Grove Collaborative Free Gifts

Sign up here for a new account with Grove Collaborative, spend $20 (free shipping), and get 5 free items ($43 value).  Here's what I got for spending less than $22.  I got the surface cleaner, hand soap, dish soap, walnut sponges, & cleaning caddy free.  They added the spray bottle for free.  I bought the foaming dispenser, foaming soap refill, bar soap, & all natural cleaner for $21.72.  I ordered through Ebates & earned $2.  

Grove Collaborative is a customizable auto-shipment service that delivers all-natural home, beauty, and personal care products directly to your door!  Discounted prices for Mrs. Meyers and other all natural products.

You can cancel at any time.

Buffalo Wild Wings Tues Free Wings

Discount Admission to Holden Arboretum & Cleveland Botanical Gardens

On Wednesdays from June 6 - Aug. 29, admission will be $5 after 5pm at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.

At the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, OH, nonmember admission will also be $5 after 5pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 19 - Aug. 9. 

Please note that the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower will not be open on Tuesdays during the Sounds of Summer concert series.

Super Easy & Cheap Wood Signs

 Finished product I made for less than $5

If you are local to me, you are probably familiar with P G Dunn.  They sell tons of blank plaques of varying sizes, usually for just a few bucks.  I saw instructions on line for making my own signs like you see at some many stores now.

First print off a free printable phrase or word you like online.  I downloaded some free fonts to make the Grateful, Thankful, Blessed sign.  The others I found the phrases on line.

 Turn the paper over & rub charcoal where the letters were.

Put the paper charcoal side down on the sign where you want it.  Trace over the letters with pen.

 After you trace over the words/phrases

Fill in the tracing with markers or paint pen

  My 9 year old & I made this one.

New Traveling with Deals Blog

Check out my travel deals blog. I'll be adding more posts. They are on the blog.  Working on getting the post to the FB page - Traveling with Deals.  Like the page to keep up to dates.

If you go to the blog, you can click on the label of whatever city or state you are looking at to see what we have done there. You can also sort by hiking, waterfalls, zoo, science, cruise for ideas.

I’m not a travel expert but I often have people ask me where to go or what to do. I’ve had this blog for 10 years so I just removed the family posts & added a few travel ideas.

If you are planning a trip this summer, check it out.

Dairy Queen Treat Night After 8 PM

Local Restaurant & Kids Meal Deals

I found these on various websites. Please comment if something isn't right or if you know of other deals for kids to eat free or cheap.

Here's a link to Canton Kids Meal deals.

Restaurant Deals

• Sunday -
• Jake's - discount with church bulletin
• Lincoln Way Pizza - Medium Specialty Pizza or 3 Item - $6.99
• Sun-Thurs - Tumbleweed - Free kids meal
• Monday -
• 91 - kids eat free
• Texas Roadhouse - kids eat free
• Buehler's 11am - close – 1 free kids meal per adult entrée 
• Pizza Hut - Kid’s ages 4-10 get one FREE Personal Pan Pizza® per adult dine-in entrée purchase. PLUS, different, fun activities are planned for each Monday Kids Night from 5pm to 8pm
• Baja West Coast Kitchen - Pizzas $6
• Old Carolina - Until 4 pm

• •	Two Pulled Pork or Pulled Chicken Minis for only $5

• •	Pulled Pork Sandwich plus any side for $6.99

• •	Big Cue Pulled Pork Sandwich plus any side for $8.49



• Smoke - Half price milkshakes
• Lincoln Way Pizza - $3.25 Gyros
• Dominos - Large 3 Topping Pizza $7.99
• Gionino's - 1 large 2 topping pizza & 1 Dozen Wings
• Macaroni Grill - Kids eat free

• Tuesday night –
• Beef o' Brady's - 4pm - 8pm kids 12 and under eat free with adult entree purchase
• Bob Evans - free kids meal with adult meal, includes dessert  
• Texas Roadhouse - kids eat free
• Lone Star - 2 kids eat free with each adult entree      
• Skyline Chili - kids eat free
• Denny's - kids eat free 4-10pm
• Macaroni Grill - Kids eat free
• Papa Gyro's - One free kids meal per adult platter purchased. Valid after 4pm for kids 12 and under. 
• Baja West Coast Kitchen - 2 tacos for $5
• Cabo's Mexican Grill - 3 tacos for $5
• Lincoln Way Pizza - 10" Sub $5.99, Burger $4.99
• Dominos - Large 3 Topping Pizza $7.99
• Gionino's - 1 large 2 topping pizza & 1 Dozen Wings
• Buffalo Wild Wings - BOGO Snack size traditional wings
• Old Carolina - until 4

• •	Pulled Pork Sandwich plus any side for $6.99

• •	Big Cue Pulled Pork Sandwich plus any side for $8.49

• Wednesday Night
• Zoup - Stop into any Zoup! location on Wednesday after 4 p.m. and get a KidZ! Meal with the purchase of an entree. An entree is a TryTwo! combo, bowl of soup, whole salad or whole sandwich.
• Rice Bowl - $5 Wraps
• Lincoln Way Pizza - Chicken 4 piece mixed $5
• Smoke - $5 burgers after 4 pm
• Old Carolina - until 4

• •	Pulled Pork Sandwich plus any side for $6.99

• •	Big Cue Pulled Pork Sandwich plus any side for $8.49 3 Wings for $2.99

• Thursday

• Lincoln Way Pizza  - Large 1 Item Pizza - $6.99
• Buffalo Wild Wings - $0.70 boneless wings
• Quaker Steak & Lube - free kids meal with adult entree
• Old Carolina - until 4

• •	Pulled Pork Sandwich plus any side for $6.99

• •	Big Cue Pulled Pork Sandwich plus any side for $8.49

• Saturday
• Sam's buffet in Smithville - Kids eat free (multiple kids per adult)
• Denny's - kids eat free 4-10pm
• Everyday -
• IHOP - 4pm - 8pm - Kids ages 12 and under eat free- 1 Kids' Menu item per Adult entree (Drink NOT included)
• Wendy's $1.99 kids meals after 5 pm
• Quizno's - Kids 12 and under get one free Kidz Meal w/ the purchase of an Adult Entree.
• 
• Sat & Sun - Steak N Shake - Kids Eat Free - One kids combo free when adult entree of $9 or more purchased (excludes drink/shake). Dine In Only.

Here's a website I use when we travel to find local restaurants

Favorite Phone Apps

• Auntie Anne's - free pretzel for getting the app & then free pretzel on your birthday
• Old Carolina - earn rewards towards free meals + $5 during your birthday month
• Dunkin Donuts - earn rewards & get coupons.  Add a gift card & get a free drink.  Get a free drink on your birthday
• Starbucks - earn rewards.  Get a free drink or food on your birthday
• Panera - earn rewards.  Get a free treat on your birthday
• McDonalds - get coupons
• Menchies - earn rewards.  Get a free $5 on your birthday
• Pedometer - turns your phone into a pedometer
• MyFitnessPal - keep track of your food/calories when trying to lose weight
• Snapfish - get 100 free prints a month for 1 year
• Saving Star - load free coupons on your store loyalty cards
• Orrville Library - I save their website on my home screen, then I can renew & reserve books
• Overdrive - check out free audio & ebooks from the library

I know there are a lot of fun game apps, but I'd like to know some of your favorite apps that save you money, save you time, or make your life easier or better.

Some of mine are:

• GasBuddy - save money on gas by finding the cheapest gas in the area
• Kindle - read free books from Amazon
• Holy Bible - lots of good reading plans and a ton of different versions of the Bible.  You can also select to listen to the Bible (You Version & Bible App for Kids)
• Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Joann's, CVS, Rite Aid - coupons 
• Yelp - good for finding restaurants or stores in the area
• MapQuest - GPS
• TV Guide - TV guide
• iHeartRadio - I like to listen to the Dave Ramsey channel
• Focus on the Family Daily - the daily broadcast.  Great to listen to while I exercise
• Pandora - free radio
• Relax Melodies - noise machine to help me block out noise & sleep
• Netflix, Hulu, DIY Network, HGTV, Amazon Instant Video - stream tv & movies
• Cardstar - stores my loyalty card numbers so I don't have to carry them around.
• Shop Savvy - can scan barcodes to compare prices
• Echo - set up texts for prayer request reminders

Let me know your favorite apps.

Free Bic Shavers

Click here for a rebate for up to $10 for Bic Shavers.  Good until March 11, 2018

Birthday Freebies 2018

 I thought I'd mention some of the fun birthday deals I have enjoyed (or at least got e-mails about)

• Baja West Coast Kitchen - $5 from the app
• Old Carolina - $5 from the app
• Coldstone Creamery - B1G1 free ice cream
• Arby's - free shake with any purchase
• Macaroni Grill - free dessert (all you have to do it ask)
• Melting Pot - Chocolate Covered Strawberries

• Dairy Queen - B1G1 Blizzard
• Baskin Robbins - free cone
• Starbucks - any menu item free on your card if you have a gift card registered
• Dunkin Donuts - free drink your registered card
• Red Lobster - $5 off of 2 entrees
• Applebee's - free dessert at restaurant. They also have a kids club to sign up in the restaurant.
• Panera - if you have a gift card registered, they'll add a freebie to it
• DSW - $5 certificate
• Disney Rewards - 50 points
• Kellogg's Reward - 500 points
• Speedy Rewards - 200 points
• Menchies - $5 credit on my Smile card
• Auntie Anne's (from the app) - Free Pretzel
• Carrabba's - freebie
• Qdoba - freebie
• Red Robin - free burger  & ice cream sundae - I had a $10 lettuce burger & salad
• Denny's - free Grand Slam on your birthday.  You have to show driver's license
• Michael's - 20% off
• Best Buy - 10% off
• Joann's - 20% off

My husband also does California Tortilla - for a free burrito

Here's a bigger list that covers more parts of the country.

We also have the kids registered for:

• Bob Evans - free kids meal with meal for adult. These certificates don't expire.
• Red Robin - free burger
• Cold Stone - free ice cream
• Toys R Us - it's either $3 or $5 off . They have each gotten coupons for a free Thomas train around 3 years old
• Burger King - free kids meal
• Rockne's - free kids meal

If any of these places interest you, just go their website & register for their "clubs". Obviously we don't use all of these. Many of them are only good for 2 weeks. It's just fun to have the option. 

Baja West Coast Kitchen App

It pays to be loyal. Rumor has it Wednesday is National Taco Day and our Rewards Members MAY be getting FREE tacos. Not a member yet? It's absolutely free to join... Must be signed up by Tuesday, October 3rd at 5pm to be eligible for these rumored FREE tacos...

Hey dude, want to earn 20 bonus points plus a free order of chips and salsa? Download the totally radical Baja West Coast Kitchen app using my code {JillM72} during signup. Then you'll earn points on every purchase plus get freebies and other great offers. Just click here {https://punchh.com/b/bajapizzafish} to sign up!

Free Redbox Code

Use code PE8SB36AKT to get a free Redbox movie.

4th Grader Free National Parks Pass

If you are going to have a 4th Grader in August, check out this deal on a free National Park pass.

We did this when my son was a 4th grader & it was really easy & saved us some money.

Ohio One-Tank Trips

These are some of our family favorite one-tank trips from northeast Ohio for young kids (2-12 probably).  If you are on Pinterest, click out my links on the bottom left side of my blog.  If you have a zoo and/or science center membership (*), you can do these trips very reasonably.  You don't have travel far and spend a lot of money to make memories with your families.

Here's a link to cheap/free activities in our area.

Toledo

• Zoo* - Very nice zoo
• Science Center* - Imagination Station - one of our favorite science centers
• Sauder Village - kids are free on Sun

Erie - It's about 1/2 way between where I live & Niagara Falls.  Twice we have stopped here & spent a night to 2 on the way home from the Falls.

• Splash Lagoon - Friendly indoor water park for young kids, can ride double on some of the slides
• Waldameer - Memorial Day-Labor Day - great amusement park for young kids (under 12 probably).  Usually doesn't have long lines.  It's free to get into the amusement park which is great if you don't want to ride the rides but the rest of the family does.  All day wristbands not that expensive.  Also has a fun big water park.  We can easily spend a day at each park.
• Zoo*
• Presque Isle - nice beaches

Pittsburgh

• Science Center - Carnegie* - very nice for variety of ages
• Children's Museum* - nice for young kids
• Zoo*
• Aviary* - within walking distance of Children's Museum (save on parking)
• Inclines
• Kennywood - I have heard good things about this amusement park south of Pittsburgh

Cleveland

• Natural History Museum* - park once & go to art museum & botanical garden
• Art Museum - free
• Botanical Garden 
• Great Lakes Science Center*
• Zoo*
• Aquarium

Columbus

• COSI*
• Zoo*

Dayton

• Boonshoft Museum of Discovery* - on science center & zoo memberships
• Air Force Museum - free
• Young's Dairy

Cincinnati

• Zoo* - one of our favorites
• Aquarium
• EnterTRAINment Center - for kids that like trains
• Creation Museum & Ark
• Trammel Fossil Park - dig for your own fossils in nature for free

I'd love to know some of your favorite destinations.

Restaurant Coupon Link

Before you go out to eat, check here for coupon deals at restaurant.

Pure Flix Streaming

I'm doing a month free trial of Pure Flix right now.  I really like that it's full of family friendly movies and shows that we can all watch together.  I can watch it my Fire Stick, phone, tablet, computer, etc.

The price is increasing for new subscribers on May 1.  It's currently 7.99 a month.  If you are interested in trying it, now would be a good time to try.

I got this e-mail today -

Thank you for being a loyal PureFlix.com member.

Beginning this week, you may notice our advertising indicating a price increase for newcomers as of May 1st.

However, because we highly value your loyalty to PureFlix.com, your price will not change as you continue to enjoy the best in our Faith & Family videos.

In fact, today would be a great time to tell family and friends that they too should start a free trial and lock-in the current low price before the May 1st price increase.

Free Shutterfly Book

Have a My Coke Rewards account?  Log in & get a free 8x8 Shutterfly book for 0 points.

Use code FREEPRINTAFF to get a free 16x20 print or 8x10s.  Exp 7/1

Use code 25OFF2017  to get 25% off.  Exp 7/1

Use code CARD4U - free card

Use SHIP39 to get free shipping on an order of $39 or more (after discounts)

Shop through Ebates & earn cash back.

If you are ready to do a photobook, but can't find any free ones, check out eBay for free book codes for around $1.  

I like Shutterfly because codes can be combined.  I just load any codes I found when I find them and then see how I can combine them when I'm ready to order.

Ways to Save Money on TV

We haven't had cable since we have been married, almost 15 years.  For the most part I haven't missed it, but new technology has made it easier.  We do have an outside antenna so we can get most local channels.

Other ways to watch/stream tv and movies - The big thing to think about is how much data it uses and how fast is your speed.  We have the slowest/cheapest internet Armstrong has.  Only 1 month have we come close to our data usage.  They have since doubled our data & increased our speed.  It really hasn't been an issue for us.  If you have kids that are also streaming then maybe it would be.

Any of the options below can also be streamed on your phone, tablet, or laptop.

Amazon Prime - $99/year.  You can stream movies & get 2 day free shipping.  You can also just steam movies & tv for 8.99 a month or get Prime for 10.99 a month if you don't want to commit for a year.  You can try for a free month.

Netflix - price varies by how many devices you want on at the same time.  Around $9/month. Stream tv & movies.  no commericals.  You can try for free.

Hulu - Around $8/month  Big downfall for me - commericals.  You can also do $12 a month with no commercials.  They don't have a dedicated kids section so you have to pass a lot of questionable shows to find what you want.  You can try for free.  After that they keep sending emails to get another month free so you can usually get a few months free.

Sling - Basically like having cable.  I tried it free for a week & got a lot of the Indians playoff games that weren't on local channels.  They have plans for $20, $25, $40 a month depending on the channels you want.

Pure Flix - I'm doing a month free trial of Pure Flix right now.  I really like that it's full of family friendly movies and shows that we can all watch together.  I can watch it my Fire Stick, phone, tablet, computer, etc.  The price is increasing for new subscribers on May 1.  It's currently 7.99 a month.  If you are interested in trying it, now would be a good time to try.

I got a Amazon Fire Stick for $25 on Thanksgiving a few years ago.  I really like it.  I can stream my Amazon Prime through the stick.  I can also watch cable "app" channels.

My favorites so far DIY Network, Food Network, A&E, History, ESPN (including highlights of Sports Center from the day before), & HGTV.  You can watch older episodes through the tv with the Fire Stick.

You can also watch on a phone, tablet, or computer without subscribing to channel for free.  Not all episodes are available but enough for me for free.  Some of the shows have 60 seconds commercials for other cable shows.

There are also apps for network tv, but I haven't tried them because I typically don't watch network tv.

There are other options out there including Ruku & Apple tv.  I'm just commenting on what I have found to work for us.

What are your favorite ways to save money on tv.

Thrift Shopping

This is a great week to check out Orrville Goodwill & the new Destination Thrift by Save a Lot - all of the leftovers from the Orrville garage sales. 

$6 Bang Bang Shrimp

Bonefish Grill