I know I have talked about survey companies a lot lately, but it’s been a great way for me to save money and earn gift cards. Synovate is another great Opinion Panel where you will also get a possible chance to do Product Testing!

You Can Make A Difference

Being a Panel member is easy, fun and provides many rewards. Rewards are easy to earn by simply spending some time each month answering questions about your likes and dislikes.

• Register today to be entered into our Monthly Sign-up Sweepstakes with over 200 winners monthly
• Earn points redeemable for cash by taking surveys with the Synovate Rewards Program

Interested? Me too!!! Head over here to register today!

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Program invitation is open again!

Yay, Pinecone Research has once again supplied TFF with an exclusive invitation to qualify for their survey program. For those of you who may have missed my previous post, this is by far my favorite survey site.

I have been personally with them for a while now, and they offer $3 per survey, pay very fast, and once you qualify for Pinecone Research, you will always qualify for their surveys. They also give you the option of getting your money sent directly to paypal or by check. On occasion, they will also send you new products to try out, then you will get a follow-up survey for another $3.00!

It’s an awesome way for your opinion to be heard!

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Ok so I came across this site this morning, and am thinking it’s something I want to share with everyone. I wish we had a budget program like Quicken or MS Money to help keep our money in check. Unfortunately we don’t, nor can we afford to buy a program.

So I was reading up on Mint.com. Mint is fresh, free, and intelligent online money management software. Over 1 million people already use Mint’s online money management and budgeting software today, and they’re adding over 3,000 users every day. It’s let me add all my bank accounts, create and track my budget, and track expenses. It’s really nice to have instead of working off of excel spreadsheets like I have been.

If interested or for more information, head over to Mint.com.

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 Just a reminder that the registration is still open for the Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel.

As a panel member, the National Consumer Panel will provide you with a hand-held scanner. Every time you or members of your household shop, you’ll use the scanner to scan the barcodes on all of your purchases. Then, once a week, you’ll send us your purchase information. It’s as easy as that! You’ll earn gift points that are redeemable for name-brand merchandise, including electronics equipment, jewelry, household items, toys, and much more!

I joined the NHSCP back in November 2009. I am currently on a waiting list for a scanner, but  I just received a survey by mail with $2.00 in cash, no kidding there was $2.00 in there just to fill out a short survey and send back! I also have some blogger friends who have earned Dooney& Burke handbags and cold hard cash, woohoo!!!

I only takes a few minutes to register, so head over and check it out!

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Toluna – Get Rewarded for Surveys & Polls

Toluna is an online community dedicated to making your voice heard! Tell the world’s leading providers of products and services what you think and earn rewards by participating in surveys. Every service that our site offers is free of charge, and for participation in many Toluna activities you will be awarded points. The points you earn can be converted into cash rewards or entries to our monthly $4,500 drawing.

I joined Toluna back in January 2010, and to date have 30,000 points or $10.00. You can request a check when you have reached a minimum account balance of $20, or 60,000 points.

Have you tried on-line Surveys before? Let us know which one’s and how your experience has been.

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Another great way to save money, especially when your doing on-line shipping is using Reward or “Cash-Back” sites. If you order on-line a lot, you can get money back for each purchase, along with exclusive deals offered to members only. Below are two of my favorites, and one’s I have used for over 2 years now. Again, you are not going to get a ton of cash back, but it all adds up over time, and most companies will give you money just to sign up.

Shop at Home.com

ShopatHome.com is my favorite cash-back site. They offer an enormous selection of companies and cash-back scenarios for each. Along with their cash-back program, they offer free coupons, samples, and daily deals! Here are some of the great benefits of ShopAtHome.com:

• Cash Back Shopping – 1 to 30 percent Cash Back, Deals of the Week, free shipping for selected orders, exclusive double and triple Cash Back promotions
• Catalogs – Access to more than 700 discount catalogs and magazines (many are even free)
• Free Coupons – Exclusive discounts, free shipping offers, limited time specials
• Printable Grocery Coupons – 3 collections of grocery coupons that consumers can print and take to their favorite stores. Coupons are updated frequently, but supplies are limited. Requires the Free Coupon Toolbar and special coupon drivers to prevent coupon fraud.
• Local Store Coupons – Printable coupons for local stores. Consumers can print and save on auto upkeep, pizza, restaurants and more. Requires the Free Coupon Toolbar. 
• Free Coupon Toolbar – downloadable application that gains exclusive access to Printable Grocery Coupons and Local Store Coupons

So what do you think? If your interested, just head over to sign-up. Just for signing up today, they will put $5.00 cash in your account. Once you reach $20.00, you will receive a check, yep real money!

EBATES

Ebates is also another cash-back site that offers between 3 – 26% cash back on a huge selection of retailers.  Joining Ebates is always free – you’ll never pay anything. Four times a year or more, they will mail you a Big Fat Check, or transfer the money to your PayPal account if you’d prefer. They can even send the money to your favorite charity. All 100% free. Here’s how easy it is too start using today:

Peak your interest? Let’s see getting cash back from on-line purchases you need to make for FREE, sounds great to me! Just head over here and register, then just for signing up today, you will get $5.00 in your account right off the bat!

Related Posts:

FLTABF Series: Reward Programs
FLTABF Series: Making Extra Money Cont…
FLTABF Series: Making Extra Money
Frugal Living To A Better Future

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Reward Programs come in all shapes and sizes and basically reward you for, well.., being you. . There are so many reward programs available, that sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. It certainly starts with your Tops Bonuscard or Wegmans Wild Card, but then blooms into every nook and cranny in our lives.

Make sure you are getting the most out of your Reward Programs. Whether you are looking for cash back, gift cards, merchandise, or coupons keep a lit of each program, and user names and passwords. This way it will be easier to track your rewards as they are coming in.

Today let’s focus on store rewards. There are many that I am probably not even familiar with, but here are a few to get you started. If you know of some great store reward programs, please come back and comment.

Home Depot:

Home Depot has many reward “clubs”. They all serve a purpose, but it depends on what your individual needs are. Take a look at the links below and register for any programs you will benefit from!

Home Depot Garden Club

Home Depot Home Improver Club

Home Depot Professionals

JC Penney Rewards:

If your an avid JC Penney shopper, I would recommend signing up for the JCPenney Rewards. When you shop at JCP,  earn at least one point for each dollar you spend in the store, at jcp.com or through our catalog, on all regular-priced and sale-priced merchandise (not including clearance merchandise). Then once you earn 250 points, you will be rewarded with a $10 certificate. It’s free to join, and if your going to shop there anyway, earn some free money along the way

Victoria Secret: Pink Nation:

The Pink Nation reward is pretty cool. You will get exclusive coupons for Free products at times, along with exclusive new VS merchandise. It’s actually been a fun one to have as you never know what they are going to send to you.

Hallmark Gold Crown:

This is another great reward program that you may want to check out. I have already been rewarded two certificates which come in handy during the Christmas season. Hallmark God Crown offers:

Pet Smart PetPerks:

If you have some four legged friends, or other small animals, I would join PetSmart’s PetPerks. It’s free to register, and the coupons that you can get really can add up to big savings. Once registered you will: 

Are there other Reward Programs from Retailers that you love? Come back in the comments and let us know!

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There are lot’s of small ways to make extra money or free products on-line. Along with survey companies, you can also register for click-advertising affiliates. Basically you dont’ so anything but click on advertising links either through the actual website or emails, and earn money or points toward cash or products. I have two click affiliate programs I am currently using:

You Data

You data is a pay-per-click advertising program. Again you will not make a lot of money, but each small payment adds up over time, and when your watching every penny, every extra penny helps!

Once registered, you will complete some short surveys so they can offer advertising based on your needs/wants. Then they will shopw links you can hit to collect money. You can have them deposit the money directly into PayPal! It’s really easy and fast!

ZoomPanel

Zoom Panel is a survey panel where you share your opinion and get rewarded. Your opinion can drive how leading companies improve and develop new products and services. It’s a FREE and rewarding way for you to shape the products and services of tomorrow. Earn points redeemable for Ralph Lauren jewelry, a DVD player with karaoke function, a digital camera, and more!

I joined ZoomPanel last month and have 225 points already. As you accumulate points you can redeem them for many rewards.

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In a continuation from yesterday, here are some of the websites I have joined in the past year, where I have joined and /or earning cash!

Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel

As a panel member, the National Consumer Panel will provide you with a hand-held scanner. Every time you or members of your household shop, you’ll use the scanner to scan the barcodes on all of your purchases. Then, once a week, you’ll send us your purchase information. It’s as easy as that! You’ll earn gift points that are redeemable for name-brand merchandise, including electronics equipment, jewelry, household items, toys, and much more!

I joined the NHSCP back in November 2009. i am currently on a waiting list for a scanner, but it’s by area so it’s definitely worth the wait. I have some blogger friends who have earned Dooney& Burke handbags and cold hard cash, woohoo!!!

Toluna – Get Rewarded for Surveys & Polls

Toluna is an online community dedicated to making your voice heard! Tell the world’s leading providers of products and services what you think and earn rewards by participating in surveys. Every service that our site offers is free of charge, and for participation in many Toluna activities you will be awarded points. The points you earn can be converted into cash rewards or entries to our monthly $4,500 drawing.

I joined Toluna back in January 2010, and to date have 30,000 points or $10.00. You can request a check when you have reached a minimum account balance of $20, or 60,000 points.

Have you tried on-line Surveys before? Let us know which one’s and how your experience has been.

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This week I would like to focus on ways to Make Extra Money, no matter how minimal the amount, over time it all adds up!

This week I would like to share some of the websites I have joined in the past year, where I have earned money. No, it’s not a get rich quick scheme, nor a replacement for any income, they are simply ways I have earned extra money that has helped contribute to our savings or everyday needs.

Let’s talk Surveys! If your skeptical already, I totally understand! It’s something you may hear a lot about, but also have many reservations about getting involved. Time is precious, so I don’t spend a lot of time on survey companies that are looking for committees, or panels. Instead, I focus on daily smaller surveys that pay either by check or paypal after minimum requirements have been met. The below survey companies are ones in which I have personally participated in, and have received compensation!

Survey Head

Your opinion matters! By carefully providing answers to market research surveys, you are personally helping to shape the business strategies of executives around the world. In exchange for providing your opinion, Surveyhead will pay you a cash reward.

I joined Survey Head on 2/7/2010, and to date I have earned $14.80. There are a lot of survey opportunities available however I don’t qualify for all of them. There’s a couple great things about Survey Head.

1. Just for signing up they will put $5.00 in your account! That’s easy money right! Once you reach $25.00 you can then redeem for a reward or request a deposit to your paypal account.
2. They give you money just for filling out profiles. There are a ton of profiles on Survey Head, and because they value all of your time, they pay you to fill them out. Profiles help determine what surveys are better for you. You can earn between $0.10 – $0.50 per profile.

Ipsos Survey

i-Say panel members earn Reward Points for every survey you take. Earn just 500 points and you can “cash them in” for money (in the form of an authorized check), donations, American Express Gift Cards and more.

Points add up fast – most surveys are worth 10 to 100 points and members get an average of 4 surveys each month.

I joined Ipsos on 3/29/2010 and to date I have earned 780 points. For 1,000 points you can request a $10.00 check. Yeppers an actual check The surveys range from 10 – 30 minutes.

Have you tried on-line Surveys before? Let us know which one’s and how your experience has been.

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As a family of four, it has been a tough road these past couple years managing our families needs with the little resources we have. Being frugal has saved me and my family more times then I could count and these last two years have been a learning lesson in how to really buckle down and save money in every aspect of our daily living. I am proud to say we have managed to survive the last two years on a yearly income that I actually made over 9 years ago back in 2001 before I was married or had children. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely possible.

Unfortunately though, with all things in our family lately, we took 2 giant leaps forward and now we are forced to take one back. I am not going to get discouraged! Instead, I am determined! I am determined to be even more creative and assertive, seeking new and better ways to handle the everyday frugal challenges.

So with that in mind, I am starting a new series called Frugal Living to A Better Future. Each week I would like to focus on one topic and share any Frugal Tips to help reduce expenses. I am excited and I hope this will be a great way to help each other and make a Frugal Living To A Better Future.

I want everyone to know how much it means to me, that you are tuning in everyday! I really appreciate it, more than I can say. During the series, if you have some great tips or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

Each week on Sunday, I will introduce the FLTABF topic. Each day following {Monday – Friday} I will have one post reflecting a Tip, Suggestion or even a Question on the topic.

I hope this series is helpful, and would love your feedback each day!

The First FLTABF Topic: Making Money

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