kids

Save for the Holidays (and Beyond!)- My top tips!

Abby H.

file0001508044668Christmas is 64 days away, and while some of us have been saving our pennies and dollars, some of us haven’t. This article is for those of you who are looking to earn some extra money. For the holidays, or heck, even beyond that!

Now these are all methods that I have used, and continue to use, so there is no baloney coming from me.

  • I do Surveys. Here is a post with links to my top survey companies, including how much each one has earned me!
  • One of my favorite survey companies is Paid View Point.  Surveys are short (less than 5 minutes).  Earn cash with each Survey.  You get $1.00 when you sign up! The pay out is $15.00, and it takes about a month-6 weeks to earn $15.00. So far in 2015, I’ve earned about $78.00.
  • I send my junk mail to Small Business Knowledge Center. Here is a post about it with details. I just got another $20 GC from them earlier this month!
  • I take our bottles and cans to the recycling center. It’s not a ton of money, but I paid the deposit on those bottles, I want it back! I take Lil’ Man with me and we get about $4-$5/month between the milk jugs and misc. bottles and cans. We don’t drink a lot of soda or juice. My parents save their recyclables for us too!
  • I do simple tasks with Field Agent. Field Agent is an app for smartphones that allows you to do simple tasks like photographing displays in stores or scanning items in stores. They even have secret shopping tasks.  Tasks vary in pay, however most pay between $3-$10. I’ve been using Field Agent for 2 months and I’ve earned over $100. Payment is done via Paypal!
  • I also do simple tasks with Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. I transfer the earnings to my Amazon.com account. You sign up and do tasks for small amounts of money, but the money adds up fast.  The tasks are quick and simple (transcription, surveys, flagging inappropriate photos).  I’ve earned over $50 since February.  If you want cold hard cash instead of Amazon.com credit there is an option to have money transferred to a bank account.  Mechanical Turk does ask for your SSN when you sign up- you will receive a 1099- MISC at the end of the year., regardless of which option you select.
  • Earn Gift cards with Mypoints. I take surveys, click links in emails, and do all of my online shopping through Mypoints. So far in 2015, I’ve earned about $45.00.
  • I also use Swagbucks. I use their search engine toolbar, take a daily poll, watch a video and click a few links each day! So far in 2015, I’ve earned about $60.00. Swagbucks has tons of rewards, you can receive cash via paypal too!
  • I use my smartphone to save money too. There are tons of apps that have help you save money in the store (coupons), and get your money back afterwards (rebates). Here is a list of my favs. I’m loving Ibotta right now- I’ve saved over $100 this year alone, just buying my normal groceries!

All of these things are easy to do, realistic, and even a busy person can take 10 minutes out of their day to do one of the things I’ve listed.

Coming to San Diego this Winter: Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker!

Abby H.

The Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker is coming to San Diego Dec. 15! My Readers Can Save on Tickets Now with this exclusive offer from US Family Guide .

It’s the ultimate holiday tradition and creates memories for a lifetime. The production includes over 200 romantic costumes and 10′ tall playful animal puppets; shimmering colorful, backdrops splashed with 3-D effects; life-sized Matrushka (Nesting) Dolls and a puppet show for shadowing the Nutcracker Story at the opening Christmas Party. During the battle with Nutcracker Prince and the 3-headed Rat King, a golden cannon shoots roses! In the Magical Snow Forest an authentic Russian style Troika Sleigh, known as the fastest sleigh in the world, is escorted by Father Christmas (Ded Moroz) and Snow Maiden (Snegurochka) on their way to Act II. The Great Russian Nutcracker is known for its dedication to world peace with Act II named the “Land of Peace and Harmony.” The first scene of Act II features a stunning “Dove of Peace” with a 20′ wingspan and danced by 2 dancers each with one feathered wing. All ages feel the spirit of the season at Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker! Use the code JOY to get the biggest discount of the season for your family.

Save on the Moscow Ballet’s celebrated Great Russian Nutcracker 2015 North American Tour. USE PROMO CODE: JOY

I am so excited to take Lil’ Man! I know he’ll love it!

Scary Face Pancakes: Free at IHOP 10/30/15!

Abby H.

Screen Shot 2015-10-06 at 9.48.19 AM

 

They’re BACKKKK!!

October marks the return of an IHOP® favorite that makes everyone smile, but now with
even more fun: Scary Face Pancakes are back! Bring the kids to create their own legend—scary or silly—with strawberries, whipped topping, Mini Oreo® cookies and candy corn.

And your kids can enjoy a FREE Scary Face Pancake at your local IHOP on 10/30/15! All kids 12 & under get a Scary Face Pancake between 7am and 10pm Friday, October 30th at participating locations. One per child. Dine in only.

I’ll be taking Lil’ Man and we’ll be meeting friends for a fun, frugal breakfast!

October is Free Kids Month in San Diego!

Abby H.

October in San Diego means free fun for kids!

kidsfree2015Kids are invited to explore San Diego’s diverse museums — for FREE! From October 1 – 31, children ages 12 and under receive FREE admission with a paid adult (limit 2) at any of our three-dozen participating museums. Just download the coupon (available here) and present it upon arrival.

Explore the hidden treasures of the ocean or the far reaches of outer space. Delve into local history, visual arts, botanical gardens, architectural treasures — and more! Note: This offer does not include special events/exhibits or field trips.

 

Participating museums:

 

Barona Cultural Center & Museum
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Cabrillo National Monument
California Center for the Arts Museum
California Surf Museum
Coronado Museum of History & Art
Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
Heritage of the Americas Museum
Japanese Friendship Garden
La Jolla Historical Society
Living Coast Discovery Center
Lux Art Institute
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Marston House Museum & Gardens
Mingei International Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Museum of Making Music
Museum of Photographic Arts
Oceanside Museum of Art
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (galleries only)
San Diego Air & Space Museum
San Diego Archaeological Center
San Diego Automotive Museum
San Diego Botanic Garden
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
San Diego History Center
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT)
Santa Ysabel General Store
Serra Museum
The New Children’s Museum
The San Diego Museum of Art
The Water Conservation Garden
Tijuana Estuary
Timken Museum of Art (FYI- this museum is always free)
USS Midway Museum
Veterans Museum & Memorial Center
Visions Art Museum
Warner-Carillo Ranch House
Women’s Museum of California

Kids Free in October is presented by ScholarShare, California’s 529 College Savings Plan, with additional support provided by Time Warner Cable, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture.

** The coupon allows up to two children 12 and under to get in FREE with one full-price paid adult. Children must be accompanied by the adult during the visit. This coupon cannot be used for specially ticketed events, Maker Faire San Diego, special exhibitions/exhibits, field trips or group visits. Coupon cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. No cash value. Coupon is valid October 1-31, 2015.

 

Oh, and as part of free October, Kids can get into the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park free when accompanied by a paying adult!  WOO HOO!

There is another list of free stuff for kids (including kids eat free) here on the San Diego Tourism Authority website.

$15 Credit to Schoola- New Clothes for free!

Abby H.

Having kids means two things: Someone is always hungry, and someone always needs new clothes.

Screen Shot 2015-09-28 at 8.25.27 PMSchoola to the rescue! Through 9/30/15, when you use coupon code FALLINGPRICES at checkout, you’ll score 50% off their already low prices on new and gently worn baby, kids, teens, and adult clothing and accessories! But it gets better…Schoola is giving away 5,000 $5 coupon codes for a limited time. This means you can get women’s and kids’ clothes absolutely FREE for a limited time. Simply sign up to be the first to know about our upcoming brand-name, new with tags, flash sales from Gymboree, Tea Collection, more and They’ll issue a unique $5 code.

Oh, yeah, want more free clothes? Schoola gives new users $15 in store credit to use too! So recap:

  • $15 free for new users (refer your friends and you’ll both receive $15 to spend!)
  • $5 coupon code for the first 5000 people to sign up here
  • Free shipping through 9/30/15
  • 50% off already low prices through 9/30/15

Schoola helps you save money by purchasing gently used and new clothing and it also allows schools to fundraise without selling the usual items (candy bars, gift wrap, etc.). It’s a great way to help schools all over the US!

What are you waiting for? I scored 5 shirts for our fall Tie Dye project all for free!

 

(Disclosure: My referral link is above- I get $15 in store credit if you sign up, which is great b/c my kids constantly need new clothes, seriously! I really appreciate it!

Pick up a free 8 x 10 canvas from Canvas People & Everyday Family!

Abby H.

I think one of the best gifts for family is the gift of photos, especially if you have kids!

Right now when you sign up at EveryDay Family, you’ll be emailed a code of a free 8 x 10 canvas from Canvas People!

Joining EveryDay Family is free!v What a perfect way to get a jump on your holiday shopping list.

Review: Moringa Oleifera

Abby H.


I’ve tried everything to increase my breastmilk supply. Drinking tons of water, eating oatmeal until I look (and feel) like the Quaker Oats Guy, supplements galore.

600638b72f86e2f3fcaf08498417e4ec771f5856I have IGT, so there isn’t much I can so, but I’ve heard great things about Moringa Oleifera. Moringa comes from Asia where it is eaten as the whole leaf in soups. Pure Moringa Oleifera is one of the richest sources of nutrients available today. Moringa leaves have been shown to contain 9 times the iron of spinach, 4 times the calcium of milk, and 3 times the potassium of bananas.

After just a few days I noticed my supply increase just little, but in my case I’ll take whatever extra drips and dobbles I can get.  In addition, my horrible charlie horses have subsided!

I plan on continuing taking Moringa Oleifera as long as I can. It’s nice to see an increase in my supply and know that I am getting essential nutrients that I may otherwise be missing! I try to eat healthy, but sometimes I can’t always get in my 5 servings of fruit and veg a day!

Thanks to the nice folks over at Tomoson and Fresh Healthcare for the complimentary bottle of Moringa Oleifera to facilitate my review. I received no monetary compensation and all opinions are my own.

 

Two VentureFlex Shoes for $40 Plus Free Shipping at Reebok!

Abby H.

**The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

If you haven’t finished your BTS shopping yet, here is a great sale. Through tonight, can get two pairs of  two pairs VentureFlex Shoes for $40 + Free Shipping with the code Venture.

After years of Lil’ Man destroying shoes (Boys have some crazy super powers!), I wised up and started buying him better made shoes. They may be a little more expensive at the start, but they last so much longer that I’m saving money in the long run!

Reebok has a lot of great sales coming up! I’ll try to post about them as they go live!

Savings Bonds: The gift that keeps on giving!

Abby H.

file0001658617775Thanks to hubs for the idea to post about this! Savings bonds are an awesome gift for the kiddo in your life that may have everything, or for the sullen teenager on your list.

Savings Bonds are an awesome long-term investment for kids. It teaches patience, and the value of savings.

You can no longer purchase paper savings bonds (the government nixed that program a few years ago), however, the $25 EE bond can still be given electronically.

The 0.10 percent interest at purchase turns into 3.5 percent-plus rate of return once the bond is held for 20 years and its value doubles! Depending on the age of the recipient, it may mature in time for college expenses!

A friend of hubs Grandmother purchased bonds for him and his sister each year got about 10 years. The bonds started to mature a few years ago, so he’s been cashing them out as they mature. It was a very thoughtful gift, and over the years the money has come in handy.

The interest is subject to federal income taxes, but free from state and local levies.

To give a savings bond (available in any denomination from $25 to $10,000) an adult has to set up a Treasury Direct account in the child’s name, but the account is only accessible by the giver until the youngster reaches 18.

While the savings bond is only digital, making a certificate and attaching the receipt to the back (for mom and dad’s records) is a good idea. The Treasury website is there to help! There is still a choice of seven colorful gift cards that can be printed out and wrapped.

Heck, I heard that even Santa likes to give Savings Bonds!

For more details on giving savings bonds and the paperwork, click here.

Save 15% on iTunes gift cards $25 or more at JCPenney! #iTunesJCP15

Abby H.

file0001262541721I’m a big fan of gift cards, especially when they are on sale, so this deal is right up my alley!

Starting today through August 29th at JCPenney’s you’ll save 15% on iTunes gift cards $25 or higher! If you haven’t finished your Back to School shopping, make sure to stop by JCPenney’s and check out this deal.

But wait… It gets better. You can double dip if you’ve got a rewards credit card. We’ve got the American Express Blue Cash credit card and we receive  2% cash back rewards on purchases made at department stores including JCPenney. Check your rewards credit card to see if you get a special amount or even extra rewards at department stores.

And here is a triple dip idea: If you’ve got the Receipt Hog rebate app (learn more about it here) you can scan in your receipt to earn points towards an Amazon Gift Card or cash via Paypal.

I love buying gift cards on sale because it’s like getting money for free. I am always on the hunt for gift cards on a discount- it helps stretch our gift giving budget.

Whether you opt to give these discounted gift cards as gifts (they’d be well paired with some new earphones or as a stocking stuffer), or keep them for yourself to purchase apps, music, movies or ebooks. Did you know iTunes Gift Cards can be used in the iTunes Store, App Store, iBooks Store, or Mac App Store? iTunes gift cards make a great gift for pretty much anyone- especially college kids, teachers, or that hard to shop for teenager on your holiday shopping list.

To celebrate this awesome deal, the sponsor of this post is hosting an awesome giveaway of a $25 Amazon e-gift card. Everyone could use an extra $25, right?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I had to share this deal with you and I hope you’ll share it with your friends!

This deal is only valid on iTunes gift cards available for purchase in JCPenney stores that have a $25 value or more. This deal specifically excludes $15 iTunes Gift Cards. For more details, check with your local JCPenney store. This is a sponsored post from our friends at Tatu Digital Media, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.