5/4/26 Weekly Meal Plan

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May is a busy month for us, so it’s important to me that I plan out our meals on Sunday nights for the week.

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 wrote a post about some of my favorite apps here).

I skipped a grocery trip this week- We have plenty of food, and we had a  Yasukochi Family Farms CSA box subscription drop off last Monday and have plenty of fruit and veg to get us through this week. I did a quick grocery inventory on Saturday morning to make sure we’d be ok.

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 with goat cheese and spicy honey.

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 fridge and freezer clean out leftovers.

Dinner: This week, dinners are pretty simple. We have busy days, so I want to spend as much time as possible with the kids. If one of the kids ends up not liking something, they can have a sandwich or a fruit and a homemade smoothie.

This week’s available fresh fruits are: Apples (3 kinds), oranges, and bananas.

  • Sunday:  Italian Night.
  • Monday: Chicken and Veggies
  • Tuesday: Tortellini Soup, Salad, and Bread

  • Wednesday: Breakfast for Dinner (I’m teaching that night)

  • Thursday: Vegetarian chili, bread, and salad

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

April 2026 Monthly Side Quest Totals!

Quests require compasses and treasure chests, right?Why am I referring to them as “quests” and not “hustle“?

Hustling indicates moving quickly to earn money. This year, I’m doing a little bit every day, approximately 20 minutes on small surveys and small tasks. I may earn less daily, but overall, I can use small tasks to earn more through compounding.

Here are the ways I earned money, and how much I earned on each side quest in April. It was pretty busy for me, but I tried to make as much time as I could for my surveys and such.

  • MyPoints:  $20 in Amazon gift cards, mostly from my daily surveys, but I did do some shopping through their app and website to get points as well.
  • PaidViewPoint: $10.49 via PayPal
  • G2: $35 Amazon gift card
  • Receipt Hog: $5.00 Amazon Gift Card
  • Fetch: $6.00 Amazon Gift Card
  • Galloway Research: $25 Amazon Gift Card for a Survey I did about school lunches for kids
  • Rebates (WeStockPeekageSocial Nature, and Aisle ): $22.46 between  Social Nature and Aisle.
  • TPT (I make worksheets/flashcards in my spare time for special ed classrooms). This side quest is definitely a slow trickle of money. I spent a lot of time over the summer making/uploading educational materials to my TPT account. $23.75

As always, the links above may be affiliate links, and I might earn money or points if you join any of the above apps or activities. This helps support my blog and family.

If you are interested in my full list of money-saving/money earning activites, I encourage you to check out:

2026 Teacher Appreciation Week Freebies and Deals

May 4-8, 2026  is Teacher Appreciation Week, and to celebrate, there are some freebies and deals around.

I have only included those in my local area, but if you are outside the Southern CA area, a quick Google search can find you some local freebies.

Chipotle: This one is pretty popular. Chipotle is saying “thank you” by giving away 100,000 FREE Burrito Cards. Enter to win by 5/12.  

Shake Shack: Teachers receive a free ShackBurger or Veggie Burger with a $10 purchase. Must show school ID.

Some Raising Cane’s locations are offering free drinks (excluding lemonade) in May. My local Raising Cane’s is not participating.  Here is the list of participating locations. 

I’ve read online that some Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s locations may do freebies or deals next week; however, I couldn’t confirm anything online.

If you are a Sonic Drive-In fan, download their app and sign up for an account. When you go to account settings and select “I’m a Teacher” to join the Teachers’ Circle.  You will be asked to verify that you are an educator. Update your profile to verify your status as faculty or staff at a K-12 school or degree-granting university. Once you verify, there will be freebies and deals added to your account throughout the year.

These next freebies are not tied to Teacher Appreciation week- these are available year-round and are pretty amazing.

Canva is free for teachers. Canva for Education

Headspace offers a free subscription for educators.

We are Teachers has free printables!

If you are looking for year-round deals, check out ID.me.

May and June Upcoming JCP Kid’s Craft Events!

JCPenney hosts a fun craft event in-store for kids on the second Saturday of each month.  They are easy for kids and a fun, free activity. My kids loved these when they were little.

While you are there, make sure to join their Rewards Program. There are a lot of great benefits, and it’s free to join. I do a lot of our shopping at JCP. They are very size-inclusive, have great prices/sales, and support diversity in the communities in which they are located.

In-store events are only where local mandates allow.  All kids must be accompanied by an adult. More details, including participating JCP locations, can be found here.

On May 9th, from 11 am to noon, kids can make and take their very own Mother’s Day Flower Bouquet Craft.

All materials are provided but are only available while supplies last.

Plus, parents get a free 10% off coupon (and it can be combined with other JCP coupons!).

And moving right along into June…

On June 13th, from 11am to noon, kids can make and take a Super Hero Plaque!

All materials are provided but are only available while supplies last.

Plus, parents get a free 10% off coupon (and it can be combined with other JCP coupons!)

 

May 2026: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

 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.

This month, there aren’t a ton of free/100% Cashback offers available, but I’ve listed them below.

Wild Tuna in Olive Oil by Rio Mare
Multipack Sparkling Water by Sanzo

There are a lot more offers for BOGO or a percentage off, including brands like Daiyo, Ripple, Calafia Farms, SunButter, Back to Nature, and Javvy Coffee, to name a few.

If you are looking for other rebate sites, similar to Social Nature, check out Aisle,  WeStock, or Peekage.

5/1/2026 Friday Freebies and Deals!

This week has been wild. I’ll post a separate update tonight, but needless to say, I am so glad it’s Friday.

I  updated my birthday freebies for 2026- You can find the post here. The list mostly offers what you can find in Southern California.

If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

For free food resources, please refer to my comprehensive list, available here.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.

Freebies:

FREE Pokemon Button, Photos & More at Target
FREE Sample of Ralphs Club New York Eau De Parfum
FREE Movie Tickets to I Love Boosters
FREE John Frieda Mousse, Shampoo & Conditioner Bundle, or Frizz Control Serum
FREE Blue Square Pin
FREE Hers Hair Care Products
FREE Service of Palm Beach Tan
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – FREE Kids Book Every Month
FREE Breakfast for Teachers at Whataburger on May 7th
FREE Mother’s Day Flower Bouquet Craft Kit at JCPenney
2026 National Pretzel Day Freebies and Deals
Get Your Free Teeth Whitening Samples: A Brighter Smile Awaits
Score a Free Babylist Hello Baby Box Filled with Samples & Full Sized Products
Free Kids’ Magazines: A Gateway to Fun and Learning
FREE Sample of SHEBA Bisque or Purée Cat Treats
FREE Movie Ticket to The Story of Everything
FREE Sample of Love, Nala Cat Food
FREE Febreze Fabric Refresher at Target
FREE Sample of Breathe Right Extra Strength Strips
FREE Ensure Max Protein Shake After Walmart Cash
FREE Petco Mother’s Day Photos + Blue Buffalo Pet Food Samples
FREE Sub at Firehouse Subs for Those Named Mike, Michael, Miguel, Michelle & More
FREE Bvlgari Eau Perfumee The Imperial Eau de Toilette Fragrance Sample
$35 Worth of FREE Books with First Book Marketplace
FREE Reward Every Week with Panda Express Wok Wednesday
FREE LEGO Star Wars Starfighter Build Event
FREE Haircut at Sport Clips If You Have a Mullet
FREE $30 to Spend on Adidas After Cash Back
FREE Sample of Pink Zebra Fragranced Wax Melts
FREE Samples of SheaMoisture Curl Stretch Collection
FREE Summer Fridays Sweet Pink Duo Lip Butter Balm at Sephora After Cash Back
How to Get Free Beauty Samples Without Spending a Dime
FREE Movie Tickets to Young Washington
FREE Pack of Stonyfield YoBaby Multipack Cups or Pouches
FREE Jackson’s Summer Snacking Party Pack
FREE Fragrance Samples from Macy’s
Get Free Beauty Product Samples With Topbox Circle

 

Deals:

Subway BOGO Deal: Buy 1, Get 1 Footlong Sub – New Subway Coupons for May
Kohl’s Up to 85% Off Clearance Sale is LIVE – Deals Start at $0.72
Prime Members Save 20¢ Per Gallon on Gas – Every Friday!
Kobalt Portable Mini Toolbox ONLY $16.98 at Lowe’s (Reg $22)
11 Things Costco Members Can Get for Free Included In Their Membership
Miracle-Gro Garden Soil On Sale for $2 at Home Depot
The 12 Best Stanley Cup Dupes You Can Buy Online on a Budget (Durable & Affordable)
Macy’s Jewelry up to 70% Off – Prices as low as $29 | Mother’s Day Gif Ideas!
The Big One Bath Towels and Pillows for $2.39 at Kohl’
CHI Infra Thermal Care Kit ONLY $17.74 Shipped (Reg $47)
Libman Spin Mop With Bucket ONLY $19.98 (Reg $40)

Kids Bowl Free- It’s Back for Summer 2026!

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.

April 2026: Upcoming Free Classes at Michaels!

I love Michaels! Not only do they have great sales and coupons, but they also have free Arts and Crafts classes at many locations. Some classes are for adults, but the majority of classes are hands on classes for kids.

 

Our local location has free classes coming up in April- I’ve signed Ryder up for them. My kids love hands-on crafts!

Did you also know that Michaels has a rewards club? Sign up for Michaels Rewards today and earn $5 in Rewards when you spend $25 or more!

Weekend Freebies and Deals!

I finally updated my birthday freebies for 2026- You can find the post here. The list is mostly offers  that you can find in Southern California.

If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

For free food resources, please refer to my comprehensive list, available here.  It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.

Freebies:

FREE Groomer’s Choice Sample Box
FREE Goldback 24K Currency Bill
FREE 5 lbs Shredding at Office Depot OfficeMax
8 Ways to Get Free Books for Kids
FREE Ranch or Spicy Snack Wrap at McDonald’s
2026 National Pretzel Day Freebies and Deals
FREE Japonesque Fingernail Clippers at Walgreens
FREE $25 Purchase at Hobby Lobby After Cash Back
FREE Sample of Pedigree Pouches Dog Food & Drizzlers Savory Sauce
We Rounded Up Our Favorite Free Samples for Women
FREE BBQ Pork, Turkey or Chicken Sandwich for Nurses at Sonny’s BBQ
FREE Stickers, Sample Pouch & More at Target
FREE Medium Sub at Firehouse Subs
FREE Spring Seasonal Collection Donut at Krispy Kreme
Claim Cash in the $87.5 Million Beef Class Action Settlement
FREE Sample of MG Plus Protein Supplements
FREE 60-Day Supply of Broc Shot Capsules
Here’s How to Score FREE or Cheap Photo Prints: 2026
FREE 1-Year Membership to Youth on Course Golfing – 1st 150,000
FREE Fragrance Samples from Macy’s
FREE Hat at Tractor Supply Co.
FREE $25 on Spring Decor at Michaels After Cash Back
FREE Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wild Protein Powered Meals Chatterbox Kit
FREE Sample of L’Oreal Age Perfect Le Duo Serum
FREE Mtn Dew Baja Blast Every Time an MLB Player Hits a 420+ ft Home Run
Get Tons Of Free Stickers Online: Updated Monthly
How I Get Free Samples with Free Shipping
FREE Sample of Pataday Once Daily Relief Eye Allergy Itch Relief
FREE Mini Sheet of Stamps
Free Chick-fil-A: The Chick-fil-A Hacks You Need to Know – Yes, It Includes FREE Chicken!
FREE Sample of OGX ProGrowth + Peptide Shampoo & Conditioner
FREE Sample of Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash
Claim Cash in the $2.9 Million Tom’s of Maine Toothpaste Class Action Settlement
FREE Full-Size Plain. Urolithin A + Creatine Well-Aging Supplement
FREE Sample of Clive Christian Strange Heavens Out of the Blue Fragrance
FREE Rare Beauty Rare Eau de Parfum Sample

Deals:

Dad Gang Co. Discount Codes – 25% Off, $10 Credit & More
Prime Members Save 20¢ Per Gallon on Gas – Every Friday!
Sephora Savings Event – Up to 20% Off for Rouge Members + Extra 30% Off Sephora Collection
American Tourister Stratum 3.0 Carry-On ONLY $62.99 (Reg $180)
Tom’s of Maine Whitening Toothpaste 3-Pack ONLY $2.99 at Target (Reg $14)
Academy Sports Coupons: New $15 Off $15 Order! Save on Nike, Adidas, Under Armour & More
Best Places To Buy Cheap & Affordable Furniture Online: 2026
Clearance at JCPenney Up to 80% Off – Select Styles From $1.19
TODAY: Old Navy Women’s Tank Tops on Sale for ONLY $3
Lofka Patio Rocking Chairs Set w/ Glass Coffee Table, 3-Piece ONLY $79 (Reg $140)
Roku Streaming Stick HD ONLY $25 (Reg $40)
The Big One Bath Towel ONLY $2.96 at Kohl’s
Fantaslok Plaid Flannel Women’s Shirt ONLY $14 (Reg $24)

Be My Neighbor Day 4/18/2026

Join KPBS for San Diego’s fourth annual Be My Neighbor Day on Saturday, April 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at KPBS on the San Diego State University campus, 5200 Campanile Dr., San Diego, 92182.

Be My Neighbor Day is a free outdoor event for young children and families.

Celebrate what it means to be a community helper, just like Daniel Tiger! Join us to learn how even a small act of service can bring immense joy and make a significant difference.

Celebrate National Volunteer Month and Month of the Military Child with our community neighbors who lead efforts to serve others each and every day. Pay it forward, one small act of kindness at a time. Hands-on activities and crafts for the whole family!

For the second year, there will be the GI Film Festival San Diego Military Family Pavilion. The Pavilion will include fun and engaging activities to build a sense of community and belonging for local military families, resource booths hosted by local military family support organizations, and serve as an inviting space that will encourage all attendees to interact and learn about each other as San Diego neighbors.

  • Enjoy story times, live music, and entertainment
  • And of course, visit with PBS KIDS’ beloved friends, Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat!
  • All attendees will receive a KPBS KIDS giveaway, as well as resources on how to continue to serve as a community helper and caring neighbor!

There will be water stations. Driving, parking, and pedestrian directions will be provided in confirmation emails sent prior to the event.