Web Sites and Tools

A few suggestions on how to earn money online and get free stuff on the internet. These web sites and tools may provide you with a few opportunities!

Lots of people are already making money on the web — just check out this make money blogging article. But if you want to do something fairly simpler and much more straightforward, perhaps to earn a bit of money or receive a few gifts, then there are easy ways to earn gift cards and merchandise online for doing stuff you probably already do. Different websites grant points for sharing your opinions, taking surveys, discussing matters and a variety of other activities. With today’s economy, these all add up!

Every year, I add new points-earning websites to my roster of online resources for earning gift cards for the holidays and special occasions. These sites have come very handy for me, when a birthday or anniversary would come up. Nowadays I earn points and free stuff (like gift cards) to keep as extra gifts, souvenirs and handouts for birthday parties, school affairs, holidays and unexpected events.

New points programs arrive on the scene daily but do exercise caution! Sometimes these points programs are thinly disguised scams to get your personal information. Other times the website promises the world but the participants never get to actually cash out. Before I recommend a site, I usually wait to see if participants are enjoying payouts and the site is standing the test of time.

Sites Where You Can Earn Money Online and Get Free Stuff

“Paid” Surveys: Surveying Your Situation

Surveys are one way to get paid for your opinions. Some pay in cash, others pay in gift cards. Sometimes you are even sent a free product to try. Here’s one I like:

Epoll: Many of the Epoll surveys are fun because they are about television shows and your favorite celebrities. There are also many other different types of surveys. When you have enough points, you can cash out for gift certificates to major retailers and eateries. On the downside, they’re a bit slow about payouts, and typically, it takes about 5 to 6 weeks to receive your rewards.

Earn Great Stuff While You Party!

Can you really earn great stuff while you party? It sounds too good to be true, but it works! I’ve received decadent chocolate, pre-release Barbie dolls and even a margarita maker just for having an online party and talking about it.

House Party: You simply answer a survey to apply for a “House Party” then wait to see if you’re selected as a host. You invite about a dozen guests, take pictures and participate in activities at the House Party website, which is a community where people are connected through these parties. At the website there’s a national blog and your own personal blog to post party updates for the people you invite. When you are chosen to host a House Party, you receive a party package with cool products from a major retailer. The products are useful and your guests will love them! They also send nifty party supplies including cups, plates and napkins for your House Party guests. You therefore use this opportunity to share photos, videos and blog posts with House Party participants. As you can already tell, these events are used as a way to promote and market various retail goods to the community.

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You don’t have to pay full price for gift certificates and cards. We’ll show you where to find bargain gift cards for your giving needs!

Photo by Descending Ashtray

This holiday season, I fully intend to do the vast majority of my gift shopping online for no other reason than to protect my own sanity. I’m not a fan of crowds, and have no intention of getting caught up in the masses of people who will scramble in the wee hours of the morning for Black Friday bargains. I don’t intend to brave the crowds before the crack of down on any day for that matter, just to take advantage of the pre-daylight, doorbuster sales. It takes a special kind of person to deal with that kind of mayhem and, despite what my mom told me so many years ago, I’m not THAT special.

So, online shopping it is! I’ll even buy my gift cards online. Yep, gift cards. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that a gift card is always the best gift but, rather, that it’s not always the worst gift. I’d rank gift cards somewhere in the middle on the fruitcake to Ferrari gift spectrum.

Where To Find Bargain Gift Cards

I’ve recently discovered that you don’t necessarily have to pay full price for a gift card. Several websites have sprung up allowing users to sell or trade any unwanted gift cards or to buy gift cards at a discount. The discount varies depending on the seller, the card balance, and the merchant. Here are a few websites that will help you grab that coveted card for less, or turn unwanted cards into cash:

Plastic Jungle: The best of the sites I’ve come across, Plastic Jungle is like gift card mecca. Plastic Jungle verifies all cards bought and sold, and is the only site that I found that offers a transaction guarantee. Users looking to sell or trade gift cards retain ownership until the transaction is completed. Need small holiday gifts for coworkers? Pick up $10 Crabtree & Evelyn gift cards for $8.

Gift Cards Again: A quick search of Gift Cards Again made it appear as though this site has a much smaller inventory of gift cards to buy than Plastic Jungle; however there was still some good stuff to be had, like a $150 Banana Republic gift card for $130. Also, Gift Cards Again has a sister site, Gift Card Buy Back. Unlike Plastic Jungle where users who want to sell, own the card until they find a buyer, Gift Card Buy Back buys the card from the owner and then resells it on Gift Cards Again. The site gives the seller cash for their unwanted gift cards. It may also be a good site for gift card shoppers who may not want the uncertainty of dealing with people they don’t know.

Gift Card Exchange: Gift Card Exchange has a transaction set up similar to Gift Cards Again/Gift Card Buy Back. The primary difference is that purchase transactions at Gift Card Exchange can only be completed using PayPal or Google Checkout. Look! There’s that $100 Pottery Barn gift card for only $90!

One thing that I should note for all of the sites listed above is that the availability of gift cards for any given merchant can vary greatly from day to day, so if you see a great deal, snap it up.

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The cold and flu season doesn’t have to hit us hard. Stay healthy with common sense flu prevention tips and try frugal remedies and treatments to get us through a sick patch.

With the arrival of Google Flu Trends, one of Google.org’s projects, I started thinking about what I can do to stay healthy this flu season. In addition, I’d like to look at some ways to treat the flu if it strikes here, so how about hopping into the Anti-flu DeLorean with me?

The first line of defense for many people is the flu vaccine. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that the vaccine is made to protect against the three main strains of the flu (for a given year), and that the season doesn’t reach its peak until January or February in the U.S.

Who should get the flu shot? In particular, the CDC recommends the shot for:

• children aged 6 months to 19 years
• pregnant women
• people with certain chronic health conditions
• those of us older than 50
• healthcare and nursing home workers
• and those who live with or care for people at high risk for the flu.

Do check with your doctor to see if you’re at risk.

Where to Go For Flu Shots

Health Centers: Unlike a few years ago, when our country dealt with a flu vaccine shortage, we should be able to find providers in a variety of locations. For example, the Tulsa Health Department offers the vaccine for free at health centers around my county. It may be worth a call to your local county health department to see what’s offered.

Local Pharmacy: Another source for the flu vaccine might be your local pharmacy. Walgreens has their In-Store Flu Vaccination Program. In the Tulsa area, the vaccine’s $30. It’s offered subject to availability, so call before you head over to your pharmacy. Don’t forget to ask if your insurance will cover the charge, because the pharmacy person I spoke with said that they didn’t accept our insurance.

Your Doctor: Of course, you can always try to make an appointment with your physician and pediatrician for the vaccine. While waiting for a family member to finish an appointment a month ago, I noticed a good number of people coming in for their vaccines.

Schools and Offices: Some schools and offices may also provide access to flu shots for students and employees. There are companies that will offer flu shots for free, as part of the overall benefits they provide their workers. Hey there, best company to work for!

Also, some health care providers may sponsor health programs to spread education and information on flu prevention. An example of this is Oklahoma’s Hillcrest HealthCare System, which sponsors the Don’t Bug Me program: the goal is to help kids understand the importance of washing their hands to prevent the spread of the flu. The program has a jingle that younger members of your family can try to sing, which can serve as a cute reminder for getting rid of those nasty germs (just don’t vow retribution on me if the song sticks in your head long after the end of flu season). You can also try these other cheap ways to watch your hygiene to help dial down infections.

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Our favorite gift ideas are those that are extra affordable, of excellent value and perhaps, even free! Now if you’re instead looking for our best gift ideas for the holiday season that are available through standard retail outlets, then read on for our current picks.

While the new I Can Has Cheezburger? book can take care of 75% of my holiday gift needs , I still need to find a few more items. Although giving away gift certificates is a convenient option, doing so is the easy way out and something I’d only do if I run out of ideas. So far, I’m able to come up with a good list of giveaways by enlisting the help of resources like mySimon.com and Google Products, which are great tools to help me determine what everyone’s interested in this year.

Gadgets, Anyone?

Photo by ttkgeek.

Netbook Computer: If you want to give the joy of mobile computing this year, check out a netbook computer. The netbook is a smaller laptop that can cover your web-surfing and basic computing needs, usually for less than $500. Asus, Dell, and HP are offering netbooks with a range of features. CNET has an article about the netbook and how it can benefit you.

HDTV: A lot of people are going to want to upgrade to an HDTV in advance of the HDTV transition in February 2009. If you’re among those seeking to fill larger stockings, then IGN has an HDTV Buyer’s Guide for you.

Digital Cameras: Before you purchase a new camera, make sure that you check out this new site that helps you find the best digital camera based on your custom requirements. BestInClass.com will help you narrow down your choices significantly through a questionnaire that you can quickly fill out. Their product reviews (e.g. digital camera recommendations) are written by experts and serious enthusiasts who provide the information you need to facilitate your shopping experience.

Cell Phones: If you need to give a new cell phone to someone special, you probably want the scoop on which handset is naughty or nice. In addition to the T-Mobile G1 of Google fame and the much-celebrated iPhone, there are plenty of other cell phones vying for your attention. Narrow down the list with the help of PC Magazine’s cell phone reviews.

Amazon Kindle: Readers on your holiday gift list might appreciate Amazon’s Kindle ebook reader — Oprah liked it so much that she gave it away on her show! In addition to the books you can purchase, you can fill it with free content, according to productivity guru Merlin Mann.

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You may want to start a home business or a side business. Or you may want to telecommute to save on gas. Those who’d like to work from home may find these resources worthwhile.

Photo by Squirrel Dude

Why work at home? The reasons are varied and many. You can save significantly on transportation, child care and clothing costs by doing so. With these basic costs in mind, you can save anywhere from $200 to $500 weekly by taking your work home, and in addition, you could earn an income if you’re planning to establish a home business. What’s not to like?

So what do you need to be able to work at home effectively?

“Work From Home” Requirements

Set Up A Good Work Space

Whether you’re building a sustainable home business as your main source of income, trying to develop a side business, or simply wanting to telecommute, there are a few requirements you’ll need to address:

A quiet place to work. You need a designated office area to give your work the serious attention it deserves. A work space can be a closet, designated corner, basement or garage. If you can, avoid working on the busy dining room table if you’ve got other family members sharing the space (and surface) with you.

You’ll need some basic equipment. You must have a telephone, computer with Internet access, copier and printer to work at home. Depending on your job responsibilities, you may need additional equipment such as a fax machine, digital camera and web cam.

Self-motivation is key to success. When you work at home, there is no boss nagging you to get stuff done so you’ll need to be self-motivated to accomplish your to-do list.

Creating a work space and getting motivated cost little more than an investment of time and effort. Basic equipment may cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000 to get started. If you spend an average amount of $1,000 to set up your home office, you’ll earn back your investment in less than four weeks with what you save by working at home. Not only that — there are additional tax benefits you may qualify for with the proper set up!

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Photo by Paul Sakuma

 
Costco, BJs, and Sam’s Club are wholesale shopping clubs and warehouse stores that offer their members a lot of benefits. However, I haven’t been in any of them for years, so it’s a good time to consider them as a means of containing my growing grocery bills. With what’s going on in the economy right now, I’m willing to investigate new strategies to help slim down my budget!

An Online Walk Through Some Popular Wholesale Shopping Clubs and Warehouse Stores

Costco

Although Costco doesn’t have a warehouse store in my state, it still has plenty to offer on its website. I discovered that you can shop at Costco in various ways: you can get a Gold Star Membership or Business Membership for $50 a year, or you can upgrade to an Executive Membership for $100.00, which will give you an additional 2% annual reward. Moreover, if you’re a member, you can purchase a Costco Cash Card for use at Costco; and while non-members may also use the cash card to shop online or at a warehouse location, only members may purchase or reload this card.

The Gold Star Membership for $50 will give me access to their food selections and office break room classics like coffee and bottled water for one year. In addition, I can buy anything from appliances to video games at Costco, up to and including jewelry and caskets. Now that’s one stop shopping!

When it comes to getting the most value from items that I purchase, I’ll need all the help I can get, so I’ve turned to the rebate section. While not everyone is a fan of mail-in rebates, you can submit rebates online through the Costco website. It helps when I can submit qualified items for rebates through the website, which Costco will help me track, since one of the complaints I’ve heard about rebates is that they’re a pain to keep up with.

One thing that struck me when I read over the Member Benefits brochure was that Costco takes cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, American Express, the Costco Cash card, and Costco-branded credit cards such as the True Earnings American Express Rewards Credit Card. Unfortunately, my bank-issued MasterCard or Visa wouldn’t fly here, a big inconvenience for those who prefer to track their expenses with such cards.

I’ve heard that Costco’s warehouse stores offer great deals on bulk items like paper towels and pet food, but it’s not easy to compare prices for me — I couldn’t find listings for them on the website. Also, the What’s New section features few (if any) food items, so it’s hard for me to gauge whether I should commit my grocery dollars here. And they seem to know I’m a sucker for gadget bargains — I’d have to be wary of impulse spending while in any warehouse store.

However, if I need photo processing, a pharmacy, travel arrangements, event tickets, or flowers, Costco offers these services without sending me all over town to get them. You can also find other consumer and business-related services as well as insurance services here.

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Enjoy peace of mind when you travel: here’s how to keep your money safe and secure when you’re out of town.

Photo from wricontest

 
Have you ever noticed how travelers on science fiction shows never seem to worry about their money? I wish I could go 7,000 light years without losing a dime when I visit exotic locations. So for my next trip, I’ll keep these tips in mind:

Plan To Keep Your Money Safe While You Travel

Watch Your Cash

I don’t want to take a lot of cash on the trip; it’s hard to keep track of money even when I’m not gawking at attractions. Keep in mind that theft and losses can happen even to the most savvy tourist. Travel guru Rick Steves prefers to keep his cash and other essentials in a money belt while traveling.

Before leaving on any trip, get the scoop on exchange rates and how to trade in your dollars for local currency. Your local bank should be able to help you, but sites like Yahoo’s Currency Converter or Bloomberg’s Currency Converter can offer detailed information as well. Some hotels abroad can help you exchange your money, but the best rates might be at local banks — a reputable guidebook like Fodor’s might help narrow down your choices.

It’s also wise to read up on tipping customs of the destination you’re visiting. For some types of services, tips are already included in the charges; in contrast, I’ve heard that some cultures frown on tipping.

Credit Cards Are Convenient

The last time I went on a trip, I took my credit card. After all, it’s convenient and accepted in lots of places, but I’m careful not to penalize myself by taking out expensive cash advances. Credit cards are also great for monitoring and tracking down what I’ve spent at those airport gift shops and in restaurants. What I particularly like about using my card is the fact that I could easily look up detailed listings of my expenses at my credit card company’s website.

However, it’s best to keep in mind that these benefits may cost more in the long run. For instance, if I travel to another country, I might run into transaction fees. And not every place I visit will be able to accept my credit card, such as the street vendors who sell on a cash-only basis. To contain the transaction fees, I’m going to scour through the fine print that comes with my card or double check and ask my credit card company to clarify the details on these fees.

As a safety measure, you may want to inform your credit card company that you’re going out of town. Otherwise, they might flag your account for suspicion of fraud. If something dire happens to your card while you’re out of the country, your bank will usually let you call collect.

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