freebie

4/13/2025 All-Inclusive Day of Play: Starry Night Cinema & Resource Fair!

Abby H.

This event is back and will be an amazing time! The  2nd Annual All-Inclusive Day of Play: Starry Cinema & Resource Fair on Sunday, April 13 from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Salvation Army Kroc Center Corner Zone – 6845 University Ave., San Diego, 92115.

  • Activity Stations
  • Movie Screening Area
  • Giveaways & Crafts
  •  Family Resources
  • Networking
  • Shopping,
  • Games & more!

And as the sun sets, an outdoor screening of a family movie (title to be determined) will be shown on a large outdoor screen! Bring your chairs and blankets!

For tickets and to learn more, visit their website. 

Free and Discounted Museum Tickets with Museums for All!

Abby H.

Have you heard of Museums for All? This is an incredible program that offers those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits). You can gain free or reduced admission to more than 1,400 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card and a photo ID.

This includes those who received the SunBucks EBT card over the summer. There are museums in every state that participate.

Some of our favorite museums include:

  1. Living Coast Discovery Center
    (Chula Vista, California)
  2. San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
    (Escondido, California)
  3. San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
    (San Diego, California)
  4. The New Children’s Museum
    (San Diego, California)
  5. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
    (La Jolla, California)

The best part is that there are no special times or days to visit.

Fun, Free, & Frugal Events for Kids & Families in San Diego, CA

Abby H.

With better weather and Spring Break on the horizon for most of us, it’s time to get out of the house and find some fun, free stuff to do!

San Diego is full of fun outdoor adventures. If you are looking for places to take your kids for some hikes or walks, Hidden San Diego has a list of 40 kid-friendly hikes here. Hidden San Diego also has some amazing information about San Diego’s history, locations to explore, and even some creepy lore surrounding America’s Finest City.

If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know about the JCPenney Kids Zone free crafts that occur every second Saturday of the month in selected JCPenney stores.

You probably also know about the Home Depot Kids Workshop, which takes place every second Saturday of the month. However, some stores do one every single week; you just need to check your local Home Depot store to find out.

Did you also know that Lowe’s Hardware store does a similar activity on the third Saturday of each month? 

Lakeshore, the educational store, holds free kids events, including storytime with Pete the cat and sensory events.

If you are in the eastern part of San Diego County, the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College offers free admission on Fridays from 9am-4pm.

While not always free, Michaels offers in-store classes for both Kids and adults. Sometimes, the classes are free, and sometimes there is a class fee (usually $15 or less). Classes run for about an hour, and you need to take something really cool home with you.

The San Diego Craft Collective at Liberty Station has a free class on the first Friday of each month from 5 to 6 PM.

Don’t forget their resident free days at Balboa Park every single Tuesday.

If you’re looking for more fun, free events, check your local shopping center or mall. Parkway Plaza in El Cajon has a free kids event every month. It usually involves a craft and some sort of fun games where you can win prizes. 

Groupon always has discounted admissions to local attractions like Legoland, Birch Aquarium, and indoor trampoline/play places.

 When I find more, I will definitely post more. 

Where do I find good, quality freebies?

Abby H.

I’m always on the lookout for good, quality freebies. What I mean by that is items that have value. Not just monetarily, but items that I will use. That can be anything from free food to a brand new washing machine and dryer.

A lot of of the freebie programs I have used in the past are no longer around (Example Tryit berged with Influenster), so those are not included in my list; however, here are some that I use today and recommend to others.

This list does not include rebate apps or anything where there is any sort of out-of-pocket where you are reimbursed later.

JCPenney All-Star advisors: While this program is around, I don’t think they are currently accepting any new members. I couldn’t find any info online about how to sign up or join their waiting list.

Home Tester Club is pretty cool. They are one of my new favorites. You sign up to review items, and they send you something. A lot of the time, they don’t notify you prior to shipping. you’ll get a package in the mail, and a few days later, you’ll get an email notifying you that you were selected and a link to the survey to complete once you have sampled the product. I’ve received all sorts of great skincare, cosmetics, food, and clothing from Home Tester Club.

Tryazon: The kids and I have been participating in Tryazon events for 5-ish years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, organizational products, and food.

Influenster: To get all of the products and free stuff offered by Influenster, you have to download the app.  When they send an offer for a free product, you have to jump on it right away. Their offers go fast! I’ve gotten clothing, cosmetics, perfume, and household appliances through Influenster.

Ripple Street: this company rebranded recently and was previously known as House Party. You can learn about them here. 

Smiley360  is a Word of Mouth (WOM) marketing website. Sign up for campaigns and you will receive samples to use, and coupons to share with friends. Report your sharing and earn points! I’ve received Laundry detergent (full-sized bottles), vitamins, supplements, tampons, and razors in the past.

If you are looking for apps or companies that offer 100% rebates on food, check my post here.

Talk back: What is your favorite website for getting free stuff?

3/14/25 Weekly Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

There is a whole smattering of freebies and deals this week! And I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.

My comprehensive list can be found here if you are looking for free food resources.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.

Let’s get onto the Freebies!!

FREEBIES:

FREE Sample of KNEMO Microtip Spot Patch for Blemishes
FREE Sample of Pataday Once Daily Relief Eye Allergy Itch Relief
FREE Sample of Nutree Brazilian Bondox or Afro Hair Mask
FREE Sample of e.l.f. Liquid Poreless Putty Primer
Get Free Condom Samples Online and In-Person From Your Favorite Brands
FREE Sorion Cream or Soraresal Cream Sample
FREE Sample of Jiva Botanicals Shilajit Gummies
FREE Creed Eladaria Fragrance Sample
FREE Donna Karan Cashmere & Vanilla Essence Fragrance Sample
T-Mobile Tuesdays – 8×8 Photo Book at Shutterfly, Digital Costco Shop Card, $3 Panera Unlimited Sip Club & More
FREE Terre d’Hermès Eau de Parfum Intense Fragrance Sample
FREE Sample of Comfort Zone Skin Regimen LX Tripeptide Gel Cream
FREE Kids Meal with the Panda Express Read with Me Program
Free Food at Burger King for Perks Week: Today Free French Toast Sticks
FREE Donut at Krispy Kreme When You Wear Green on March 15th – 17th
FREE Mini Bucket, Puppy Plushie & Shoe Charms at Lowe’s – Reserve Yours Now
FREE Gutzy Organic Prebiotic Fruit Pouch

Deals:

Home Expressions Reversible Comforters ONLY $20.99 (Reg $50)
JCPenney Home Sale – Up to 50% Off + Extra 30% Off w/ Coupon
National Pi Day Deals You Can Score on March 14th – Today
One Day Sale – Up to 60% Off Sitewide at Macy’s

Kids Bowl Free- It’s Back for Summer 2025!

Abby H.

file0001910298986.jpgLooking for something fun, air-conditioned, and cheap to do this summer with the kids?

Kids Bowl Free has been around for years, and it’s a great way to get kids active, even when it’s hot outside. I’m so excited it’s back again.

Kids 2-12 can bowl 2 games for free each day the program is running at participating bowling centers all across the US and Canada. All you pay for is shoe rental- or bring your own if you have them!kidsbowlfree_logo-new-2019.jpg

This program is available all over the US and Canada. The complete list can be found here. Sign up is quick and easy. To get started, register here. If you live in San Diego, the only bowling alley participating is Aztec Lanes.

I encourage everyone to take advantage of this deal! It’s one of our favorite summer activities.

3/8/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

There is a whole smattering of freebies and deals this week! And I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.

My comprehensive list can be found here if you are looking for free food resources.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.

Let’s get onto the Freebies!!

FREEBIES:

FREE Products with Fur Buddies – New Mission
Free Amazon Prime for Students for 6 Months
FREE Full-Size BONKERS Purrpops Cat Treats
FREE Glade PlugIns Air Freshener Warmer After Walmart Cash
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE Large Slurpee at 7-Eleven, FREE Chicken Sandwich at Wendy’s, 30% off Crocs & More
FREE Movie Ticket to Brothers After War
FREE National Park Pass for 4th Graders
FREE Sample of La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum
FREE Leprechaun Lemonade at Raising Cane’s
FREE Pair of Avia Running Sneakers at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE Febreze Fabric Refresher After Walmart Cash
FREE Bulgari Cologne Au The Vert Fragrance Sample
FREE Sample of TEMPTATIONS Cat Treats
Free Creed Millesime Imperial Fragrance Sample
FREE Hartz Delectables Squeeze Up Treats or Oinkies Tender Dog Treats
FREE e.l.f. Blemish Breakthrough Stick It to Zits Pimple Patches
Prime Members Score GrubHub+ FREE ($120 Value a Year)
FREE Duracell Batteries at Office Depot & Office Max
FREE 2025 Defend the Flock Chicken Calendar
FREE $10 for Signing up for JCPenney Rewards
FREE Sample of Grown Alchemist Restorative Hand Cream
FREE Velveeta Queso Blanco Dip Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Cone Day at Dairy Queen on March 20th
FREE NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit or NasaFlo Neti Pot
FREE Medium Fries at McDonalds – Every Friday
FREE Copy of the Jiffy Mix Recipe Booklet

 

DEALS:

Women’s Clothing Clearance at JCPenney – Some as Low as $2.99!
Kohl’s Cash Ultimate Giveaway – Starts TODAY March 7th
Amazon No-Rush Credits: How to Use Amazon Digital Rewards Effectively
Free Sandwich at Arby’s with Any Purchase
Buy 3, Get 3 FREE Bath & Body Works Body, Skin, & Hair Care
Easter Basket Filler Items from $0.60 – Cheaper Than Dollar Tree

2025 Birthday Freebies

Abby H.2 Comments

My birthday was last month, and I did score some pretty good freebies. Not as many as years past, but I’ve been really busy with work and kids.

If you are on the hunt for birthday freebies, one suggestion is to search “Birthday Freebies” + your state. One of my favorite places to look is MySavings. Their Freebies on Your Birthday list is pretty long. There are a lot of great options for those of you outside of California.

For those in CA, OR, FL, NY, SC, AZ, WA, and NV,  check out eBirthdayClub. There are TONS of great freebies on this site.

Non-food Birthday Goodies:

  • Members of the Cost Plus World Market Explorers program get a surprise birthday gift, among other perks; you will also get a 10% off coupon upon enrollment.
  • Torrid– Members of the DivaStyle Club will receive $10 off their next purchase of $10+
  • Dave & Buster’s: $10 in free gameplay for those in the D&B Rewards Club.
  • Free goodies at Sephora (It changes every year)
  • DSW Shoe Warehouse – $5 off birthday coupon
  • Hot Topic-  Hot Topic Rewards members receive a $5 coupon for your birthday every year.

Free Food Birthday Goodies:

  • Red Robin:  FREE burger on your birthday and all the latest Red Robin news.
  • Starbucks – Download their app and get a free birthday handcrafted beverage of your choice on your birthday only.
  • Denny’s: Free Grand Slam for your Birthday. They also email out other freebies and coupons.
  • Dunkin Donuts Birthday Club will kick down with a free coffee.
  • Bj’s Brewhouse– Rewards members receive a free Pizookie for their birthday.
  • Jersey Mike’s: Free Sub for your Birthday! (No matter what you read online, there is no Subway or Submarina birthday Freebies- Those deals are DEAD)
  • Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt: When you sign up for a Smile-age Account, you’ll score a free Fro Yo for your B-day!  (I love Menchie’s!)
  • Nothing Bundt Cakes: Join their email list and receive a FREE Bundlet on your Birthday. (look for the link at the bottom of their website)
  • Sbarro Rewards Club: Free piece of pizza for your birthday when you purchase a drink. You’ll also get a coupon for a free slice when you sign up.
  • Bruegger’s Bagels gives you three free bagels for your birthday. SCORE! Our family eats tons of bagels, so this is a sweet deal.
  • Mary’s Donuts– East County peeps know what I’m talking about! Free drink and TWO Donuts! 
  • Habit Burger Grill’s CharClub Score a free Charburger on your birthday.
  • Panera– Sign up for MyPanera and get a free pastry or sweet on your birthday.
  • Buffalo Wild Wings- Sign up for Blazin’ Rewards to get six free birthday wings during your birth month
  • Cinnabon- Download their app and sign up for Cinnabon Rewards to get a free iced coffee on your birthday and a free order of BonBites for signing up.
  • Edible Arrangements- Join Edible Rewards to receive a birthday reward (it varies).

And as always-

There are tons of other birthday freebie lists, but they may include offers that are not available here or may include stuff that I don’t consider worth it (like a free Rice Krispy treat when you buy an entree that’s $10+, looking at you Noodles & Co.  That’s a hard pass from me, or the Aveda “freebie”- pay $10 and receive a product valued at $23+… No thanks.)

Another deal that everyone and their mama go nuts about is Benihana Japanese Restaurant – a complimentary meal up to $30 when you purchase an Adult meal at Regular Price (You must sign up for The Chef’s Table club). This used to be a FREE meal, no strings attached, but it has changed to basically a BOGO. That’s a no-go for me, but it may still get you excited.

I have not included Ulta in my list because you have to make a purchase the year previous (and it needs to be a certain amount- I’ve been told different amounts by various Ulta Employees, anywhere from $5-$50), so for me, that’s not a freebie. If I have to buy something to receive something, that’s a BOGO deal.

Remember to read the fine print for these offers. Most of them are for adults, ages 18+ (19 in some states). Some offers require the coupon/offer to be printed out, and for some, you can just show your phone.

 

Free Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table at Walmart After Cash Back (TopCashback)

Abby H.

This is an amazing deal for those who are new to TopCashback.

Get a FREE Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table with this Top Cashback offer! Sign up and purchase the Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table to get $30.94 of your purchase price back with this cash-back offer – making it free.

If you are not a TopCashback member, you are in luck. TopCashback is a rebate site that I’ve been using for at least 10 years.

When you shop online, search for the retailer, click the link, and shop. You’ll receive cashback on your purchase. Amounts/percentages vary by retailer.   TopCashBack is free to join and can be used with over 4,000 stores!

It’ll take about 15 days or so for your TopCashBack account to be credited. Once your account has been credited, you can cash out your rebate.

I do most of my shopping online through TopCashBack and earn about $200/year. I cash out for PayPal or Target Giftcards.

3/1/25 Weekend Freebies

Abby H.

It’s March already! February seemed to fly by, except last week, which I think was longer than January.

My comprehensive list can be found here if you are looking for free food resources.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.

Let’s get onto the Freebies!!

FREEBIES:

Free 7-Day Sample of Ubiquinol CoQ10 Health Softgels
Free Arey’s Proactive Haircare Solution Products
Free 6-Piece Chicken Nuggets Every Wednesday at Wendy’s
Free Sample of Weleda Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil
Free Full-Size Vykee Nutrition Supplements
Free $35 Purchase at Old Navy After Cash Back
Free Fareway Buttermints Easter Party Pack
Free Hartz Chompathon Dog Chew Toy
Possible Free 4-Pack of Chocorooms + Free Shipping
Free NASCAR Air Freshener
Free Cousin Willie’s Hot Butter Microwave Popcorn at Kroger
Free 12 z. Heineken 0.0 Beer at 7-Eleven
Free Medium Fries at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Megaport T-Shirt
Top Freebies and Rewards for Good Report Cards
Free Baby Samples & Full Sized Products from Amazon
Free Ocean Spray Immunity Chatterbuy Kit
Free 15-Day Riversol Skincare Kit + Free Shipping
Free Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table at Walmart After Cash Back
Free Museum Admission for Bank of America/Merril Lynch Cardholders – This Weekend
Free Slurpee at 7-Eleven, Stripes & Speedway – Every Friday in February
Free Kinship LittleKin Puppy or Kitten Sample Pack – $200 Value
Free Neutrogena Collagen Bank Moisturizer
How to Score Free Feminine Hygiene Products and Save on Essentials
Free Movie Ticket to In the Lost Lands
Free DiGiorno and Hidden Valley Ranch Swag
Get Your Free Teeth Whitening Samples: A Brighter Smile Awaits
Here Are 6 Ways To Get Free Baby Formula Samples
Sign up for a Free Healthy Snack Box
Free $1 Million Toasted Sandwich Giveaway at Jimmy John’s
Free Blue Buffalo NEW True Chews Beef Meatballs Chatterbox Kit
Free OLAY Cleansing Melts

Deals:

Cascade Dishwasher Rinse Aid ONLY $1.74 with Walmart Cash Rebate
Top Tips for Shopping Walmart Hidden Clearance Sale in 2025
Pickleball Set ONLY $11.99 (Reg $32) at Amazon
Wooden Puzzle Table ONLY $37.79 (Reg $70) at Amazon