shopping

Receipt Hog: Hoggy Holiday Bonus Bash is Here

Abby H.

Receipt Hog is a great app for those starting out on a savings journey. It’s simple to use, and points rack up quickly.

You can download it here and get started.

In the app, snap pictures of all of your receipts from dining out to grocery trips and earn points that you can redeem for gift cards or money via Paypal. Reward options start as low as 1000 Points.

You can also connect your grocery and mass merchandiser accounts to earn extra points.  In addition to points, there is a game called Hog Slots, where you spin the wheel to win extra points.

Right now, through December 31, 2025, you can earn points and spins to earn extra points!

  • Upload 5 e-Receipts: 50 Spins
  • Upload 30 paper receipts: 25 Spins
  • Upload 15 Link Receipts- 25 Spins
  • Complete all the bonuses and earn 100 bonus coins!

 

StackInfluence: Free Products for Micro-Influencers

Abby H.

I’ve been around the micro-influencer sphere for a while.

There have been review programs for influencers since the beginning, and a lot of them have closed due to shady practices or blatant disregarding of website TOS’s.

StackInfluence is different, and pretty easy in my opinion. You sign up, select a campaign, purchase the item via the link provided, review the item as outlined in the campaign, and you are refunded your purchase price via Paypal or Venmo.

I’ve done a few campaigns with them (including this horrible upholstry stain remover), and reimbursement is super quick- less than an hour after you verify your social media post. And reviews can be honest. I try not to sugarcoat reviews, because if you are spending money on something I tell you is good, you better believe that it’s good. That stain remover was not. It was stanky and made my couch look worse.

Most items are for sale on Amazon, but there are a few on Walmart.com too.  I tend to redeem my rewards/rebate app rewards for Amazon Gift Cards and add them to my account, so when I order stuff through apps like StackInfluence, I’m not paying out of my own pocket for them!

Here are just a few of the newer campaigns I have my eye on:

I have a few artists in my family who would enjoy these Posca markers- If you’ve never used Poscas before, they are amazing Acrylic Paint pens!

And there is a certain Cryptid lover in my house who would love this BigFoot shirt.

If you have an Instagram or Tiktok account and you’d love to try new products, check out StackInfluence.

11/28/2025 Freebies and Deals: Black Friday Edition

Abby H.

While I am not partaking in Black Friday, I know a lot of you do, so here are some deals (and freebies) that might excite you.

I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here. If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff in 2025: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

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.

 

Freebies:

FREE Crown Royal Military Care Package for Our Troops
FREE WaterWipes Fresh & Soothed Set
FREE Snowball Classic Cookie at Insomnia Cookies + Win FREE Cookies for a Year
FREE Magnesium Spray
FREE Animal Creatine HMB+ Powder
FREE Handcrafted Beverage at Capital One Cafe
FREE 42 oz. La Colombe Cold Brew at Target
FREE $25 Purchase at Ulta After Cash Back
FREE Perdue Holiday Nuggets & Collectible Plate on November 28th
Get Free Christian Items by Mail and How These Resources Can Help Nourish Your Spiritual Journey
FREE Rare Breed Dog Treats Intro Pack
FREE Ethel Lapel Pin + FREE Shipping
List of Stores and Brands That Give Away Freebies During Black Friday: 2025
FREE Blue Buffalo Love Made Fresh Tender Meatballs Chatterbox Kit
FREE Starbucks Drink for New Rewards Members
FREE Lowe’s Bucket of Gifts on Black Friday + Chance at a FREE Major Appliance Worth $2,000
FREE McCormick Products
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE 8×10 at CVS, FREE 7-Select Snack & More
FREE Bvlgari Man in Black Fragrance Sample
How to Get Free Beauty Samples Without Spending a Dime
FREE Sample of EltaMD UV Clear and UV Daily Deep Tinted SPF
FREE Stonemill Kitchens Holiday Dips Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Photo with Santa at PetSmart on December 13th & 14th
FREE Coffee at Sheetz Through November 30th
Black Friday Food Deals & Freebies On Coffee, Fast Food, Gift Cards and More: 2025
FREE Beech-Nut Products
FREE Ethel Bandana + FREE Shipping

 

Deals:

Carter’s Clothing Sets ALL $8.99 – Kohl’s Black Friday Doorbuster Deal
Sephora Black Friday Sale – Gifts Under $25, 50% Off Fragrances, Free Shipping and More
We Found The Best Black Friday and Cyber Week Streaming Deals: 2025 Edition
Here Are The Best Black Friday Deals Vetted By Our Deal Experts: Amazon, Kohl’s, Walmart and More! (2025)
Toastmaster Small Appliances ONLY $8.98 at Kohl’s (Reg $25)
Black Friday Sale: Blackstone Adventure Ready 2-Burner Grill ONLY $157 (Reg $224) at Walmart
Amazon Black Friday – Up to 79% Off Beauty Products
JCPenney Black Friday Doorbuster – Bras for ONLY $9.99
Macy’s Black Friday 2025 is LIVE – Up to 80% Off Bedding, Toys, Clothing & More
The Best Target Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals for 2025 + Today’s Daily Deal
Macy’s Black Friday – $15 Beauty Gift Sets ($75 value!)
Walgreens Black Friday 2025 – Save Up to 50% on Beauty Sets, Toys, Household & More
Walmart Black Friday Sale: Apple AirPods 4 ONLY $69 (Reg $130)
Black Friday Sale: VIZIO 65” Class 4K UHD Limited Edition Smart TV ONLY $228 (Reg $448) at Walmart
Black Friday Deal – Carote 10pc Pots and Pans Set ONLY $79.99 (Reg $139.99)

Black Friday Deals at Thrift Stores!

Abby H.

Thrift stores are getting in on the Black Friday Sales, too. And why not? With more people on a tighter budget, thrift stores are a great way to save money while shopping, support a charity, and keep clothing and home goods out of landfills.

Goodwill:

Black Friday (11/28)
Shop Goodwill SoCal stores and receive a free scarf with a minimum $30 purchase.*
All Weekend Long (11/28-12/1)
The first 25 people in line each day at Goodwill SoCal’s Retail Stores and Boutiques will receive a coupon for 20% off a future purchase of $30 or more.**
Enter for a chance to win a $2,000 gift voucher for our Goodwill SoCal ebay Shop!*** Learn more and enter to win at a Goodwill SoCal store near you.

Goodwill also has a VIP program where you can score a 20% off coupon- Sign up here. 

Amvets: All items are $3.00, excluding clearance items. This deal is valid all day on November 28, 2025, at all AmVets locations. Locations can be found here.

Amvets is one of my favorite thrift stores; they always have great clothes and craft supplies.

Salvation Army is also having a Black Friday sale, but theirs is limited in time, unlike Amvets. Enjoy 50% 0ff the entire store on Friday, November 28, 2025, 8am-12pm.

If you can’t make it then, but are on the hunt for clothes- GOOD NEWS! All clothing will be 50% off Friday-Saturday, November 28-29, 2025.  Find your location Salvation Army Thrift store here. 

 

There may be other thrift stores having sales, but my internet searches were not that fruitful. I was aware of both of these because I had seen signs in stores recently.

 

 

Looking for a Gift for the Readers in Your Life?

Abby H.

I’ve got a couple of adult readers on my gift-giving list each year.

And it can be hard to find a book to give as a gift, but I recently discovered Book of the Month.

You can give a 3, 6, or 9-month membership, depending on what works for your budget.

Or, if you are the reader in your life, check it out for yourself! They have a pretty decent deal going right now: Join Book of the Month and choose your first book for $9.99 or make your pick later.

FINE PRINT: By clicking the checkbox above, you agree to Book of the Month’s Terms of use and Privacy policy. You also acknowledge that you are signing up for a recurring monthly subscription. Unless you skip the month or cancel your membership using our site or app prior to the 21st of each month, you will be renewed for $16.99 plus tax next month and one credit will be added to your account redeemable for your next book. As part of your $5 enrollment offer, you acknowledge that you cannot cancel until after you are renewed at least once. As part of this transaction, you may see a $21.99 temporary hold on your payment method, which will be released in a couple of days.

Shopkick- Your turkey just got a bonus!

Abby H.

I received this email from Skopkick, and if you haven’t already picked up a turkey… Here’s an offer that might sweeten the deal:

From now until 11/24, purchase our featured turkey (Butterball Frozen Whole Turkey, All Natural, 10-16 lbs., Serves 5-8) at Walmart and submit your receipt to earn 750 kicks back.

If you are new to Shopkick, I wrote about how it works (and a link to get you started) here.

 

Staycation Getaway in Borrego Springs with Deals at La Casa Del Zorro Resort & Spa

Abby H.

The kids and I love La Casa Del Zorro Resort & Spa. It’s an incredible resort out in Borrego Springs, CA. Borrego Springs is about an hour east of San Diego near the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Offer Details

  • Stay Two Nights, Third Night Free
  • $50 Daily Resort Credit (redeemable at The Fox Bistro, The Fox Den Bar, Casa Café & Market, and The Spa at La Casa Del Zorro)
  • Waived Resort Fee (includes parking)

Book with promo code CYBER25 and experience exceptional value wrapped in relaxation, adventure, and desert serenity.

The $50 Daily Resort Credit applies exclusively to The Fox Bistro, The Fox Den Bar, Casa Café & Market, and The Spa at La Casa Del Zorro. Credit may not be used toward room rate, resort service fees, parking, or taxes.

Offer Valid: November 1, 2025 – December 5, 2025. Stay Dates: November 1, 2025 – March 5, 2026

Borrego Springs is a Dark Sky Community, and that means amazing stargazing year-round. La Casa del Zorro has plenty of places on site to sit and stare up at the stars.

There are all sorts of things to do in Borrego Springs after your soak in the hot tub or swim in the pool!

And if your kids are anything like mine, after a long day of fun and adventures, only a pizza will do. And Borrego Springs has Calico’s– and they deliver to the Resort!

Calico’s pizza is really good- Lots of cheese, chewy crust, and it was delivered quickly!

11/15/2025 Weekly Freebies!

Abby H.

The deals this week are not dealin’, so it’s an OOPS All Freebies edition.

I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here. If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff in 2025: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

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.

This first Freebie is OMG amazing, and if you live near a JCPenney and have a kid, you need to go do it! FREE LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Toucan or Monster Truck Craft Kit at JCPenney (December 13th)

Freebies:

FREE Letter Box Build Event for Kids at Lowe’s- Going on today!
FREE LEGO Tom the Turkey Build Event at Toys R Us in Macy’s– Going on today!
FREE Catalyst Protein Bar
7 FREE K-Beauty Sheet Masks
FREE Chipotle with Chipotle U Rivalry Week
FREE Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm at Sephora After Cash Back
FREE Hot Sandwich at Love’s Travel Stops
FREE Holiday Magic Events at Target
FREE LEGO Plum Blossom Flower Set After Cash Back
FREE Sample of Garlique Garlic Supplement
FREE $10 Off + FREE Shipping at e.l.f.
Free Dog Food Samples: 7 Companies that Will Send You Free Dog Samples by Mail
FREE L’Occitane Karite Confort Ultra Rich Body Cream
FREE Emergen-C Vitamin C Powder After Walmart Cash – Up to 3
Free Chick-fil-A: The Chick-fil-A Hacks You Need to Know – Yes, It Includes FREE Chicken!
Lots of Freebies for Moms: The Freebie List I Wish I Had When I Became a Mom
FREE Frozen Drink at Casey’s Every Friday thru December
Black Friday Food Deals & Freebies On Coffee, Fast Food, Gift Cards and More: 2025
FREE Amy’s Kitchen Products with Instacart – Up to $12
FREE 2026 Snort Calendar
FREE TheraBreath Toothpaste
Burger King Perks Week – FREE Chicken Sandwich, Cini Minis, Whopper Jr, Cheeseburger & More
FREE Barilla Pesto Savor The Creaminess Party Kit
We Found The Best Birthday Freebies For Kids
FREE Salonpas Lidocaine FLEX Patch Sample
FREE LUNCHABLES Kit
Big List of 110 Restaurants to Get Free Food
FREE Autobrush Sonic Pro Toothbrush for Kids or Adults
Get Free Beauty Product Samples With Topbox Circle
FREE Simply Pop Prebiotic Soda Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Medium Fries at McDonalds – Every Friday
FREE Cali XL Burger at Carl’s Jr.
FREE 6-Piece Chicken Nuggets Every Wednesday at Wendy’s
FREE Ethel-On-The-Go Luggage Tag + FREE Shipping
FREE Clorox Gift of Clean Gift Pack & a 2 Hour In-Home Cleaning Service
FREE Candy Crush Upside Down Lollipop
Free Photo with Santa, Giveaways & More at Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s

Office Depot/Office Max: Savings and Deals!

Abby H.

Office Depot/Office Max has really beefed up their rewards program!

Are you a Teacher/Educator? EXCLUSIVE TEACHER OFFER
25% back in Bonus Rewards on a qualifying purchase.
Limit $100 back in rewards per member per week (details here).

Are you in the military? EXCLUSIVE MILITARY OFFER
25% back in Bonus Rewards on a qualifying purchase.
Limit $100 back in rewards per member per week (details here).

RECYCLING REWARDS Get $2 back in recycling Rewards the next day when you recycle your Ink & Toner Cartridge and make a $10 purchase in the same month.

Earn 2% back in Rewards on supplies, technology, furniture, and more.

And this is a new perk to me: Earn $2 Back in Rewards for reviews
Up to 3 reviews per month. Online only. Learn More

 

11/8/25 Weekly Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

I’ve got freebies and deals this week! There is a pretty good selection to choose from.

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.

 

Freebies:

Deals:

The Children’s Place: Up to 70% Off Entire Site + 20% Off Coupon
Ultimate List for Where to Get Grocery Coupons
3-Piece Comforter Sets as Low as $23.93 (Reg $80)
Matching Family Pajamas From $10 at Target
Grab These Best Shoe Deals on Sale For Women, Men & Kids, Up to 60% Off
Kohl’s Clearance Sale is at 70% Off – Deals as low as Only $1.00
Christmas Inflatables as low as $9.86 Shipped at Walmart