save money

California Climate Credit- It’s Back for August and September!

Abby H.

What is the California Climate Credit? This August* your utility bill will include an electric credit identified as the “California Climate Credit.” Your household and millions of others throughout the state will receive this credit on your utility bills.

In the past years, the electric credit was applied in April and October, and the gas credit was applied in April. For 2020 and 2021, the California Public Utilities Commission authorized SDG&E to temporarily shift the electric credit to be applied in August and September.

If you have any of the following utilities: PG&E, SDG&E, SCE Pacific Power, and Liberty Utilities, your August and September bills will have a credit.

Changing the distribution months will not change the total value of the climate credits you receive in a year. The shift will provide bill relief for customers – during the typically hottest months of the year – and reduce bill volatility.

The gas credit will continue to be applied in April. In 2022, the climate credit will be distributed back to its original timing of April and October unless the Commission directs otherwise. The California Climate Credit is part of California’s efforts to fight climate change. This credit is from a state program that requires power plants, natural gas providers, and other large industries that emit greenhouse gases, to buy carbon pollution permits.

The credit on your bill is your share of the payments from the State’s program. The Climate Credit is one of many programs resulting from landmark legislation called the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

The California Climate Credit is one way Californians are working towards a zero-carbon state. Find other ideas for energy and money-saving upgrades for your home while reducing your carbon footprint at energyupgradeca.org/the-movement.

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

I cashed out some of our points for a $25 Amazon Gift card last week, and we almost have enough for another $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Cents of Style Lounge Sets EXTRA 20% OFF Starting UNDER $16

Abby H.

Summer Sale

** This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

This week’s weekly deal from Cents of Style is very relaxing. SUMMER Lounge Sets are an EXTRA 20% off the sale price! These sets come in a variety of styles and sizes from XS-3XL.

To take advantage of this sale, use coupon code SUMMERBREAK takes an extra 20% OFF making these Start under $16!! Don’t forget FREE Shipping over $35! The code is active until 6/8/21 at midnight.

5 Reasons To Try Reusable Menstruation Products 

Abby H.

There are many types of reusable menstruation products on the market these days. Cups, discs, cloth pads, “period panties”.  Here are five reasons to give them a try!

1-While they may have a higher out-of-pocket, over time they cost less than disposable/one-use menstruation supplies. My Diva cup cost $35, but I’ve used it consistently for a year. On average, those who menstruate spend $159 or more per year on menstruation supplies, which equates to $6360 over the reproductive lifetime.

2- Reusable menstruation products are better for the environment. Some disposable menstruation products can’t be recycled, and often aren’t environmentally friendly. The plastics take a long time to biodegrade. Reusable pads can be rinsed out after use and then tossed into the washer and dryer.

3- Some reusable menstruation products can be used/left in for a longer amount of time than disposable. For example, I can wear my diva cup for up to 12 hours (discs have about the same time), but tampons need to be changed every 4 to 6 hours.

4-  Many companies of reusable menstruation products help those in need, or donate a portion of their profits to those who would not otherwise be able to afford menstruation products, People in underserved communities, schools, and homeless shelters.

5- It’s always good to try something new. People have been menstruating since the dawn of time, and until the past five or six years ago, there weren’t too many different ways to “deal” with the flow. Now those who have periods have choices. Try a new product, try a new brand, you might be surprised, you might find something new that you fall in love with. If you told me 10 years ago I would use a cup, I would laugh in your face. But, it has really helped with my cramps.

If you are interested in checking out some of the reusable menstrual products that I talked about, here is link to my Amazon list with tons of products.

SheSpeaks: New Snack Shopping Program!

Abby H.

SheSpeaks has a  Snack Food Shopping Program! To participate, you’ll purchase a specific snack food at an approved Walmart store. The item will cost approximately $5. You’ll be reimbursed $10 for your purchase within two weeks of you submitting your receipt!

To qualify for this program, you will need to be able to shop at a Walmart store on this list. (Due to limited availability, this product is only available at certain stores in AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, TX, UT, WA, WY.)

To get started, click here.

My Side Hustle Totals for 2020!

Abby H.

2020 wasn’t the best year for side hustles. Like most of us, I spent most of 2020 at home. That means no secret shopping, no audits with Field Agent. I did a lot more surveys and online research studies in 2020.

When there aren’t any side hustles to earn money, the name of the game becomes all about saving money.

My complete list of side hustles is here. And the list of apps I use is here.

Let’s start with Smartphone apps since they are pretty passive income for me. I’m not as much into them as a lot of other savers. The truth is, I don’t shop at most mainstream grocery stores, so apps like Ibotta aren’t very useful.

Misc. Most of these I have links to or more info in my side hustles post here.

  • Ohm Connect: $80 (It was hard to conserve electricity when we were all at home ALL YEAR)
  • Field Agent: $ 93.00
  • SBKC: $ 100
  • Research Studies/Focus groups: $1200 ( I did a ton of these online this year through Q-Insights and Digsite)
  • Capterra: $250
  • Selling stuff after we Marie Kondo’d the house: $555
  • PaidViewPoint: $47.06
  • Misc. Surveys, Rebates, and cashback offers: $280

That’s approximately $2800 in 2020. Not bad for a year where I spent most of the time writing, playing Playmobil, and attempting to conduct distance learning with two kiddos.

Save Time and Money with Amazon Subscribe & Save!

Abby H.

Now that Southern CA is back under a stay at home order, I’ve been looking for more ways to save money and keep us out of stores.

Enter Subscribe and Save from Amazon. I’ve been using Subscribe and Save for about a year for food items that we eat a lot of that are cheaper on Amazon (like Squeezy pouches, PBFit, Malt Powder). Talking to some friends online yesterday afternoon, I realized that not everyone knew about Subscribe and Save!

Key Benefits of Subscribe & Save

  • Save up to 15% on a large and growing selection of everyday essentials!
  • Need an item now? Yes, customers now have the option to receive the item within the usual 1-2 day shipping window for a 5% discount, and activate the subsequent deliveries of the subscription for up to 15% discount.
  • Authentic products sourced directly from brands and their authorized re-sellers.
  • Set it, forget it, and never run out.
  • Save a trip to the store – save time and money. You can have your favorite products delivered straight to your door.
  • No fees. Available for any customer with no long-term commitment, for FREE.
  • Change or cancel a subscription anytime.
  • Coupons-  There are usually coupons available for selected Subscribe & Save. You can always check here.

And there are all sorts of categories that have Subscribe & Save: Household Supplies, Baby Supplies, Pet Supplies, Groceries, Personal Care, and Health & Wellness.

I ordered toilet paper and a couple cleaning supplies through Subscribe & Save this morning!

And don’t forget that you can connect your Amazon account to Dosh and Receipt Hog to earn points for your Amazon purchases as well! Check out my Smart Phone Apps page for all the info on these apps.

Piñata: Make Rent Rewarding

Abby H.

I discovered this app the other day and I decided to share with you.

I was a renter for years, and each month it pained me to write a rent check and wave the money goodbye. Enter Piñata! Piñata is the world’s first and only rent rewards platform that gives you rewards for paying rent and is free.

Every rent day, get Piñata Cash, redeemable for gift cards and free goodies from top brands.

Even when it’s not rent day, Piñata gives renters exclusive deals and discounts to help you save on everyday expenses from CVS and Costco to Best Buy and Sprint to Papa John’s and Disney World. You get an average of $4,000 in yearly savings. You can also get cash back on special deals from your favorite brands.

You’ll get a $30 gift card just for creating your account.

Get Pinata Cash for referring friends & family and helping them earn as well!

Talk Back: If you sign up for Pinata, please let me know what you think!

Save Money on Online Purchases with Smarty!

Abby H.

If you are an online shopper (and at this point, who isn’t?), you know that searching online for coupon codes for each and every website can be daunting.

And did you know that Amazon isn’t always the best price? But do you really have the time (or energy) to comparison shop online? No.

That’s where Smarty comes in! It’s a Chrome Extension that combs the internet for coupon codes, discounts, and even comparison shops for you!

And it works on hundreds of websites including Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Macy’s!

As a bonus: When you install the browser and refer your friends, you can earn cash back! So it’s a win-win! Everyone saves, and you get a little cash back to pad your wallet.

 

Free Thanksgiving Dinner from Ibotta!

Abby H.

Ibotta and Walmart has hooked up to offer you a free Thanksgiving dinner! Seriously! If you are new to Ibotta, it’s a cashback app that is super easy to use.

This deal is super easy to do:

  • Download the Ibotta app.
  • Download the Ibotta browser extension to your computer and log in to Ibotta to discover our newest, most convenient way to shop online.
  • Once you’ve logged in and linked your Walmart account, all nine free Thanksgiving offers will appear in your browser extension immediately (and in the Ibotta app within an hour).
  • Link your Walmart Pickup & Delivery account to shop online with the browser extension. Or, shop at Walmart in-store with the Ibotta app. Either way, you’ll get cash back!
  • After you shop, scan your receipt in the Ibotta app. Once your receipt is verified, the funds will appear in your Ibotta account. You can cash out for Paypal or gift cards- your choice.

So what are you getting for free?

  • FREE Butterball Turkey Breast Roast ($9.98) Offer valid for 100% cash back on all flavors of the 3 lb Butterball turkey roast, which includes a gravy packet. Also valid for $9.98 cash back on Butterball whole turkeys.
  • McCormick Gravy, 0.87 oz Pouch Offer valid for all 0.87 oz McCormick gravy packet flavors. $1.12 Cash Back.
  • Great Value Stuffing Mix, 6 oz Offer valid for all 6 oz Great Value Stuffing Mix flavors. .82 Cash Back.
  • Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, 8 oz Pouch Offer valid for all 8 oz Idahoan Mashed Potato flavors. $1.88 Cash Back
  • Campbell’s Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup, 10.5 oz Can Offer valid on 10.5 oz can only .98 Cash Back
  • Great Value Cranberry Sauce, 14 oz Offer valid for all canned 14 oz Cranberry sauce varieties. .98 Cash Back
  • Great Value Green Beans, 12 oz Offer valid on Great Value Fine Green Beans, 12 oz frozen bag $1.34 Cash Back
  • French’s Crispy Fried Onions, 2.8 oz Offer valid on French’s Original Crispy Fried Onions, 2.8 oz. $1.92 Cash Back
  • Coca-Cola, 2 Liter Bottle Offer valid on 2 Liter bottles of Coca-Cola: Cherry Zero Sugar, Vanilla, Caffeine Free, Caffeine Free Zero Sugar, Original Taste & Zero Sugar. $1.25 Cash Back

This is a great opportunity to pick up a meal for free after cashback. And if some of these items aren’t food that you normally eat, food banks will be looking for donations for holiday meals.

You can download the Ibotta app here. When you use my referral code qmo4a, you will receive a bonus (the amount varies) after you redeem your first offer (like this sweet one).

If you’ve got questions, check out the FAQ about this deal here.

 

99 Cents Only has Deals for Thanksgiving (and a Coupon)

Abby H.

Y’all know I love 99 Cents Only,  and I have for years. I’ve written about my top 10 deals from 99 Cents only before here, and now I’m happy to report that you can celebrate Thanksgiving with an incredible feast frugally from our peeps at 99 Cents Only!

From stuffing, potatoes, cranberries, salads, yams, gravy (canned or pouch mix), canned veggies, cream of mushroom soup (for the green bean casserole), crispy french fried onions, and dessert options for your feast to decor for the table and the rest of the house, 99 Cents Only has you covered!

And this week, there is a coupon to help you save a bit more- Click here for 1 free item (priced up to .99) when you purchase $15 or more. Exclusions apply, the link has them all listed on the coupon.

And don’t forget that you can use cashback apps for purchases at 99 Cents Only! My two faves are Fetch Rewards and Checkout51. Learn more and find links here.