frugal

Earn Cashback with TopCashBack- Three Great Offers!

Abby H.

TopCashBack is back with some amazing offers and deals. If you’ve never heard of TopCashBack, here’s the scoop:

Visit their website, sign up for an account.

Next time you need to shop online, start at TopCashBack. 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!

Shop for health & beauty products and treat yourself! Browse through skincare products, cosmetics, fragrances, and even fitness and vision merchants.

Right now, TopCashBack has a few special offers for new members:

 

Proctor & Gamble: It’s Our Home Rebate Up to $15 Back!

Abby H.

Everyone loves to save money, right? Check out P&G brandSAVER Perks! Save on brands you love, earn rewards, and make an impact. Here are a few of the offers/deals available:

  • NEW It’s Our Home Rebate: Up to $15 Back.
  • Join P&G brandSAVER to unlock up to $15 back when you shop Tide and 20+ more brands.
  • Take quizzes, answer surveys, or scan your receipts featuring P&G Products.
  • Collect points for each engagement and redeem them for prizes like digital rewards and sweepstakes entries.

Tryazon- Jasey’s Toy Chest Party

Abby H.

I’ve been a fan of Tryazon for about 7 years. It’s an amazing company that works with manufacturers of toys, games, food, and recreational/sporting goods. Manufacturers supply their goods to consumers to try out and review for free.

The kids and I have received toys, games, craft kits, and art supplies to test and have fun with.

Right now, Tryazon has a fun toy sampling opportunity to apply for!

Bring home toys built for magical moments and a lifetime of memories with this Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from Jasey’s Toy Chest! Jasey’s Toys Chest believes in joyful learning through toys that create open-ended play. The brand was created in loving memory of their son Jasey, who filled their home with creativity and adventure. Now they create sustainable toys that are built to last and spark learning, creativity, and connection. Explore the endless possibilities with Jasey’s Toy Chest!

They have 100 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack for free with a variety of toys from Jasey’s Toy Chest to share with friends and family!

Learn more and apply here: https://www.tryazon.com/jaseys-toy-chest-party/

3/30/26 Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

Looking for some birthday freebies? Check out my post here.

If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff in 2025: 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 Custom Fido Alert Pet ID Tags
2 FREE 5×7 Photo Prints at CVS
FREE Man-i Pedi from Hard Mountain Dew
FREE Coffee at Dunkin’ on April 1st
FREE $25 to Spend at Walmart After Cash Back
Chipotle Burrito Vault – $2 Million in FREE Chipotle
FREE Care Mail Handwritten Letters
The Best Baby Registry Websites — Get Baby Freebies and Must-Haves
FREE Custom Tabby Alert Pet ID Tags
FREE AROMASE Psoriasis Scalp Care Products
FREE GREENIES Dental Chew Treats – 10,000 Giveaway
FREE Sample of Wellness Protein Bowls Dog Food
FREE Sample of RoC Hydration+ Water Cream
Free Perfume Samples You Can Get Right Now
FREE Svinka Hand-Drawn Art Postcard
Easy Ways To Get Free Men’s Cologne Samples
FREE OGX ProGrowth + Peptide Conditioner After Walmart Cash
FREE e.l.f. Sheer For It Blush Tint
FREE Sample of Edna Day Moisture Cream & Overnight Cream
FREE Easter Collection Donut at Krispy Kreme
Get Free Samples by Mail: List of Legitimate Freebies & Free Samples From Brand Name Companies
Sweet Surprises: How to Score Free Chocolate
FREE 24-Pack of Crayola Crayons from Staples

Deals

Majesty Palm House Plant 1.94-Gallon ONLY $14.98 at Lowe’s (Reg $25)
Macy’s Jewelry up to 70% Off – Prices as low as $29
40% Off Select Kids’ Ride-on Toys at Target – Stacks w/ $10 Off $50 Toy Coupon
Walmart Beauty Box ONLY $8.98 Shipped – Now FULL Size Items Added
Latest Mixtiles Coupons and Promo Codes: Framed Wall Art Photos Up to 50% Off
BIG Home Event at Macy’s: Up to 60% Off Bedding, Kitchen, Luggage & More
Sta-Green Premium 2-cu ft Mulch on Sale for $2.00 at Lowe’s
JCPenney Spring Women’s Dresses From $19.99
CVS Photo Coupons & Promo Codes – 70% Off 16×20 Canvas, BOGO Free Gifts & More
Dove Men+Care Bar 3 in 1 Cleanser for Body 8-Pk ONLY $9.67 Shipped
Top 15 Sam’s Club Hacks to Save More in 2026
Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker ONLY $49 (Reg $100)

January Monthly Side Quest Totals

Abby H.

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 this month. I have done some side quests, but I have not yet received the reward.

  • MyPoints: I have earned $20 in Amazon gift cards and approximately $25 in pending points. They should be available by the end of February.
  • PaidViewPoint: $11.45 via Paypal
  • G2: $10 Amazon gift card
  • Fetch: $5.00 Amazon Gift Card
  • Rebates (WeStock, Peekage, Social Nature, and Aisle ): $12.50 between  Social Nature and Aisle.
  • Receipt Hog: $5.00 Amazon Gift Card
  • Class action lawsuits (I use SettleMate to help me find ones that I might qualify for): $14.70
  • SBKC: $ 20.00 visa gift card (this was from envelopes that I had mailed back to them in December 2025)
  • Evidation: $10 via Venmo
  • BrandClub:  $10.29
  • 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. $42.44.

I can use my Amazon Gift Cards to pay for my monthly subscriptions for two months. I use Amazon subscriptions to buy household items that are cheaper on Amazon than local store prices.

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:

2/7/2026 Weekly Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

This week has been a mixed bag- I’m out of town on a birthday trip with some friends.

My birthday is next week, and the freebies have started rolling in, and I’ll have an updated birthday freebie list compiled and updated by mid-next week.

In the meantime, check out the 2025 post here. If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff in 2025: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

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

Freebies:

2 FREE 5×7 Photo Prints at Walgreens
$1 Million FREE Chipotle Entrees on February 8th
FREE Full-Size CeraVe Body Moisturizer – Every Weekday Through February 27th
FREE Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eau de Parfum Sample
Kids Eat Free: Big List Of Verified Restaurants Where Kids Can Eat For Free
Over 30 National Pizza Day Deals, Coupons and Freebies – Monday February 9
FREE Sample of YSL Libre Berry Crush Fragrance
FREE Tall Hot or Iced Coffee at Starbucks on February 9th
FREE Sample of Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Hair Bandage Balm
Unlock Your Wellness Journey with Free Nutrition Samples: Try Before You Buy
FREE McDonald’s McNugget Caviar Kit
FREE Kindle eBook This Month
FREE GREENIES Dental Chew Treats
FREE Penguin Mailbox Workshop at Home Depot
FREE Hydration Event at Target – FREE Samples, Game Day Party Pack & More This Weekend
Here’s How to Score FREE or Cheap Photo Prints: 2025
FREE American Spirit Butt Pouches – Order Every Month
FREE Moonpig Valentine’s Day Card + FREE Shipping
FREE Simon Says: Dessert Party Pack
$25 Worth of FREE Books with First Book Marketplace
FREE Pizza or Pasta Sauce at Stop & Shop
2 FREE Ghirardelli Chocolockets on February 10th
FREE Friskies Wet Food and Lil’ Lickables Sample Pack + FREE Dentalife Sample Pack for New Members
FREE Limited-Edition Tote Bag at IKEA on February 14th
FREE Wooden Rose Bouquet at Lowe’s
FREE $25 to Spend on Super Bowl Gear at DICK’S After Cash Back
FREE Angry Orchard Ex-Change Kit + FREE $25 Venmo
FREE Sample of Allies of Skin Multi Peptides & GF Advanced Lifting Serum
FREE $15 to Spend on Books at Walmart After Cash Back
Sweet Surprises: How to Score Free Chocolate
FREE Tickets to See the FIFA World Cup Trophy
How I Get Free Samples with Free Shipping
FREE Olympics Gold Pin for Xfinity Rewards Members
We Rounded Up The Best Free Shampoo Samples Online
70 Million FREE Frontier Airlines Miles
FREE INITIO Parfums Privés Hedonist Collection Fragrance Samples
FREE Valentine’s Day Donut at Krispy Kreme

Deals:

Gold Bond Ultimate Men’s Essentials Hydrating Lotion, ONLY $10 (Reg $20)
Finish Line Sale: Up to 50% Off + Extra 20% Off Women’s Adidas, Nike & More
Apple AirTag 4-Pack ONLY $64 on Amazon (Reg $99)
See The Fashion & Beauty that’s Trending on Revolve + 10% Off Coupon & Free Shipping
JCPenney Boxed Jewelry on Sale from ONLY $5.39
Coach Perfumes as low as $10.89 at Walmart
Up to 70% Off Pandora Jewelry
7 Clever Ways to Get Cheap or Free Shein Items
Revlon Skin Reviving Roller ONLY $5 (Reg $15)

San Diego Zoo Safari Park is free for Seniors in February

Abby H.

During the month of February, all visitors age 65 and older receive free admission to the Safari Park. Enjoy the sights on an Africa Tram, see the platypuses and other Aussie species at Walkabout Australia, wander through Tiger Trail, take a stroll around Mombasa Lagoon, and relax with refreshments on the patio at Kijamii Overlook. There’s a world of sights to see—all at the Safari Park!

Parking is not free ($25), but the Safari Park is an awesome day-long adventure.

Some frugal tips for visiting your local zoo/animal park (These are all true for the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, your local parks may differ)

  • Bring your water bottles, and fill up at the drinking fountains/filling stations all over the park.
  • Pack your own snacks/lunch. There are tons of picnic/eating areas all over the parks.
  • Bring some cash for 1 treat/toy/souvenir. With cash, you have a firm budget.
  • If you are a zoo/safari park member, you may get a discount in the shops/restaurants (check online).

1/30/26 Weekly Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

This week has been a mixed bag- I’m out of town on a birthday trip with some friends.

My birthday is next week, and the freebies have started rolling in, and I’ll have an updated birthday freebie list compiled and updated by mid-next week.

In the meantime, check out the 2025 post here. If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff in 2025: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

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

Freebies:

Order Your Free 2026 Wall Calendars
FREE Febreze Odor-Fighting Fade Defy Plug-In at Target
Lots of Freebies for Moms: The Freebie List I Wish I Had When I Became a Mom
Earn $2 to $75 per Completed Survey – Ages 16+ can Apply
10 Ways to Save Big on Pet Food Delivery Services + Get Free Shipping
FREE Movie Ticket to Dracula
FREE 30-Day Supply of Ritual Synbiotic+ Supplements
FREE PURELL Sanitizer Products
FREE Penguin Mailbox Workshop at Home Depot
FREE Sample of e.l.f. Soft Glam Satin Foundation
FREE Saltair Serum Deodorant
How to Score Free P&G Samples Like a Pro
FREE Gillette Venus Smoothing Exfoliant at Walgreens
Claim Cash in the $15 Million Dollar General Class Action Settlement
FREE Loaf of Canyon Bakehouse Stay-Fresh Sourdough-Style Bread
FREE $30 Purchase at Lowe’s After Cash Back
FREE Subscription to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
FREE Bottle of Native Pet Omega Oil + Free Shipping
FREE Pantene Fragrance-Free Shampoo
FREE Morning Made Electric Whisk
FREE Copy of the Jiffy Mix Recipe Booklet
FREE $35 Purchase at Stanley After Cash Back
FREE Welch’s Zero Sugar Beverage – Up to a $5.99 Value
How to Get More Freebies Without Wasting Time – My Tried-and-True Hacks
FREE Colgate Toothpaste
FREE 2026 Oklahoma Transportation Wall Calendar
FREE Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit at Whataburger on February 4th
FREE $20 Carl’s Jr. Promo Card Starting February 9th
FREE 3.5 – 4 lb. Bag of Zignature Dog Food
How to Score Sticker Freebies – Sticker Mule, Keds, Netflix and More
FREE Full-Size CeraVe Body Moisturizer
FREE 1/2 CT Diamond Necklace at JCPenney
FREE Pair of Mack’s Ear Plugs – Every Weekday at 11am EST
Seeing Clearly Without the Cost: A Guide to Free Contact Lenses
FREE Amazon Prime for Students
FREE Sandwich at Jimmy John’s
FREE Bvlgari Man Collection Fragrance Samples
Claim Cash in the $2 Million Michael Kors Outlet Store Class Action Settlement
FREE Sample of Mugler Alien Hypersense Eau de Parfum
FREE Galentine’s Spritz with EOS Event at Target on January 31st & February 1st
FREE Bag of OMNI Creatine Gummies
FREE Royal Canin Fresh Health Nutrition Dog Food Chatterbuy Kit

 

Deals:

Save up to 70% on Kids Coats at Macy’s
Walmart HUGE Toy Clearance with up to 80% Off Savings
Subway BOGO Deal: Buy 1, Get 1 Footlong Sub – New Subway Coupons & Reward Program Changes
Intimates Sale at JCPenney – Up to 50% Off | Prices From $4.99
50% Off Everything at Old Navy – Sweaters, Coats, Pajamas & More!
Yankee Candle Clearance: Large Jar or Tumbler Candles as low as $8.75 (Reg $35)
Affordable Fleece Hoodies and Sweatpants Under $30 From Amazon, Walmart, & Target
Nature’s Bounty Hair Skin & Nails Supplement ONLY $3.49 (Reg $8)
Target Valentine’s Day Candles as Low as $3.50 – Limited Time Only!
Birkenstock Coupons & Promo Codes: Up To 20% Off HOT Birkenstock Sandals
Coziest Pajama Coupons and Deals This Week from Macy’s, Kohl’s, Amazon, Walmart and More
Craftsman Industrial Fan ONLY $39 at Lowe’s (Reg $129)
PopCorners 20-Count Snacks Variety Pack ONLY $16 Shipped
UGG Winter Sale: Up to 50% Off + Extra 10% Off & FREE Shipping
Ninja Creami Sale: Save $30 or More on Homemade Ice Cream with the Ninja Creami Sale
Burt’s Bees Rescue Lip Relief Hydrating Balm ONLY $3 (Reg $6)
Moroccanoil Volume Travel Set ONLY $45 at Ulta (Reg $60)
Antemper 2026 Latest Android Tablet 10-Inch ONLY $89.99 (Reg $170)
How to Use Kohl’s Cash: Everything You Need to Know earn, use, and maximize
Sculpd Discount Codes – 10% Off Your First Order, 15% Off for You & a Friend, & More
Dealworthy Backpacks as Low as $3.50 at Target
Victoria’s Secret Gift Sets – Buy One Get One FREE

Do We Really Need 64 Ounces of Water!

Abby H.

Everybody knows the adage about drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day, but where did it come from?

According to this NPR article, in 1945, the US Food and Nutrition Board decided that 1 mL of water per calorie was what people needed to stay hydrated. This is approximately 64 ounces of fluid per day. And this stuck.

Per the Mayo Clinic, whats counts as water may surprise you: Any liquid, including foods that are high in liquid, like soups, smoothies, fruits, and vegetables like melons, citrus, and tomatoes, are excellent sources of liquid. This means you don’t need to chug a huge 64-ounce bottle of water every single day. As long as you are consuming foods that are high in liquid, you are getting enough hydration for your body

Too much of a good thing? Yes, you can be overhydrated, and that can cause an electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to cloudy thinking, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and even muscle cramps. This isn’t gonna happen unless you’re drinking over 4 L of water an hour. Overhydration does not happen often, but it can occur.

If you’re looking for ways to add hydration to your day, here are a few ways:

 

National Peanut Butter Day Recipes!

Abby H.

Today is National Peanut Butter Day. For those of us who love Peanut Butter, this is definately a day to celebrate.

I’ve rounded up a few recipes for y’all to try:

If you love Peanut butter but need to avoid the natural fat/oil, I use PB2 in my protein shakes. If you also need to avoid added salt, Peanut Flour is a great option in place of PB2.

I love having Peanut butter on hand in my car snack box, so I use these Jif Cups or these By Nutz pouches.