2025 Birthday Freebies

Abby H.2 Comments

My birthday was last month, and I did score some pretty good freebies. Not as many as years past, but I’ve been really busy with work and kids.

If you are on the hunt for birthday freebies, one suggestion is to search “Birthday Freebies” + your state. One of my favorite places to look is MySavings. Their Freebies on Your Birthday list is pretty long. There are a lot of great options for those of you outside of California.

For those in CA, OR, FL, NY, SC, AZ, WA, and NV,  check out eBirthdayClub. There are TONS of great freebies on this site.

Non-food Birthday Goodies:

  • Members of the Cost Plus World Market Explorers program get a surprise birthday gift, among other perks; you will also get a 10% off coupon upon enrollment.
  • Torrid– Members of the DivaStyle Club will receive $10 off their next purchase of $10+
  • Dave & Buster’s: $10 in free gameplay for those in the D&B Rewards Club.
  • Free goodies at Sephora (It changes every year)
  • DSW Shoe Warehouse – $5 off birthday coupon
  • Hot Topic-  Hot Topic Rewards members receive a $5 coupon for your birthday every year.

Free Food Birthday Goodies:

  • Red Robin:  FREE burger on your birthday and all the latest Red Robin news.
  • Starbucks – Download their app and get a free birthday handcrafted beverage of your choice on your birthday only.
  • Denny’s: Free Grand Slam for your Birthday. They also email out other freebies and coupons.
  • Dunkin Donuts Birthday Club will kick down with a free coffee.
  • Bj’s Brewhouse– Rewards members receive a free Pizookie for their birthday.
  • Jersey Mike’s: Free Sub for your Birthday! (No matter what you read online, there is no Subway or Submarina birthday Freebies- Those deals are DEAD)
  • Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt: When you sign up for a Smile-age Account, you’ll score a free Fro Yo for your B-day!  (I love Menchie’s!)
  • Nothing Bundt Cakes: Join their email list and receive a FREE Bundlet on your Birthday. (look for the link at the bottom of their website)
  • Sbarro Rewards Club: Free piece of pizza for your birthday when you purchase a drink. You’ll also get a coupon for a free slice when you sign up.
  • Bruegger’s Bagels gives you three free bagels for your birthday. SCORE! Our family eats tons of bagels, so this is a sweet deal.
  • Mary’s Donuts– East County peeps know what I’m talking about! Free drink and TWO Donuts! 
  • Habit Burger Grill’s CharClub Score a free Charburger on your birthday.
  • Panera– Sign up for MyPanera and get a free pastry or sweet on your birthday.
  • Buffalo Wild Wings- Sign up for Blazin’ Rewards to get six free birthday wings during your birth month
  • Cinnabon- Download their app and sign up for Cinnabon Rewards to get a free iced coffee on your birthday and a free order of BonBites for signing up.
  • Edible Arrangements- Join Edible Rewards to receive a birthday reward (it varies).

And as always-

There are tons of other birthday freebie lists, but they may include offers that are not available here or may include stuff that I don’t consider worth it (like a free Rice Krispy treat when you buy an entree that’s $10+, looking at you Noodles & Co.  That’s a hard pass from me, or the Aveda “freebie”- pay $10 and receive a product valued at $23+… No thanks.)

Another deal that everyone and their mama go nuts about is Benihana Japanese Restaurant – a complimentary meal up to $30 when you purchase an Adult meal at Regular Price (You must sign up for The Chef’s Table club). This used to be a FREE meal, no strings attached, but it has changed to basically a BOGO. That’s a no-go for me, but it may still get you excited.

I have not included Ulta in my list because you have to make a purchase the year previous (and it needs to be a certain amount- I’ve been told different amounts by various Ulta Employees, anywhere from $5-$50), so for me, that’s not a freebie. If I have to buy something to receive something, that’s a BOGO deal.

Remember to read the fine print for these offers. Most of them are for adults, ages 18+ (19 in some states). Some offers require the coupon/offer to be printed out, and for some, you can just show your phone.

 

How do Bloggers Make Money?

Abby H.

A couple of weeks ago, a friend asked me how bloggers make money. He never met anyone who was a blogger; he knew plenty of Twitch streamers, bloggers, and TikTokers, but nobody who was an old-school blogger.

While this is not a comprehensive list of ways bloggers make money, here are just a few ways that I either make money now or have made money in the past.

Brand deals: Brand deals are a big one. Brands send bloggers products or provide services to facilitate reviews or for advertising on blogs and related social media. I have done brand deals before, and they are usually a lot of work, but it is always fun to try out a new product or service that you might otherwise not be able to afford. 

Affiliate marketing: Bloggers sometimes opt to work with advertising networks. Affiliate marketing links consumers to products and services. Bloggers receive a small commission when links are clicked and when purchases are made after clicking through a link.

I use a few affiliate marketing networks such as Shopher (formerly MySavings) and Share A Sale. I am an Amazon affiliate as well. A lot of affiliate marketing networks have a small pay-per-click fee of a few cents per click. So, visiting links in bloggers’ posts, either on their blogs or their affiliated social media, can help bloggers a little bit.

Selling products or services: Some bloggers sell products. Printables are very popular. Sometimes through Etsy, but also sometimes directly through their own websites.

Some blog or cell services like exclusive content (Patreon), consulting services, or classes specializing in their blog niche. Many years ago, I used to teach couponing/frugal living classes in my local area. While the classes themselves were free, I sold newspaper subscriptions, and that’s how I made money. This is back in the days when most coupons came in the Sunday paper, and rebate apps like I bought it or not common.

Referral credits: When bloggers share apps or services, oftentimes the app service offers a referral incentive. Examples include Ibotta, Fetch Rewards, and Venmo. They frequently have incentives of a few dollars (or the point value equivalent), usually up to about $10. 

Of course, the more a blogger posts, and the more eyes are on the content, the greater the opportunity to earn money.

Supporting your local blogger by visiting a blog for even five minutes or scrolling through a post is a great way to support a blogger. Read a few posts and share on social media if you find something that resonates. Leave a comment on their social media. These small steps can really help increase a blogger’s reach, which opens them up to being offered more lucrative opportunities.

Free Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table at Walmart After Cash Back (TopCashback)

Abby H.

This is an amazing deal for those who are new to TopCashback.

Get a FREE Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table with this Top Cashback offer! Sign up and purchase the Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table to get $30.94 of your purchase price back with this cash-back offer – making it free.

If you are not a TopCashback member, you are in luck. TopCashback is a rebate site that I’ve been using for at least 10 years.

When you shop online, search for the retailer, click the link, and shop. You’ll receive cashback on your purchase. Amounts/percentages vary by retailer.   TopCashBack is free to join and can be used with over 4,000 stores!

It’ll take about 15 days or so for your TopCashBack account to be credited. Once your account has been credited, you can cash out your rebate.

I do most of my shopping online through TopCashBack and earn about $200/year. I cash out for PayPal or Target Giftcards.

3/1/25 Weekend Freebies

Abby H.

It’s March already! February seemed to fly by, except last week, which I think was longer than January.

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.

Let’s get onto the Freebies!!

FREEBIES:

Free 7-Day Sample of Ubiquinol CoQ10 Health Softgels
Free Arey’s Proactive Haircare Solution Products
Free 6-Piece Chicken Nuggets Every Wednesday at Wendy’s
Free Sample of Weleda Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil
Free Full-Size Vykee Nutrition Supplements
Free $35 Purchase at Old Navy After Cash Back
Free Fareway Buttermints Easter Party Pack
Free Hartz Chompathon Dog Chew Toy
Possible Free 4-Pack of Chocorooms + Free Shipping
Free NASCAR Air Freshener
Free Cousin Willie’s Hot Butter Microwave Popcorn at Kroger
Free 12 z. Heineken 0.0 Beer at 7-Eleven
Free Medium Fries at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Megaport T-Shirt
Top Freebies and Rewards for Good Report Cards
Free Baby Samples & Full Sized Products from Amazon
Free Ocean Spray Immunity Chatterbuy Kit
Free 15-Day Riversol Skincare Kit + Free Shipping
Free Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table at Walmart After Cash Back
Free Museum Admission for Bank of America/Merril Lynch Cardholders – This Weekend
Free Slurpee at 7-Eleven, Stripes & Speedway – Every Friday in February
Free Kinship LittleKin Puppy or Kitten Sample Pack – $200 Value
Free Neutrogena Collagen Bank Moisturizer
How to Score Free Feminine Hygiene Products and Save on Essentials
Free Movie Ticket to In the Lost Lands
Free DiGiorno and Hidden Valley Ranch Swag
Get Your Free Teeth Whitening Samples: A Brighter Smile Awaits
Here Are 6 Ways To Get Free Baby Formula Samples
Sign up for a Free Healthy Snack Box
Free $1 Million Toasted Sandwich Giveaway at Jimmy John’s
Free Blue Buffalo NEW True Chews Beef Meatballs Chatterbox Kit
Free OLAY Cleansing Melts

Deals:

Cascade Dishwasher Rinse Aid ONLY $1.74 with Walmart Cash Rebate
Top Tips for Shopping Walmart Hidden Clearance Sale in 2025
Pickleball Set ONLY $11.99 (Reg $32) at Amazon
Wooden Puzzle Table ONLY $37.79 (Reg $70) at Amazon

Upcoming JCP Kid’s Craft Events!

Abby H.

Are you heading to the mall on 3/8/2025? Check out this fun, free craft from JCPenney’s.

Visit the Kids Zone inside JCPenney and kids can crate this cute rainbow mobile.

Parents/Adults score a 10% off coupon, which can be combined with another coupon. JCP Coupons can be found here.

April’s Craft is a cute foam finger puppet collection. April 12, 2025.

JCPenney hosts a fun craft event in store for kids on the second Saturday of each month.  They are easy for kids, and fun, free activity.

While you are there, make sure to join their Rewards Program. There are a lot of great benefits, and it’s free to join. I do a lot of our shopping at JCP. They are very size-inclusive, have great prices/sales, and support diversity in the communities in which they are located.

In-store events are only where local mandates allow.  All kids must be accompanied by an adult.

Rebate App Round-Up!

Abby H.

I post about rebate apps a lot. They are one of my favorite ways to try new products.

Paper coupons are seemingly a thing of the past, and apps are where it’s at these days.

Most of them work the same:

  • Select offers that you are interested in and opt in.
  • Visit your local store and purchase the item(s). Most apps/websites will give you a list of stores selling the item(s).
  • Submit the receipt (and sometimes you have to scan the UPC of the product) via the website/app/text message.
  • Funds are usually sent via Venmo or Paypal. If you haven’t signed up for Venmo, check out my post about it here.

I mostly use my Venmo account for rebates. I have a Venmo card to access the funds.

Here are a few of my favorite rebate apps:

Sometimes savings apps like Ibotta have free after rebate offers. They are usually retailer-specific and only valid for a short amount of time.

 

Talk Back: what are your favorite rebate apps?

February 2025: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

Abby H.

 If you are into Organic/Natural/Healthy products, then Social Nature is right up your alley. Sign up and apply to sample products that you are interested in. I usually receive 4-6 offers/freebies per month, sometimes more if I have time to shop. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

In addition to the offers where they mail you a coupon for a free product, Social Nature has started offering 100% cash-back, similar to Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. I love this because I can select exactly what I want, Social Nature tells me which local stores have it, and I can add it to my next shopping list.

And it’s just as easy as Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. Snap a pic and upload it. You can select Venmo, Paypal, or an Amazon Gift Card for your rebate.

Here are just a few of the offers available now:

      • High Protein Gluten Free Bread by Unbun Foods
      • Italian Protein Pasta by BRAMI
      • Gluten-Free Fajita Dip by Fresh Cravings
      • Organic Cara Cara Oranges by Sunkist
      • Organic Kimbaps by Ocean’s Halo
      • Afia Foods Falafel
      • Zero Sugar Collagen Tea by Pretty Tasty
      • Probiotic Kombucha by Humm Kombucha
      • Natural Cleaning Solution by Cleanery
      • Protein Shakesby Rebbl

New Sampling Opportunities from Tryazon!

Abby H.

I’ve been a fan of Tryazon for about 7 years. It’s an amazing company that works with manufacturers of toys, games, food, and recreational/sporting goods. Manufacturers supply their goods to consumers to try out and review for free.

The kids and I have received toys, games, craft kits, and art supplies to test and have fun with.

Right now, Tryazon has five different opportunities to which you can apply.

Applying to host a party is quick and easy. If you want to learn more about Tryazon, their website has tons of information about all of the cool campaigns, parties, and past events.

 

2025 San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering is Coming 3/1/25!

Abby H.


It’s back! This event is super fun, and FREE! We’ve gone in the past and my kids have loved it!
The annual San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering’s signature event returns to Petco Park and will be held on Saturday, March 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Festival will be a full day of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) fun provided by hundreds of San Diego area businesses, schools, libraries, and museums. Admission is free and open to the public, no registration is required. A clear bag policy will also be in effect.

This year’s event is presented by Illumina Corporate Foundation and will feature more than 100 booths. New to the event this year:

  • Construction Corner: From interactive building challenges to demonstrations of cutting-edge technology, this space highlights sustainable building, structural design and the latest construction materials.
  • Cybersecurity Zone: An interactive space to dive into the fundamentals of online safety, ethical hacking, encryption, and cyber defense. Also includes demonstrations on how to protect personal data and digital landscapes.
  • ‘All Hands’: The Navy’s virtual reality experience gives attendees the chance to step aboard an aircraft carrier.
  • Algae Foundation: Explore sustainable solutions for the planet.

“The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering aims to make learning exciting and accessible for all ages by immersing kids and adults in STEAM education,” says Sara Pagano, Managing Director, San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering. “The event also highlights San Diego’s leadership in the science industry, breaking down even the most complex topics to make them clear and engaging for everyone.”

There will be dozens of returning hands-on learning experiences, interactive activities, and experiments to inspire kids (and kids at heart!) to engage in all things STEAM including:

  • DNA fun and genomics education with Illumina Corporate Foundation
  • The pre-K zone is filled with engaging activities for little learners
  • Virtual reality experiences
  • Ecovivarium, and Parks & Rec
  • Rockets and explosions with General Atomics
  • Make slime, learn about underwater sea life, play with robots and more!
  • Art Pavilion infuses the STEM experience with live artists
  • College and Career Connections allow students to consider career pathway options

All EXPO DAY ‘Know Before You Go’ tips and updates are listed at: lovestemsd.org.

2/18/2025 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 about the online studies they are looking to fill.

Topic: Neurology Nurses who use autoinjectors.
***PROOF OF OCCUPATION WILL BE REQUIRED***
Format: Virtual Interview
Date of the study: February 2025, various dates and times
Duration: The interview will last 45 minutes
Incentive: $250
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: Voters/Voting
registered voters aged 18-64 in specific states.
***MUST PROVIDE PROOF***
Format: Virtual focus group
Date of the study: March 5 & 6, 2025
Duration: The interview will last 2 hours (plus 5-10 minutes client tech check and 15 minutes early group check-in)
Incentive: $150 + $50 early-bird lotto (1 winner per group, all who arrive 15+mins early will be eligible)
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.