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6 Weeks of FREE School Supplies at Staples

Abby H.Leave a comment

It says 7 weeks, but the first week has already passed.

Enjoy 6 weeks of FREEBIES with Staples! From now through September 12th, Staples is offering a series of weekly freebies with a qualifying purchase, both in-store and online.

Plus, find classroom essentials as low as 25¢ all season long!  Available in-store and online.

Here’s the freebies:

  • July 12-18th: Free Astrobright Solar Spark colored paper (100 sheets)
  • July 19-25th: Free Sharpie S-Gel pens (2-pack)
  • July 26-August 1st: Free Post-it Pop-up Notes Dispenser
  • August 2-8th: Free Eccolo Password Journal
  • August 9-15th: Free Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens (2-pack)
  • August 23rd (Sunday Only): Free NeeDoh Groovy Glob
  • September 6-12th: Free Staples Tote Bag

About Staples Rewards: Staples Rewards is a free loyalty program that lets members earn points and cash back on purchases made in-store, online or through the Staples app. Members earn 1 point per $1 spent, with opportunities to double or triple points by selecting bonus categories tailored to their shopping habits. Points can be redeemed at checkout, and active members enjoy perks like exclusive deals, free delivery, and rewards for recycling ink cartridges

JCPenney Winter Sale- Up to 60% off!

Abby H.

Y’all know I love JCP. Between their rewards program and their amazing clearance sales, it’s a great place to shop for household basics.

Currently, they are offering an amazing winter sale, with prices up to 60% off using the coupon code 2REFRESH at checkout.

I’m on the hunt for some 100% cotton sheets for my big kid’s bed.

The best part about these sales is that you can shop online and either have your items shipped to you or pick them up in-store. Many stores offer curbside pickup, too!

BrightLife Kids: Free Behavioral Health Coaching for Kids 0-12 in California!

Abby H.

This information was sent home with my littlest kid, and it is an amazing resource for California Families.

Brightlife Kids is fully paid for by the State of California. Working to ensure all California families can find the behavioral health support they need when they need it. You qualify if you have a California zip code and a child ages 0–12.

Kids ages 0–12 get free, expert coaching for the following issues:

  • Tough transitions like divorce, moving, new classroom/school, new sibling.
  • Tantrums and big emotions (anxiety, anger)
  • Focus and Organizational Skills
  • And more

Check out their website for more information and to see if Brightlife is a good fit for your family.

Back to School Shopping at Kohl’s!

Abby H.

I love shopping at Kohl’s. They have great deals on clothes and home goods.

Between their coupons and sales, their prices are comparable to JCP, and I find that most Kohl’s locations have a better shoe selection than JCP.

My tips for saving at Kohl’s:

  1. If you are a Kohl’s Rewards Member, log on to your account and check your wallet for any coupons before shopping.
  2. Kohl’s has a decent clearance section in-store and online. Usually, their clearance is included in coupons and sales.
  3. One thing I really like about Kohl’s is their buy online, ship to store feature. I also like their buy online, pick up in store.
  4. Most Kohl’s have Sephora locations in the middle of their stores. You can use your Sephora coupons and birthday freebie offers in those locations.
  5. Kohl’s has an incredible toy selection, and their coupons and Kohl’s Cash can be used on toys (restrictions apply, of course), and the Kohl’s Cash I earn with back-to-school shopping can help me offset the cost of holiday gifts/toys.

$5 and $10 Clearance at JCP!

Abby H.

JCP is the master of clearance. They have incredible clearance online and in-store, and right now, JCP has clearance for the whole family starting at $5!

If you are looking for inexpensive cotton shirts to tie dye or craft with, this clearance sale is a great time to stock up. I know craft stores that sell cheap shirts, but I love these shirts instead:

If you are looking for more information about tie dying, check out my post here.

Positive Parenting: Free Online Parenting support!

Abby H.

This information was emailed to me by my kid’s school district.

The Santee School District and Jewish Family Services are presenting the Positive Parenting Program via Zoom.

Dates: Wednesdays: 10/9, 10/16 & 10/26, 2024
Time: 6-7:30pm (Register in advance)
Register Here

California Residents: Free Behavioral Health Coaching for Kids 0-12

Abby H.

Brightlife is a great, free resource for California families. They offer free behavior coaching for parents of children ages 0-12 years.

Kids ages 0–12 get free, expert coaching for sleep issues, worry, social skills, and more. Live, 1:1 video sessions, secure chat, on-demand content, and more.

Brightlife Kids is fully paid for by the State of California. Together, we are working to ensure all California families can find the behavioral health support they need when they need it. You qualify if you have a California zip code and a child ages 0–12.

Check out their website for more information and to see if Brightlife is a good fit for your family.

Tax Time is Here- Save up To 20% on Turbo Tax!

Abby H.

You may find it hard to believe, but tax season is in full swing! I’ve got a couple ways for you to save money on filing your taxes, and some tips to make it a little easier.

I already prepared and filed our taxes using Turbo Tax online. It’s quick and they walk you through everything. Because of our tax situation, we are unable to do our taxes for free, so for my family, TurboTax is the best/easiest solution. If you want to try Turbo Tax out, here is a link where you can receive up to 20% off any paid online federal product!https://turbo.tax/tyscae8e

If you make $72,000 or less, check out the IRS Free File.

If you aren’t sure what you need to file your taxes, here are just a few pieces of paperwork you may need (depending on your tax situation):

  • W-2’s- one from each of your jobs
  • 1099’s: if you are an independent contractor
  • DMV paperwork (if you don’t have this, then the VIN and license plate # from your car, and go here– CA only, I’m sure other states may have something similar).
  • Receipts for any tax-deductible donations
  • Receipts for any medical expenses (co-pays, prescriptions)
  • Paperwork from your Mortgage Company regarding your interest paid
  • Paperwork regarding your property taxes paid
  • Dependents’ Social Security Numbers
  • IRA Year-End Statements
  • Interest Statements from banks

I start a folder (like this one) each year and I put all of the paperwork in it as it comes into the house. Then, after we do our taxes, I print a copy out, pull out all of our supporting documents, put them into a manilla envelope, write the year on the front, seal it, and stash it with our other past years’ taxes. We keep 10 years’ worth of tax records, just in case.

Talk Back: Have you done your taxes yet?

5 Tips to Save on Black Friday (and earlier)

Abby H.

Black Friday shopping is not my jam, nor has it ever been. I know a lot of people love getting up at the crack of dawn to save money, but I’d rather snuggle with my cat.

Some Retailers have already started their Black Friday Deals: JCPenney, Walmart, and Target have deals up on their sites and in-store now. Here are my top five tips to help you save a little more on Black Friday (and beyond):

  1. Make a List! This seems like a no-brainer, but make a list of each person you are shopping for and then list a few possibilities. There are still supply change issues, and that means some stores may be out of what you had planned.
  2. Use Rewards Programs to your advantage! I’m talking about Target Circle, Target Red Card, JCPenney Rewards, MyPoints, Swagbucks, and Ibotta. I did a bunch of holiday shopping yesterday online at JCP. JCPenney Rewards members earn a $10 bonus Reward for every $50 spent in-store and online on qualifying purchases 11/18/22-11/30/22. Limit 3 bonus Rewards per customer. I had already planned to do the bulk of my holiday shopping there anyway, so these rewards are a bonus that I’ll use to buy kid socks, which both kids need. And if you are looking for coupon codes- Don’t forget the Honey Browser Extension!
  3. Make a Budget and STICK TO IT. Seriously. And if you do stockings- take those into consideration as part of the budget.  I save Amazon Gift card codes all year for gift shopping, and I set aside a small count each month in a separate saving account for holidays and gift-giving occasions. I earn Amazon Gift cards by doing Research studies (like the ones I post about all the time) and surveys on  MyPoints and Swagbucks.
  4. If you shop in person, take cash. If you are easily tempted, take cash, and leave your cards at home. This forces you to stay on budget.
  5. Homemade Gifts are awesome!  If like me, your budget is very small this year, don’t forget to flex your craft/artistic/cooking skills. I make hats, cookies, pj pants, and aprons usually for several folks on my gift list. I use supplies that I already have on hand. I love making soup, so I’ll be making several large batches, freezing 4-6 serving-size portions, and giving them to family members.

And finally, remember that the winter holidays are not about gifts. They are about coming together with friends and family to celebrate. If you having a difficult time making the magic happen for your family this year, check out my 2022 Holiday Resources post here. In December I’ll be hosting an Amazon Gift Card giveaway as well.

Kohl’s Rewards Members- Check your Accounts!

Abby H.

I love shopping at Kohl’s. They have great deals on clothes and home goods. Did you know they have a bussin’ toy department (at least according to my kids)?

If you are a Kohl’s Rewards Member, log on to your account and check your wallet for a $10 of $50 toy department coupon (exclusions apply)! They are valid through 10/31/2022 in case you have a birthday to shop for, or if you’re like me and you want to get a jump on your holiday shopping.

And to sweeten the deal, through 10/31/2022, select Lego sets and toys are 20% off!