**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
I know it’s the beginning of July, but for some kiddos, they go back to school in a few weeks.
Most kiddos are going back to school in person, and that means- STUFF IS GOING TO GET LOST. Seriously. No one wants to paw through the lost and found boxes.
Keep the kiddo’s stuff safe with labels- And save some money. The Back-to-School Sale at Mabel’s Labels! Now through July 31st, you can take 25% OFF their best-selling school products.
Features of Mabel’s School Labels:
• Laundry Safe (both the washer and the dryer!)
• Dishwasher Safe
• Waterproof & Weatherproof
• Easy to Apply
• An Adhesive That Stays Stuck
• High-Performance Vinyl, Won’t Rip or Peel
• Personalized & Custom Designs
• Easy to Order
• FREE Shipping on All School Label Orders
• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• Teacher Approved!
And if you are looking for a wide variety of beverages that everyone will love, Dollar Tree has a great selection of drink mixes. Our current family favorites include Sonic Limeade, Wyler’s Strawberry Lemonade, and Welch’s Orange Peach.
And while not a snack, the kids and I have been carrying around our 40-ounce insulated Stainless steel tumblers from Michael’s. Yes, I had a coupon for each one. It’s keeping us all hydrated, and it’s saving me trips to Sonic, Starbucks, or the gas station while we are out this summer.
Last month, Legoland had a summer pass sale, and I took advantage of it, knowing it would be an awesome way for us to spend some time outside having fun this summer.
We used the passes for the first time on Friday to visit the Legoland Water Park.
We’ve never gone to the water park before, and it was pretty fun. Like some parts of Legoland, there are areas of the water park that are great for smaller kids, great for families, and some areas perfect for bigger kids. Here is a map of the park.
We spent a lot of time at the Chima area in the wave pool.
It is a walk-in pool, and the deep end is only 5 feet. The waves come on every 5 minutes, preceded by an alarm. The kids had an amazing time swimming in the waves (yes, we brought their goggles) and lazing in the shallow end.
We rented a locker for $16 and stashed all of our stuff- towels, snacks, dry clothes. We didn’t hunt for pool chairs on the deck because we arrived at 1pm; however, there were tons of chairs still available. I wanted to splash and play in the water with the kids, not sit and watch!
The water slides were also a hit with the kids- I didn’t go on them because my rash guard has a zipper and you can’t have a zippered suit on the water slides (It can scratch the slides). That was cool with me- I waited below in the pool area.
The park wasn’t overcrowded, and there was plenty of water and space. There are tons of fun little areas to splash, relax, and build!
No pics of the kids this time, but we did spot this Lego Monkey outside the backside of the Lego Hotel!
Remember, parking starts at $35 for the day. For our family, it made the most sense for the kids to get the summer passes and for me to get an annual pass that included parking. Based on how much a 1-day ticket costs and how much we paid, we only have to visit Legoland 4 more times before our passes pay for themselves. We’ve already got plans for our next visit!
This week has been full of shenanigans. We hit up the Legoland Water Park on Friday. We took advantage of their summer pass deal (no longer available), which allows us to visit Legoland, the water park, and the Sea Life Aquarium as often as we’d like through September!
We took snacks and water, and had a blast.
We also slept in late, made cookies, and did crafts. The adventures continue on!
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.
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.
Here are some of the most important fine print details: *21-day advance purchase required. Book by 6/19 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Cont. U.S. travel valid 8/5-12/17/25.
Thanksgiving Travel? End of Summer Travel? Wanna just escape your home for a weekend or longer? Is Vegas calling? Whatever and wherever, it’s a great time to pack a small carry-on/personal bag and head out of town!
Cont. U.S. travel to/from Hawaii, intl., and San Juan, PR valid 8/17-12/10/25. Interisland HI travel valid 7/8-10/1/25. Cont. U.S. blacked out 9/1, 10/13, 11/24-11/26, and 12/1. Cont. U.S. travel to Hawaii, intl., and San Juan, PR blacked out 8/28-9/2 and 11/20-11/24. Cont. U.S. travel to Hawaii, intl., and San Juan, PR blacked out 8/28-9/2 and 11/28-12/2. Interisland HI blacked out 9/2. Nonrefundable. Seats, travel days, and markets are limited. Fares are valid on nonstop service where indicated; if not indicated, fares are valid on single connecting service. Points bookings do not include government fees of $5.60 per one-way flight. Additional fees may apply.
I discovered PiñataPiñata while listening to a true crime podcast yesterday while I was exercising.
Piñata is the world’s first and only rent rewards platform that gives you rewards for paying rent and is free.
If you join the $5/mo Piñata membership between May 1 – June 30th, you will be automatically entered to win 3 MONTHS OF FREE RENT!
For just $5/month, Piñata reports your rent payments to all three credit bureaus—giving your credit the boost it deserves. This is an amazing benefit, especially if you rent from a private party!
Enroll in the $5/month Piñata membership and enter the giveaway automatically to win 3 months of rent (up to $4,500 in total)! Sign up today here.
Even when it’s not rent day, Piñata gives renters exclusive deals and discounts to help you save on everyday expenses from CVS and Costco to Best Buy and Sprint to Papa John’s and Disney World. You get an average of $4,000 in yearly savings. You can also get cash back on special deals from your favorite brands.
Seriously! You purchase a discounted gift certificate (make sure to check the certificate for restrictions, such as a minimum purchase amount or mandatory gratuity) for a local restaurant. You have a year from the date of purchase to use it.
Right now the following deal is available:
$100 eGift Card for only $18.00
$200 eGift Card for only $36.00
The Restaurant.com eGift Card can be redeemed at over 62,000 restaurants and providers nationwide. Available denominations vary by restaurant, and certificates are subject to minimum spend requirements and other restrictions. You can split up the $100 or $200 among a few local restaurants.
Here are two examples of how to use the certs to your advantage.
Cafe XYZ- Certificate for $15.00. Terms of cert: $15 off the purchase of $30 or more.
The check comes to $30.00
Minus Cert amt. -$15.00
Total New Bill: $15.00
Gift Certificate Cost $6.00
The price for this complete meal is $21.00 (that includes the cost of the certificate). The total amount saved $9.00.
ABC Cafe- Certificate for $25.00. Terms of the cert: $25.00 off the purchase of $35.00 or more.
The check comes to $35.00
Minus Cert amt. -$25.00
Total New Bill: $10.00
Gift Certificate Cost $10.00
The price for this complete meal is $20.00 (that includes the cost of the certificate). The total amount saved $15.00.
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.
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.
If you’ve ever been to my house, you know I love candles.
Specifically Yankee candles because they last a long time, and have a great range of scents and sizes of candles.
Right now, Yankee Candle is offering up to 50% off almost everything. 30% if you aren’t a rewards member.
Becoming a rewards member is quick and easy, and there are lots of benefits, including a freebie for your birthday!
Did you also know that in addition to candles, Yankee Candle sells car air fresheners? Yup. They are shaped like tiny candle jars. Two of my favorites are the Macintosh Apple and Midsummer’s Night. I know, two completely different scent families, but both are amazing.