Extra Money for Christmas? Yes, Please!

I apologize for the length between posts. Things get busy in a hurry these days!

As a part of my master plan to get a better hold on my finances, doing more with what I have, and taking advantage of little extras, I have become a part of several survey groups. These opinions are my own.



First, I belong to a survey group called Synovate. This is perhaps my favorite group, because it has garnered me the greatest return on my time. When you join and complete some initial information, they send several surveys to your email inbox per week. The way that you answer some of them may result in your being sent a product to test. So far, Synovate has allowed me to test two different Lean Cuisine branded frozen meals (delivered to my door, frozen)--and guess what? They were delicious!!! The best part about this company, however, is that you earn points for each survey that you complete (or even attempt--sometimes they might not need you to take that particular survey, based on your demographic), and 5000 points translate into a $5.00 check!!! I don't know if it seems like a lot to you, but figure in the 2 frozen dinners @ $3.50 apiece, and I have received compensation for my time along the lines of $26 since March. I call the little $5 checks my "yard sale money"!

The next group that I belong to is called Ipsos i-Say. This group allows you to cash in points from taking surveys for gift cards (American Express, Amazon, Target, etc.). The cash-in point is a little higher, but I could have already received a $5 check--I am simply saving up for a higher-value gift card for Christmas. Another fun thing about this group is: after each survey, you get the chance to enter contests for items like iPads, $500 grocery gift cards, Spa Weekends, and the like. (Update: no dice on the iPad, yet. lol) I have been pleased with this company so far, but it will be that much sweeter when I earn my gift cards for Christmas shopping!


My final group that I belong to--and, by the way, I personally feel is reputable--is Mindfield. This company is a little trickier to navigate than the others, and rewards are harder to come by, as the surveys are extremely picky. More often than not, the surveys tell me that "Unfortunately, you do not qualify for this survey." But when they do....each survey earns you $1. At a minimum of $5 earned, you can cash out in the form of a check. I have only cashed out once, and my check arrived last week. But, here's the deal: through this company, I have received products to test and send my responses back via email. So far, I have received a bottle of Johnson & Johnson's new Natural Body Wash, two boxes of Wheat Thins, and a pack of three Playtex nursers with four nipples. While the reality is that I may not qualify for each and every survey, and thereby might not get every product test, I will get ones that are targeted to my place in life (married w/kids), and many of them will be awesome!

Lots of info here, but perhaps some of it might encourage you to branch out a bit and investigate the possibility of putting away a few extra bucks (or gift cards, or free iPads, haha) toward Christmas.... Leave a comment and let me know what you will be saving toward!