Prizes for Surveys

Alot of my clan has asked me how I get Starbux gift cards and gifts in the mail. Surveys.  Simple. Time eating. Surveys. 

Carmie watches TV and I cruise the net. But I do dig on getting stuff delivered. This week I got a nice Suitcase. I had earned one for Carm a year or so ago and have wanted one for myself. When checking into one of my survey sites, I realized I had enough points for the bag. I ordered it and it was at my doorstep in 4 days. Hah, Much faster than my Woot orders!

Currently I get somewhere between 1 and 2 dozen magazines a month, usually at least one home trial of a product per month, usually food or personal care items, and one or two freebies per week from many different sources. This week, it was Carmex lip balms and a Venus razor.

My cash and Gift certificate earnings average 30 dollars a month. Not alot, but I usually roll them over into Amazon credit when available and use them for my Christmas Shopping.

New Cell Phone

I just bought a new cell phone. I have had the same one for 7 years, well it is the second one of the same model when the first one wouldn't take a charge anymore. The only upgrade was a new 3 buck cover because the screen was really scratched up and the case was really dinged from dropping it. Here are my thoughts on the process.

1. The Cell phone store was the most expensive place to buy the phone. But it was good to go and physically handle it so I could check things like the feel, the weight and if the buttons were big enough for my husbands fingers. They did say they would waive the 18 buck phone activation fee.

2. Amazon.com And other online stores had the best prices, but they required a rebate process that could take up to 6 months. But Amazon rules in user opinions and was where I went to check my choices for pros and cons.

3. I chose my provider's site because the online discount was immediate, making the price free. They did say there would be the 18 dollar activation fee but that will show up on the billing. I am curious to see if they will also waive it. So no initial outlay, a new model Bluetooth ready phone with camera and radio built in, and free 2 day shipping.

4. Finally I kept the same plan I had. I have a pile of available rollover minutes and they will stay with the new contract. IF I had changed the plan, I would have lost the rollover minutes.

ScanBuy Shopper

I will be checking on ScanBuy Shopper in the next month, It is a service that helps you find the lowest prices on items by entering the barcode, and is accessed via your cell phone.

Coupons Via Email

I received a PDF of coupons in the email and after an initial excitement, now suspect that they are either fake or at least dubious. I printed them out and tried using some of them and none of them scanned in at the register. I specifically read the fine print and made sure not to use the ones that said 'do not duplicate'. Anybody else have any information, I would appreciate your sharing.

Question from another Blogger

My friend actually sent me a link to this multiple discounts: Omaha Steaks blog post and I have to admit, theres some pretty good info here but nothing about free blank gift certificate specifically. And I found this great site free blank gift certificate and was wondering if anyone here also thinks it has a good concept offering free blank gift certificate.

Free shipping at Cooking.com

As a result of a survey I took. For purchases over 49 bucks and expires the end of june 2006.

http://www.cooking.com/extras/survey.asp?ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ezoomerang%2Ecom%2Frecipient%2Fthankyou%2Ezgi%3Fp%3Dweb225c9ddldlm

free USB drive from Microsoft

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mysterysolved/corp/default.mspx
yeah its advertising
yeah they want your email
yeah you need a passport account

but if you don't care, its free.

free classes online

Two of the best run free class sites online are at Barnes and Noble and at Hewlett Packard. I have taken classes at both and really enjoy the classes at BNU the best. Of course the idea is to get you to buy the books there and I believe they should be supported, however I have bought books at Amazon, BookCloseouts and at brick shops like WaldenBooks and Borders for the classes as well. Occasionally I have books on the shelf that are used in the classes and will sign up for the class to encourage me to read, re-read or more intensively study a book.

survey links

There are a few places online that do honest surveys. These sites really do pay, they don't generate spam and don't send survey's that end up at dead links. I will list them higher as I get confident about them.

http://www.surveyspot.com/joinus.htm
www.mysurvey.com
www.mypoints.com
www.zoomrewards.com
http://www.harrispollonline.com
http://us.lightspeed.com


crappy sites
www.e-rewards.com
www.gozing.com

multiple discounts: Omaha Steaks

A recent example of multiple discounts is a recent purchase at Omaha Steaks. MyPoints sent me an email for a special offer at Omaha Steaks, the offer was for 191 dollars of product for 59.99.

added free product: 6 burgers $21.oo
added free product: knife set and cutting board $20.00

cashed in points at mypoints for gift certificate for 30 dollars
used link to get 200 points (will probably have to follow up on this)

total value= $122 cost=$29.99 plus $13.99 shipping

It arrived within days in a reuseable ice chest which we will use when go camping.
Realistically this was 12 pounds of food for 44 dollars including the shipping, roughly 4 bucks a pound. but still it is quality products, well packaged for the freezer and for taking to the bluegrass festival.

Las Vegas deals, save your money for the gambling!

I have received a newsletter for the last few years from someone who only identifies himself as Billhere. There are two different emails he sends out on a regular basis, one is a rundown of what is going on in Vegas such as the shows, the new restaraunts, the special events, etc. The other regular email he sends out is a rundown of coupons available, i.e. two for one specials, buffets, shows, gaming deals, car rentals, souvenirs, just about everything.

At the website you can view coupons (and order them) view the calendar, order show tickets and sign up for the mailing list.

http://www.vegasresource.com/

Best buys on books

I am addicted to Book Closeouts. I even used them for stocking the School Library. There are always lots of books at discounts of 50-90 percent.

I have a discount code for the site that can be used multiple times, at the bottom of the shopping cart page enter: Coupon Number = happycoupons Coupon Password=bookcloseouts
This coupon is good for $5 off of a $35 purchase.

I do have an affiliate link to the site and it earns me free books. Works well for gifts and ties in with BookCrossing, when I let books go in the wild.


http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?N=0&rid=scarlos