Update: We received our Nielsen Television Survey with $30 cash inside! Woo-hoo!

A couple weeks ago I received a  Nielsen Television Survey in the mail out of the clear blue.  They sent me $5 in cash to fill out a brief survey about what I watch on TV and mail it back. Once I did that, I received another survey two weeks later with $30 inside and another easy tv viewing survey. I have heard of several other people getting surveys like this and cash (I have even blogged about it) but I never thought I would be chosen. It was awesome!

I know many of you (like me) are still waiting for spots to open up in your town for the Nielsen Home Scan. I feel your pain! The only thing I can tell you is to keep applying, that is the only way that I got the TV survey in the mail. As of yet, I still have not been accepted into the Home Scan, but I believe it is the reason I was able to get this awesome survey.

Yay! The Fresh Ideas Panel is once again looking for select participants to give feedback on new grocery items. This time around it looks like they are looking for people to become members of the Pepperidge Farm Fresh Ideas Panel. Hurry on over (as space often fills up fast) and let me know if you get chosen!

Whew! I have a whirlwind week of secret shops this week! Check out all the cool stuff I am doing:

Friday (7/6) – I completed a lunch shop at a national (and VERY popular) burger joint. This was my first shop that I completed with this new company, so once I receive payment I will disclose the name. I had to order a burger, fries and a drink. I was paid $7 to do the shop and reimbursed for the cost of those 3 items (so it was basically a free lunch + I made $7). Works for me!

Sunday (7/8) – We did brunch at a high end restaurant which we love! We completed this shop for Grass Roots Measures, one of my favorite mystery shopping companies. We spent $45.96 (we splurged and bought more than we needed to) and will be reimbursed with a $30 gift card). Since I had two $30 gift cards from previous shops I completed, we splurged and bought expensive entrees and drinks.

Monday (7/9) – Today I completed 3 easy phone shops. I had to call a local college and determine whether the staff was answering the phones and returning calls. They paid $3 each and I completed 3 of them (including the reports) in about 15 minutes time. Easy money! I completed these for Bare International, another one of my favorites!

Wednesday (7/11) – I will be completed a shipping service shop also for Bare International. I will need to ship a 1 pound package (which I needed to do anyway). I will be reimbursed for the cost of shipping my package, plus I will be paid a $10 shop fee. I always log on to Bare International when I need to send something since they often have shipping shops available.

Thursday (7/12) – I will be completing a secret shop on a national furniture chain. I will need to visit the store and interact with the employees. This is another company that I have completed a few shops for but have not been paid for them yet (takes 30 days). Once I receive payment, I will disclose the name. I will be paid $15 for this, and I do not need to purchase anything.

Saturday (7/14) – I will be completing a shop at a national fast food restaurant. I need to order a combo meal and observe employee interactions along with timing how long it takes for my meal to be prepared. I will be reimbursed for the combo meal, plus I will receive a $7 shop fee. This is the same company as the burger joint lunch shop on Friday. Once I receive payment, I will disclose the name of the company.

This week was all about working the shops in to my life (completing shops that I could do with my family, or that paid for my lunch). While it may be true that you can’t “get rich” from secret shopping, I find it a great source of extra income. In addition to all of my free means (reimbursements), by the end of this week I will have an additional $48 in my pocket. 

Update: We received our Nielsen Television Survey with $30 cash inside! Woo-hoo!

A couple weeks ago I received a  Nielsen Television Survey in the mail out of the clear blue.  They sent me $5 in cash to fill out a brief survey about what I watch on TV and mail it back. I have heard of several other people getting surveys like this and cash (I have even blogged about it) but I never thought I would be chosen.

I know many of you (like me) are still waiting for spots to open up in your town for the Nielsen Home Scan. I feel your pain! The only thing I can tell you is to keep applying, that is the only way that I got the TV survey in the mail. As of yet, I still have not been accepted into the Home Scan, but I believe it is the reason I was able to get this awesome survey.

I have had a savings account with ING DIRECT going on ten years. They were one of the first banks that I can remember who offered online banking. I recently opened up a free Orange checking account because I wanted to take advantage of the free $50 offer they have going on. I also thought it would be a good idea to just have a checking account in my name that I can easily transfer money to. I use this account for gifts, vacations, and special splurges. With my $50 bonus, I have managed to accumulate $314 in 3 months by doing all kinds of little side jobs. There are no fees with ING DIRECT’S Orange checking account and you can use it (for free) at more than 35,000 ATM’s nationwide. There is also no minimum balance required to open your Orange checking account. It’s one sweet deal!

Through July 3rd, they are running a KILLER deal! Just open a FREE checking account and earn $152 ($76 will be deposited once you make 5 purchases with your debit card, and another $76 when you set up direct deposit!). This is a 4 day only event, and one that you should surely take advantage of. ING Direct is a great bank and the checking account really is FREE, there are no fees!

To score this deal:

-Head on over to ING DIRECT here and apply for a free Orange Checking account (there is no minimum required to open an account).

-Make a total of 5 card purchases within 45 days of opening your account.

-Your $76 bonus will be deposited on by August 22nd.

-Set up direct deposit and have one direct deposit by August 31st to score your next $76.

Come back and tell us what you love about ING DIRECT!

Hands down Pinecone Research is my favorite survey company. There are no point systems, no variation in the cost per survey you get, each survey you complete is paid out at $3 (every now and then you can get a $5 one too). Checks are issued every month, and there is no threshold for payment (meaning if you only do one survey, you will still get a check that month for $3). Super easy!

They don’t often accept new members, but they are doing so now. Head on over here and see if you qualify (sometimes they are only seeking certain demographics). Their surveys are really fun too, all the ones that I have taken are for advertisments of leading brands to see which ad is more effective. It’s fun and takes only a few minutes of your time. Easy money!

Every Friday is Mega Swagbucks Day! If you haven’t signed up to be a Swaghead, do so here. It’s super easy to earn Amazon gift cards through Swagbucks – all you need to do is search the Internet! Of course there are loads of other great ways to earn including referring your friends (you get what they win), printing coupons, watching tv, taking surveys, and entering Swagcodes. For every 450 Swagbucks you have, you can redeem it for a $5 Amazon gift card.

There are loads of other great gift cards and prizes that you can win too, but the Amazon one is my favorite since I use them to purchase Christmas gifts and Subscribe and Save deals. Last year, it helped me take a huge pinch off of Christmas gifts by having those gift cards (I managed to accumulate $140 in Amazon gift cards just from Swagbucks!)

If you are not swaggin’ it up, you are missing out. Hit them up here and score yourself 100 Swagbucks by using code JUNETASTIC  during registration.

This week is a little slow for me. I haven’t found many jobs for this week that I have been able to fit my schedule. Here is what I have done and what I have coming up so far in the next 10 days:

Friday (June 22nd) – I had a hair cutting shop that I was asked to pick up last minute. I was not paid a shopper’s fee, but I was reimbused for my haircut (up to $25) which I needed to do anyway. It’s not often that you find shops that don’t pay an additional fee on top of reimbursement, but I needed to fix my hair anyway, so it beat being out $25 with no reimbursement. As an added bonus, there was a mix up in the paperwork and they assigned it to me by accident. Since I had already completed it, they are reimbursing me without me having to submit a report. Woo-Hoo! This was my second shop with this new company, and I will reveal the name of that company once I receive payment.

Sunday (June 24th) – This was my first movie theater shop. My shoppers fee was $10, I got a $10 bonus for taking the shop last minute, and I received $25 reimbursement. I took this shop because we wanted to take Liam to see Madagascar 3 anyway, so this was a great way to do that, and get paid for it. We had to buy one item from the concession stand along with a small drink. We spent $23 on tickets, and $8.75 on food. Since I was paid /reimbursed $45, I made about $13.75 plus got the movie tickets and food for free. Love it! Once my payment is received, I will reveal the name of the company.

Monday (July 2nd) – This is a indoor kids entertainment shop. I have never completed anything like this, but I thought Liam would have a ball and it’ll allow me to get some work done while he is playing. This is another shop that I took that does not have a shoppers fee, but I will be reimbursed for the admission (between $8-10) and for a food item (between $4-5). This is my first shop with this company as well and once I receive payment, I will reveal the name of the company.

As you can see, I don’t always take shops because I think I am going to make a bunch of money off of them, but I do use them to do fun activities with my family, or odds and end things that I would need to pay for anyway (oil changes, movie tickets, haircuts, etc.). If you are living on a tight budget with not much wiggle room like we are, this is a great way to afford some of the luxuries!

Questions? Comments? Need advice on a company? Feel free to ask below!

Every Friday is Mega Swagbucks Day! If you haven’t signed up to be a Swaghead, do so here. It’s super easy to earn Amazon gift cards through Swagbucks – all you need to do is search the Internet! Of course there are loads of other great ways to earn including referring your friends (you get what they win), printing coupons, watching tv, taking surveys, and entering Swagcodes. For every 450 Swagbucks you have, you can redeem it for a $5 Amazon gift card.

There are loads of other great gift cards and prizes that you can win too, but the Amazon one is my favorite since I use them to purchase Christmas gifts and Subscribe and Save deals. Last year, it helped me take a huge pinch off of Christmas gifts by having those gift cards (I managed to accumulate $70 in Amazon gift cards!)

If you are not swaggin’ it up, you are missing out. Hit them up here and score yourself 100 Swagbucks by using code JUNETASTIC  during registration.