frugal life

Earn Cashback Shopping at Walmart with OnePay!

Abby H.

Have you heard of OnePay?

I learned about OnePay recently at Walmart, of all places!

If you’ve shopped in a Walmart store recently, you know that they don’t accept Apple Pay or Google Wallet.  However, they do take OnePay. OnePay wallet is a digital wallet that offers 3% cash back rewards at Walmart (up to $150 spent with your debit card per month, with eligible deposits. Cashback earned as points).  That cashback can be transferred to your linked cards.

OnePay is great if you don’t have really great credit. They offer a credit builder that allows you to build your credit, and there are no fees. Through the OnePay app,  set aside a dollar a month for a year. Check your progress in the app, build your credit history, and you get your money back at the end of the year!

OnePay is a financial technology company; it’s not a bank. Bank services are provided by Coastal Community Bank or Lead Bank, both members FDIC. And right now, if you’ve never opened a OnePay account, you can click the link here and open an account, and you’ll earn $50 within the first 45 days. All you have to do is click the link here, open an account, and unlock cash plus in the first 45 days. This offer is good until 7/31/2025. And the fine print can be found here.

When I signed up for OnePay I got $50 cash back too. And it is currently transferring its way into my bank account. And I also get text messages from them when there are extra bonus point deals at Walmart. And I’m not shopping at Walmart often, but if I can earn points or cashback if I need to shop there, it’s definitely a bonus.

This post contains affiliate links,  For more information about the use of affiliate links and partnerships, visit my disclosure page. 

 

Summer Means Renaissance Events- Costuming on the Cheap!

Abby H.

Summer means lots of excuses to dress up in funny clothes: Renaissance faires and festivals, Viking events, Medieval faires, Scottish Highland games, SCA events, and fantasy events! Costumes can be expensive, and with the loss of Joann Fabrics, there aren’t a lot of places to buy fabrics and patterns. Sometimes, thrifting costumes (sometimes called garb in these circles) or buying online can be more time or cost-effective than making it yourself.

Looking for basic, medieval-looking clothing pieces can help you start a wardrobe. When looking for garb options, look for natural fibers like linen, wool, cotton, silk, ramie, or rayon. These types of fabric are found in nature and are breathable. They are also easier to care for. Here are some of the items to keep your eyes open for at thrift stores.

One look that can be thrifted

Women:

  • Plain colored peasant blouses
  • Long, flowing skirts
  • Tunic-style tops
  • linen or cotton pants with drawstring waists
  • Plain/ solid colored long dresses
  • Scarves
  • Belts
  • Vests
  • Cloaks/capes
  • Pouches/drawstring purses
  • Knee socks
  • Boots
  • Mary janes
  • Clogs
  • Sandals
  • Floppy felt hats
  • Jewelry

Men:

  • Tunic-style tops
  • linen or cotton pants with drawstring waists
  • “Pirate” collared shirts
  • Boots (tall boots, chukka boots, combat boots)
  • Vests
  • Belts
  • Cloaks/capes
  • Pouches/drawstring purses

In addition to clothing and accessories, thrift stores are great places to look for fabric, notions, and trim. Cotton, linen, wool, silk, ramie, and rayon are great choices. 100 percent cotton top sheets are also a good choice for under tunics or for lining other garments. White linen tableclothes and curtains make great undertunics and aprons.

Local San Diego, CA, thrift stores that have a good clothing selection:

  • Veterans Thrift 1130 E Main St El Cajon, CA  92021
  • Veterans Thrift 1049 Elkelton Blvd Spring Valley, CA  91977
  • Veterans Thrift 881 Broadway Chula Vista, CA  91911
  • AMVETS Thrift Store 999 Cardiff St San Diego, CA  92114
  • AMVETS 3441 Sutherland St #2031, San Diego, CA 92110
  • Twice Treasured Thrift Store 8363 Center Dr Unit 2 La Mesa, CA 91942
  • Thrift Corral Thrift Store 8693A La Mesa Blvd La Mesa, CA 91942
  • Father Joe’s Villages Thrift 405 Broadway Chula Vista, CA  91910
  • Father Joe’s Villages Thrift 1457 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
  • Valley Thrift 2085 E Valley Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92027 (cash only)
  • Assistance League of North County Thrift Store 2068 E Valley Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92027
  • Bridge Thrift 9617 Campo Rd Spring Valley, CA 91977
  • Bridge Thrift 4220 Balboa Ave San Diego, CA 92117
  • Goodwill Outlet 1466 F St San Diego, CA 92101
  • Goodwill Outlet 1996 Don Lee Pl Escondido, CA 92029

If you have trouble finding shoes, don’t worry. No one is going to think less of you for wearing modern-looking shoes. There are a lot of people who have to wear specific shoes for orthopedic reasons.

Look 2 for women- A long sleeved white blouse under a long jumper style dress to mimic a medieval Surcoat outfit.
Look 2 for men- A Near Eastern men’s ensemble.

If the thrill of the thrift store hunt isn’t for you, but you still want to save money when looking for your first garb, there are a lot of places online to look.

I know Temu gets a bad wrap, but there are a lot of companies that sell on Temu that drop ship items from all over the US, which means quick shipping and no import taxes.

Amazon is the same- there are a lot of great pieces that are available that work great for garb.

The Amazon Store PROCOS has great linen tunics and accessories for men and women.

Looking for knee socks? This is a great value.

And these linen pants are really soft and comfy. I own a few pairs.

 

July 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 offers available now:

  •  Gluten-Free Pasta by GOODLES
  • Organic Kombucha by Humm Kombucha
  • Mental Performance Shots by Magic Mind
  • Gluten-Free Cookies by Schär
  • Gorgie Sparkling Energy Drinks
  • Crumbled Tajín Feta Cheese by Athenos
  • Electrolyte Refreshers by Leisure Hydration

Healthy, Frugal Summer Snacks

Abby H.

The kids eat so much when school is out of session.

Because of our current schedule, we are missing out on the free lunches available throughout San Diego County for the next few weeks.

That means I need to spend my money a little more wisely and fill our pantry with healthy snacks.

Here are a few of our favorite snacks- and yes, I buy some of them in bulk from Dollar Tree.

Freeze-Dried Fruit: I love freeze-dried pineapple, Bitty loves freeze-dried strawberries, and Bubs likes freeze-dried mangoes.

Flavor Blasted Goldfish are the kids’ favorite. I like the original goldfish crackers, but really, most flavors are good.

Meji Chocorooms– These are part cookie, part candy. Sometimes Dollar Tree has them, but they are also found at Cost Plus and Costco.

Sobisk Honey Graham Cracker Bear Cookies, 10-ct. Packs. These are really good by themselves or dipped in yogurt.

Sometimes in stores, they have other flavors like chocolate chip or chocolate.

 

Select Choice Chewy Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, 6-ct. Boxes. These bars are comparable to the Quaker Chewy bars. Some locations have other varieties in store, including chocolate chip.

And if you are looking for a wide variety of beverages that everyone will love, Dollar Tree has a great selection of drink mixes.  Our current family favorites include Sonic Limeade, Wyler’s Strawberry Lemonade, and Welch’s Orange Peach.

And while not a snack, the kids and I have been carrying around our 40-ounce insulated Stainless steel tumblers from Michael’s. Yes, I had a coupon for each one. It’s keeping us all hydrated, and it’s saving me trips to Sonic, Starbucks, or the gas station while we are out this summer.

 

Secret Shop and have fun with Amusement Advantage!

Abby H.

Y’all know I love to secret shop!

I learned about Amusement Advantage from some friends who have had a blast doing secret shopping and having adventures with their families. Amusement Advantage has all sorts of fun shops: movie theatres, amusement parks, museums, and more! They have opportunities to do secret assignments in almost every state of the US and most of the Provinces in Canada.

From their website: “We only evaluate attractions, amusement locations, and entertainment facilities.  Our shops give you the opportunity to have fun with friendly and family and include reimbursement for you and some of your guests’ expenses, and in most cases, a little extra cash profit or extra free tickets for your time and efforts.  Click here to see a list of locations we are currently shopping.  Curious what other shoppers say about our company?  Click here to see reviews from other shoppers just like you!”

If you want to check out Amusement Advantage and see if there are opportunities near you, click here. If you decide to sign up, use my email akeen02037@gmail.com as a referral. We’ll each get a little something extra.

Nothing Bundt Cake: BOGO Bundtlets this Week Only!

Abby H.

This awesome offer appeared in my inbox, and it’s too good not to share. Check your email to see if you received this offer too!

Now through Sunday, 6/29/2025, when you buy one bundlet in-store or online (not through the app) for in-store pick up, you can get one free with the coupon code BOGOJUN25. This offer is valid at select locations only. Double-check when ordering online to see if this is honored at your local store.

If you want to shop in-store, you’ll need the barcode from the email.

Oh, and don’t forget when you are in the store to ask about their Books and Bundts summer reading program. Your kids can earn free cake by reading this summer.

For other summer reading freebies, check out my post here.

6/22/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

This week has been full of shenanigans. We hit up the Legoland Water Park on Friday. We took advantage of their summer pass deal (no longer available), which allows us to visit Legoland, the water park, and the Sea Life Aquarium as often as we’d like through September!

We took snacks and water, and had a blast.

We also slept in late, made cookies, and did crafts. The adventures continue on!

Here are a few ways that we will be having fun and being frugal:

  • The Summer Library Reading Program post can be found here.
  • Fun Free Summer Activities for Tweens and Teens here.
  • The Summer Movie Deals can be found here.
  • Don’t forget about Cheap Stuff to do with Tweens and Teens here.
  • Kids Bowl Free is back for 2025- More info here.

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:

Dorel Home Products – FREE Coffee Table, End Table, Nesting Tables, or Vanity Desk with Flip-Out Mirror
FREE Sample of Hemp Heart Protein Powder
FREE Sol de Janeiro Body Cream at Ulta After Cash Back
FREE Sample of Breathe Right Extra Strength Strips
FREE EstyBeauty Perfume Sample
FREE $20 Venmo Cash from Truly on July 4th
5 FREE Greeting Cards & $10 Gift Card from Ink’d
FREE Paint or Stain Sample at Lowe’s
FREE Lemonhead Ropes on Rainy Fridays Through August 29th
FREE Brutus Broth Yappy Hours Party Pack
FREE Sample of Trinny London Take Back Time Elixir Serum
Target Baby Registry – FREE Welcome Kit In-Stores
FREE Food at SONIC Every Friday Through August 29th

Deals:

Kenzie Card Case Crossbody ONLY $55 (Reg $199)
Insignia 32-Inch Fire TV ONLY $69.99 Shipped (Reg $130)
Viva La Juicy Gold Couture Perfume ONLY $38 (Reg $106)
The Pizza Hut BOGO Hacks You Need to Know (Yes, You Can Score FREE Pizza!)

Free Frazil Fridays in June!

Abby H.

Free Frazil Friday is tomorrow!

Every Friday in June, you can score a free Frazil Slushy drink at a convenience store near you. To find your local participating location, click the link here.

 

There are lots of locations in Southern California- in fact I found two close to Legoland, which is where the kids and I are going tomorrow!

 

 

Celebrate Southwest Airline’s Birthday with Deals!

Abby H.

Y’all- This deal has the potential to be amazing!
Southwest Airlines is celebrating its birthday with low rates- One-way as low as* $39.

Here are some of the most important fine print details:
*21-day advance purchase required. Book by 6/19 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Cont. U.S. travel valid 8/5-12/17/25.

Thanksgiving Travel? End of Summer Travel? Wanna just escape your home for a weekend or longer? Is Vegas calling? Whatever and wherever, it’s a great time to pack a small carry-on/personal bag and head out of town!

 

And if you are a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards member, this deal gets better- You can use your points!

The rest of the fine print:

Cont. U.S. travel to/from Hawaii, intl., and San Juan, PR valid 8/17-12/10/25. Interisland HI travel valid 7/8-10/1/25. Cont. U.S. blacked out 9/1, 10/13, 11/24-11/26, and 12/1. Cont. U.S. travel to Hawaii, intl., and San Juan, PR blacked out 8/28-9/2 and 11/20-11/24. Cont. U.S. travel to Hawaii, intl., and San Juan, PR blacked out 8/28-9/2 and 11/28-12/2. Interisland HI blacked out 9/2. Nonrefundable. Seats, travel days, and markets are limited. Fares are valid on nonstop service where indicated; if not indicated, fares are valid on single connecting service. Points bookings do not include government fees of $5.60 per one-way flight. Additional fees may apply.

 

 

Magazine Subscriptions: no credit card required from bPerx!

Abby H.

bPerx is hooking us up! Ready to Claim Your Magazine Gifts? They just need a little info to get your gifts ready (like your mailing address). No credit card required. Enjoy a few magazine subscriptions sent directly to your mail box monthly!

The best part: No Credit Card Needed