Another Way to Earn a Few $$ Online

I've written in the past about the different survey websites I belong to, for the purpose of earning a few bucks here and there. Just recently I found another, really unique site. Called YouData.com, it is a new concept in online advertising. Log into your account, click on the ads that are listed in your MeFile, and earn a few cents for each one that you click on. I've been exposed to some really interesting, creative websites that I will probably visit again. Essentially, you are being paid to look at advertising. It is quick. I maybe spend 2 minutes a day viewing the ads in my MeFile.

The really unique part is how YouData pays you. Each Friday, the money you've earned that week (I've been averaging right around $1.50-$2.00) is automatically deposited into your PayPal account. Granted, it's not a lot, but it all adds up over time.

If you click here and sign up to be on their user panel, I'll get referral credit (one whole penny per person who joins). The only thing I didn't really care for in their signup process is that I had to provide a cell phone number that could receive a text message from them. They are very careful about making sure that people aren't signing up for more than one YouData account. As my cell phone currently blocks all text messages, I had to use my son's cell number. But, rest assured that YouData has not sent him one further text message other than the initial validation message.

Give it a try! I'd love to hear what you think of this.

Credit Card Rewards

I alluded yesterday to my credit card's online shopping network that allows me to get a percentage of my purchase back as rewards, so I thought today would be a good day to post about using credit card rewards to your advantage.

We've used a couple of different credit cards rewards programs, and both were very worthwhile and easy.

1. About 14 months prior to our Disneyland trip in April 2007, we got a Chase Disney Rewards Visa card. We already had a Chase card, so we just switched into the Disney program. We earned $1 in Disney Rewards Dollars for every $100 in purchases, so we made certain that we put everything we possibly could onto the card, taking great care to pay off our balance every month (this is important!). By the time we went to Disneyland, we had enough rewards dollars for our entire family of 4 to eat lunch AND dinner in the park a total of eight times! If you have ever been to Disneyland, you know that eating in the park is incredibly expensive, so this was a great boon. We also got 10% off of anything we bought in the park with our Disney Visa, and got discounts on tickets to the park. It was awesome. I would totally recommend this program to anyone planning a Disney vacation.
2. After we got home from Disneyland, we changed our Disney card into a Chase Freedom Visa. The Chase Freedom program gives you 1% back on all your purchases, and 3% back on your top spending categories each month. Each month, your 3 top categories automatically change based on your spending (ours are usually groceries, gas, and fast food [sad to say]). Plus, using their online shopping site, you can get anywhere from 3% to 15% (or more) back in rewards from particpating merchants. For example, by shopping at ShoeBuy.com yesterday, I will get 9% (one of the better deals) back in rewards. When you cash in rewards, I would definitely recommend doing it in increments of $200, as Chase will give you an extra $50 back for every $200 you cash in. Right now, I have about $400 in rewards, which means I will get $500 when I cash them in . In addition to the option of getting a check in the mail, you can also turn right around and apply the rewards to your credit card balance. We cashed in $200 (and got $250) to pay for our son's 6th grade camp tuition this spring, and will use our next rewards check to either pay for our eldest son to get his wisdom teeth out, or maybe for Christmas.

There are a plethora of rewards cards out there. Too many to even begin to name here. If you are able to keep tabs on your spending and not carry a balance month to month, I totally recommend getting a rewards card, using it for every purchase you can, and start racking up your rewards. Do your homework, and look for a program with rewards that make sense for you, no annual fee, good APR, etc. I highly recommend Chase for all of those reasons.

Online Surveys, Part 5: Special Rewards

Last in the series on online survey sites. Today: eRewards and Zoom Panel.

Two of my more recent survey site memberships have some unique means of compensation:

1. e-Rewards lets you earn money to be deposited into your UPromise college savings account. I really like the fact that you earn rewards for every survey you respond to. If you try for a survey and don't qualify, you earn 50 cents. Higher rewards (usually several dollars' worth) are awarded for full completion. This is one of the few survey sites that reward you just for responding. The one thing I don't like is that you have to save up your rewards and cash them in at a high level to get a good return. (For example, if you cash in $25 in rewards, you get $5 in your UPromise account, but if you cash in $100 you get $50).
2. Zoom Panel lets you cash in your points for gifts. I haven't cashed any in yet, but looking at what is available at each point level, they look to be pretty nice. Surveys are easy and not too long, so I don't mind taking them. Once I actually cash in the points the first time, I'll decide if this is one I want to keep up with.

Survey says: not a bad way to make a few bucks here and there!

Online Surveys, Part 4: 3 More Survey Sites

Another installment in my ongoing series on online survey websites. Today: Global Opinion Panels, Global Test Market, and LightSpeed Consumer Panel.

These three survey panels are all similar in that they have surveys that are reasonably easy to qualify for, rewards are earned quickly, and are redeemable for cash.

1. Global Opinion Panels. Their surveys are easy, arrive frequently, and are fun to do. I have even received products to test from them. In fact...now that I think of it, some of the products that I talked about in my post about nfoMySurvey may have actually come from Global Opinion Panels! Points are redeemable for good old cash, $1 for every 1,000 points. Points add up quickly; in the past month I've earned more than 5,000 points.
2. Global Test Market. One thing I like about them is that their points are really worth a lot. The first time I cashed in points from them, I had 1,203 points and just about fell over when the check was for $60.15 (5 cents per point). You can cash in your points once you reach 1,000. Another thing I like about them is if you don't qualify for the first survey that they invite you to, they will ask if you want to try for another.
3. LightSpeed Consumer Panel. Similar to the others, except for the fact that they offer their rewards in PayPal, which shows up really quickly in my PayPal account. 1,150 points for $10 in PayPal. Points add up fast; I earned 1,200 points in the last month.

Again, like I said in previous posts, there's no way doing surveys will replace your day job, but it is nice to have some sources of disposable income.

Online Surveys, Part 3: MySurvey

More on how I take surveys online to make a few bucks. Today: MySurvey.

Yet another of the online survey sites I belong to is MySurvey. I like several things about this particular survey, but the very best thing is that I have received many products to physically test from them, from a frozen meal (shipped overnight on dry ice) to shampoo and conditioner (full-sized bottles), to laundry detergent. The laundry detergent testing was definitely my favorite--they sent me two huge bottles of detergent which lasted me more than 2 months.

Points are redeemable for cash, prizes, or donations to charity. I've always chosen the cash. Because they send lots of surveys, most of which I qualify for, the points add up quickly. I can also get points for referrals, so let me know if you'd be interested!

Online Surveys, Part 2: InboxDollars and MyPoints

More on how I take surveys online to make a few bucks. Today: InboxDollars and MyPoints, both of which offer a variety of ways to earn points.

With InboxDollars, you can earn cash for reading e-mail, taking surveys, responding to special offers, shopping through their site, etc. Essentially, the e-mail reading program is simply giving them permission to send you ads. You get about 2-5 cents for clicking on the ad to acknowledge reading it, then you can earn more money if you actually respond to the ad (I have probably only responded once or twice). It doesn't take long to click through the e-mails. They are definitely not as bothersome as regular spam e-mail. Their surveys and special offers are pretty good, too. InboxDollars gives you cash, but they do have a $3.00 service charge when you request a payout. The check comes pretty quickly, too.

MyPoints works the same way as InboxDollars, with some added extras. For example, you can get points for searching the web using their search engine, and you can also print out grocery coupons and earn points when they are redeemed. I have earned points much quicker with MyPoints. Points are redeemable for a variety of gift cards. I have not yet redeemed any of my points yet, but am very happy with the variety of ways that points can be accumulated.

Both sites give credit to referring members when their friends join. If you are interested in joining either of these sites, please let me know (and send me your e-mail address if there's any chance I might not have it) and I will gladly send you a referral.

Online Surveys, Part 1: TestSpin and Valued Opinions

One way I have found to make a few extra bucks (and by a "few," I mean approximately $230 in the past 13 months) is by taking online surveys. I am a panelist of 10 (yes, TEN) different online survey companies. They all send e-mail survey invitiations, which I respond to at my leisure. Since I am at a computer for 8 hours a day while I am at work (often with plenty of free time to take the surveys), it is not a big deal for me to respond to surveys from so many different companies. It's definitely a great way to earn some money for things I would otherwise not be able to justify spending money on.

I'll feature all of them on this blog eventually, but today I will focus on two: TestSpin and Valued Opinions. Both of these survey companies send out survey invitations quite frequently, though I don't always qualify for their surveys. When I do qualify, however, the surveys are usually worth $2.00 to $5.00. Not bad for usually less than 20 minutes of my time.

TestSpin and Valued Opinions both offer Amazon.com gift certificates for participating. Almost immediately after requesting a distribution, the gift codes are in your e-mail, ready to be spent. Today, I requested $60 worth of gift codes between the two sites. I needed to replace an out-of-print piano accompaniment book, which was listed on Amazon for $43.65. I also decided to get the clarinet version of the book (an arrangement of hymns for solo, duet, or trio) for $9.95. I already have the flute version.

After redeeming my $60 in gift certificates, I paid $2.64. Gotta love it! I promise to keep better track of my piano accompaniment book from now on (read: never lend it to my accompanist again)!