food

Groupon: Costco Membership Deal!

Abby H.

Costco is one of my favorite places to stock up on essentials. If you haven’t been in a while, it’s time to mask up and head over!

Groupon has a great deal on Costco Memberships. There are two options, both are pretty solid deals.

Costco Gold Star Membership + $100 off $200 on Costco.com from $65
or
Costco Executive Membership + $100 off $200 on Costco.com from $130

Costco.com has a lot of great deals and offers that aren’t available in the local warehouses. And don’t forget to check the banner at the top of the page once you get to the Groupon site for any extra coupon codes to save money!

Here are my top five Costco Bargains:

  1. Rotisserie Chicken
  2. Butter
  3. Premier Protein Shakes
  4. Kodiak Cake Flapjack Mix
  5. Krusteaz Pancake Mix
  6. Bananas
  7. (Bonus) Their Gas Stations frequently are .20-.30/gallon cheaper than the “discount” stations.

10/06/25 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgThis weekend was a lot. I helped a couple friends with household stuff, sewed up a couple projects, cleaned my house and tackled the mountain of laundry, and did a little meal prep for lunches.

I’m trying to get back down to my pre-covid weight- I know it’s been 5 years, but I’ve had some health and family stuff come up since then, and I had major surgery last year. Now it’s time to do it.  I’m doing a lot of meal prep for lunches and snacks, and trying to keep dinners easy and light since I probably won’t be eating what the kiddos eat.

To keep my grocery budget down, I shop at Aldi (using Instacart, I wrote about how to do it here), our local Grocery Outlet, and use cashback rebates that offer a lot of 100% back (I write a post about some of my favorite apps here).

Breakfast: The kids tend to eat cereal, a bagel, or an MBS (Mrs. Bear Special) each morning for breakfast. I usually have a proffee and a slice of toast or a mini Cliff bar.

Lunch: M-F I pack myself and the kids’ lunches. I bring 5 lunches to work on Monday and stash them in the fridge. I pack the kids’ lunches each night before bed, except for the cold stuff and ice pack- those I put in when I get up in the morning. This week my lunch is Chicken Divan casserole with lots of broccoli.

Dinner: This week, dinners are lots of salads, fresh fruits, lean meats, and noodles. Mostly for the kids. They love them some starches.

I love me a good old-fashioned casserole, and so does the little one. The big one not so much, but he’ll drink a smoothie any day of the week, so I’m not terribly concerned about him not getting something nutritious in his belly.

  • Sunday:  Pizza for the kids (home-made of course), and I had fruit salad and a couple of hard-boiled eggs.
  • Monday: Cheddar brat pigs in a blanket, and fruit

  • Tuesday: Soup and Salad (and possibly garlic flatbread too)

  • Wednesday: Sweet and Sour Chicken with broccoli and rice

  • Thursday: Chicken Tikka Masala, rice, and veggies (it was so good last week, and I have another jar of sauce in the cupboard)

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday: Leftover Palooza and whatever leftover fruit is hanging around.

Affected by the 2025 Government Shut Down?

Abby H.

I know there are so many families in San Diego that are affected by the government shutdown. I wanted to post a small roundup to try and help those who may need help with groceries, clothes, or help with paying bills.

Food:

  •  Here is my page about San Diego, CA area food banks, food pantries, and produce distributions. You can also call 211, or visit the 211 website. They have tons of great resources, including information on housing, utility assistance, and transportation.
  • SNAP will continue through the end of October without interruption (SOURCE).
  • Per Reuters, WIC may run short on funding (SOURCE).
  • For those of us with pets, the San Diego Humane Society has a community pet pantry that runs at several of its locations. More information, including hours, can be found here.

Utilities:

  • Need help paying your power bills? SDG&E has several options, based on your situation. Visit their website here for more information on programs such as a medical baseline or low-income.
  • If you need help accessing the internet, Internet for All has resources to help here.
  • Contact your local water municipality for payment options. There are too many to list in San Diego County.

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon from the 12th district of California has a lot of information on her website here. This website is updated frequently as more information becomes available.

Housing:

If you are having financial struggles that affect your ability to pay your rent or mortgage, there are resources available.

  • Homeowners: Contact your mortgage carrier and let them know you are affected by the government shutdown. They may offer forbearances or other programs to help keep you in your home.
  • Renters: CPA Advisor has information and some tips (some of which are interesting) about how to handle the shutdown when rent comes due and you are without a paycheck due to the shutdown.
  • If you are in section 8 housing or receive vouchers for housing, the NAHRO has details and information here.
  • And the National Housing Law Project has information as well.

Insurance: If you are having a hard time paying your insurance (auto, renters, homeowners, etc), check with your insurance carriers.

Vehicle Loans: If you are worried about paying your auto loan during the government shutdown, contact your loan servicer. During previous shutdowns, companies such as Toyota Financial Services offered assistance to those who used their services.

USAA members can learn more about zero-interest loans here.

Clothing, household goods:

  • Closet of 54th helps those in need with clothes. They are open a few times each month. You can find them on Facebook. They are located at the Calvary Lutheran Church, 3060 54th Street, San Diego, CA. Contact The Closet at thecloseton54th@gmail.com.
  • Naomi’s Closet is located in Santee, and they provide clothing and toiletries to women in need.
  • Also not strictly clothing-related, but one of my favorite give-back orgs is the Buy Nothing Project. There are chapters all over the US, and we have a few here in San Diego. You would be surprised at how much your neighbors are willing to share.
  • Don’t forget Freecycle.

9/29/2025 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgY’all- Getting old is rough. Living through unprecedented times constantly is tiring. This week’s meal plan is another easy one.

Breakfast: We tend to eat cereal, a bagel, or an MBS (Mrs. Bear Special) each morning for breakfast. I usually have a proffee and a bagel.

Lunch: M-F I pack myself and the kids’ lunches. I bring 5 lunches to work on Monday and stash them in the fridge. I pack the kids’ lunches each night before bed, except for the cold stuff and ice pack- those I put in when I get up in the morning.

Dinner: This week, for dinner, I chose meals that require almost no prep, since I didn’t do a long meal prep session over the weekend. I opted for a 3-hour nap on Saturday afternoon.

I may opt for a casserole on Tuesday; we’ll see how I’m feeling and how hot it is that day.

I love me a good old-fashioned casserole, and so does the little one. The big one not so much, but he’ll drink a smoothie any day of the week, so I’m not terribly concerned about him not getting something nutritious in his belly.

  • Sunday:  Pizza and Best Salad Ever
  • Monday: Elote chicken enchiladas and green salad

  • Tuesday: Smoothies or fruit salad and grilled cheese

  • Wednesday: Sweet and Sour Chicken with broccoli and rice

  • Thursday: Chicken Tikka Masala, rice, and veggies

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday: Leftover Palooza and fruit salad

Freebies and Deals- 9/29/2025 is National Coffee Day!

Abby H.1 Comment

Next Monday, 9/29/2025, is National Coffee Day. In the past, this meant free coffee flowing like water.

This year, there are a few fewer offers, but the available offers are pretty good.

I’ve separated the list into two categories: the first is offers that are available in the San Diego/Southern CA area (where I am), and the second is the rest of the country.

I am unable to confirm these beyond finding them online, so if you go into a store and it’s not an available deal, please let me know.

FYI- Many of these deals require a purchase.

If you are unsure if a local coffee shop or coffee chain in your area is participating, check the app or ask in your local store.

Deals available in San Diego/Southern CA:

  • 7Eleven –  FREE hot coffee with purchase for 7Rewards loyalty members in the 7Now app
  • 85°C Bakery Cafe – FREE coffee in the app
  • Circle K – FREE hot or iced coffee in the app
  • Bruegger’s or Einstein Bros Bagels – FREE coffee with any purchase in the app
  • Burger King – FREE medium iced coffee for Royal Perks members with a $1+ online or in-app purchase
  • IKEA – FREE coffee or tea with IKEA Family
  • Wendy’s – Watch for a Hot, Cold Brew, or Frosty Cream Cold Brew for only 99 cents offer
  • Paris Baguette – FREE medium hot or iced coffee for Rewards members with any purchase from 27-29th

Deals available throughout the US:

  • Kwik Trip – FREE 12 oz Coffee with the app
  • Lamar’s – FREE small coffee
  • GetGo – FREE coffee when you scan your Giant Eagle Advantage Card
  • QuickChek – FREE hot or iced coffee with a purchase for rewards members
  • QuikTrip – FREE small coffee with the app
  • RaceTrac – FREE medium coffee via the app with the promo code: COFFEEDAY25
  • Wawa – FREE coffee for Rewards Members. Offer may vary by location, so check with yours
  • Shipley – FREE Cold Brew Donut or Original Glazed for loyalty members with the purchase of any coffee

Weekly Meal Plan Posts are Back!

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgI tried y’all.

After seven months, it’s time to bring back the weekly meal plan post. And it’s to hold myself accountable. Everyone’s been fed, so that’s not the problem. The problem lies in that unless I have something staring me in the face saying, “Hey, this is what you’re eating tonight!!” I will just ignore that and graze like a raccoon. Everybody’s fed. The kids always have a nutritious dinner, but I will just stand in front of an open cupboard and eat crackers out of a box. Or I will eat a cheese stick and handfuls of greens like it’s dinosaur time.

So my hope is that when I  write out this whiteboard weekly meal plan, I will hold myself to it.

The whiteboard has been repurposed yet again, and it’s ready for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Breakfast: We tend to eat cereal, a bagel, or an MBS (Mrs. Bear Special) each morning for breakfast. I usually have a proffee and a bagel.

Lunch: M-F I pack myself and the kids’ lunches. I bring 5 lunches to work on Monday and stash them in the fridge. I pack the kids lunches each night before bed, except for the cold stuff and ice pack- those I put in when I get up in the morning.

Dinner: This week, for dinner, I chose some easier options to ease back into meal planning.

Now that it is fall and it is officially soup time (even though it’s like 90° outside most of the time) I will be making a big batch of soup once a week, so I will have soup for lunches and for dinner at least one to two nights during the week. This week’s soup is Zuppa Toscana. I also have a casserole planned for this week.

I love me a good old-fashioned casserole, and so does the little one. The big one not so much, but he’ll drink a smoothie any day of the week, so I’m not terribly concerned about him not getting something nutritious in his belly.

  • Sunday:  Soup and fruit salad
  • Monday: Pizza, Pasta, and Salad

  • Tuesday: Chicken, Rice, & Broccoli Casserole with Cheese Toast

  • Wednesday:  Sandwiches or Smoothies

  • Thursday: Quesadillas, Beans & Rice

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday: Leftover Palooza and fruit salad

September 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 Free/100% Cashback offers available now:

  • Dairy-Free Cheese by Daiya Foods
  • Gluten-Free Snack Foods by Feel Good Foods
  • Mental Performance Shots by Magic Mind
  • High Protein Pasta Case by BRAMI
  • Soft Baked Fibre Snacks by Good to Go
  • Shots: Energy/Focus/Relax by RYDE
  • Premium Cold Brew Coffee by Cameron’s Coffee
  • Gorgie Sparkling Energy Drinks
  • Wild Tuna in Olive Oil by Rio Mare
  • Gluten-Free Cookies by Schär
  • Crumbled Tajín Feta Cheese by Athenos
  • Meatless Breakfast Patties by Nature’s Fynd

4000 Points just for sharing Fetch Rewards!

Abby H.

It’s back! Fetch Rewards is hooking us up with points out the wazoo! Earn an extra 4,000 points when you invite a friend to Fetch and they snap a receipt. Head to the app and share your referral code now through 09/03/2025.

I cash out my Fetch Rewards points for gift cards that help me stretch my budget- grocery stores, Amazon, even Bath and Body Works!  I’ve cashed out about $40 in rewards in 2025. I’ve been doing a lot more shopping at Aldi, so I don’t usually score the extra points for buying name brands, but every little bit helps.

Signing up is quick and easy if you aren’t already using Fetch Rewards! You learn more when you check out my post here. Find the Fetch Rewards app in your app store, and when you download it and scan any receipt, use my code ND2TB when you sign up, and you’ll score 2,000 bonus points. I scan all of my receipts (grocery, mass merchandiser, gas receipts, restaurants, you name it) and take advantage of extra point offers- the points really rack up!

Fine Print:

In order for you to qualify for the increased referral bonus, your friends must enter your referral code and complete a valid receipt now through 11:59 PM CDT on 9/3/2025. After 11:59 PM CDT on 9/3/2025 the referral bonus will expire.

Your custom referral code can be found in the app under My Account.

 

Dollar Tree Via UberEats!

Abby H.

Have you heard that you can order Dollar Tree via UberEats? I checked it out and it’s true. Same in-store prices, just pay the UberEats fee and you can shop Dollar Tree from your phone.

Order essentials from Dollar Tree with Uber Eats and get same-day delivery, that’s pretty sweet! And I found a coupon code in my email to share! Use code DOLLAR10 for $10 off orders over $30. Valid until 9/30/2025. Restrictions apply.

And if you aren’t sure what’s a good buy at Dollar Tree, check out my Top 10 Grocery Items from Dollar Tree here. 

Don’t Forget the Fine Print:
Expires 9/30/2025. $10 off Dollar Tree orders of $30+ on Uber Eats. Taxes and fees still apply. Order min before taxes and fees. Must apply promo code in app before completing order. Cannot be combined. Valid only in US where Uber Eats is available. Exclusions may apply. See app for details.

Prices and selection may vary by store and online. Quantities are limited to stock on hand. We reserve the right to limit quantities.

Stocking up on Beverages for less with Cash Back Apps!

Abby H.
All of these drinks were free after rebates.

Last night I did a little rebate shopping. I went to Target and Sprouts, and it took less than 20 minutes between the two stores.

I’ve a beverage girl. I need at least 2 beverages at all times. One is water, but the second one needs to be functional. So, a protein coffee, a vitamin, or an electrolyte drink.

Recently, my favorite apps,  WeStock,  Social Nature, and Aisle all have had great rebates and deals on beverages and snacks.

The only one of these drinks I’ve had before was the Trip Calming beverage, and it was really good. I’m not a big adaptogen/mushroom person, but it was not at all earthy/mushroomy.

These drinks, the Heywell and Stur, were buy one, get one free. And since I need some back-to-school beverages, I picked them up. The Sturs will go into my lunch box, and the Heywells will get stashed in the fridge at work for mornings when I need a little extra pick-me-up.

If you haven’t checked out WeStock,  Social Nature, and Aisle yet, now is a great time. There are tons of offers available, and reimbursement is super easy and can be done from your phone in a matter of minutes.

These apps allow me to treat myself to something new and fun without breaking the bank. I pay with my Venmo debit card, and all of the apps pay via Venmo, so I’m able to roll my rebate money forward.