It’s back- 10 years and going strong!
This event is SUPER popular, and supplies run out quickly.
A backpack and school supply giveaway courtesy of SMOAC on August 9, 2025, at Rio Seco School in Santee, starting at 9AM. It is a drive-thru event. People start lining up as early as 7:30AM, and the line moves FAST!
I’m working on collecting more info on Back to School supply giveaways, and I’ll have another post coming up soon!
JCPenney hosts a fun craft event in-store for kids on the second Saturday of each month. They are easy for kids and a 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. More details, including participating JCP locations, can be found here.
August:
8/9/25 11AM-12PM Decorate a back-to-school pencil pouch. The craft includes a pencil pouch with a zipper pull, markers, and a sticker sheet.
September:
9/13/25 11AM-12PM Make a wooden tic-tac-toe board. The Craft includes a wooden board and pieces with markers.
WHEN: Tuesday, August 5 at 4pm-8pm
This week has been a whirlwind of adventures. Today, we are doing some thrift store adventures for porcelain dolls and back-to-school shopping.
Here are a few ways that we will be having fun and being frugal:
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.
Let’s get onto the Freebies!!
Freebies:
FREE $30 Purchase at DICK’S After Cash Back
100,000+ FREE Labubu Toy Giveaway
FREE Everyone You Love, with Everything You Have Book
FREE Fries Every Week at Burger King
FREE Space Odyssey Workshop at Home Depot
FREE Educational Comic Books, Activity Books, Posters & More
FREE 2pk Fancy Feast Gems
FREE Yankee Candle on August 16th
2 FREE Movie Tickets to She Rides Shotgun
FREE Kinship LittleKin Puppy or Kitten Sample Pack – $200 Value
FREE Earth Animal No Hide Dog Chew
FREE Dermoplast 3-in-1 Medicated First Aid Cloths Sample
FREE Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Fragrance Sample
FREE Ice Cream or Frozen Novelty Treats Every Friday in July
$50 Worth of FREE Books
FREE Shelfy – Fall into Freshness Party Pack
Unlock Your Wellness Journey with Free Nutrition Samples: Try Before You Buy
FREE LEGO 3-in-1 Parrot Set at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE 8×10 Photo Print at Walgreens
FREE $25 Off $25 on Your Next Meal
FREE Kids’ Soccer Ball at Lowe’s on August 2nd
FREE Hartz Groomer’s Best Professionals Dog Shampoo
FREE Pet Station Craft for Kids at Lowe’s
Free Perfume Samples You Can Get Right Now
FREE Lysol Minilabs Science Kits
FREE Cookie This Week at Chick-fil-A
Deals:
Gap Factory 60% Off Clearance + Extra 20% Off Coupon Stack & Free Shipping
Walgreens Photo Coupons & Promo Codes: 50% Off Everything Photo, 50% Off Metal Panels & More
Sandals For The Family Buy 1 Get 2 Free at JCPenney
Touchland Hand Sanitizers Dupes ONLY $3 at Walmart
Mary Ruth Products up to 50% Off on Amazon!
Back To School Sale at Macy’s Up to 60% Off
Shop Lowe’s Scratch and Dent Appliances & Save Up to 50%
Reversible 8-Pc Comforter Sets ONLY $29.93 at Macy’s (Reg $100)
JCPenney Home Sale – Up to 50% Off + Extra 30% Off w/ Coupon
Cat and Jack School Uniforms From $6 at Target
Disney Store: 30% Off Back to School Essentials – Prices start at $4.98
Women’s Pajamas From $9.99 at Macy’s
Laundry Coupons: Shop the Laundry Detergent Aisle with These Coupons and Deals
Save Money with Valvoline Coupons: Up to $25 Off
Tag Freehold 5-Piece Softside Luggage Set ONLY $67.99 (Reg $240)
Top 20 Fast Food Deals, Coupons and Promotions Happening NOW
Kids Polo Shirts $5 & Up at The Children’s Place
Get Red Seal Coupons and Save on Smokeless Tobacco
Join and Get 2 Months of FREE Drinks with This Panera Unlimited Sip Club Promo
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 a tasty sampling opportunity to apply for!
They have 300 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected will receive a party pack for free with this updated version of Telestrations, along with two bonus games to share with friends and family.
When you join the Rubio’s Rewards Program (download the app found wherever you get apps), you can score a FREE KIDS MEAL every Thursday in July.
Sounds like a pretty decent deal to me, especially if you and your munchkin like Rubio’s!
For Rewards Members Only. Offer valid for one (1) free kids’ meal with purchase of any entrée. Entrées include two taco plates, burritos, salads, bowls, Shrimp Trio, and The Coastal Trio®. Excludes tasting plates and kids’ meals. Not available for third-party delivery orders. Not valid with any other offer or discount. One offer permitted per transaction. Upcharges for extras and premium items may apply. No substitutions. No cash value. Valid at participating restaurants only. Only valid on the following days: 7/3, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, and 7/31/2025
July 28 is National Waterpark Day, and if your kids are anything like mine, they love swimming and splashing.
Here are some of the local splash pads that my kids love:
Hilton Head Park (wristband costs $4)
Santee Lakes (you can walk in for free, but there is a cost for the wristband $4)
Santee YMCA– This is only a good deal if you are a YMCA member or live in Santee. On certain days, Santee Residents can enjoy the pool and splashpad for free.
Civita Park– small, but free and the playground at the top of the hill is super fun.
The city of San Diego Parks and Recreation department has info about all of the city-run splash pads and pools here.
Groupon has offers for the Southern California area here.
Legoland has a fun waterpark, and the kids and I recently went and had a blast. Here is our review.
The Plunge at Belmont Park is a fun indoor pool and water playground.
Sesame Place– I was not a fan of this place when we went right after they opened. The water isn’t heated, so on overcast summer days, it can be pretty chilly. Sometimes they have Groupons available.
My smallest kiddos’ bestie is coming to stay with us for the next 10 days, and we are so stoked. I’ve got tons of fun, frugal adventures planned. I can’t wait to go get her from the airport this morning, but first- Freebies!
Here are a few ways that we will be having fun and being frugal:
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.
Let’s get onto the Freebies!!
Freebies:
FREE RYZE Coffee, Chai, Hot Cocoa & More
2 FREE 5×7 Photo Prints at Walgreens
Get Free Catalogs by Mail: No Credit Card Needed
FREE Capri Sun Single Serve Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Sample of Nature’s Recipe Wet Dog Food
FREE Hallmark Card Every Month
FREE Internet for 5 Years and a FREE Hotspot for Students
Free 20 oz. Bottle of Starry Soda
FREE Svinka Art Postcard
FREE Royal Canin Chewable Supplements for Puppies Chatterbox Kit
FREE 4-Pack of Gutzy Fruit & Veggie Pouches After Walmart Cash
FREE Movie Ticket to The Home
FREE L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil
FREE Wireless Zone Backpack & School Supplies Giveaway (Closest Location in SoCal is Ontario)
FREE Food at SONIC Every Friday Through August 29th
FREE Promensil Peri-Menopause Supplements
FREE Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Acne Patch
Possible FREE Bag of Lay’s Potato Chips
Deals:
Sandals & Flip Flops From $2.99 at JCPenney
P&G Coupons: Get Digital & Printable Coupons From Your Favorite P&G Brands
Visit any See’s Candy location for National Lollipop Day on July 20, and you’ll receive a free lollipop — no purchase necessary.
Flavor availability may vary by location, but here are the flavors you may have to choose from:
Chocolate
Vanilla
Butterscotch
Sugar Free Butterscotch
Café Latté
Cinnamon
National Ice Cream Day is next week!! I recommend that you download any apps required for these deals at least 1 day prior to ensure that you have the app and are all signed up for any clubs or offers. Not all of these offers are available in my specific area, but I included them because I have readers outside of San Diego.
Dairy Queen: Score a free Dilly® Bar on any order of $1 or more.
Exclusively through the DQ® app and website, DQ® rewards members can enjoy the delicious sweet treat (one per fan) from July 14 to 20. Order digitally, earn rewards, and unlock more all summer!
Dipping’ Dots: Dippin’ Dots is giving away FREE mini cups of Dippin’ Dots (any flavor!) during a two-hour window at their franchise locations. Plus, the first 100 people in line will score a super cool, collectible take-home cup, in addition to the free mini cup of Dippin’ Dots. Find your closest location here.
Marble Slab Creamery: Download their app because on July 20, loyalty members will receive a free small Ice Cream offer, valid for seven days. Find your closest location here:
Burger King: Check your app for this offer- free soft serve with a purchase of $1 or more at Burger King on National Ice Cream Day, Sunday, July 20.
Baskin-Robbins: Check your Baskin-Robbins app for an offer; offers may vary by app, including a discount on ice cream cakes or shakes.
And while there are no deals right now, check the following apps in the days before the 20th for possible freebies and deals: McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, Del Taco, Wendy’s, and Yogurtland.
And if you want to make your own ice cream at home, you can find my recipe here. It’s very easy, and you can make it your own with a few tweaks!
Hewes Family Fun 