a generous compensation of $150.00.

If you are interested, please click here to complete the pre-screener survey.

Please note – Not everyone will qualify to participate and not everyone will receive a call-back.

7/20/2025 National Lollipop Day- Celebrate with See’s!

Abby H.

Visit any See’s Candy location for National Lollipop Day on July 20, and you’ll receive a free lollipop — no purchase necessary.

Flavor availability may vary by location, but here are the flavors you may have to choose from:

Chocolate
Vanilla
Butterscotch
Sugar Free Butterscotch
Café Latté
Cinnamon

Freebies and Deals- 7/20 is National Ice Cream Day!

Abby H.

National Ice Cream Day is next week!! I recommend that you download any apps required for these deals at least 1 day prior to ensure that you have the app and are all signed up for any clubs or offers. Not all of these offers are available in my specific area, but I included them because I have readers outside of San Diego.

Dairy Queen: Score a free Dilly® Bar on any order of $1 or more.
Exclusively through the DQ® app and website, DQ® rewards members can enjoy the delicious sweet treat (one per fan) from July 14 to 20. Order digitally, earn rewards, and unlock more all summer!

Dipping’ Dots: Dippin’ Dots is giving away FREE mini cups of Dippin’ Dots (any flavor!) during a two-hour window at their franchise locations. Plus, the first 100 people in line will score a super cool, collectible take-home cup, in addition to the free mini cup of Dippin’ Dots. Find your closest location here.

Marble Slab Creamery: Download their app because on July 20, loyalty members will receive a free small Ice Cream offer, valid for seven days. Find your closest location here:

Burger King: Check your app for this offer- free soft serve with a purchase of $1 or more at Burger King on National Ice Cream Day, Sunday, July 20.

Baskin-Robbins: Check your Baskin-Robbins app for an offer; offers may vary by app, including a discount on ice cream cakes or shakes.

And while there are no deals right now, check the following apps in the days before the 20th for possible freebies and deals: McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, Del Taco, Wendy’s, and Yogurtland.

And if you want to make your own ice cream at home, you can find my recipe here. It’s very easy, and you can make it your own with a few tweaks!

Score Free Groceries with Rebates!

Abby H.

Rebates have been around forever.

I remember my grandmother doing rebates when I was a kid. However, nowadays, you don’t need to send in a form with proof of purchase/UPC and a receipt; most rebates can be completed online or via text.

Sometimes you get lucky and get 100% back rebates, making your item free. You will find a lot of those with apps and websites like:

Ripple Street has tons of reFUNd programs where you can buy a product and receive the purchase price back. These are only available via their app.

If you consume alcohol, check out BYBE.  It is available in most states. This app has rebates for beer, wine, and liquor.

Here are a few current rebates I found out about this week while starting my Back to school shopping:

7/13/2025 PRC Research Study Round Up!

Abby H.

PRC aka iOpinion is a nationwide research study company. They are always conducting studies and seeking additional respondents. They email me once a week about the online studies they are looking to fill.

TOPIC: Babies & Postpartum Health
WHO: Adults aged 18 and older
Dates: July 11-31, 2025
Format: Online Session
Duration: 60 minutes
Incentive: $125
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

TOPIC: Personal Finances
WHO: Adults aged 18 and older.
Dates: July 21-31, 2025
Format: Online Session
Duration: 30 minutes
Incentive: $200 or $250 (depending on which segment you qualify for)
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

TOPIC: Adult Beverages
WHO: Adults aged 22-49.
Dates: July 22-25, 2025
Format: Online Individual Interview
Duration: 30 minutes
Incentive: $100
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

TOPIC: Feminine Products
WHO: Females aged 16-45.
Dates: July 23, 2025
Format: Online Webcam Session
Duration: 1 hour
Incentive: $100
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

TOPIC: IT Decision Makers
Who: Adults aged 25 and older.
Dates: July – December 2025
Format: Online Interviews and Surveys
Duration: 6 months
Incentive: 60-minute Interview $225
Incentive: 10-minute survey $75
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

A few notes about PRC:

It is recommended to use the web browsers Google Chrome or Firefox to complete the pre-qualification survey.
Only one participant per household.
Our surveys are open to U.S. Residents.
Incentives are paid via Digital Incentive unless otherwise stated.
To participate in any study that requires a webcam, please use a laptop or desktop computer ONLY—No smartphones or tablets.
If you use ChatGPT or any other AI assistance for your responses/feedback during any of the research projects, please keep in mind that you will not receive compensation and will be removed from the database.
If you pre-qualify, a PRC Global Market Research recruiter will contact you via phone.
Due to the many survey responses, PRC can only contact those who seem to fit well.

7/12/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

This week has been very hot, so the kids and I have been hiding inside enjoying the AC (set to 77 degrees). With the heat finally breaking today, we’re heading out to the pool and a few fun, frugal activities!

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 Sample of Sheba Perfect Portions Kitten Food
FREE Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Face Scrub After Walmart Cash
10 FREE 4×6 Photo Prints at CVS
FREE Sample of Vetality Twist + Lick SimPill Gel
Calm and Cozy: Free Baby Sleep Music for Restful Nights
FREE Lunchables PB&J Chatterbuy Kit
National French Fry Day Freebies & Deals Round Up
FREE Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Set at Sephora After Cash Back
Get Free Beauty Product Samples With Topbox Circle
FREE Sample of Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
FREE Sample of PopTopz Pre-Roll Tubes
FREE Welch’s Juicefuls Fusions Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Sample of ACANA Lickables Cat Treats
FREE Sample of Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum Sample
FREE Sample Bag of IAMS Puppy Food
FREE $20 Purchase at Home Depot After Cash Back
FREE Splish Splash Water Park Splash Pad at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE Ghost Fragrance Samples
FREE LYSOL Wipes at Target Chatterbuy Kit

 

Deals:

Top 10 Grocery Store Coupons This Week
The Pioneer Woman 2-Slice Toaster ONLY $13.79 at Walmart (Reg $29)
Epson Workforce Pro WF-3823 Wireless All-in-One Printer ONLY $79 (Reg $150)
SKIMS Discount Codes & Coupons: Up to 60% Off an Order of Panties, Bras and Shapewear
Target Women’s Tees and Tanks As Low As $3.50! TODAY ONLY