10/15/2024 PRC Research Study Round Up!

Abby H.

PRC aka iOpinion is a nationwide research study company. They are always running studies and looking for more respondents. They email me once a week with online studies they are looking to fill. Here are the latest studies:

Young Adult Investing
Pays $225
Who:individuals aged 18 – 24.
Online Virtual Focus Group
Date of the study: October 22 – 24, 2024
The group will last 60 minutes + Homework Assignment
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

Home Improvement Projects
Pays $150
Online Discussion
Adults aged 18 and older
Date of the study: November 8-14, 2024
The discussion will last 90 minutes
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

Travel
Pays $250
Adults aged 18 – 43.
Online Bulletin Board
Date of the study: October 29 – 31, 2024
The online bulletin board will last 3 days; 45 minutes per day
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

 
Infant Formula
Pays $225 for Online Discussion
Pays $125 for Webcam Session
This Study is for Adults with infants.
Online Discussion Board and Webcam Session

Part 1: Online Discussion Board
Part 1: Date of the study: November 4 – 10, 2024
Part 1: The online discussion board will last 1 week

Part 2: Webcam Session
Part 2: Date of the study: November 12 – 26, 2024
Part 2: The webcam session will last 60 minutes
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

 

Peekage: Try New Products for Free After Rebate.

Abby H.


Y’all know I love a good freebie and a good rebate. Peekage is another company in a long line of companies like  Social Nature and Aisle that offer products for free after rebate. And the process with Peekage is just as simple.

  1. Shop at participating stores. Match with the offer, purchase the product at one of the participating stores, and save the receipt.
  2. Upload receipt. Take a snapshot of your full receipt, and follow the instructions in your confirmation email to upload it before the offer expires.
  3. Get your cash back. Within 72 hours, your receipt will be verified, and you’ll receive an email with your cashback details.

Right now there are offers on some yummy foods, such as:

  • Bellweather A2 Organic Yogurt – 5.3 OZ.
  • Brami Authentic High-Protein pasta 
  • Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar Soup – 32oz 
  • Panera Bread Baked Potato Soup – 32oz
  • Panera Bread Family Mac & Cheese – 28oz Bowl

 

Weekend Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

I meant to get this post out earlier today, but I was busy making bracelets. Mom life is rough, y’all.

The 2024 Birthday Freebie post is here! Check this article out and sign up for birthday freebies at least 2-3 weeks before your birthday.

My comprehensive list can be found here if you are looking for free food resources. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.

Freebies:

Free Sample of Moroccanoil Body Polishing Scrub
Free Food & Beverage Products from the Nestle GoodNes Community
Free Sample of IAMS Puppy or Kitten Food
Hidden Valley Ranchology Rewards – Free Samples, Socks, Hat, Tote Bag & More
Free Samples, Coupons & More from Gerber Insiders
Free Original Glazed Donut at Krispy Kreme
Free Belle Aroma ScentWow Aromatherapy Car Fragrance Diffuser
Free M&M’s Delivered to Your Door on Halloween
Free Sample of Amazon Pepper Hot Sauces
Free GORGIE Energy Drinks
Free Crown Royal Military Care Package for Our Troops
Free Chicken Cantina Taco at Taco Bell
Free Rind Dried Fruit Snacks & Mixes
2 Free Outback Steakhouse Boo Baskets
Free Soapbox Skincare Infused Body Wash
Free Sample of Beggin’ Flavor Stix with Bacon & Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Free Go Raw Organic Sprouted Seed Salad Toppers at Walmart After Rebate
Free BelGioioso Ricotta Chatterbuy Kit
Free Dish Soap
Free American Spirit Butt Pouches – Order Every Month
Free Winged Wellness Product at Walmart After Rebate
Free Sample of L’Oreal Revitalift Triple Power Anti-Aging Moisturizer
Free Medium Fries at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free ZOA Energy Drink at Select Stores
Free 25.4 oz. Nutpods Creamer After Rebate
Free Belle Aroma Essential Breeze Portable Aromatherapy Fan Essential Oil Diffuser
Free Digital Postcard with Santa at Spirit Christmas
Free Ghostbusters: Spirit Unleashed Ecto Edition PC Game for Prime Members

 

Deals:

Apple iPad 9th Generation ONLY $199 (Reg $329) – Lowest Price Ever!
Renu Contact Solution ONLY $2.99 (Reg. $8.99)
Cooks 3-Piece Cast Iron Fry Pan Set ONLY $22.49 (Reg $50)
Free Covergirl Perfect Blend Pencil
Amazon Spend $50 Get $15 in Credit on Household Products
Target Store Themed Halloween Costumes as low as $10 & BOGO 50%
Walgreens Super Premium Toilet Paper ONLY $1.99 (Reg $4.99)
Barbie Clothes & Play Sets up to 70% off
Cooks 2-Slice Toaster ONLY $22.49 at JCPenney (Reg $50)
Walmart Beauty Box ONLY $6.98 Free Shipping
Free Covergirl Eye Enhancer Eyeshadow Palette

Score Free Samples from PinchMe!

Abby H.

Love samples? Check out PinchMe! Join PINCHme and receive free samples that you can provide feedback on.

PinchMe is awesome! Once you are signed up, they will email you reminders when new samples are about to drop, and remind you when it’s time to leave feedback.

Answer a series of questions about your household and shopping habits in the Member Profile. PinchMe learns what you like and offers samples just for you.

Once you’ve had a chance to try the samples, complete a short feedback survey to tell PinchMe what you think of the samples.

I get PinchMe samples every month. Here is what arrived at the end of September for the September 2022 box. Fiona really dig the Delectables Squeeze up Cat Treats- It’s like a gravy Capri Sun for cats!

What are you waiting for? Sign up here and get on the free sample bandwagon! I’ve gotten all kinds of awesome sample/trial size items, as well as full-sized items to try out from PinchMe!

10/6/2024 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgThis week is going to be bonks. We’ve got appointments every day this week.  I did a bunch of meal prep today, and we’ll be having a lot of grab-and-go pre-prepped meals as a result.

I’ve also fallen off my more regimented eating plan, and I haven’t been able to get to the gym as much as I’d like lately, so I’m buckling down on my personal food intake and sticking to what I’ve planned only (for myself, we’ve got all kinds of back up meals if the kids aren’t feeling what I had planned).

Thanks to the great freebies from Social Nature and Aisle, we’ve been trying new foods lately. It’s fun to try new foods.

If you 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 good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge (I try to update it after every shopping trip), so I 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.

Breakfast: I’ve been really into protein coffee lately. It helps me hit my protein goals and keeps me full until lunch. I use premade protein shakes like these. The kids request bagels and fruit most mornings. The big kid is on a smoothie kick; his favorites are here. 

Lunch: I have a plastic tote full of self-serve snacks. I buy treats and snacks in bulk and fill up snack-sized zip-top bags. I have a post here about our lunches. School lunches are free for kids in California, but my kids usually bring lunch from home. I pre-plan my lunches for the week and take a weeks worth of lunches to work on Monday and stash them in the breakroom firdge.

Dinner: With everything going on this week, meal prepping has been a huge lifesaver.. Hopefully after this next hot spell, we’ll get some more typical fall weather and I can use my crockpot more often!

  • Sunday:  Soup, grilled cheese, fruit salad
  • Monday: Chicken Nuggets, Watermelon slices, chips

  • Tuesday: Fruit Smoothies, bagels with cream cheese

  • Wednesday: Soup, quesadillas, chips, fruit salad – We have a bunch of soups in the freezer!

  • Thursday: Hashbrown breakfast bake- I didn’t have time to do this one last week

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday: Leftover Palooza

10/6/2024 PRC Research Study Round Up!

Abby H.

PRC aka iOpinion is a nationwide research study company. They are always running studies and looking for more respondents. They email me once a week with online studies they are looking to fill. Here are the latest studies:

Vehicles
Pays $50-$250
Pre-work / Follow-up in-person group (if chosen from pre-work)
Adults aged 18 and older
Date of the study: October 7-29, 2024
The pre-work will last 300 minutes
The group will last 2 hours (if chosen from pre-work)
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

Truckers
Pays $300
Online Focus Group
Adults who are in the trucking industry
Date of the study: October 17-22, 2024
The group will last 60 minutes
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

 

Time For Glasses? Deals and Glasses Freebies

Abby H.

It’s that time of year. Glasses time for the kids. Kids are rough on everything, including glasses. The big kid usually goes through 1-2 pairs a year, just in day-to-day wear and tear. Luckily I’ve found some ways to save money on glasses and I thought I’d share.

1- Take advantage of existing vision insurance. Look on the back of your kid’s health insurance card to find out which company handles the vision coverage, or give your child’s health insurance carrier a call. My kids receive one eye exam and 1 free pair of glasses per year. I’m not sure if it’s available in all states.

2-If you need help getting glasses or vision exams for your kids, check out Vision to Learn. They operate in 13 states and partner with the Boys and Girls Club, offering free eye exams and eyeglasses for kids. If you aren’t in a state where they operate, check out InfantSEE.  They offer Kids 6 months-1 year a free eye exam.

3- If you are in San Diego, the Shiley Eye clinic (part of UCSD) has the EyeMobile. They have frequent outreach events to help kids obtain needed eye exams and glasses. Check out their Facebook Page to keep up to date on their upcoming events.

If you are 65+, you can obtain a free eye exam from Eye Care America.

4- Onto the deals. Once you have your prescription in hand, check out online stores like Abbe glasses. They have great deals on frames and lenses. I scored two pairs of glasses for under $50 for the big kid with their BOGO sale. ILoveGlasses also has good deals as well. Both of these companies are great for budget-conscious families. If you are looking for something a little higher-end (or for grown-ups), I also like Warby Parker.

They have a great glasses try-on program, and they also sell Contacts. In fact, they have a free contact offer.

Having used Warby Parker before, their glasses are great, and their service is amazing! We bought glasses online, and later when they needed to be adjusted (helpful tip: Don’t roughhouse with kids when you are wearing glasses), we took them to our local Warby Parker store and they “tuned up” the glasses FOR FREE!

And if you are wondering what to do with all of the old eyeglasses in your house that are no longer your current prescription…. The Lions Club helps recycle eyeglasses and get them into the hands of the needy. You can find out more about how and where to recycle your unwanted eyeglasses here.  I also recommend checking with your local optometrist’s office. They frequently partner with local Lion’s Clubs to collect old glasses. You could help a person in need get the glasses they can’t afford!

What are your tips for saving on glasses and contacts?

**This post may contain affiliate links, for more information about how we use affiliate links, please visit our Disclosure page.**

Save More Shopping Online with the Capital One Shopping!

Abby H.

I just learned about this the other day when I logged onto my Capital High Yield Savings account.

The Capital One Shopping Extension has coupon codes! Apply coupon codes for savings.

They have a Chrome, Edge & Firefox Extension, which you can install here.

OR if you are more of a mobile device shopper, check out this link.

Don’t overpay on Amazon — Capital One Shopping can save you money. Get notified instantly when other sellers have a better price. Download Capital One Shopping for free and save money.

Automatically apply coupon codes for free – it’s kinda genius.

Capital One Shopping searches for a better price while you shop at Target, Best Buy, and more. You’ll see a friendly little pop-up if a better offer is found, including tax and shipping details.

Earn Capital One Shopping Credits while you shop, then redeem those Shopping Credits for gift cards.

It’s easy and quick! I had the app downloaded on my phone in less than 10 minutes and I was ready to shop.

New Recipe: Chicken Bruschetta Stew with Orzo

Abby H.

This soup was easy to make, flavorful, and a big hit.

I used Bruschetta from Aldi’s, however, if you don’t have one nearby, Trader Joe’s Bruschetta is great too.

Unlike most of my other recipes, I will not be providing any sort of dietary alternatives. I’m not sure this recipe would come out the same if it was vegan/vegetarian.

Chicken Bruschetta Stew with Orzo 

  • 1 lb chicken cut of your choice, diced into bite-size
  • One bag, onions, and pepper strips defrosted and chopped into bite sides pieces 
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or your favorite cooking oil
  • 1-quart chicken broth or stock
  • 1 14.5-ounce can of petite diced tomatoes with oregano and basil 
  • One small jar (about 6-ish oz), red pepper, and artichoke bruschetta (I bought mine at Aldi’s.) 
  • 1 1/2 cups dried orzo pasta (it is rice shaped)
  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning 
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder 
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder 
  • Salt and pepper to taste 
  • Topping: 
  • 2 cups Italian cheese blend, divided 

Directions: 

  1. In a large stock pot, heat oil. Add in bite-size pieces of chicken and cook over medium heat frequently until chicken is no longer pink about 5 to 7 minutes. 
  2. Add in onions and peppers, cooking over medium heat. Stir occasionally, about 5 to 7 minutes until the onions are no longer white, and the peppers are fragrant. 
  3. Pour in a quart of broth and a can of tomatoes. Stir to combine, allow to simmer for about 15 minutes. 
  4. Add an entire jar of bruschetta (approx. 6-ish ounces) to stock pot. Stir to incorporate, and add in orzo and all seasonings. 
  5. Cover pot with lid, turn the stove down to low and allow soup to slowly simmer and orzo to cook for about 15+ minutes. Adjust seasonings as needed, and add salt and pepper as desired. 
  6. soup can be served at this time, or it can be left to simmer on low as needed. 

To serve: ladle soup into a bowl and top with approximately one to 2 ounces of cheese as desired. Serve with garlic bread or hot, crusty buttered bread. Well with a mixed green salad

And as always, the soup is better the next day. This recipe makes 6 to 8 servings and can be frozen.

Positive Parenting: Free Online Parenting support!

Abby H.

This information was emailed to me by my kid’s school district.

The Santee School District and Jewish Family Services are presenting the Positive Parenting Program via Zoom.

Dates: Wednesdays: 10/9, 10/16 & 10/26, 2024
Time: 6-7:30pm (Register in advance)
Register Here