If your tweens/teens are feeling a little meh this summer and could benefit from support, check out this great free offer from Live Well San Diego, the County of San Diego HHS, and Fred Finch.
Available three times a week at various locations throughout Santee, this program is open to all kids in grades 5-8. No prior registration needed.
If you are looking for mental health resources in California, check out my post here.
We’re free! School is over for the year, and the kids and I are so excited for tons of adventures.
Here are a few ways that we will be having fun and being frugal:
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:
FREE Happy Hippo Sample Pack
FREE Ocean Spray Bold Snacking Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Air Wick Plug In Scented Oil Advanced Gadgets After Walmart Cash (Get 3 Free)
FREE Toucan Mobile Workshop at Home Depot
Free Baby Samples & Full Sized Products from Amazon
FREE 8×10 Photo at Walgreens
FREE NESCAFE Espresso Lemonade Kit on June 13th, 20th & 27th
FREE Sample of TEMPTATIONS Cat Treats
FREE Frozen Drink at Casey’s Every Friday in May thru August
FREE GoVerden Guac It Up Chatterbuy Kit
FREE OLAY Cleansing Melts
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE Large Slurpee, FREE Grill Spatula & More
FREE Pair of Garden Snips at Lowe’s
How to Score Free Feminine Hygiene Products and Save on Essentials
Father’s Day Freebies & Deals RoundUp
FREE Movie Ticket to The Unholy Trinity
FREE Full-Size CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 50
FREE Powered by Love Sticker
FREE Samples of Maneuver Men’s Grooming Products
Get The Top 17 Free Baby Boxes in 2025: Walmart, Target, Amazon
FREE $25 Purchase at Nike After Cash Back
FREE Diet Cherry Coke at Kroger
Here Are 6 Ways To Get Free Baby Formula Samples
FREE $5 Shop Cash
FREE Royal Canin Chewable Supplements for Dogs Chatterbox Kit
FREE Sample of Nutree Hair Mask
FREE Sample of Moroccanoil L’Originale Eau de Parfum
Over $1 Million in FREE Chipotle During the Summer of Extras Promotion
FREE Sample of AAVRANI Hair Thickening Blowout Primer
Deals:
Women’s Dresses on Clearance – Prices From $7.39 at JCPenney!
Father’s Day Gifts as low as $5 at Target – Free Store Pickup!
Additional Service Benefits BJ’s Members Enjoy
Doorbusters Sale at JCPenney: Save up to 60% Off Select Styles
Shop Sneaker Deals – Save on Top Brands Like Adidas, On Cloud, Vans & More
67% Off Kate Spade Sadie Small Crossbody + Free Shipping
13 Bath & Body Works Fragrance Dupes that Smell Just as Good as Luxury Perfumes
Today was our last Friday of school! We celebrated with pizza (yes, I had a coupon).
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:
FREE Govertex Skincare Serum and Fragrance Products
FREE Riversol 15-Day Anti-Aging Sample Kit + FREE Shipping
FREE $10 Off Groceries or Trail Mix Item for Target Circle 360 Members
FREE $5 Shop Cash
FREE Wasa Crisp Creations Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Sample of Eva NYC H2-Whoa Shampoo & Conditioner
FREE Sample of Rodan + Fields Active Hydration Serum
FREE Fragrance Samples from Macy’s
FREE Dog Treats Box from Zigzag – a $15 Value
Sweet Surprises: How to Score Free Chocolate
2 FREE How to Train Your Dragon Movie Tickets for Xfinity Rewards Members
FREE Sample of Cesar Mini-Pouches Dog Food
FREE Bloomingdale’s Little Freebies Box
Get Free Condom Samples Online and In-Person From Your Favorite Brands
FREE Suavitel Advanced Liquid Fabric Softener at Sam’s Club Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Chocolate Dipped Fruit Cone at Edible Arrangements for Graduates & Teachers
FREE Friendly Loom Crafting Party Pack
How to Score Sticker Freebies – Sticker Mule, Keds, Netflix and More
FREE $35 Purchase at Walmart After Cash Back
Get Your Free Teeth Whitening Samples: A Brighter Smile Awaits
FREE Entree at Chipotle During the 2025 Men’s Professional Basketball Series
FREE $35 Purchase at Sephora After Cash Back
FREE Sample of Dolce & Gabbana No-Puff Caffeine Eye Patches
10 FREE 4×6 Photo Prints at CVS
Unlock Your Wellness Journey with Free Nutrition Samples: Try Before You Buy
Score a Subscription to Condé Nast Traveller Magazine – No Credit Card Needed
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE Large Slurpee, FREE 1-Week Access to Local Cool Treats Perks & More
92,000 FREE Pints of Kroger Ice Cream on June 20th
FREE Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Cobalt & Bad Boy Elixir Fragrance Samples
FREE Army of Good Magnet
FREE Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread
Deals:
Under Armour Shorts From $5 Shipped – Limited Time ONLY!
Bogg Bag Accessories on SALE – Score Phone Holders, Dividers & More | Prices Start at $2.55
Latest Panda Express Coupon Code: Get Two Large Sides & Three Large Entrees for $30
Bella Pro 6-Qt Touchscreen Air Digital Fryer ONLY $39.99 (Reg $100)
My kids need to get out of the house this summer. Yours might too. I spent a few hours looking up some fun free stuff for teens and tweens at our favorite San Diego County library branches. Both the county of San Diego and the City of San Diego have library branches, but they are not connected.
City of San Diego library events can be found here.
The complete list of County Library events can be found here.
Here are a few of the events my kids are excited about going to:
Lakeside Branch
SLC Teen Afterhours: Laser Tag and Trivia
Saturday, June 14, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
SLC Teen Afterhours: Art with Miss Wendy
Saturday, July 12, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Kids SLC: SD Animal Sanctuary and Farm
Thursday, June 26, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Kids SLC: Super Science Super Show
Thursday, July 17, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Kids SLC: Critter Encounters
Thursday, July 3, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Kids SLC: Don’t Try This at Home-Scientific Serenade
Thursday, July 31, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Santee Branch
Animal show with Zovargo
Friday, August 1, 2025
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
At Mast Park
La Mesa Branch
Construction Club (LEGO club) Ages 4+
Monday, June 2, 2025 meets weekly
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Summer at your Library: Mad Hatter Tea Party
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Teen Backyard Bird Experience
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Casa de Oro Branch
Game Night Unplugged
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (takes place weekly)
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Teen Video Game Hour
Monday, June 16, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
El Cajon Branch
Tween Tuesdays
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tweens ages 8-13 to explore the RIASEC framework while socializing with other El Cajon tweens. Join us each week for games, music, and a RIASEC-themed activity:
* June 24: Catapult Challenge (Realistic)
* July 1: Make Your Own Slime (Investigative)
* July 8: Mask-Painting (Artistic)
* July 15: Lotería with Prizes (Social)
* July 22: Sharpie Mugs (Enterprising)
* July 29: Bingo with Prizes (Conventional)
Rancho San Diego Branch
Tween Craft – Perler Beads
Thursday, July 3, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Tween Craft – DIY Bags
Thursday, July 17, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Tween Craft – DIY Shirts
Thursday, July 31, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
As you can see, there are tons of great events going on for free this summer! And if your kiddos are looking for more fun, check out my post about Summer Reading Programs!
I’m back with as many free summer lunch resources as I could find for 2025!
Y’all know I love to keep everyone’s kids fed.
San Diego Unified School District has partnered with San Diego Parks and Recreation to have food available at neighborhood schools and Recreation centers throughout the city of San Diego. The complete list of locations can be found here. Times vary by location.
Feeding San Diego has a list of locations in San Diego County offering free food for kids 0-18 here.
Feeding San Diego has many other programs to help families and individuals all over San Diego County. You can learn more about all of their programs here.
Lunch at the library:
City of San Diego library has two locations participating; more information and hours/times can be found here.
County of San Diego library locations include Ramona, Casa de Oro, and Spring Valley. Check to see if your county library branch is participating here.
Lunch at the Park is hosted by several libraries throughout the City of San Diego!
To find schools near you participating in free summer lunches for kids, the California Department of Education website has a map for the entire state of CA, separated by County with free lunch locations for children.
If you need assistance feeding yourself and/or your family beyond these free meals, and you are looking for free and low-cost food resources, check my page here.
It’s time again for the All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair on Friday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Miramar Hourglass Recreation Center – 10440 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92126.
All activities and resources are available free of charge and open to the public.
Kids of all abilities will love this event, brought to you by the Special Needs Resource Foundation. Below is just a glimpse of what to expect:
Activity stations
Sign up to join us for this amazing day of inclusivity.
Activity stations for kids include favorites: Olaf Snowball Toss, Pokémon Scavenger Hunt, Super Wheelchair Awareness Course, Super Hero City Speedway, Crown-a-Polooza, and more!
Character meet and greets: Say hello to Princess Ariel and other beloved characters at this fun-filled event that the family will love.
Family resources and networking: Resource and service providers will be on-site to speak with parents and offer helpful information. Be sure to pick up a copy of Flourishing Families at our Special Needs Resource Foundation booth.
ShopAble Bazaar: Stop by to browse and buy amazing products and valuable services from business owners with disabilities.
Sensory Time: From 11 to 11:30 a.m., families who need a quieter environment can enjoy the event with just one opening announcement and no music.
Summer is coming, and the choruses of “I’m bored” will ring out across the country. I received an email from Green Kids Crafts this morning, and I had to share!
Green Kids Crafts is perfect for keeping boredom at bay! per their website, “4-6 educator-designed STEAM projects in every box. Millions choose us for our award-winning hands-on activities.”
Right now, Green Kids Crafts is offering 25% off their favorite boxes!
Use code FAVORITE25 at checkout and save 25% off their select favorite monthly boxes through the end of the month.
I know that both kids will love the Volcano kit. They’ve both been watching videos of Kīlauea’s eruptions in Hawaii. The Volcanoes Discovery Box contains FOUR award-winning Creativity and STEAM Science Kits! Your pint-sized volcanologists will have a blast (literally!) with these fun learning kits, including Break Your Own Geode Kit, Volcano Splatter Art Kit, Exploding DIY Volcano, Crystal Making Kit, and more.
And as a bonus- Green Kids Crafts is a woman-owned business right here in San Diego!
** This post also contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
I love Tea Collection– They have such cute patterns and designs for kids’ clothes, and they are so well made- perfect for hand-me-downs!
Their new summer line is inspired by the colors and motifs of Brazil, and currently, there are a few coupon codes available that will get you these colorful styles for less.
And if you are looking to save a little more, check out the sale section of their website! With deals starting at $6, there are tons of clothes for every kid in your family, from babies to big kids!
School is out for some of you, but we’ve still got 8 days left- not that we are counting.
I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.
If you are looking for free food resources, my comprehensive list can be found here. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.
Let’s get onto the Freebies!!
FREE Beech-Nut Oaty Bites Toddler Snack
FREE 12 Count of Ball Mason Jars at Walmart After Cash Back
Calm and Cozy: Free Baby Sleep Music for Restful Nights
FREE Food at Burger King for Perks Week: Today BOGO Whopper
FREE Mainstays Waterproof Beach Tote Bag at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE Sample Of Pamprin Max Pain + Energy
Free Baby Samples & Full Sized Products from Amazon
FREE CeraVe Facial Moisturizer Sample Bundle
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE Large Slurpee, FREE 1-Week Access to Local Cool Treats Perks & More
Claim a FREE Coffee Voucher in the Family Dollar Chestnut Hill Ground Coffee Class Action Settlement
FREE Fit Dog Magnet
FREE Frazil Slushie Every Friday in June
FREE Sample of GummiShot Energy Gummies
FREE Pair of Garden Snips at Lowe’s
FREE Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream Sundaes Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Sample of Ready Sports Drink
FREE Crown Royal Military Care Package for Our Troops
FREE Full-Size Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm After Cash Back
The Ultimate Guide to Birthday Freebies for Kids and Babies
FREE Sample of e.l.f. Holy Hydration Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
Get Free Beauty Product Samples With Topbox Circle
FREE e.l.f. Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pen
FREE Bottle of EcoStrong Oxy Pet Carpet Cleaner
FREE Samples of Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops & Protini Polypeptide Cream
Celebrate Tropical Smoothie National Flip Flop Day with a FREE Smoothie TODAY
Get Started on Your Wellness Goals with Free Supplement Samples
FREE Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish Glow Up Party Kit
FREE 30-Day Supply of MIRANEST Jelly Sticks for Dogs – a $120 Value
FREE Rabanne Invictus Victory Absolu Fragrance Sample
Deals:
Up to 46% off Select Patio Furniture at Home Depot
Summer Dresses up to 50% Off at Macy’s – Prices as low as $8!
Best Places To Buy Cheap & Affordable Furniture Online: 2025
Take 5 Oil Change and Car Wash Coupons for 2025
Everything You Need to Know About Michaels Rewards
Save Up to 70% Off Women’s Jeans at Kohls – Prices as low as $7.42
Kate Spade Ginnie Crossbody ONLY $65 (Reg $199)
Teachers: Save 20% with the Under Armour Teacher Discount
Kids Digital Camera ONLY $10.49 (Reg $30) on Amazon
TODAY ONLY All Swimsuits at Old Navy 60% Off for the Whole Family
Check Out This Persil Detergent Deal for ONLY $8.97 with Walmart Cash
Lock n Lock 30-Piece Storage Container Set ONLY $22 (Reg $76)
Save 48% Off Folding Floor Chair at Wayfair
Some of the Best Things to Buy at BJ’s Wholesale That Are Worth Your Money in 2025
Kate Spade Spade Flower Quilted Cosmetic Pouch ONLY $39 (Reg $129)
Best Walmart Cash Deals This Week: Belvita, Persil, Purex, All, Dove, Dole and More
Sandals & Flip Flops From at $12.79 at JCPenney
Vera Bradley Belt Bag as Low as $11 – NOW 80% Off
Belvita Energy Snack Bites ONLY $2.97 (Reg $4.48) after Walmart Cash
Revlon 1875W Compact Hair Dryer ONLY $10.97 at Walmart (Reg $29)
This week has been great for summer freebies and deals!
I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.
If you are looking for free food resources, my comprehensive list can be found here. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.
Let’s get onto the Freebies!!
FREE Capri Sun Single Serve Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Sample of L’Oreal Everpure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment
FREE Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Set at Sephora After Cash Back
FREE Paint or Stain Sample at Lowe’s
FREE Baseball Game Workshop at Home Depot
FREE MyONE Custom Fit Condom
FREE LEGO Classic Brick Box Set After Cash Back
FREE $35 Purchase at Target After Cash Back
$1 Million in FREE Chipotle for Cinco De Mayo
FREE Slider at White Castle on May 15th
FREE Frozen Drink at Casey’s Every Friday in May thru August
FREE Pack of EXTRA Gum – 1st 500
FREE Sample of Sunrise Strips Fabric Sun Protection Strips
FREE Ticket to the Movie Watch The Skies
FREE Planet Fitness Summer Pass for Teens
FREE Food & Beverage Products from the Nestle GoodNes Community
FREE Skinnygirl Avocado Oil Salad Dressings Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Starface Black Star Pimple Patches
FREE Groovies Dog Dental Chews
FREE 8×10 Photos at Walgreens
FREE Hootenanny Games Party Pack
FREE Air Wick Plug In Scented Oil Advanced Gadgets After Walmart Cash (Get 3 Free)
FREE Sample of BIODERMA Original Cleansing Micellar Water
FREE Cold Foam Days at Starbucks on May 7th – 11th
Deals
Doorbusters Sale at JCPenney: Save up to 55% Off Select Styles
Yankee Candles Mother’s Day Sale – Buy 2 Get 2 Free
Graphic Tees $6, $5 & $4 at Old Navy
Grab These Best Shoe Deals on Sale For Women, Men & Kids, Up to 75% Off
Ulta Coupon: $3 off $15
Up to 30% Off Fragrance & Beauty at Macy’s
Pizza Coupons, Promo Codes and Deals From Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Little Caesars and More!
Quick Dri Bath Towels $4.99 Each at JCPenney
Top Magnetic Building Tiles Under $30: Tested in 2025
Old Navy – Save up to 70% Off Clearance Styles – Prices Start at $0.96
JCPenney Scented Jar Candles ONLY $8.99 (Reg $26)
Hewes Family Fun 