Feb 28- Contest HOT HOT HOT!

Isn't it funny how my swagbucks contest ENDS tonight... and the last day to get the points is RIGHT NOW which happens to be Swagbucks big 3rd Birthday where you can get kazillions (exageration) of points? I wish I had planned it that way but it was a happy coincidence!

Winner of the contest will be anounced at MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, I stop counting points at 11:59 MST.

Right now first place has 412 points. Second has 394. Third has 321.
I chose to make it even more suspensful and not tell you who is where... its still anyones game at this point. I just found a code worth 50 swagbucks... thats enough to ruffle up the scores!

While I have your attention.. did you notice the blog changed a bit? The top banner is "cuter" and I'm trying to get word out about the blog so tell a friend. I also am trying to give it a less "SPAM" feel since "I make money online" already raises a red flag to most people.

Feb 28- SWAGBUCKS 3rd BDAY!

Today is Swagbucks 3rd birthday and there are high-paying codes coming out all day long so keep checking into swagbucks.com, their facebook, their blog- just keep swaggin away today!

Feb 26- Earn Giftcards..on your PHONE!

This one is FUN if you have an andriod phone or an iphone. Hey- if you want a FREE ANDRIOD PHONE see the previous post to see if you qualify for one in a product testing opportunity!

Hubby and I had a good time playing our own version of a scavenger hunt today going around walmart scanning the barcodes of items for points. We did get a few funny looks, and one guy thought I was some kind of "walmart secret official scanner checker person" but its all part of the fun.

If you have an iPhone or Android phone chances are you're already using the GPS feature to "Check in" at various places as a part of Facebook or some other app. CheckPoints is a new FREE mobile app for iPhone Users and Android phone users that gives you prizes for shopping at places like the grocery store and the mall. It's also currently the #1 Lifestyle App in the U.S. on iTunes - Here's how it works:

I heard about CHECKPOINTS today from swagbucks. If you are on swagbucks you can use my refferral link to sign up, but then go into your checkpoints settings and select "swagbucks" as your membership and you'll be gettin' swagbucks as well!

Sign up under my link and get 300 points to start and 2 coins!

http://www.checkpoints.com/r/?bc=sarahbug

Feb 25- New GREAT opportunity!!!

The online world is GREAT, can I just say that? I've "met" some wonderful people and one of my bestest online buddies just informed me about this opportunity and said it should go on the blog. Angel, you're ahmazing! She finds the greatest deals (check out the pinchingyourpennies link) and she's a Disney fan- so right there you KNOW she's awesome!

Angel said:

The android phone study I am doing is expanding. You get the phone and plan free

I got in originally through a mysurvey survey

And the site says:

RawData is recruiting panelists to take part in a research study about media consumption. We have some great Benefits for our panelists. If you are interested please read the details below and follow the link the survey:

http://maximum.cfmc.com/insure2/index.html (leave the password field blank)

What is RawData?

RawData is a research company that focuses on media consumption. We use cell phones and a community of panelists to help us understand what people watch on TV, listen to on the Radio, and browse on the Internet. Our cell phones recognize only TV and Radio, everything else is ignored.

What are the Benefits?

As long as you are a member of RawData's community of panelists, you will receive the free use of an Android Cell phone. You can make calls, send email, take pictures, browse the web, download apps. Here are the details:

• Up to 500 Minutes
• Unlimited Text Messages
• Unlimited Data

RawData will help support and make sure that you have the best access to support for your Android phone. As well we will also have opportunities for you to earn extra rewards by taking part in additional surveys.

What does a Panelist Do?

All you have to do is is keep our cell phone charged and make sure it is exposed and between the TV and Radio when you are watching or listening. The RawData application runs in the background on the phone. That is it!

How do I Become a Panelist?

Email or Facebook RawData and we will send you a link to take our survey and see if you qualify. At the end of the survey you will be asked for your shipping address so that we can send you a phone. It is that easy.

Follow this link to start the survey, become a panelist, and to use your free Android phone:

http://maximum.cfmc.com/insure2/index.html

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email - support@therawdata.com

...

Privacy

Protecting the security of our panelists, the phones do not recognize any other types of sound. For more information about how RawData protects the security of our panelists please contact support@therawdata.com.

Feb 25- where's all the "normal" posts?

I've been getting a lot of questions lately about where the "normal" blog posts have gone. in other words- people care about the posts and not just the contest (of course the contest is good to!)

Yupp, I was going strong and just fizzled out. No worries- the Friday Freebies is comin' at you later today. And I promise to stay more on top of new posts.

Feb 24- Contest Update

You've been waiting so here it is: CONTEST UPDATE!
the top 3 currently are:

J.E. with 309 points

S.B. with 263 points

T.G. with 254 points

Feb 22- Swagbucks, Panels, and Contest Update

I'm really excited because I just signed on as a member of a new panel. As with most panels, membership is limited and you have to seek them out yourselves and I'm not allowed to say much about what they do or who they are. But I can hint, right? Y- because I like you! What a small world- this is one of my all-time favorite companies so I'm glad to participate!!!

Swagbucks Update:

This morning Swagbucks made yet another change to SwagTV... it seems they just can't make up their minds on how this feature needs to be run. They have done away with auto-play once and for all, so now you have to click each individual video to play it. (They are hammering down on the "set it and forget it" viewers) This Months Contest Update: Coming soon, calculating and adding points right now~

From the Swagbucks Blog Today:

More frequent wins - Instead of winning 5 Swag Bucks for every 20 videos you watch, you'll now earn 3 Swag Bucks for every 10, meaning that you win faster and you get 6 for every 20 you watch. Be aware that every once in a while you may encounter a CAPTCHA after a win, but this is no big since without continuous play you'll actually be in front of your computer when you win. Also, we've increased the total number of wins you can have in a day from 15 to 25, meaning you can still earn 75 every day for watching our SBTV content!

This Months Contest Update: Coming soon, calculating and adding points right now~

Nine people are now in the running and the top 3 currently are:

S.B. =246

J.E. = 244

M.B. = 218

wowsa, someone beat out J.E. for first... but will it last? Stay tuned, and keep on swaggin'

Feb 21- New Survey site I recommend: Mindfield

Today I'd like to introduce you to a new survey site I have been testing out. I don't like recommending survey sites unless I'm sure they are safe, reliable, and worth my (and your) time. I've really been enjoying Mindfield, their surveys are short (10-15 minutes) and pay at least $1 per survey. The cash-out point in low as well: you can cash out at any amount over $5.oo!

One thing about this survey site is that they really make the surveys they send you relevant to your lifestyle. They customize them for seniors, professionals, stay at home moms, teens, and empty-nesters.

If you would like to sign up for MindField surveys please use my referral link: HERE

Feb 20- Contest Going Strong!

Contest Update:

Nine people are now in the running and the top 5 currently are:

J.E. = 215 points

S.B. = 203 points

T.G. = 166 points

M.B. = 164 points

K.F. = 138 points

Feb19- InboxDollars brining you MORE!

CONTEST UPDATE at end of post.

I recently posted about how I cashed out $27.56 at InboxDollars and said it took awhile to earn this much- but it was worth it because InboxDollars is now brining its members even more with GoldMembership- and best of all its still FREE! Once you cash out for your first check you are automatically a Gold Member.

What do you get when you sign up for InboxDollars:

Free Offers

Paid Surveys

Sweepstakes Entries

Fun Games

Cash Back for shopping Online

and with a GOLD Membership after your first cash out:

Free Weekly Payments- just for being a member

Double Sweepstakes Entries

Exclusive Monthly Offers

And More Referral Rewards*

(*Every time a new member joins InboxDollars^® without being referred, they are placed in a pool of new non-referred members. Your Gold Membership guarantees you a portion of these “referrals.”)

Would you like to sign up for InboxDollars and have $5 instantly put into your account? Well, now you can by clicking HERE or the photo link below:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Contest Update:

Eight people are now in the running and the top 5 currently are:

J.E. = 168 points

S.B. = 157 points

M.B. = 153 points

T. G. = 146 points

K.F. = 138 points

its REALLY close, honestly anyone could be in 1st with one lucky search at this time. I think this is really fun having it so excitingly close, are you guys having fun?

Feb 17- The Contest Heats Up!!

Contest update:

Eight people are now in the running and the top 5 currently are:
J.E. = 127 points
M.B. = 117
S.B. = 104 points
TIED!!! K.F. = 100 points T.G. = 100 points

its REALLY close, still anyone's game at this point.

Feb16- Contest Update and another $10

Contest update:
Swagbucks has been slooooooow updating the referral points that I'm using to score the contest, I can see the individual points via the ledger but its a lot more effort than when they gave me the totals right off the bat. So updates are slower, but still coming.

Eight people are now in the running and the top 3 currently are:

J.E. = 109 points

S.B. = 95 points

T.G. = 80 points

its REALLY close, and the 4 and 5th place people are very close to the 3rd. Anyone's game at this point.

In other news today I got my monthly $10 amazon giftcard from being an active member of a national grocery store panel. The february totals aren't as high as January, but its not bad either. In January i was off from teaching and could snag up surveys quickly and now when I come home and online they surveys have already met their quote. Jump on those surveys quickly!

Feb15- quick contest score update

VALENTINES (Swagbucks) CONTEST Day #1 update

You can still win a $5 amazon giftcard!!!
find all the contest details *here*

Sign up for Swagbucks with my referral link if you haven't already *Here*

So far we only have 3 participating, but its a fun close race!

J.E. = 62

S.B. = 46

T.G.= 41

Feb14- Valentines and CONTEST KICKOFF!

VALENTINES (Swagbucks) CONTEST

You can win a $5 amazon giftcard!!!

How? Sign up for Swagbucks with my referral link if you haven't already *Here*
From Feb 14- Feb 28 2011 I will keep track of "referral bucks". These are the points you get each time you do a search. Swagbucks copies what you earn in a search and puts it into my "referral bucks". (Which is how I'm getting the giftcard for the contest). So you'll be going along in the contest doing what you would normally do at swagbucks- searches!
(this contest only counts searches but there are many ways to earn on swagbucks)

Rules:

Who can enter? Anybody who signed up already under my referral link or does so before/during the contest.
What can you win? a $5 Amazon Gift Card
When? Feb 14-Feb 28 2011
Where? Swagbucks! Need a referral here it is: Click Here
Why? Because its fun and I'm using this as a "contest tester" to get the kinks out now before the bigger contests come (and their will be some bigger ones!)
How:
1) sign up under my swagbucks referral link

I will post daily photos of the progress (names will be blurred out or replaced with nicknames) as seen on my swagbucks account
Winner announced 11:59 PM on Feb 28
Winner will be the Swagbucks member who earned the most through swagbucks searches

Feb 10- Inbox Dollars Cashout

I haven't really talked about InboxDollars much on this blog, and decided today was a good day to let this site have some attention! Today I cashed out for a $27.56 check. When you hit $30.00 at InboxDollars you can cash out for a check but they take out $3 as a processing fee. I was 0.56 cents over but they include it in the check. They also give the option of waiting until you are at $40.00 to cash out with no processing fee, but I wasn't paying attention when it told me that and went ahead with paying the fee. I don't suggest you copy that mistake, lol.

After requesting a check they filled my account with another $3 for "being a valued member", which of course covers the processing fee. They also offered me a $2 survey about my experiences with InboxDollars so my account was suddenly back to $5 very quickly.

Would you like to sign up for InboxDollars and have $5 instantly put into your account? Well, now you can by clicking HERE or the photo link below:

What IS InboxDollars and what have I said about it previously:
This is another "click the email" one, similar to mypoints but much it takes a lot longer to earn points. As in mypoints, they will email you advertisements to click on as well as surveys. On this one you cash out at every $30 for a check to be mailed to you, not giftcards. They also have daily videos to watch on their website that can be worth .02-.07 if you watch carefully. They will ask at the end of the video what number scrolled across the screen.

Extra Note: The checks do come, but they come slowly. They said my check was due to arrive around April 1st, and I need to be an active member until then to "continue the processing". Which, I will do of course but it does seem extremly innapropriate that they almost seem to say "keep doing things or their could be a slipup with your processing".

Feb 11- No friday Freebies This Week

Due to craziness in our house (water heater leak flooded the bedroom) I didn't have the chance to compile a Friday Freebie List.

And with a computer in the bedroom being moved I also got behind in surveys (amongst other things). There's still time to sign up for SWAGBUCKS and enter the upcoming contest!

Regular posts to resume tomorrow!

Feb 10- First ever BLOG CONTEST!!!

CONTEST TIME

(coming soon- get ready!)

I'm really loving the wonderful friendships I've made through this blog and knowing that it has actually helped some people put a little extra ka-ching into their purses! Selfishly, it helps me as well because sometimes I get bonuses from referrals and keeping the blog updated motivates me to keep going.

So onto the contest:
Warning: this is a completly selfish contest- but you do get something out of it!

You can win a $5 amazon giftcard!!!

How? Sign up for Swagbucks with my referral link if you haven't already *Here*
From Feb 14- Feb 28 2011 I will keep track of "referral bucks". These are the points you get each time you do a search. Swagbucks copies what you earn in a search and puts it into my "referral bucks". (Which is how I'm getting the giftcard for the contest). So you'll be going along in the contest doing what you would normally do at swagbucks- searches!
(this contest only counts searches but there are many ways to earn on swagbucks)

Rules:

Who can enter? Anybody who signed up already under my referral link or does so before/during the contest.

What can you win? a $5 Amazon Gift Card

When? Feb 14-Feb 28 2011

Where? Swagbucks! Need a referral here it is: Click Here

Why? Because its fun and I'm using this as a "contest tester" to get the kinks out now before the bigger contests come (and their will be some bigger ones!)

How:

1) sign up under my swagbucks referral link

2) to "enter" leave on comment on this posting

3) leave a comment on the official contest post (coming Feb 14)

I will post daily photos of the progress (names will be blurred out or replaced with nicknames) as seen on my swagbucks account

Winner announced 11:59 PM on Feb 28

Winner will be the Swagbucks member who earned the most through swagbucks searches

I hope this turns out fun, but it is just a test run so feedback always welcome.

Feb 9- Panel Goodness

More and more products and stores are trying to create "panels" of online members to give them frequent feedback. I currently am on a panel for a popular magazine, and one for a national grocery store- but more and more seem to be appearing in me emails this week. My favorite is one for a world wide underwear company (free lingerie? whoopie..literally! haha!)

How can you find more? Contact the companies via email of the products you commonly enjoy and be sure to fill out all those reciept surveys (the ones that say you'll win $1,000). Those surveys and emails show the companies that 1) you are capable of online interaction and 2) you are interested and a valued customer 3) it puts your contact information into their hands.

Feb 8- Snowed in AGAIN!

Today has been pretty exciting because
1) its a snowday with negative 20 degree temps
2) the water heater leaked out over night causing a carpet swamp outside my bedroom
3) surveys, surveys, surveys

Has anyone else had their emails pumped up this morning by a flood of new surveys? I don't know why today they came out in such high numbers but I'm happy about it! Of course I didn't qualify for some, but I'm expecting a nice extra boost for the month now. And the possibility of some product testing!

Feb 7th- Rackin' up SwagBucks

Another month, another collection of amazon giftcards from Swagbucks! Already this month I have redeemed three of the $5 gift cards and I'm working my way towards #4... at this rate I'll have over $350 for amazon this Christmas. And that doesn't even factor in all my other online earnings that will be happening this year! Wowsa!

If you would like to sign up for swagbucks please use my referral link: Click Here

If you've already signed up whats your best advice for new people joining swagbucks? I know a lot of people signed up recently and I got a bunch of good questions so expect a future post (tomorrow) about some swagbucks Q&A!

Feb 6- Superbowl!

Its SUPER BOWL SUNDAY! I'm gonna admit I didn't watch more than 10 minutes of the game and those 10 minutes was when we were out getting food and it was on a TV. However, I did make $2 by betting my dad that Green Bay would win. How did I know? Because my pug has correctly predicted the winner for the past two superbowls, and he didn't fail me:

One thing most people enjoy about the superbowl, and I am no exception, is the commercials. I was able to do an early survey about the ads and got to preview many of them. My favorite is of course the Doritos Pug ad. Are you wondering how my Superbowl-loving pug liked it? Check out the video for yourself on youtube: VIEW NOW

Feb 5th- New 20/20 Study, do YOU qualify?

I did not qualify for this one, but thought I would pass it on. Maybe you do!

Click HERE to see if you qualify for this snack study open to men and women, you will be rewarded with a $125 visa card

Feb 3rd- Don't Obsess..

Today I came across another "make money online" blog where a woman was making a good $500+ a month, but looking at what she was doing I couldn't help but wonder: does this woman ever leave her computer chair? I know its easy to get really into a new site that offers endless chances of earning possibility (play games! write reviews! etc!) but I'd just like to say online earning isn't a "job", its a hobby.

My earnings have certainly slowed down now that school is back in session, as I am teaching during the day. But with the negative temperatures it has been more tempting to stay inside and curl up with my laptop and snuggie. (yes, I am a snuggie fan!)

So this post is to serve as your public service announcement: get some fresh air, have other hobbies, spend time with family. And please, don't take this making money online thing so seriously.

Also- happy 32 birthday to my sister, Erin.

Feb 1- Snowed-in and Shout-out!

Hey just wanted to give a quick shoutout to "Phawx" who not only is a fellow swagbucks master, but also qualified for the 20/20 survey I previously posted on this blog and was paid $75 for it! She might even be better at online earnings than I am! Awesome job!

Today has been CRAZY here in Colorado. The schools are closed not because of snow but because of subzero temperatures that aren't safe to be out in!!! Right now its -12 and with wind chill its much, much worse! Hope everyone is staying warm!

This says -15 this morning with a high of -4 and a low of -19!!!