earning money

9/13/2026 Weekend Freebies and Deals

Abby H.Leave a comment

This weekend has been busy with SCA events, the never-ending mountain of laundry, and meal prep for the coming week.

Here are some freebies and deals that are available year-round!

For free food resources, see my comprehensive list here.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.

Freebies:

FREE Bad Sheep Yarn Birthday Mini + FREE Shipping
Free Chick-fil-A Birthday Item Every Year
FREE Full-Size BONKERS Surprise Dog Treats & Dog Toy
Get Free Samples by Mail: List of Legitimate Freebies & Free Samples From Brand Name Companies
FREE LEGO Batman Bust Build Event
Insomnia Cookies PJ Party: FREE Cookies, Merch & More
The Best Birthday Freebies and Free Stuff for Seniors
FREE Carl’s Jr. Famous Star with Cheese
FREE WHOOP Basic Health Panel – a $69 Value
FREE Fish or Chicken at Long John Silver’s on September 19th
6 FREE Cookies at Tiff’s Treats
FREE Davines Essential Haircare Samples
FREE Custom Bottle Label at Walgreens
FREE Confetti Bundtlet at Nothing Bundt Cakes on September 15th
FREE 12-Pack of Pepsi Zero Sugar
FREE Movie Ticket to The Weight
Here Are 6 Ways To Get Free Baby Formula Samples
FREE Fruit Snacks, Eucerin Samples, Hot Wheels Giveaway & More at Target
FREE $25 at Home Depot
2 FREE Movie Tickets to Tiny Fugitives
FREE ARM & HAMMER Fabric Rinse
FREE $5 Amazon Prime Video Credit
FREE Arey’s Proactive Haircare Solution Products
FREE Movie Ticket to Runner
FREE Smoke Alarm from Red Cross

Deals:

No Boundaries Women’s Beach Insulated Mini Tote Bag ONLY $7.97 (Reg $16)
Dollar General Coupons: Save Money on Gain, Dove, Snuggle & More
Flash Sale: Up to 70% Off Women’s Shoes, Handbag and More at Macy’s
Silicone Cooking Utensils Set ONLY $19.97 at Walmart (Reg $38)
Top Wednesday Food Deals: Midweek Dining Discounts to Devour
Wonder Nation Backpacks ONLY $1.99 at Walmart (Reg $5)
Halloween Candy: Buy 1 Get 1 50% off M&M’s, Skittles & More at Target
Aeropostale 2 Free T-Shirts when you buy 1
SKIMS Discount Codes & Coupons: Up to 30% Off an Order of Panties, Bras and Shapewear
Nike Promina Women’s Walking Shoes ONLY $48.97 (Reg $70)
Facial Cleansing Brush Face Scrubber ONLY $4.99 (Reg $13)
KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer ONLY $34.98 (Reg $60)
The Best Amazon Snack Deals to Scoop Up NOW
Ulta Beauty 21 Days of Beauty Sale: Save 50% on Today’s Deals!
Thursday Food Deals to Kick Off the Almost-Weekend
Looking For An Alternative to Crocs? Check Out These Knock Off, Fake Crocs at the Lowest Prices
24-Pack Kitchen Dishcloths ONLY $5 on Amazon
Midea 0.9 cu ft 900W Microwave Oven ONLY $59.99 at Target (Reg $100)
Walmart has the VIZIO 65-Inch Class Quantum 4K Smart TV ONLY $328 (Reg $498)
Eastsport Backpacks as low as $7.99 at Walmart (Reg $25)
LEGO City Advent Calendar 2026 ONLY $25 at Walmart
Halloween Decor From $2.49 at Michaels
Bedsure Soft Fleece Throw Bed Blanket ONLY $9.98 (Reg $18)
Elle Roamer Vegan Leather Weekender Tote Bag ONLY $49.98 (Reg $88)
Chelsea Loft Pinsonic Floral Embossed 2-Piece Quilt Set ONLY $19.43 (Reg $65)
Eureka Max Swivel Deluxe Upright Vacuum ONLY $49.86 (Reg $90)
Semi-Annual Suit Sale at Macy’s: Up to 75% Off
Blink Video Doorbell + Outdoor 4 XR Wireless Smart Security Cameras ONLY $79.99 (Reg $140)
Amazon Haul Flash Deals: $2 & Under

PRC Research Study: Current or Retired Federal Employees $250!

Abby H.Leave a comment

PRC 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. Research studies are a great way to earn a little extra money, and most can be completed from the comfort of your home using your computer or laptop.

Currently, they are looking for Current or Retired Federal Employees with kids to participate in an upcoming 3-day online discussion board on health topics.

Topic: Current or Retired Federal Employees-September 2026
Who: Parents of 12- 17-year-olds
When: 9/15-17/2026
Where: From the comfort of your home
Length: 135-mins total (45-mins each day for 3 days)
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.

A few notes about PRC:

It is recommended to use Google Chrome or Firefox to complete the pre-qualification survey.
Only one participant per household.
Their 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.

Focus Group Connection – $175 Paid Research Study

Abby H.

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

Focus Group Connections is looking for participants in their upcoming ONLINE discussions about meaningful advancements in the tech industry.

When: September 7th to September 24th

Length:  75-minute online interview

Incentive: $175 for your valuable contributions.

If interested, please fill in the pre-screen survey here.

Please note that not everyone will qualify to participate, and not everyone will receive a callback.

9/4/2026 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

It’s Labor Day Weekend! A lot of you have fun plans, trips out of town, and some of you (like us) are staying close to home and chilling out.

This week the freebie list is small, which is par for the course after the back to school rush is over. But here are some freebies and deals that are available year-round!

For free food resources, see my comprehensive list here.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.

Freebies:

PinchMe has a ton of great freebies (sample and full sizes) right now. New Samples drop every Tuesday!
FREE $75 Amazon or Visa Gift Card for Test Driving a Cadillac
FREE School Bus Organizer Workshop at Home Depot
FREE VCF Sample
FREE BYOMA Skincare, Scunci Hair Items & More for Target Circle 360 Members
FREE Pembe the Pink Cat Party
FREE Sample of Heart Grown Wild Root Bath Soak
FREE Khloud Plus Protein Chips
How to Score Sticker Freebies – Sticker Mule, Keds, Netflix and More
The Best Free Sample Boxes to Request
2 FREE Advanced Screening Tickets to ONSLAUGHT
FREE Handcrafted Drink Every Monday at Capital One Cafe
FREE Sample of Hempz Serene Waters Lotion with Magnesium
FREE $10 Instant Bonus at Ace Hardware
FREE Shark Hair Styling Tools
FREE Haunted House Kit Workshop Event at Lowe’s
FREE Fidget Cube, Carabiner or Phone Stand
Get Free Nike Gear: How to Become a Nike Product Tester
FREE Depend Fresh Protection Advanced Sample Pack
Get The Top 17 Free Baby Boxes in 2026: Walmart, Target, Amazon
FREE Hape: Pixelz Little Rock Stars Party
FREE Bag of Real Good Breaded Chicken
Up to 4 FREE Movie Tickets to THE FIX
FREE Full-Size Snacks from TasteBud
The Ultimate Guide to Birthday Freebies for Kids and Babies
FREE Jose Cuervo Margarita + Win $1,500
Grubhub Labor Day Weekend – FREE Items, BOGO & More
FREE Mind the Skin Eczema Flare Patches – a $30.99 Value
FREE 2027 JDC Jewish Calendar
FREE Hill’s Science Diet Dog Food Roll Coupon
FREE LEGO Harry Potter Micro Castle Build Event
How to Score Free Feminine Hygiene Products and Save on Essentials
FREE Creed Iris Debonair Fragrance Sample
Free Baby Stuff – Ultimate Guide to Get Free Baby Stuff
FREE Febreze Odor-Fighting Fade Defy Plug-In at Walgreens
FREE Sample of ECRU New York Luxe Hair Gloss
FREE Fragrance Samples from Macy’s

 

Deals:

Kohl’s Labor Day Sale is LIVE – Save $10 Off, 15% Off & Kohl’s Cash
Best Target Dollar Spot Finds Today (Toys, Home Décor, and More)
LEGO City Advent Calendar 2026 ONLY $25 at Walmart
Gap’s Labor Day Sale – Up to 60% Off Select Styles + Extra 50% Off Sale
Crock-Pot Manual Design Series 4.5-qt Slow Cooker ONLY $15.49 (Reg $36)
BIC Xtra Smooth Bright Edition Mechanical Pencils ONLY $5.21 (Reg $16)
DSW Coupons and Promo Codes – Up to 60% Off Clearance Online, Up to 30% Off Select Adidas & More
Eddie Bauer Labor Day Sale up to 40% Off Including New Falls Arrivals
Petco 20% Off Site Wide Sale – Big Savings on Everything for your Pets
Buy 1 Get 2 Free Towels at JCPenney

August 2026 Monthly Side Quest Totals

Abby H.

Quests require compasses and treasure chests, right?Why am I referring to them as “quests” and not “hustle“?

Hustling indicates moving quickly to earn money. This year, I’m doing a little bit every day, approximately 20 minutes on small surveys and small tasks. I may earn less daily, but overall, I can use small tasks to earn more through compounding.

For about half of August, I could dedicate a consistent block of time each day to earning extra money. My day job started again, so I probably won’t be able to dedicate as much time each day to my side quests.

  • MyPoints:  $15 Amazon Gift Cards
  • PaidViewPoint:  $10.26 Venmo
  • Fetch:  $15 in Barnes and Noble Gift Cards
  • Rebates (WeStock, Peekage, Social Nature, and Aisle ):  $38.94 in Aisle Rebates, $10.97 in WeStock Rebates, and $13.78 Social Nature Rebates
  • BrandClub:  $9.61 Venmo
  • TPT (I make worksheets/flashcards in my spare time for special ed classrooms). This side quest is definitely a slow trickle of money. $2.65 (My lowest of the year)
  • Verasight: $10 via Venmo
  • Receipt Hog: $5.00 Venmo
  • Ibotta: $25.00 Paypal
  • Evidation: $10 via Venmo
  • Gist: $20 Amazon Gift Card
  • Online Research Study: $25 Amazon GC
  • The Insiders: $30 Visa Gift Card

I spend about 20-30 minutes a day completing surveys, scanning receipts, and other tasks. It doesn’t take long, and it helps take a small load off our summer budget.

As always, the links above may be affiliate links, and I might earn money or points if you join any of the above apps or activities. This helps support my blog and family.

If you are interested in my full list of money-saving/money earning activites, I encourage you to check out:

Calling All Facebook Content Creators – Get Paid $400 For Your Time!

Abby H.

I received this in my inbox this afternoon and I had to share. I know there are some of you who create content on Facebook, and this market research study is a great way to earn some extra money!

Are you a Facebook creator who enjoys producing unique, original content? ISG would love to hear from you!

Information Specialists Group (ISG), a market research company based in Bloomington, Minnesota, is inviting select Facebook creators to participate in an upcoming paid research study designed to better understand creators’ experiences and perspectives on the platform.

This is strictly market research — there are no sales pitches, no promotions, and nothing to purchase. They’re simply interested in learning about your experiences and perspectives as a content creator.

Study Details:

• Format: Complete a brief 30-minute digital activity followed by a 90 minute online group research session
• Dates: September 14th or 15th
• Incentive: $400, paid by your choice of a check or an Amazon eGift Card, if you qualify and are selected to participate
• Who: Social media content creators who post content on Facebook
• Purpose: Market research only

To get started, please complete the short screening questionnaire (just a few minutes) to see if you qualify. If you’re selected, an ISG team member will contact you by phone with all the details.

Click here to fill out the quick pre-screener.

Spots are limited, and not everyone who completes the questionnaire will qualify.

PRC Sleeping Habits Research Study Pays $150

Abby H.

PRC 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. Research studies are a great way to earn a little extra money, and most can be completed from the comfort of your home using your computer or laptop.

Topic: Sleeping Habits
Who: Adults, aged 18 and older
When: September 10th – 16th, 2026
Where: Online from the comfort of your home or office
Length: pre-call + pre-work and 1 hour virtual session
Incentive: $150

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 Google Chrome or Firefox to complete the pre-qualification survey.
Only one participant per household.
Their 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.

8/28/2026 Friday Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

It was our first full week of back to school/work, and it was a hot one. So hot that many local schools called off PE and had lunch inside.

I’m looking forward to a weekend cool down- If it’s not over 100, I’ll be hopping into the pool.

My Birthday Freebie list can be found here. The list mostly offers what you can find in Southern California.

If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

If your kids aren’t back to school yet and you need some adventures, here is my list of frugal fun activities in San Diego County.

For free food resources, see my comprehensive list here.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.

Freebies:

FREE 1-Hour of Topgolf for Verizon Customers
Claim Cash in the $18.8 Million O’Reilly Auto Parts Class Action Settlement
Get Tons Of Free Stickers Online: Updated Monthly
Get a Free Birthday Dessert at Olive Garden
FREE Pokemon Trading Kit at Best Buy on August 29th
FREE 2027 EWTN Family Calendar
FREE Saffron Road Meal with Survey
Get Free Beauty Samples in the Mail From La Roche-Posay, Dove, Hermes, Giorgio Armani and Others
FREE $25 to Spend at Staples
FREE Confetti Bundtlet at Nothing Bundt Cakes
FREE Sample of Grace & Stella Energizing Eye Masks
FREE Full-Size PanOxyl Acne Mask or Spot Treatment
FREE 12 Count of Ball Mason Jars at Walmart
Get Free Samples by Mail: List of Legitimate Freebies & Free Samples From Brand Name Companies
Sign up for a Free Healthy Snack Box
FREE Wendy’s 10-Piece Chicken Nuggets
FREE Marinela Hershey’s Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Fraga Farm Skincare Sample Bundle
FREE Maison Perrier French Kiss Sparkling Water
FREE 20 oz. Coca-Cola + Sweepstakes
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – FREE Kids Book Every Month
Here’s How to Score FREE or Cheap Photo Prints: 2026

Deals:

JCPenney Labor Day Sale: Up to 50% Off + Up to 30% Off Select Bedding, Bath, Rugs, Curtains
Hoover Dual Spin Pet Plus Carpet Cleaner Machine ONLY $90.88 (Reg $142)
Dollar General Clearance Event – Starts Tomorrow August 28th
Acrylic Photo Blocks ONLY $1.99 at Walgreens (Reg $10)
Nike Reactx Women’s Slides ONLY $26 (Reg $65) + Free Shipping!
Toshiba 75-Inch 4K Smart Fire TV ONLY $369 at Best Buy (Reg $730)
Beakey Makeup Sponge Set 5-Pack ONLY $3.84 (Reg $13)
Petco Sale – 50% Off Fish Tanks, $10 Petco Cash on Blue Buffalo & Free Tasting Event
Hot Deals at Amazon Haul Starting as Low as $1.00
Sonic Electric Toothbrush ONLY $5.99 (Reg $13)
Vaseline Lip Therapy Jelly 2-Pack ONLY $2.98 on Amazon + Free Shipping
Fashion Nova Discount Code and Coupons: Save up to 80% Off on Dresses, Jeans, Tops, and Accessories
Best Cheap Sewing Machines for Advanced and Basic Sewing Projects in 2026
Sculpd Discount Codes – 10% Off Your First Order, 15% Off for You & a Friend, & More
Up to 65% Off Kohl’s Women’s Tops – Prices as Low as $4.67
Cute Heart Ghosts Friendship Duos ONLY $5 at Target
Valvoline $15 Off Instant Oil Change

Advanced Opinions Upcoming Project Online on Sanitizing Products Pays $125

Abby H.

Opinions is another Market Research company that emails me about studies and surveys. Right now, they are recruiting for a new study about sanitizing products.

To be considered, complete the form here. 

Compensation: $125 (if chosen) for full-participation
All groups are during the working day week of August 31, 2026
Open to ages 25- 54
All 2-hour ONLINE Groups are during the working day
Must log in, if selected, from a computer ONLY with a working webcam and working mic

8/23/2026 Weekend Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

Sorry for the delay in publishing this post- this weekend was a lot of catching up and grocery shopping!

My Birthday Freebie list can be found here. The list mostly offers what you can find in Southern California.

If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

If your kids aren’t back to school yet and you need some adventures, here is my list of frugal fun activities in San Diego County.

For free food resources, see my comprehensive list here.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.

Freebies:

FREE Sample of Xtreme Rapid Relief Balm
FREE Kohl’s Cash (Up to $100) – No Purchase Necessary
FREE Beauty Products, PR Boxes, Swag & More with Lorealistar
FREE Chocolate Dipped Fruit Cone at Edible
1 Million FREE Dunkin’ Specialty Coffee & Frozen Drinks on August 25th
7 Weeks of FREE School Supplies at Staples – FREE NeeDoh Groovy Glob
FREE Sample of IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Wet Pouch Dog Food
FREE Sample of e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
Free Perfume Samples You Can Get Right Now

Deals:

School Supplies Up to 60% Off at Target
Bath & Body Works 50% Off Select Halloween Items
The Kohl’s Credit Card: Benefits, Rewards, and How to Apply
Fall Decor From $10 at Target
Hot NEW Walmart Grocery Coupons – Save $10 off your order
PowerXL 8qt Air Max Air Fryer ONLY $39.99 (Reg $95)
Score Big Savings with the Latest Dunham’s Coupons & Deals!
Up to 60% Off Women’s Sandals, Flats & More at Macy’s
Sun Squad 10-Quart Hard Sided Cooler ONLY $5 at Target (Reg $10)