An Update…

As you may have noticed, I haven’t been posting much lately. There has been a lot going on, and I’ve been taking time to process it all and help my kids and family. There is a lot of uncertainty in the US, and worldwide. I know my family isn’t the only one who is upset, confused, and scared for all of the unknowns in our future.

I don’t want to leave y’all in the lurch, so I’ve spent the last few days brainstorming and planning, and I’ve got some plans to write and post more information about how each of you can keep afloat during uncertain times.

  • Budgeting, locating and accessing resources, and taking steps to make sure your families have what they need to succeed and thrive in 2025.
  • There will be some New Year’s Resolution posts- I’ve done them before, and I’ll be writing some new ones, as well as linking to previous posts that contain timeless information.  Those will be coming up later next month.
  • I am going to try and post monthly about upcoming clothing swaps- Kids are growing quickly, and clothes are so expensive.
  • More posts about cashback offers and rebate apps to help you stretch your grocery budgets.
  • Money-making opportunities with research studies and surveys. If you haven’t tried these yet, it’s a great way to earn a little extra money.
  • I’m developing recipes that use inexpensive, healthy ingredients that taste good, make good leftovers, and that kids will eat (this one is important).

10/27/2024 Weekend Freebies and Deals

Hye friends- I’ve been battling a weeklong headache, so my posting has been nonexistent. I promise that there will be some posts coming up, starting with these freebies and deals.

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:

Score a Free Babylist Hello Baby Box Filled with Samples & Full Sized Products
Babylist Registry Perks – 15% Off & Free Registry Box
Free Vida Mate Yerba Mate at Select Stores
Free Medium Fries at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Sample of La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum
Free GOOD GOOD No Added Sugar Spreads
Free Knife Skills Classes at Williams Sonoma
Spooktacular Halloween Food Deals & Food Freebies You Can’t Miss in 2024: Pizza, Fast Food, and More
Free Valley Mist Pure Lip Balm
Free Gift When You Link Your Ulta Beauty Rewards & Target Circle Accounts
Free Coffee & Donut at Krispy Kreme for First Responders
Free Sample of Stopain Extra Strength Pain Relieving Gel
Free Handcrafted Beverage at Capital One Cafe
Free Treat Buckets at Party City on October 31st
Free LOVO Chocolate Bar After Rebate
Free Candy of Your Choice
Free CLEAN RESERVE Fragrance
Sign up for a Free Healthy Snack Box
Free Order of Cheese Stick Stack at Dave & Buster’s
Free Fries Every Friday at Wendy’s
Free VCF Sample
Free SENSAI Beauty Extra Intensive Series Skincare Samples
Free Day of the Dead Face Painting Events at Stater Bros. Markets
We Found The Best Black Friday and Cyber Week Streaming Deals: 2024 Edition
Free Firecracker Farm Hot Salt Sample
Free Halloween Craft & Costume Party Event at Pottery Barn Kids
Free Oscar Mayer Stuffed Dogs Chatterbuy Kit
Free Belle Aroma Holiday Scented Ornament
Free Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Facial Toner
Free Clean Age Natural Deodorant After Rebate

 

Deals:

Kate Spade Sadie Crossbody Set Two-in-One ONLY $49 (Reg $249)
Complete Home Sandwich Bags Buy One Get Two Free
Pajamas for the Family From $12 at Old Navy
Garnier Whole Blends ONLY $1 (Reg. $4.99)
Food Network 10-Piece Cookware Set $59.99 After Kohl’s Cash
Premier Comfort Heated Plush Throw ONLY $35 (Reg $100)
Free $20 Target Gift Card with Purchase of $100 of Baby Essentials
Free $10 Gift Card with Purchase of Three Household Products
ionvac SmartClean 2000 Robovac ONLY $79.99 (Reg. $129)
Kitchen Appliances up to 30% Off
Select General Mills Cereal ONLY $1.49 (Reg. $6.29)

San Diego Residents: No cost energy upgrades for your home from SDG&E!

I received this information in my email this morning, and I thought I would share it.

We took advantage of this program a few years ago. It was quick and easy. This program as easy and 1, 2, 3.

Unlock Home Energy Savings
Whether you rent or own, the Residential Energy Solutions (RES) Program offers no-cost, energy-efficiency upgrades for your home. The RES Program can help reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency while giving you added comfort in your home.

You may qualify for:

  • Smart Thermostat
  • Smart Fan Controller
  • Pipe Wrap
  • AC Tune Up
  • Faucet Aerators & Shower Head

 

How to Participate:

1. Schedule an in-home appointment
2. Receive no-cost upgrades
3. Enjoy your energy savings

For more information call our authorized contractor, Synergy Companies at 1-888-272-8394 or visit sdge.com/RES.

And don’t forget- You can save money and earn cash or gift cards when you save energy with Ohm Connect. Learn more here. 

Peekage: Try New Products for Free After Rebate.


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!

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!

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!

Time For Glasses? Deals and Glasses Freebies

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!

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.

Walgreens: Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent Sale!

 This deal is only good until Saturday night at 11:59; for me, this is a RUN DEAL.

This week at Walgreens, all 27.5-28 oz bottles of Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry detergent are on sale for Buy one for $7.49, get two free!!

They are usually $7.49/each, but let’s face it, I’d never pay that much for on bottle. With this sale price, each load of laundry costs .07-.09 per load!

They have 5 varieties:

No coupons are needed, and you can order online and do curbside pick up (with a minimum order of $10.00) so you won’t have to step foot in the store! If you have Walgreens cash, you can use it, and this deal combines with any “Earn $X when you spend $Y” offers you might have in your Walgreens account (check online or in their app).

10/4/2024 Weekly Freebies and Deals

This week has been rough, but Freebies wait for no man.

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 Radicle Science Mental Clarity Supplements
Free Sky Valley Green Sriracha
Free Pulled Pork or Chicken Breast Sandwich Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Free Blink Mini Camera from Barkbox
Free Fire Rescue Truck Workshop at Home Depot
Calm and Cozy: Free Baby Sleep Music for Restful Nights
Free Big Mac at McDonald’s
Free Nurishh Animal Free Cream Cheese at Select Retailers
Free $10 for Signing up for JCPenney Rewards
Free Medium Fries at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Fries Every Friday at Wendy’s
Free Bulgari Le Gemme Tygar Fragrance Sample
Score a Subscription to Vanity Fair Magazine – No Credit Card Needed
Free Keys Soulcare It’s Like Skin 2-in-1 Concealer + Tint Sample
Free Sample of NYX BlurScreen SPF 30 Primer
Free $6 Bonus from Ibotta
Free Donut Holes at AMC Theatres
Free Sample of La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum
Free Screwdriver, Cable Ties, or Magnetic Parts Holder at Harbor Freight
Free Sample Pack of PooPeePads Dog Training Pads
Free Sample of Zesty Paws Dog Supplements
Free Order of Mozzarella Sticks at Dave & Buster’s
30 Minutes of Free Play & Lifetime Membership at Topgolf
Free Sample of L’Oreal Revitalift Triple Power Anti-Aging Moisturizer
Free Private Selection Cinnamon Roll at Kroger & Affiliate Stores

Deals:

Victoria’s Secret Panties 10 For $40
Disney Store: 30% Off Costumes & Halloween Styles
Maybelline Baby Lips ONLY $1.11 (Reg $5.49)
10 Best Restaurant Family Meal Deals Under $20 + Coupons
Cuisinart Advantage 12-Piece Knife Set ONLY $29 (Reg $65)
Complete Home Sandwich Bags Buy One Get Two Free
Cooks 3-Piece Cast Iron Fry Pan Set ONLY $22.49 (Reg $50)
Cultured Freshwater Pearl Stud Earrings ONLY $9.75 (Reg $33)
Kids Clothing Clearance at Walmart | Prices Start at ONLY $3.98
Barbie Clothes & Play Sets up to 70% off
Get $5 Walmart Cash with Pampers Easy Ups Purchase
Save 20% on Kids’ Clothing at Target