food

Mid-Month Coupon Round Up!

Abby H.

I was cruising my favorite coupon sites this morning and I found some great stuff.

The two sites I use the most for printable coupons are:

One of the things I am digging right now is that Fetch Rewards is giving 10,000 points ($10 in points basically) when you buy $30 in Unilever products from Grocery stores. What’s making that deal even better now is that you can use coupons when you buy these products. Here are some Unilever brand coupons:

Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) pint of Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy
Save $1.00 any ONE (1) FINISH® QUANTUM® 22ct+, FINISH® Max-In-1® 28ct+, or FINISH® Deep Clean 38ct+
Save $2.50 on any TWO (2) Dove Deodorant Products (excludes twin/multi packs and trial/travel)
Save $1.50 on any ONE (1) Dove Even Tone or Dove 0% Aluminum Deodorant (excludes twin/multi packs and trial/travel)
Save $1.50 on ONE (1) DM+C Deodorant Stick (Excludes Trial & Travel & TwinPacks)
Save $0.50 on any ONE (1) Degree Men® Original Protection Antiperspirant Deodorant product (excludes twin packs and trial and travel sizes)
Save $0.75 on any ONE (1) Degree Women® Motionsense® or UltraClear Antiperspirant Deodorant, Deodorant Wipes, Dry Spray Antiperspirant or
Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) Axe Stick product (excludes Twin packs and Trial & Travel sizes)
Save $1.50 on any ONE (1) Axe Body Spray product (excludes Twin packs and Trial & Travel sizes)
Save $2.50 on any TWO (2) Axe Body Sprays or Sticks products (excludes Twin packs and Trial & Travel sizes)
Save $1.00 on ONE (1) DM+C Deodorant or Antiperspirant Stick (Excludes Trial & Travel & TwinPacks)
Save $2.50 on any TWO (2) Dove, Dove Men+Care, Axe, Degree® or Degree Men® Dry Spray Antiperspirant products (excludes Trial & Travel

If that’s not your jam, here are a few of the coupons that grabbed my attention:


Save $1.00 on ONE (1) Nestle Pure Life Fruity Water 8-pack

Save $1.00 ONE (1) Montchevre® Goat Cheese Product

Save $2.25 on any FIVE (5) SMART ONES products

And don’t forget to check out my list of Smartphone apps that can save you the big bucks! These apps add new offers and deals daily!

A Practical Guide to Setting A Budget (Part Three)

Abby H.

The first two parts (Part One, Part Two) of this series talked about the essentials of how to budget. This third part is for those of you who are having a difficult time making the ends meet to get your needs met.

I’m talking about when cutting cable and going cash only for groceries isn’t enough. When you need help. When there isn’t much (or anything) to eat. When the power might be shut off. When there isn’t money to put gas in your car to get to work or job interviews.

This is the most important thing to remember: It is ok to ask for help. It is ok to seek out services and take advantage of programs. Do not worry about what others will think- This pandemic and all of the fallout that has happened has affected so many of us. So many hardworking families and individuals need a hand up right now. 

A lot of the services and programs listed below are specifically for San Diego County. If you live outside San Diego County, I recommend that you call 211 anywhere in the US. They can help you find resources- all judgment free!

So when I talk about needs being met, I mean:

  • Shelter (Rent/mortgage assistance/utilities)
  • Food (Healthy food for you/your family and pets)
  • Comfort (Clothing, healthcare, medication)

Shelter:

  • If you have a mortgage, contact your lender for a forbearance. You may have to provide them with proof that you are unable to pay.
  • If you are a renter in San Diego, here is the County Rental Assistance site.
  • If you require assistance with your utilities, SDG&E has many programs and assistance available.
  • For your water/sewer bills, you will need to contact them directly. There are so many water municipalities in San Diego County.

Food: Food insecurity is a cause near and dear to my heart, so I have all kinds of resources to share!

Many food banks give out pet food as well- don’t forget to mention your furry friends when you complete your intake paperwork (which is oftentimes to find out demographic information to obtain additional funding from the government or private grants). Some do not require any paperwork at all.

Comfort: Being housed and fed is important, in addition to this I’ve added the comfort category. This includes clean, well fitting clothes, access to health care, and prescription medicines.

  • There are many resources for no and low cost clothing (besides thrift stores, which have become increasingly higher in cost in the past year). Naomi’s Closet, Closet on 54th, Charity’s Closet at Sonrise Church, Sharia’s Closet are all San Diego resources. I’ve been told that some Salvation Army churches offer free clothing vouchers to be redeemed at their thrift shops. Don’t forget your local Buy Nothing Group too! So many of your local neighbors are cleaning out their clothes and purging while they are stuck at home, you’d be surprised what your neighbors are will to share with you.
  • If you are in need of healthcare, there are several options. Medicaid/Medi-cal may be available for some. If you have had a “life event” (job separation, birth of a child, death of a spouse, marriage, etc.) you can look for health insurance in your state’s Health Insurance Exchange. Here is a link to California’s Exchange. There are frequently lower rates or discounts for those with certain income limits.
  • If you or family members take prescription medicines, look into discount programs like Singlecare (which you can access via the Fetch Rewards App and earn cashback/points), or GoodRX. Some pharmacies have their own discount programs too. Make sure to ask the pharmacy staff. Another option is to ask your doctor for medication samples when you are visiting them. Many doctors have medication samples in their offices, and most doctors are willing to help you when you tell them you need assistance with medication costs.

 

 

 

A Practical Guide to Setting A Budget (Part Two)

Abby H.1 Comment

In our last post, I talked about the basics of starting a budget (you can read it here).

We ended with… What happens if you spend more money than you bring home? Don’t feel bad, It happens more than you would think. Living in a credit-based world, it’s easy to swipe, swipe, swipe your card and have it seem like it’s not real money.

How do you stop spending willy nilly and start saving money?

First of all, I went through our family budget line by line looking for ways to cut down on costs. This will take a little work, but it’s worth the savings. Here are a few ways that you may be able to save.

  • Cell Phones- I called and negotiated a new contract, and they were able to give us a small discount ($15/month).
  • Auto/Home Insurance- Called our insurance carrier (it’s the same for both). We went through both policies, and were able to adjust our annual mileage to lower mileage, and adjust a few things with our homeowner’s insurance to save some money too. (About $50/year)
  • Gas & Electric (power company)-Because of the big kids’ diagnosis, we were able to qualify for a discount. SDG&E (Our utility provider) offers several discounts. You can learn more about our experience and how we saved money here.  We also take part in OhmConnect, and that saves us money and gives us cashback. You can learn more about OhmConnect here. We save about a thousand dollars a year between the programs SDG&E offers and using Ohmconnect.
  • Internet- We ended up changing internet providers to save money. I know that not everyone has this ability, but it’s worth a call to see if you can get a better deal. We don’t have cable or a home phone, so there are no bundling deals that can save our family money. ($5/month)
  • Cable- We don’t have it, but if you are thinking of cutting the cable, it’s not all static and bunny ears like in the old days. Between Apple TV (ours is really old and it works great), Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and over the air TV, we aren’t suffering. (No savings for us, but maybe some for you?)

Secondly, I take cash out for Groceries ($100/week), gas ($60/week), and fun money (funds for the kids and I to do something fun during the week- usually a snack or treat at the zoo, admission to a museum, or renting a Redbox movie. $40/week). When the money’s gone, it’s gone. For our budget/spending- this has been the game-changer. Due to quarantine/lockdown the only fun we could have was ordering take out or expensive trips to the craft supply store/Amazon to keep us entertained. Now that we have parameters for spending money, I am taking a harder look at groceries and meal planning and low-cost to no-cost ways to have fun with the kiddos.

In addition to that, I didn’t set up Apple Pay on my phone. I don’t have a credit card attached to the app store on my phone. I don’t have any credit cards set up on my Amazon Account, or my Target App, or any of the purchasing apps on my phone. If I want to buy something I have to either go to a store or sit down at my computer and enter my credit card/debit card information. Taking that extra step to purchase stuff really helps me think about what I am buying and how much I am spending.

And I’m always looking for ways to make a little extra money. Side Hustles are a real way to make money. You can invest as little or as much time as you want.

You can still have fun and live on a budget. Don’t feel like having takeout? Spend some of your fun money on a couple steaks and have a BBQ at home one week. Rent a movie on Amazon Prime, and add some dollar movie candy to your grocery list (or hit up Dollar Tree). Close the curtains/ blinds and throw some pillows and blankets on the living room floor. We call that “Movie theatre night” and the kids love it.

Living during a global pandemic you have to think outside of the box.

My next (and last) post about setting a practical budget will be ready tomorrow and it’s going to be a little more serious. What to do/where to turn when you need help with the basics: Food, Shelter, and Comfort. And what you should cut out if you are struggling. For those who are struggling right now, this is written with you in my mind and heart.

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!

Right now there is a great deal for new memberships! Purchase a Costco Membership Activation Certificate to join as a new member and receive a  Costco Shop Card.

  • Gold Star Members receive a $10 Costco Shop Card.
  • Gold Star Executive Members receive a $20 Costco Shop Card.

It’s as easy and 1,2,3!

  1. Purchase your Costco Membership Activation Certificate here.
  2. Receive your Costco Membership Activation Certificate by email.
  3. Bring your Costco Membership Activation Certificate to any U.S. or Puerto Rico Costco location to join as a new member.

Here are my top five Costco Bargains:

  1. Rotisserie Chicken
  2. Butter
  3. PBFit
  4. Kodiak Cake Flapjack Mix
  5. Krusteaz Pancake Mix
  6. (Bonus) Their Gas Stations frequently are .20-.30/galloncheaper than the “discount” stations.

11/16/2020 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgI wrote up the meal plan for this week last night and posted it on Instagram, but I was too pooped to sit down last night and write this post.

This weekend was busy (like all weekends):

  • Playmobil adventures
  • Lego Building
  • Barbie shenanigans
  • Drawing
  • Writing Practice
  • Shopping for new clothes because a little girl grew overnight

The past few weeks I’ve been cooking larger batches of recipes, and we’ve been relying a lot on them. This week will be a “refill” week for that. A big batch of meaty red sauce, a few batches of soup made directly to go in the freezer, and I’ll be making some mire poix bags up as well. I’ll be posting on Instagram for sure.

If you have kids between 2-18, check with your local school to see if they are offering free lunches and/or breakfasts. You can also check the USDA Website– but it might be a little out of date.

For those of you that are new to meal planning, I’ve got an easy 101 style post here with super easy tips and steps. After you get that down, here is info about batch or freezer cooking.

I’ve gotten a pretty good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge done (I update it after every shopping trip), so I’m able to plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste. If you are looking for kitchen inventory printable, I like the kitchen inventories here. They are great printables.

I only post our dinner plans for the week, because our other meals are usually the same each day.

Breakfast: Coffee with 1/2 and 1/2  for me, and pancakes or something along those lines for the kids.  I also keep sandwich Ziploc bags of other frozen fruit on hand to make the kids smoothies when they request them (a few times per week). Berries, peaches, and mangos are pretty popular. recently the Big Kid has been on a protein shake kick in the AM.

Lunches will be whatever the kids want for the time being. The big kid has lunch at school, so it’s whatever he chooses from the lunch box in the cupboard, plus some fruit and juice or milk. Since the little girl is in the morning cohort at school, she has lunch at home. Buttered noodles, yogurt, apple slices, and a popsicle are her go-to lunch.

Usually, I do a crockpot meal on Mondays, but now that we are home all the time, we’ve been having an odd combination of fully home-cooked, scratch meals, and frozen entrees and veggies. I have been posting our meal plans on Instagram too- As well as pics of stuff we are doing to keep busy.

  • Sunday:  Leftovers/Fend for yo’ self
  • Monday:  Shakshuka, Salad, and Salad
  • Tuesday: Pasta with Meat Sauce, Salad, Garlic Bread
  • Wednesday: Veggie Nuggets, Fish Sticks, Veggie Fries, and Salad
  • Thursday: Breakfast (Most likely Pancakes, Eggs, and Fruit)
  • Friday:  Pizza Night!
  • Saturday: Leftover Shenanigans

Please stay safe you guys! The sooner we flatten the curve, the sooner life can go back to normal- whatever that means.

Talk Back: What are you cooking for dinner this week?

Earn Even More Fetch Rewards Points with The New Fetch Debit Rewards Card!

Abby H.

 

 

 

 

If you use Fetch Rewards, check your email for this offer. If you are new to Fetch Rewards, click here to learn more about this awesome cash app and how you can earn rewards, such as Amazon gift cards just by doing your regular shopping and scanning in your receipts.

Fetch Pay card features include:

  • Earn Fetch Points for every dollar you spend with your new Fetch Pay card.
  • Use your card anywhere Mastercard® is accepted, and at over 55,000 nationwide, surcharge-free ATMs in the Allpoint Network.
  • Receive up to 10,000 bonus points when you start using your card, plus 100 bonus points on each purchase made in the first 30 days.**

Directly from the email, “To give you the easiest and best card experience, we’ve partnered with One. They provide the expertise and customer support to power the banking side of Fetch Pay. Plus, you’ll have access to all of One’s other awesome banking features.***”

I signed up because I’m willing to a guinea pig for all of you. I transferred $50 into my account, and my debit card will be here in about a week. I plan to use the card a few times and see how the point awarding goes. I’ll report back once the thirty days are over.

I’ve been using Fetch Rewards for about 3 years and I consistently earn $20/month, just by doing our regular shopping. Now that Fetch Rewards accepts virtually all receipts, even tris to the gas station earn rewards!

The best part of Fetch Rewards is that it is not store specific, which is great. If you havent’ signed up yet, Use my code ND2TB when you sign up and you’ll score Bonus Points (amounts vary from 1500-4000, depending on the current promotion they are running).   

Fine Print:

  • *This card is issued by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International.
  • **Up to 30 purchases
  • ***Banking Services provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC.

San Diego, CA Area Residents: FREE Produce and Perishable Groceries- 11/13/2020

Abby H.

Our friends over at Faith Chapel understand that with all that’s going on in the world that some of us still need help finding healthy food during this difficult time. And that’s it not always safe for us to go to the store or hit up a farmers market.

Distribution is happening every Friday in November, beginning at 10:00am.

This is a drive-thru style event, so you don’t have to leave your vehicles. There is no paperwork, no questions asked. Show up, pop your trunk, and fresh food is loaded for you, and you are on your way!

Here is a picture of what was available in previous weeks! Sometimes you get produce, sometimes is eggs, milk, and other dairy products and meat- it changes weekly!

Faith Chapel is located at 9400 Campo Road Spring Valley, CA 91977

11/10/2020 Weekly Meal Plan!

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgI’ve been trying to meal plan on Sundays, but this weekend got away from me. It was raining, so we spent a lot of time playing indoors: Playmobils, Legos, drawing and doing crafts. Not a lot of time to sit down at in front of the computer.

The past few weeks I’ve been cooking larger batches of recipes, so this week we’re pulling out a batch of Salsa chicken from the freezer. I found a batch of veggie red sauce in the freezer too. I’m hoping to put together some soups this week for lunches and stash some in the freezer. I love making soup- It’s easy and frugal. and sooo tasty.

If you have kids between 2-18, check with your local school to see if they are offering free lunches and/or breakfasts. You can also check the USDA Website– but it might be a little out of date.

For those of you that are new to meal planning, I’ve got an easy 101 style post here with super easy tips and steps. After you get that down, here is info about batch or freezer cooking.

I’ve gotten a pretty good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge done (I update it after every shopping trip), so I’m able to plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste. If you are looking for kitchen inventory printable, I like the kitchen inventories here. They are great printables.

I only post our dinner plans for the week, because our other meals are usually the same each day.

Breakfast: Coffee with 1/2 and 1/2  for me, and pancakes or something along those lines for the kids (they love the Kodiak Cakes Mix).  I also keep sandwich Ziploc bags of other frozen fruit on hand to make the kids smoothies when they request them (a few times per week). Berries, peaches, and mangos are pretty popular. recently the Big Kid has been on a protein shake kick in the AM.

Lunches will be whatever the kids want for the time being. The big kid has lunch at school, so it’s whatever he chooses from the lunch box in the cupboard, plus some fruit and juice or milk. Since the little girl is in the morning cohort at school, she has lunch at home. Buttered noodles, yogurt, apple slices, and a popsicle are her go-to lunch.

Usually, I do a crockpot meal on Mondays, but now that we are home all the time, we’ve been having an odd combination of fully home-cooked, scratch meals, and frozen entrees and veggies. I have been posting our meal plans on Instagram too- As well as pics of stuff we are doing to keep busy.

  • Sunday:  Leftovers
  • Monday:  Soup, veggies/fruit, and garlic bread
  • Tuesday: Veggie Nuggets and Fruit (Big kid has OT in the late afternoon, so it’s always a quick dinner on Tuesday)
  • Wednesday:  Salsa Chicken, Rice, and steamed veggies
  • Thursday: Spaghetti with veggie red sauce, salad, and garlic bread
  • Friday:  Pizza Night!
  • Saturday: Leftovers

Please stay safe you guys! The sooner we flatten the curve, the sooner life can go back to normal- whatever that means.

Talk Back: What are you cooking for dinner this week?

2020 Veteran’s Day Freebies

Abby H.

a480c0f99b8b6578a86a997c14a14036.jpgWednesday is Veteran’s Day, and there are so many companies that want to show their appreciation for those who have served. Below are just a few, the complete list of over 100 freebies for Veteran’s Day can be seen here.

In addition to a free meal, There are many museums and amusement parks are offering free admission, including the USS Midway located in San Diego, CA. As a special thank you for your service to our nation, Active Duty Military and Veterans and up to two additional family members will receive free admission to the USS Midway Museum on November 11, 2020. For more information, click here.

National Parks are waiving their admission price on November 11, 2019 to everyone!

Flagship Cruises & Events – Veterans, active duty, retired, and reserve members of the military to enjoy a free ride on the Patriot Jet Boat or the narrated Harbor Tour. Military family members and friends can purchase 50% off tickets with an active-duty military member. This deal is valid for both Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day.

Grace For Vets – Free Car Wash

Great Clips – Free Haircut or Haircut Card

Target – 10% off Military Discount Nov 1-11th

 

11/6/2020 Friday Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.
bright boxes

It’s Friday again! Time to score some freebies, pick up a few deals, and stay inside! It’s supposed to rain here this weekend and I am really excited. We need rain in Southern CA badly, and it’s a good excuse to have a lazy weekend and eat popcorn (and leftover Halloween candy).

Check out these sweet freebies and deals, and as always, if you find an amazing deal or freebie, please share it in the comments below.

Freebies:

Free Thanksgiving Dinner After Cashback
Free Subscription to Whisky Advocate Magazine
Free Save USPS Sticker
Free $5 Amazon Credit
Free Sample of Estee Lauder Beautiful Belle Fragrance
Free Botanics Simply Calm Cleansing Milk
Free Well Rested for the Holidays with MegaFood Party Pack
PrismPop – Free Beauty Products
Free Baby’s Busy Day: Being One is So Much Fun! Book
Free Sample of Creme De La Mer Moisturizing Cream
Free St. Francis Winery & Vineyards Virtual Holiday Soiree
Free Subscription to Cigar Aficionado Magazine
Free Kroger Treasure EmporiYUM Snack Sample Box
Free Subscription to Wine Spectator Magazine
Free Workout & HydroMassage at Planet Fitness Nov. 3-8th
Free JDRF Bag of Hope
Free Sample of Lube Tube Multi-Purpose Lubricant
Free Murad Dark Spot Serum & Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector
Free Crown Royal Military Care Package for Our Troops
Free I Remember: Chicago Veterans of War Book
Free Simply Earth Essential Oil Box Subscription
Giant Eagle – Free Helper Bold Mac & Cheese Cup
Free Boiron Acidil Meltaway Tablets
Free Fable & Mane Haircare Samples
Free Kukubird Stationary Set
Free Subscription to Vanity Fair Magazine
Free Bottle of Bedtime Burn
Free Jar of Barilla Vero Gusto Pasta Sauce
Free Starbucks Coffee for Vets, Military & Spouses on 11/11

Deals:

Free Costco Gift Card for New Members
Electric Induction Cooktop 24-Inch $99.99 Shipped (Reg $190)
Oversized Everyday Clutch ONLY $13.99 Shipped (Reg $25)
Jewelry Storage and Organizing Box ONLY $17.99 (Reg $29)
Clinique 5-Piece Kisses Gift Set ONLY $21.25 ($97 Value)
VTech Myla The Magical Unicorn ONLY $29.99 (Reg. $60)
Luminarc 4-Piece Glassware Sets ONLY $3.99 (Reg $25)
The Learning Journey Match it ONLY $5.81 (Reg $12)
Studio Mercantile Wall Ring Toss Game ONLY $11.99 (Reg $30)
L.O.L. Surprise! Winter Disco Bigger Surprise $39.99 (Reg. $90)
Solimo (Amazon Brand) Disinfectant Wipes 3 Pack $8.99
Room on the Broom Board Book ONLY $1.79 (Reg. $8)
MUK LUKS Women’s Melinda Slippers ONLY $18.99 (Reg. $40)
Black Friday 2020 – What You Need to Know
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex Convertible ONLY $329 (Reg $700)
Expo Dry Erase Fine Tip Markers 8-Count ONLY $4.92 (Reg. $14)
LOL Surprise Stylin’ Studio ONLY $9.99 (Reg. $20)
Lost Kitties Mice Mania Multipack ONLY $9.54 (Reg. $20)
Cuisinart Salad Spinner ONLY $14.50 (Reg. $25)
Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum ONLY $98 (Reg $199)
MUK LUKS Women’s Clog With Fur Lining ONLY $14.99 (Reg. $32)
Green Toys Rescue Boat & Helicopter Set ONLY $11.24 (Reg. $25)
Cooks Tools 6-Pc Melamine Mixing Bowl Set ONLY $20 (Reg $50)