save money

Save Money and Electricity with Ohm Connect!

Abby H.

Screen Shot 2016-08-03 at 5.02.27 PMI haven’t posted about OhmConnect in a while, and I wanted to bring it up again because of the change in seasons upon us. Lots of us will be turning on our heaters soon, and that means an increase in power bills.

OhmConnect is a program for Southern CA, New York, or Texas Residents. We save about $200/year on our power bill and earn roughly $150 in rewards. It’s a nice little extra for minimal work.

We’ve been using it for a few years, and they text and/or email you when you should conserve more power due to the demand on the power grid. It’s a win-win situation: You save money on your power bill, and you earn points from OhmConnect that you can cash out for PayPal, Amazon, or Target Gift Cards, OhmConnect store credit (to buy energy-efficient thermostats, smart plugs, etc.)

You can learn more about OhmConnect here.

Holiday Feast for 10 from Aldi for $40 (Plus $10 off)

Abby H.

Thanksgiving is coming up, and even if you don’t celebrate it,  this is a pretty good deal to fill your pantry or the pantry of someone you know.

Aldi, my favorite grocery store as of late, has a pretty amazing deal, and with Instacart store pickup, it’s even sweeter.

For $40, you can buy the following to create a tasty feast, or honestly, several great meals. I see ingredients that would make a few meals and hearty dishes, besides the usual holiday feast.

  • Whole Turkey
  • Chicken Broth
  • Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • Evaporated Milk
  • Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
  • Miniature Marshmallows
  • Cut Green Beans (x2)
  • 100% Pure Canned Pumpkin
  • Shells & Cheese (x2)
  • Brown Gravy Mix (x3)
  • Poultry Spices & Herbs
  • French Fried Onions
  • Pie Crust
  • Chicken or Cornbread Stuffing (x2)
  • Whipped Dairy Topping
  • Yellow Onions (3 lbs.)
  • Baby Peeled Carrots
  • Celery
  • Cranberries
  • Sweet Potatoes (3 lbs.)
  • Russet Potatoes (10 lbs.)

All of this is about $40 at your local Aldi. If you use Instacart store pickup through the Instacart app, you’ll save yourself about an hour of shopping (maybe a little more), and the groceries will be packed and loaded into your car for only $3.99

If you are new to Instacart, I’ve got a deal for you! Get $10 off your first Instacart order! Use my code AHEWES1A5 at checkout!  Terms apply.

And yes, if you have any remaining SNAP/EBT benefits available to you, there is no pickup fee.

2025: New Ibotta Accounts can Score Free Thanksgiving Dinner!

Abby H.1 Comment

Ibotta has an offer for new Ibotta members, where they can redeem cashback offers to make part of their Thanksgiving feast free after rebate.

If you are already an Ibotta user, have no fear- there is a freebie for you, it just requires a little work.

Existing members can earn a free turkey when they refer their friends to Ibotta to claim their 100% cash back turkey offer! Just make sure they sign up using your referral code, and your turkey offer will be available once they redeem their first offer!

If you are new to Ibotta, you will receive the following rebates loaded into the app:

New members will receive offers for:

  • Any brand Turkey Roast up to $13.65
  • McCormick Gravy Packet
  • Edwards Whole Pie
  • Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
  • Idahoan Mashed Potatoes

You can download the Ibotta app here. When you use my referral code qmo4a, you will receive the amazing offers above! If you are looking for a good starter offer? Here is a free after-rebate offer I found in Ibotta!

I use Ibotta in conjunction with other apps like Fetch Rewards- I add all of my receipts to Fetch, each one gives me at least 25 points, and gets me closer to rewards like CVS Gift Cards, Darden Restaurant Gift Cards, or Vons/Albertsons Grocery Store Gift Cards.

Disclosure: this Post contains my referral code. I may earn a referral credit or bonus if you sign up through my link. I do not need the Turkey Roast, however if the offer becomes available to me because someone signs up, I will purchase it and donate it to someone in my community via my local Buy Nothing group.

Save 18% on your SDG&E Bill with the FERA discount!

Abby H.

This was in my inbox over the weekend, and this information is going to be super helpful for some of you.

The Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program can help you save money on your electric bill every month, about 18%. And with the new income limits, and adding in household sizes of 1-2, more people can qualify.

It’s quick and easy:

  • Check the new income eligibility guidelines below
  • Locate your 12-digit account number (It can be found on your SDG&E bill)
  • No additional documentation is needed
  • Applications are quick and confidential

To get started on the FERA application, all you need is your SDG&E account number (found on your bill), visit the SDG&E site here, and get started.

You may be eligible for additional assistance programs. To learn more, visit sdge.com/assistance.

And if you want more ways to save energy and money, check out Ohm Connect! We’ve been using Ohm Connect for 6+ years, saved thousands of dollars on our power bill, and earned thousands of dollars in gift cards and cash via PayPal!

2025 California Climate Credit- Savings on Your October Utility Bill!

Abby H.

It’s that time again! On your October California Utility Bill (Which includes PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, Bear Valley, Liberty, and Pacific Power), you will receive a California Climate Credit. For SDG&E customers, the amount is $81.38. This comes off the Electric portion of your bill. 

The California Climate Credit directly results from the State’s Cap-and-Trade Program which requires polluters to pay for climate pollution. Credits are distributed in April and October each year. Credits appear automatically on your bill and are designed to help utility customers during the transition to a more sustainable future.

And if you want more ways to save energy and money, check out Ohm Connect! We’ve been using Ohm Connect for 6+ years, saved thousands of dollars on our power bill, and earned thousands of dollars in gift cards and cash via PayPal!

Back to School Haircuts and Supplies 8/9/2025!

Abby H.

It’s back!

The Larry Himmel Neighborhood Foundation’s biggest event is back!

Saturday, August 9, 2025

9AM -1PM at Skyline Church in La Mesa11330 Campo Road La Mesa, CA 91941

It’s the annual Back-to-School Haircut Event — a day dedicated to supporting local families with free haircuts, school supplies, food, and fun.

Last year’s event was a huge success. Over 1,000 kids attended, and more than 400 walked away with fresh haircuts — ready to start the school year with confidence.

This year, It’s even bigger and better. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Free school supplies for students

  • Free haircuts for kids

  • Free tickets to local attractions — including Padres games

  • Live DJ, games, and kids’ activities

  • Free food for the whole family

This is a first-come, first-served event — so be sure to arrive early and enjoy the festivities while supplies last.

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Save Time and Money with Instacart and $10 off!

Abby H.

I’m not joking- I’ve been saving time and money like a boss with Instacart.

I’ve been using Instacart for about 6 months. Here is my secret: I shop at stores that feature the label “In-Store Prices”, and I select curbside pickup. For me, that’s usually Aldi, but my example pic is Walmart.

I don’t have Instacart+, just plain ol’ regular Instacart.  It’s free, no monthly fee.

How does Instacart save me money?

  1. I only buy what is on my list. I am not cruising the aisles. Nothing else “falls” into my cart.
  2.  No kids with me means I don’t have to say NO to every want and desire. No deviation from the shopping list, no upset kids.
  3. Time=Money. It saves me at least an hour of shopping, bagging, and loading into my car.

And with orders of $50+ the fee is only $1.99, for orders less than $50, the fee is $3.99. Because I’m cheap, I wait until I need $50+ in groceries to order, which is usually every 7-10 days. Spending $1.99 to save at least $20 by sticking to my list, and saving at minimum an hour is a deal in my mind.

Do you use SNAP/EBT?  If you use EBT SNAP to buy groceries at participating stores on Instacart and skip the delivery or pickup fee. New customers enjoy $0 delivery fee* on their first 3 grocery orders. And exclusive for EBT customers, get 50% off Instacart+ for one year**.

*Service fees apply. **Terms apply. More information and details can be found here.

If you are new to Instacart, I’ve got a deal for you! Get $10 off your first Instacart order! Use my code AHEWES1A5 at checkout!  Terms apply.

Free Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table at Walmart After Cash Back (TopCashback)

Abby H.

This is an amazing deal for those who are new to TopCashback.

Get a FREE Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table with this Top Cashback offer! Sign up and purchase the Mainstays Adjustable Folding Table to get $30.94 of your purchase price back with this cash-back offer – making it free.

If you are not a TopCashback member, you are in luck. TopCashback is a rebate site that I’ve been using for at least 10 years.

When you shop online, 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!

It’ll take about 15 days or so for your TopCashBack account to be credited. Once your account has been credited, you can cash out your rebate.

I do most of my shopping online through TopCashBack and earn about $200/year. I cash out for PayPal or Target Giftcards.

Time For Glasses? Deals and Glasses Freebies

Abby H.

It’s that time of year. Glasses time for the kids. Kids are rough on everything, including glasses. The big kid usually goes through 1-2 pairs a year, just in day-to-day wear and tear. Luckily I’ve found some ways to save money on glasses and I thought I’d share.

1- Take advantage of existing vision insurance. Look on the back of your kid’s health insurance card to find out which company handles the vision coverage, or give your child’s health insurance carrier a call. My kids receive one eye exam and 1 free pair of glasses per year. I’m not sure if it’s available in all states.

2-If you need help getting glasses or vision exams for your kids, check out Vision to Learn. They operate in 13 states and partner with the Boys and Girls Club, offering free eye exams and eyeglasses for kids. If you aren’t in a state where they operate, check out InfantSEE.  They offer Kids 6 months-1 year a free eye exam.

3- If you are in San Diego, the Shiley Eye clinic (part of UCSD) has the EyeMobile. They have frequent outreach events to help kids obtain needed eye exams and glasses. Check out their Facebook Page to keep up to date on their upcoming events.

If you are 65+, you can obtain a free eye exam from Eye Care America.

4- Onto the deals. Once you have your prescription in hand, check out online stores like Abbe glasses. They have great deals on frames and lenses. I scored two pairs of glasses for under $50 for the big kid with their BOGO sale. ILoveGlasses also has good deals as well. Both of these companies are great for budget-conscious families. If you are looking for something a little higher-end (or for grown-ups), I also like Warby Parker.

They have a great glasses try-on program, and they also sell Contacts. In fact, they have a free contact offer.

Having used Warby Parker before, their glasses are great, and their service is amazing! We bought glasses online, and later when they needed to be adjusted (helpful tip: Don’t roughhouse with kids when you are wearing glasses), we took them to our local Warby Parker store and they “tuned up” the glasses FOR FREE!

And if you are wondering what to do with all of the old eyeglasses in your house that are no longer your current prescription…. The Lions Club helps recycle eyeglasses and get them into the hands of the needy. You can find out more about how and where to recycle your unwanted eyeglasses here.  I also recommend checking with your local optometrist’s office. They frequently partner with local Lion’s Clubs to collect old glasses. You could help a person in need get the glasses they can’t afford!

What are your tips for saving on glasses and contacts?

**This post may contain affiliate links, for more information about how we use affiliate links, please visit our Disclosure page.**

2024 California Climate Credit- Savings on Your October Utility Bill!

Abby H.

It’s that time again! On your October California Utility Bill (Which includes PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, Bear Valley, Liberty, and Pacific Power), you will receive a California Climate Credit. For SDG&E customers, the amount is $78.22.

The California Climate Credit directly results from the State’s Cap-and-Trade Program which requires polluters to pay for climate pollution. Credits are distributed in April and October each year. Credits appear automatically on your bill and are designed to help utility customers during the transition to a more sustainable future.

And if you want more ways to save energy and money, check out Ohm Connect! We’ve been using Ohm Connect for 5+ years, saved thousands of dollars on our power bill, and earned thousands of dollars in gift cards and cash via PayPal!