freebie

My monthly Savings to do list…

Abby H.

file000901554050I get asked a lot about how do I manage to stay on top of all of the deals and programs that I take part in?

I calendar it.  I use my Google Calendar to remind me each month.  Here are just a few of the types of reminders I have set up:

 

 

 

 

1st (then once a week after that): Printable coupons refresh. Print new coupon from Coupons.com, SmartSource, RedPlum, Hopster. Check apps and add items that appeal. Here are a list of the apps I use.

1st: L’Oreal Gold Rewards– enter 2 more codes. I do love free hair color!

1st and 15th: Mail out SBKC junk mail envelopes. I process our mail when it all comes in and I put the junk mail in the envelopes as it comes in.

Daily: I spend a little time each day (usually when Lil’ Man is napping) working my points programs. This includes Swagbucks (doing surveys, watching videos) and Mypoints (I save all of my Mypoints emails and do them all at once, one time a day). I also try and do MTurk work too (about 20 minutes, usually while I’m on hold calling someone, or while Hubs and I watch a movie n the evening.

Once a Week: Log onto Recyclebank to see what new point earning opportunities there are to do, check BzzAgent and Smiley360 to see if there are any new campaigns to get in on (and score some sweet freebies).  I also clip out the coupons I need when I get coupon inserts. I stopped getting the paper, so I usually get inserts from friends and family who don’t coupon, or who use different coupons than I do.  I go through the cupboard and meal plan for the coming week.

As I am notified via email: Paid View Point (some of the surveys are time sensitive- those usually pay extra!), PineCone Research (surveys must be completed 3-6 days upon receiving the email).

Last day of the month: Clean out coupon wallet and removed expiring/expired coupons.

As needed/codes become available: Enter Pampers points, Huggies codes. I use the Swagbucks tool bar to do most of my internet searches, so I earn Swagbucks points intermittently with that too. I also order free samples when I see them available online. I’ll be posting about what I do with all the samples coming up.

I try to do as much shopping online with discounts as I can.  That means I check with Mypoints, Swagbucks,  and UPromise to see who is giving the better points/cash back, and I use my Upromise Master Card to make purchases online (which earns me even more cash- up to 5%, when I shop through the UPromise website at selected merchants). I also check Retailmenot for coupon codes before shopping online too.

How do you keep track of all of your programs to save money?

Legoland: Kids go free with purchase of Adult Ticket!

Abby H.

LEGOLAND_California_main_entranceWe’re heading to Legoland for the first time this summer and I am stoked. Ok, not as much as Lil’ Man who is currently spending this rainy afternoon building  animals and a zoo with his Duplos.

If you’ve got kiddos that are Jonesing for a trip to Legoland, but your budget is a bit tight, check out this sweet promotion from McDonald’s. Visit any SoCal area McDonald’s restaurants (L.A. and San Diego) from June 29 to July 31 and you’ll receive a Kids Go Free offer with any purchase!

PirateShores22Kids Go Free with paid adult ticket to LEGOLAND® California Resort and your choice of LEGOLAND Water Park or SEA LIFE® Aquarium. It is a $104 value!

Hubs is excited because of the sweet new Star Wars stuff at Legoland! The 8 feet wide LEGO® Star Wars™ Death Star Model Display has been added to LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland.

In addition to Duplos and Regular Legos, we were gifted with some Friends sets not long ago and Lil’ Man loves building with those as well- There are so many cool pieces in the sets (like animals, perfect for when he wants to build a “delicate” zoo – which is how he refers to regular Legos and the Friends pieces: Delicate Legos), they are great for girls or boys.  Lil Man can hardly wait to visit LEGO® Friends Heartlake City.

Heartlake City has all kinds of great things to do and see: Ride the beautiful new carousel in Mia’s family ranch. Stroll through the LEGO horse stables. Sing along with Andrea at her stage. Or cool off with new friends in the Heartlake Fountain.  The adventures are endless in Heartlake City.  Visit LEGOLAND.com for details.

I can’t wait to see the big smiles when we go on the rides, and of course when Lil’ Man splashes Daddy at the water park!

I’ll be sure to post tons of photos and tips to save money at the park after our trip! And if you have tips that will make our adventure more fun (or frugal!), please leave a comment!

Cow Appreciation Day- Free lunch at Chick-Fil-A tomorrow!

Abby H.

Screen Shot 2015-07-13 at 7.17.53 PM

 

It’s baaack! Once a year, Chick-Fil-A celebrates Cow Appreciation Day. You can celebrate too and score free food when you dress like a cow.

Need some inspiration or more info? Check out their Tumblr Page.

Who wants free hair color?

Abby H.1 Comment

If you are waving your arms around shouting, “Me, Me”, then you have come to the right post.

I color my hair.  I won’t lie.  Looking this awesome isn’t cheap, but it can be when you sign up for L’oreal Gold Rewards.

Screen Shot 2015-07-10 at 6.05.58 PMWhen you enter 5 codes found inside L’Oreal boxes, but you can also find them free online (Check here), you’ll receive a coupon for a free box of L’Oreal hair color.  They also have a free sample that you can try for each Monday.  There are only 500 samples available, I’ve never gotten one.  But getting free hair color is even better.

You can enter 2 codes per month, and Gold Rewards members have a shot at receiving one awesome freebie per month (information available on their website).

Screen Shot 2015-07-10 at 6.06.07 PMI received a coupon for a box of free hair color 2 weeks ago, and I redeemed it for some much needed Light Auburn. Now I’m looking a bit less disheveled. Just a bit. I still have spit up on my shirt…

 

I cropped out the evidence of spit up on my shirt!
I cropped out the evidence of spit up on my shirt!

For those of us who color our hair, share a hair coloring secret.  How often do you re-color?  What’s your favorite brand and color? What’s your biggest hair color disaster?  I was platinum blonde!  OY Vey, thankfully there is no photographic evidence!

And if you are looking for a coupon to get you started on collecting L’Oreal Codes, check this out:

$1.50 off L'Oreal Paris Preference haircolor

All East County YMCA locations are FREE and OPEN to the community every Friday in July!

Abby H.2 Comments

unnamed-1
Great news for my East County peeps!!
All East County YMCA locations are FREE and OPEN to the community every Friday in July!

With activities and programs for all ages, Freebie Fridays at the Y are a perfect opportunity to connect with family and friends this summer. Spend some quality time working out alongside your child, taking a spin class with a neighbor, or grab your bathing suit and beat the heat at one of our beautiful pools! At the Y, the doors are open to everyone because all families count!

lI am super excited to hear this! I’ll def. be taking advantage of this with both Lil’ Man and Lil’ Miss.  I see some open swim time in our future!! We LOVE the interactive rec pool and water slide at the Cameron YMCA in Santee!!

 

A New Month means New Coupons!

Abby H.

file000786402730I saw a reader today at Walgreens (She recognized Lil’ Man) and she asked why I stopped reminding readers that there are new coupons at the beginning of each month.  I told that I shifted my focus away from deals and couponing, but she asked if I could *please* bring back my once a month reminder posts. So Here ya go Liz, just for you!! But, remember, there are no coupons this weekend due to the holiday!

A new month means new printable and electronic coupons!

Check out the following sites:

You can also sign up for Free Printable coupon alerts via email.  You’ll get an email whenever printable coupons meeting your search parameters are available!

One of my favorite website is the Sunday Coupon Review.  It helps me plot out scenarios in advance and I can email friends to ask for coupons in advance.

Free Photo book from Shutterfly!

Abby H.

Screen Shot 2015-06-29 at 7.11.03 PM(**The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.)

 

SQUEE! So I’m a little behind on some of the deals going on right now, but here is one I am super excited to share! Now through tomorrow at midnight, you can score a free 20-pg 8×8 hard cover photo book from Shutterfly when you use Coupon Code SUNNYBOOK at checkout.

I’m ordering one tonight!!

Here is the super boring (but important) fine print: Offer expires June 30, 2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for one free 20-standard finish page 8×8 hard photo cover photo book through shutterfly.com, our mobile-friendly site or Shutterfly apps. Offer cannot be redeemed more than once per account and/or billing address. Taxes, shipping, and handling will apply. Customer may add options to their 8×8 book (additional pages, StorytellingTM styles and elements, photo book accessories, other cover types, etc.) at additional cost. Alternatively, customer may apply the current price of a 20-standard finish page 8×8 hard photo cover photo book (after taking into account any current discounts on shutterfly.com) toward the purchase of a larger photo book. Not valid on 5×7, 7×9, or 8×8 soft cover photo books, TripPix, prepaid plans, other products and prior purchases. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.

Contact Lens Wearers: Score Free Contacts!

Abby H.

http://strk.enlnks.com/aff_ad?campaign_id=116&aff_id=9052&format=iframeI love these deals! Mr. C wears contacts, so I always sign up for these offers.

Get a free trial certificate for a Free† Trial Offer for AIR OPTIX® brand contact lenses with The EyeFile™ System.  This includes the Air Optics Color Studio! Just click on the link above to get started!

Take the coupons found here and here to your local Wal-mart vision center to receive a free 2 oz. RevitaLens OcuTec MPDS starter kit with lens case and a Free Lens Cloth and Cleaner!

Moms Meet: Sharing Natural and Organic Goodies with Friends!

Abby H.6 Comments

Screen Shot 2015-04-28 at 8.17.15 AMI love free stuff. I also love sharing free stuff with friends and family. When I discovered Moms Meet a few years ago I was psyched! It combines everything I love: Free stuff, natural products, and sharing with friends!

Moms Meet offers exciting opportunities for Mom Ambassadors and their groups (moms groups, play groups, church groups) to sample the latest healthy, green products. Past sampling opportunities have included EO all-natural hand sanitizer, Wallaby Organic yogurt, and To Go Brands Trim Energy.

I receive 1-2 sampling opportunities per month. It’s nice to provide free snacks at play dates that accommodate so many allergies, and moms get coupons and samples to take home.

Screen Shot 2015-04-28 at 8.47.44 AMComing up next week, our play group will be sampling Applegate Half-Time meal kits! In addition to sampling the yummy lunch kits, we are going to decorate re-usable thermal lunch bags. Each friend will go home with a coupon for a free Half Time kit and a few other coupons.

If Moms Meet is something that you’d like to try, all you have to do to get started is fill out the form here, and Moms Meet will contact you when they have a campaign.

 

Score $15 in Kid’s Clothes with Schoola!

Abby H.

Screen Shot 2015-04-21 at 3.18.20 PMIf your kid’s are like my guy, clothes never last long. rips, stains, oh yeah, and growing like a weed!

That’s one reason I love shopping at consignment shops, thrift stores, and online second hand stores like Schoola. Right now Schoola is offering $15 free and free shipping when you sign up here.

In addition to offering awesome gently worn kids clothes, Schoola also gives a percentage (40%) of each sale to a school. So you can feel good twice: Once while your saving $$, and again because you are helping support a school in need.

To get started, click here. And I can’t wait to see what you have scored! I got Lil’ Man 3 shirts!