Bright Ideas Online Community - Join Now!

I can't believe I have neglected this blog the entire summer! I direct a summer camp, so that's why--it takes over my life from June until August, and then school starts back, and I teach... so September is when life calms down. I essentially took the summer off from crazy-saving, limiting my cooking to easy things I had already stocked up on (like pasta) and my purchasing to, well, Costco and fast food. I experienced what they call "coupon burnout" after several months of trying to grab every deal every week. With camp over and school finally getting settled in (on a different schedule than last year--I'm traveling between two schools each day now, yikes), I'm back into the swing of regular shopping trips, but I have seen the stress "too much saving" can cause, so I'm moderating. Just a couple stores a week, and I'm set with the things I need.

Now, the reason I chose to post today... I'm excited to share this!

Way back when, I wrote a post about the Bright Ideas Community. This is my favorite community by far. It's forum-based, and I find the topics quite interesting. It asks members for input on anything around the home--products, concepts, stores, recipes, projects, pets, deals, you name it. I have even received coupons for free products through Bright Ideas--and don't we all love free stuff? But here's the cool part--members who post at least once a month get paid $10 (either an Amazon gift code, or a Paypal payment). You can answer one simple question during the month and get your $10 at the beginning of the next month. I love this--my husband is obsessed with books, so I just send him all my Amazon codes.

I don't even remember how I got hooked up with Bright Ideas, but I wanted to tell everyone about it as soon as I joined. However, they weren't accepting new members... until now! New members have to be referred, but there is no referral link. So if you are reading this and you'd like to give just a little home-related input for $10/month, send me an email (to jnoshields@gmail.com) with your name and age (over 18 only), and I can send it along to Rikki, my moderator, who will then contact you about joining the community. Feel free to pass this on to anyone you think would enjoy the community as well!

Tip: sometimes you can win!

I never win things. If there is a sweepstakes, raffle, or drawing of any sort, I pretty much don't win. (I guess this tendency is to thank for my never being motivated to get into gambling or the lottery.)


That being said, whenever there is a "customer survey"/"you could win..." notice at the bottom of my receipt, or in an email, or through some link like Bizrate, I participate. This is probably just because I really like taking surveys (yes, I'm a bit of a geek in that way).


This week I had a victory in that vein--a small victory, but I got some free stuff, so I'm feeling justified in doing all these customer surveys now! At some point in the past, I sent off for samples from Dentek (a manufacturer of dental products) and thus got myself on the Dentek email list. A few weeks ago, I received an email invitation for a "chance to win" upon completing a survey. Some people who responded to the survey would be randomly selected to receive free products, blah blah, and I took the survey just because. And (drum roll please) I won a $25 gift code. Combined with a 30% off promo code for Southern Savers readers this week, along with a free shipping promo, I got just over $35 worth of stuff for 52 cents out of pocket. I now have dental floss picks to last my family through the rest of the century, but the point is--they were free.


Moral of the story: if you have a survey invitation and a few minutes, take the time. It could be worth it.

Surveys: Idol Democracy (HCD)

Today I have an example of an instance when surveys get interesting.

HCD Research (which is included in my survey list entry) is conducting a study they've cleverly titled "Idol Democracy." If you've followed the pop culture craze of American Idol, there have been many eliminations that shocked the nation--Tamyra Gray in season 1, Clay Aiken in season 2 (well, not an elimination, but rather a non-win), Jennifer Hudson in season 3, and possibly the biggest shocker of all, Chris Daughtry in season 5. It always interested me that America was so shocked by all of these eliminations... when America is supposed to be calling the shots.


The Idol Democracy study, which began with this season's top 24, is focused on determining accurate Idol results through a "one person, one vote" system. Essentially, it's showing viewers what the results would be if millions of people weren't casting multiple votes for their favorites. Almost consistently, the eliminations don't match the Idol Democracy results. Maybe it's just me, but I find it all really interesting!


This, for me, is another perk of doing surveys and research (besides the awesomeness of the money and free stuff you can earn). This study is proving a point (which to some people might be an insignificant or irrelevant point, but again, it's one I find quite intriguing). Other studies help influence products and services that we use on a regular basis. I can name several new products I've seen in stores or on commercials that I remember giving my input on months before, and it always makes me feel great knowing I directly helped to influence that product.


Interested in the results of the Idol Democracy study? Check them out here. If you want to be a part of the study, join the HCD panel and automatically receive a survey invitation after every Idol performance show.

Bright Ideas Community - Get a free $10 Amazon card each month!

I don't remember how I got signed up for the Bright Ideas Community, but I'm thankful I did. This is basically a forum that asks members (mostly moms, but not exclusively--I'm not one!) for input on anything around the home--products, concepts, stores, recipes, projects, pets, deals, you name it. I was slightly skeptical and a bit unimpressed at first, but when I started getting a $10 Amazon gift gift code every month just for participating in at least one forum topic a month, you could certainly say it piqued my interest!!! (If you've ready anything on the blog thus far, you know I'll jump at anything free!)

I think the Community was created as an offshoot of a lightbulb manufacturer, because there is a lot of focus on bulbs and energy-saving issues, and members are reminded that their input is being shared with product makers. There is also a lot of discussion about Walmart--prices, promotions, new packaging, etc.--so it might be related to that as well.

Most of the forum topics are actually pretty interesting and very easy, and they make me *want* to give my input. Some also include surveys embedded in the topics--always short, sweet, and to the point. A few recent topics: 

Off the top of your head, give us the price you think each of the items listed below would be selling for at a retail store.

1. Toothbrush

2. Batteries (AA pack of 8)

3. Light Bulbs (4 pack of CFL)

4. Gallon of milk

5. Toilet Paper (6 rolls)

What is a item you have recently discovered that you rave about?  Here is your chance to pass along your favorite products and gain new insights into other products you have never tried or been aware of.  

Pass along your crowd pleasing holiday recipes please.

Pass along your favorite crock-pot meal!

That just gives you an idea. All I do is participate in a couple of topics each month (the minimum is one), and at the beginning of the next month, like clockwork, I get my $10 Amazon code in my email... which I promptly pass along to my husband, the book addict! : )

Here's the part that stinks: there is no referral link, and there is no signup page. But I'm not setting you up for disappointment here. I read a recent post that the Community is keeping a list of potential new members referred to them by current members. If you're interested in becoming a part of Bright Ideas, please email me at jnoshields@gmail.com and include your name and email address. I'll pass along your info, and hopefully you can get on board soon!

Get Paid to Click

This page is under construction until further notice. Please check back weekly for updates. There is a lot to share, and it's going to take me a little time to type it all out!

There are many companies out there that pay subscribers to click on advertisements and links. It only takes a few seconds of your time each day, and all you have to do is literally lift a finger... and put it back down on your mouse button. Voila--free money!

These companies all have referral programs (marked with the *R*); please use the links here to sign up, then recruit your friends with your own referral links! We'll all earn free money together!

For these, I've included the same key bits of information that I included in my Surveys list--pros and cons, my earnings so far, the amount you need to cashout, and the method of payment.



*R*
Upside: InboxDollars offers a lot of opportunities to earn money: 
   - They start you out with a $5 signup bonus. 
   - I get at least 2 "Paid Emails" a day from them. 
   - They also send surveys occasionally, which pay more than the regular emails. 
   - You can also earn money by signing up for offers, which vary from newsletters (use your junk email address and sign up for as many of these as you can), trial/paid memberships (like those that send you CDs and DVDs each month--I don't do these), other survey companies (some of which are included in my Surveys lists), playing online games (which costs money, so I don't do it), and shopping online through ID links. 
   - The referral program is good; you earn 10% of the "qualified earnings" of your referred friends. (Qualified=offers, surveys, games, and shopping--not paid emails or the $5 signup bonus.)
Downside: If you don't shop through their links or do many of the higher-paying offers, you're left with paid emails and surveys--which still earns money, but very slowly. Each paid email is worth 2 cents, and surveys range from 50 cents on up. A good number of the surveys are OTX, which I usually don't qualify for. The cashout is high compared to these little amounts, and when you do cashout, there's a fee.
My earnings: $30 (minus the $2.97 fee they charge for processing the check, which is ridiculous), and another $7.61 toward my next cashout.
Cashout: $30, minus the fee - so really, $27.03
Method: Check
*Note: there is an interesting article here explaining how to make $30 in an hour at ID when you start out. Might be worth looking into!


*R*
Upside: Lots of opportunities to earn: 
   - They send lots of emails each day--an average of 5--with various offers. The easiest are BonusMail; much like ID's paid emails, these earn you 5 points when you click on the sponsor's link. 
   - They also send surveys occasionally, which pay more than BonusMail. 
   - You can earn money by signing up for offers, from newsletters to trial/paid memberships to paid online games to online shopping. 
   - MyPoints also offers a toolbar, which I have on all my browsers; you get points for searching through the toolbar, and the toolbar will also let you know when you're on a site where you can earn MyPoints. (Example: I'm doing my regular shopping at eBay, and I'll get a popup at the top of the browser saying "You are now earning MyPoints at eBay.") There are often special deals at sponsor sites for MyPoints members, so you can earn MyPoints by shopping, *and* you get a discount code to use on your order.
   - MyPoints recently added an "in-store" points program. You can earn points on every dollar spent, just like normal MyPoints shopping, but these transactions will be tracked by your credit card number instead of links. To qualify, after you've joined MyPoints, register your credit cards (don't worry--it's safe, because it's from MyPoints; check the privacy policy for reassurance) and check out the list of merchants participating in the in-store program. Currently, most of these are travel-related (cruise lines, hotels, resorts), but there are a few other retailers that might have stores in your area (only 4 in mine, and they're all places I never shop). Also included are several catalog-shopping options; to earn points through these, just click "Request a Catalog" on the retailer's site, and pay with your registered card. Note: this is still a very new program, and I have faith in MyPoints to build it up in time!
   - The referral program is similar to ID; you earn 10% of the "qualified earnings" of your referred friends.
Downside: MyPoints is a lot like InboxDollars here, in that you won't earn as much if you don't do paid offers and shop online through their links. (However, I tend to do more of my shopping here than I do at ID for some reason.) The survey offers tend to expire relatively quickly, so they should be taken as soon as possible; also, many MyPoints surveys are OTX-based, and I don't often qualify for OTX surveys. Cashout can feel a little high, too, but it's been far more easily attainable for me than ID has.
My earnings: $85 in gift cards (almost ready to cashout for another $25)
Cashout and Method: 500 points+ for charity donation; 1500 points for some $10 gift cards (and on up the ladder--highest gift cards are $100). The amount needed for cashout at a particular $ level varies by retailer; a $10 Barnes & Noble card is 1500 points, while a CVS card of the same value is 1600--go figure. There are over 75 retailers to choose from, though, which is nice!


*R*
Upside: Swagbucks works not in points or money, but in what they call (quite fittingly) Swagbucks (or SB). There are many ways to earn SB once you've registered using the banner link above. Note: be patient with this; it won't all come to you on the first day. There's a lot to learn with Swagbucks.
   - Download the toolbar (completely safe--I've got it on all the computers I use) and use it to search the Net. Most people can earn 2-5 SB a day doing searches. I usually do several searches in the morning until I get a win, then several in the evening as well, for a total of 2 wins, each worth 1-3 SB. Note: just searching random nonsense (especially non-words) a bunch of times in a row as quickly as you can will *not* earn you points. Swagbucks awards those who search "naturally," as they put it. Many people suggest that you find your favorite sites by searching through Swagbucks, as opposed to bookmarking... that way, every time you go to the site, you take a chance at winning.
   - Keep on the lookout for Swag Codes. The Swag Guy (aka TSG--he runs the site) puts these out every so often in a variety of places, to award those who follow Swagbucks closely. These are little combinations of words and numbers (well nigh impossible to guess, so don't try) that you can enter in a box on the homepage that says "Gimme!" during a certain time frame to get SB. The best way to get these is to check the Swidget--see mine on the right-hand side of the blog and click "SC Swag Codes." Then click the "Check to see..." button to find out if any codes are available. 
      ~ The Swidget may give you the code itself--copy it, then paste it into the Gimme box on swagbucks.com (they're case-sensitive, so definitely copy-paste). 
      ~ The Swidget may also give you other answers that are not the code itself, but usually tell you where to find it (e.g. "Check the blog!" "Check your inbox..." "New Special Offers Code") or give you a clue. TSG is very clever with the clues, and some are easier to decipher than others. He likes to spell out his clues with capital letters (a recent alert for a code posted on Twitter read "Take Wonder In Tiny Things Everywhere"--note that the capitals spell TWITTER; a similar one read "Bernard LOGgins," which equals BLOG). You will catch on to this the more you follow the Swidget. 
      ~ The best way to make sure you get access to all the codes (after the Swidget tells you where to get them) is to download the toolbar. This keeps you in touch at all times. 
         - Occasionally, you'll get a notification that there's a Toolbar code. On the toolbar, you'll notice a red box with an envelope beside text that reads "From TSG [0]"; when the 0 turns to another number, that means you have a new message from TSG. Open it to read the message, and enter the code on the Gimme box at swagbucks.com if it hasn't expired yet.
         - Some codes are posted in the blog. The toolbar has a shortcut to get there--click "SB News," then "The Blog." Blog codes are usually found toward the end of a particular blog post.
         - Some codes are posted on Facebook (on the Swagbucks fan page) and Twitter. There are shortcuts to both these pages on the toolbar, under "Social Media." Even if you're not on Twitter, you can access the Swagbucks Twitter page to get the codes.
      ~ Subscribe to the newsletter; if you're ever told to check your inbox for a code, it's in the newsletter. Sign up so you'll get these codes when they're sent. This is not available on the toolbar.
      ~ About every week, there is a new code available at the end of the Special Offers page. You can access this from the toolbar, too--click "Ways to Earn," then "Special Offers." Click the blue box on the right that says "No Obligation Offers," then go to the bottom of the following few pages to click "Next" or "Skip" or whatever button is there to indicate you don't want to participate in the offer. Do this a few times, and eventually at the end, there will be a code for you to copy and paste. These usually last about a week each, then there will be a new code.
      ***Swag Code Note: TSG has been very clear about the fact that no one should post these codes but him. Everyone has to find the codes on his or her own. If you're caught posting these, they'll deactivate your account.
   - Like InboxDollars and MyPoints, you can earn SB shopping through links on Swagbucks.
   - Refer a friend, and Swagbucks will match the points your friend earns (by doing searches only) up to 100 points, and give those points to you.
Downside: This is the most complicated one to keep up with, for me. There is just so much to do!
My earnings: $10 so far, and this is a relatively new add for me
Cashout & Method: Anywhere from 1SB (for random MP3 downloads and phone backgrounds) to 7495SB for a Wii with WiiFit! There is quite a variety of rewards at different levels. My favorites are Amazon gift codes, starting at $5 for 45SB.

Online Surveys

This page is under construction until further notice. Please check back weekly for updates. There is a lot to share, and it's going to take me a little time to type it all out! I have about 30 companies to review here, so this is only the beginning!

I started doing online surveys in the fall of 2008 and have made a lot of money with it thus far. Surveys are great for "idle time"--when you would otherwise spend your time browsing online, reading everyone's Facebook status updates, playing Solitaire... you get the idea. When times like that come along, I pull up my Surveys folder and start clicking away. It beats Solitaire by a long shot!

Survey panel membership tends to snowball. I started with just a few companies and now have membership in more than I can keep track of! Eventually my complete list will be posted here (I'm going bit by bit). As I find more, I'll add updates, and I will always give each new company at least a month to figure out the innerworkings before I post about it, because I want to give you as much information as I can. Please use the banner links here if you're interested in joining. Many of these panels have referral programs (those are marked by *R*), and joining through these links will earn money for you *and* for me!

Since I want you to be equipped to make decisions about which panels to join, I've included several key pieces of information about each site--pros and cons, how much I've earned so far with the company, the cashout (minimum accrued amount needed to get paid), and payment method. The payment method is important if you're concerned about the time it will take to get paid; checks can often take up to eight weeks to process and mail, then you have to make that trip to the bank... whereas Paypal payments can be done immediately (or at the longest, within a week or so). If you don't have a Paypal account, go ahead and sign up for one (using the email address you will use to sign up for the survey sites).



Upside: This was one of the original few survey sites I joined, and I've stuck with it. They usually send 1-4 survey invitations per day. I've also gotten hooked up with product tests through Survey Spot; the best was when I got paid $50 to eat 6 cans of Campbell's chicken noodle soup. (Free food *and* $50? Yes, please!)
Downside: Some of the surveys do not pay in points, only in sweepstakes entries. As I have never had luck in any sweepstakes, I generally trash those invitations; I also trash the "general invitation" emails that don't list a particular survey or promise a certain reward; they just say, "We need your opinion for a new survey!" No, thank you! : ) Also, no referral program.
My earnings: $75+ (I can only track my earning history to 4/1/09, and I've made $75 since then--not counting the additional $$ for product tests)
Cashout: 1000 points ($10)
Method: Paypal

*R*
Upside: Lots of invitations (normally at least one a day), and you always get at least a point for clicking on the invitation, even if you don't qualify for the survey. They do a lot of product tests as well, and those normally pay additional $$ outside the point system. Also, there's a fun little tidbit at the end of each survey that I've actually grown to look forward to: Poll Predictor. You're asked to guess the percentage of Americans who answered "yes" to a certain poll question, and you get a number of sweepstakes entries based on how close your guess was to the actual number. I stink at these, but my husband is really good at guessing them! I haven't won any sweeps, but it's still fun.
Downside: The referral program doesn't earn points, just sweepstakes entries.
My earnings: i-Say has just changed its rewards website so I can't look up the exact amount I've earned, but the last total I wrote down was $30 (not including $$ for product tests).
Cashout: 50 points ($5)
Method: check, American Express Encompass gift card, or charity donation



Upside: Invitations are frequent (normally one a day), and most are fairly easily qualifiable. Also, everything is done in dollars, so there's no point conversion system to keep track of. Most surveys pay anywhere from $1 to $5, and there are occasional product tests offered as well.
Downside: No referral program. Paypal is not a payment option, so there's a bit of a wait period with processing and snail mail, unless you choose an online retailer gift card. Also, payment for a particular survey can be "pending" for as long as 6 weeks, which can be torturous if you're waiting for that last $1 to be added to your account so you can cash out! (All in all, though, these are *very* insignificant downsides!)
My earnings: I've gotten 4 $20 gift cards (3 Visa, 1 Macy's) and am $.50 away from my 5th.
Cashout: $20
Method: Gift card - prepaid Visa, Macy's, Blockbuster, Marriott, Amazon.com, Fragrance.net, Magazines.com


*R*
Upside: Low cashout, dollar system, and a decent referral program. They offer lots of product tests, and they are partnered with Bath & Body Works' customer opinion panel, "Best Friends." Because of this, I have had the opportunity to test new formulas for body lotion and body butter (both in Japanese Cherry Blossom, the #1 selling fragrance at B&BW), as well as new fragrances months prior to their release in stores (Twilight Woods and Sweet Pea Forever). Mindfield also does "diary" studies (e.g. keep track of your greeting card purchases for 2 months, or your conversations for a day, or cleaning habits for a week). Generally, product tests and diaries also pay more than standard surveys (standard = $1-3).
Downside: I haven't gotten as many invitations from Mindfield in the past few months as I used to. That's disappointing, considering all the upsides of this company.
My earnings: $86
Cashout: $5
Method: Paypal or check


Upside: I almost always qualify for the surveys E-Poll sends me.
Downside: Survey invitations only come 3-4 times a month. The average survey pays 500 points, which works out to less than a dollar. Also, the only referral program is a website affiliate one, which only really applies if you have a high-traffic site. (If my blog ever generates legit traffic, I will be joining this program!)
My earnings: $20 in Amazon gift codes
Cashout: 2500 points for a charity donation; 3500 points for $5 gift cards (and on up the ladder)
Method: Choose from 6 charities for donations, or 10 retailers for gift cards (or online codes where applicable--delivered much more quickly)



Upside: Lots of invitations (usually one a day), most of which are pretty easy to qualify for.
Downside: The referral program has been discontinued until further notice. It also takes a very long time to cashout. A fair number of the invitations only offer sweepstakes entries and no points--I trash these.
My earnings: $50 (and a little over halfway to my next $50)
Cashout: 1000 points ($50)
Method: Check


*R*
Upside: Good referral program. I receive multiple invitations daily from Outpost. They are up-front with all the vital info in each survey invite--points you can earn, approx. time it should take, and what company is hosting the survey (they redirect to a lot of partner sites).
Downside: Outpost sends a lot of OTX surveys, which I find particularly difficult to qualify for. I normally still try them if the points are worth it, but since this info is included in the invitation, I put OTX surveys further down on the priority list and just get to them when I can.
My earnings: $60
Cashout: 50 points ($5)
Method: Amazon gift code (immediate) or check (4-8 weeks)

*R*
Upside: OpinionSquare is very consistent; you earn 200 points for each survey you complete (and if you don't qualify, you'll get a "token" for a lotto-type game where you can earn 25 or more points). The surveys are easy and not too time-consuming; at least half of the ones I've done for them included watching Walmart commercials and giving my opinions about them. You can also earn more points by downloading their software that monitors your computer activity. This is not malware or spyware, and I can say from experience that it is safe. None of your personal information goes anywhere; it is just a tool to gather information about the computer habits of the general public.
Downside: I only receive an invitation every week or two. There is a page where you can view the surveys available to you, but you can only access it after finishing a survey to which you've been invited; I've tried bookmarking this page, but it always gives an error message when I try to access it from the bookmark. Very frustrating!
My earnings: $60 (and about to cashout another $10)
Cashout: from 1500 points ($5) up to 5700 points ($25)
Method: Gift cards for over 20 places, including retail stores, restaurants, and movie theaters.

  *R*
Upside: Ah, Toluna... Toluna and I have a rocky, love-hate relationship. Toluna recently took over my most favorite survey company of all time (Greenfield), and I was quite irritated at first, but they seem to be trying really hard to make Toluna like Greenfield. At any rate, Toluna is a unique panel--so unique (and complicated) that it needs bullet points.
   - 500 points signup bonus, plus extra points for completing "personal interest surveys" (basically, detailed profile information)--600 points per profile survey (there are 15 total), and a one-time bonus of 2000 points when you complete all of these. So essentially, you can earn 11,500 just by signing up and completing these questionnaires--not bad!
   - Earn points for surveys. I receive 1-3 survey invitations a day from Toluna, varying widely in point values (usually relative to the time the survey will take). I have done many product tests through surveys sent to me by Toluna (and Greenfield before it).
   - Earn points for answering "sponsored polls" on the website; to find these (once you have signed up), hover over the "Explore" heading, then click "Sponsored." Answer one or a few questions, and you'll get anywhere from 15 to 200 points. New polls are posted daily.
   - Earn points for posting opinions on topics on the website. The catch is that your opinions have to be 80 words or longer and must make sense (you can't just type in a bunch of mumbo-jumbo to get to 80 words). Each "quality opinion" earns you 100 points (with a limit of 5000 points per month).
   - Has a referral program (you get 500 points for each friend who "completes advanced registration"), but there is not a unique referral link... I think the registration process asks you for the name email address of the person who referred you.
Downside: As you can see from the upsides, this site gives you a lot to keep up with, and it can get overwhelming! Also, the opinion topics aren't always easy to answer with 80 words. You have to find topics that interest you enough to "get you going" enough to be long-winded! Finally, the cashout is done in points (a confusing system) and is sort of high.
My earnings: I made $110 from Greenfield before it switched over to Toluna (and that wasn't including the product tests and focus groups they hooked me up with); since the switch, I've gotten $20 and am about halfway to my next $20.
Cashout: $20 or $25
Method: Choose check or Paypal for the $20 level, or a variety of "VIP Rewards" at the $25 level--charity donations, Visa gift cards, catalog items, movie tickets, or other retailer gift cards.



Upside: Quality surveys, a decent number of invitations (I get one every day or so), and relatively easy to qualify for.
Downside: My huge irritation with Lightspeed is that you can only access each survey once. If anything happens to interrupt your survey experience--page doesn't load right, browser decides to freeze, you accidentally close the browser, you lose connection while a page is loading--you can't go back and finish it at all. Because of this, I'm very careful when and where I will access a Lightspeed survey; I have to make sure I'll be able to finish it in one sitting without any possible interruption! Also, no referral program.
My earnings: $40, and this is a relatively recent add (5 months)
Cashout: 110 points ($1); this goes proportionally up the ladder (550=$5, 1100=$10, etc.)
Method: Lower point redemptions available for cell phone downloads (ringtones, wallpapers); Amazon codes available from $1 on up; other gift cards and codes including several restaurants and other types of retailers. My favorites (other than Amazon, which you can never have too much of) are Red Robin and Cracker Barrel--yum!


Upside: Surveyhead organizes your available surveys on a "Dashboard" and uses your profile information to determine your likelihood of qualifying for each (by percentage). The Dashboard also includes the reward amount and time required for each survey, which is very helpful; I like to look at it and find one that's shorter and higher-paying when I only have a few minutes. You also earn reward points when you complete each of several profiles (screeners about your purchasing habits, lifestyle, home, family, etc.), and the Dashboard lets you know when you can be rewarded for updating or completing a new profile.
Downside: The likelihood of qualifying never seems to work out right for me. Also, the Dashboard automatically refreshes itself each time you select a survey from it; the bad part is that some of the other surveys (the ones you *didn't* click on) will disappear when it refreshes. The cashout also feels high (and is a bit confusing) for the average survey payment ($1) and the number of surveys I qualify for. Finally, rewards for some surveys will remain listed as "pending" for quite some time. Oh, and no referral program.
My earnings: I have *earned* $34; I have *received* $20 of that.
Cashout: You can cash out when you reach $25; however, you won't necessarily be able to cash out a total of $25. I wish I had kept better records
Method: Charity donation (several charities to choose from), gift codes/certificates (Amazon, Paypal, and a variety of other random things, many of which involve sports), or a virtual Visa (usable anywhere Visa is accepted online or by phone). These are available at a variety of levels, but you can't really find out what they all are until you hit the cashout level. The next time I cashout, I will take better notes!


*R*
Upside: This is a different type of panel and deals primarily with news and current events. Topics I've been invited to give input on included the State of the Union address, the Haiti earthquakes, Tiger Woods, and Superbowl commercials. The difference in subject matter (as compared to most other panels) keeps it interesting! Also, HCD awards "consolation points" if you don't qualify for a survey, so time is never wasted.
Downside: Not a lot of invitations--I get 1-3 per month.
My earnings: 580 points; no cashout yet
Cashout: 1000 points ($10)
Method: Check


Upside: Like HCD, YouGov surveys (or, as they refer to them, "polls") focus on current events, but it also includes a little bit of pop culture (e.g. getting your overall "approval rating" of popular businesses, brands, or personalities). I have also never been disqualified for a YouGov poll, and the reward points are pretty consistent; 2000 for your first survey, 500 for normal polls, and 1250 for slightly longer, more involved polls. I also get an invitation about once a week.
Downside: High cashout if you want a decent reward. Also, no referral program.
My earnings: 12,000 points
Cashout & Method: 17,500 points for a PollingPoint tote bag; on up the ladder are movie tickets, an assortment of online gift codes, a webcam, iPod Shuffle, or $100 cash (100,000 points). There are occasionally "limited time only" offers as well; a recently expired one was a Starbucks gift card.


*R*
Upside: Lowest cashout I've found anywhere! Also has a great referral program--you get cents to the dollar for surveys your referrals complete, as well as those *their* referrals complete.
Downside: I hardly ever receive invitations! I think I've gotten a couple in the past few months that I didn't qualify for. I'm updating my profiles to see if that will help.
My earnings: $2.50
Cashout: $1
Method: check


*R*
Upside: Payment is good, consistent, and delivered quickly. This is a different kind of panel that recruits people to evaluate websites. After passing the screener for an evaluation, you'll be asked to download a program (it's safe, I promise) that sort of sits on your desktop during the evaluation and monitors how you interact with the website you're evaluating--to ensure you're actually taking time to browse it and look for specific things as instructed. You answer the evaluation questions through the little application screen. The program goes away after the evaluation is complete, so it doesn't monitor anything further.
Downside: In over a year, I have only gotten three invites and qualified for two evaluations. Huge bummer, because the evaluations are fun and well-paying! Also, there seems to be a referral system, but I'm not sure how referrers are rewarded; when you complete survey profiles, you're asked to provide the name and email address of the person who referred you. (If you want to try this panel, please provide my info here so we can figure out the referral program!)
My earnings: $20
Cashout: $10 (per evaluation)
Method: Amazon gift code, delivered within two days of completing an evaluation




"Invitation Only" sites to look out for:


U Talk Back - This site is sponsored by American Eagle, Express, Gamestop, iTunes, Macy's, Starbucks, Target and Ticketmaster. If you have a chance to give your email address to any of these companies, they may pass it along to UTB and you may receive an invitation to join the panel. I'm fairly certain I got mine through my husband's frequent patronage of Gamestop, so I can thank him for this one!
Upside: I like the gift card rewards, which include all the sponsor companies listed above.
Downside: It takes what feels like forever to get any kind of reward. Most months, I get a couple of invitations but don't end up qualifying, and I'll earn about 10 "consolation prize" points. The surveys I qualify for normally pay around 30 points.
My earnings: $25 Macy's gift card (which took me a year to earn), and 100 points I'm waiting to add to so I can cash them out
Cashout and Method: 100-200 points for a magazine subscription; 250-600 points for gift cards (ranging $15-50 in value)


e-Rewards - This one is sponsored by an assortment of "frequent flyer" programs, fine jewelry stores, some in-store locations (Macy's, Borders, Blockbuster), and a few random online retailers such as Omaha Steaks, FTD, and eBags. Like UTB, e-Rewards is by invitation only from one of these companies. I actually got mine when I bought my Honda, though that is not one of the listed sponsors.
Upside: I get 1-4 invitations a week from this company, and I qualify for most of the surveys. Also, the cashout is not too high, so it's attainable. If you fly a lot and your frequent flyer club is included in the rewards, this could be a great program for you.
Downside: The rewards are not fantastic for everyone; most are "discounts" rather than gift cards (see my earnings below). And, if you find one you like, you can only get that particular reward once every quarter.
My earnings: $10 off $50 purchase at Macys.com (twice), $15 Borders Bucks (twice), $25 off $75 at eBags.com (and I've only been a member 4 months)
Cashout and Method: quite a range, and subject to variation. Lowest cashout right now is $1 (for $15 off "each item you purchase" at FTD.com--I think this is a seasonal offering). Most rewards start at the $10 level and include magazine subscriptions and $10 off online purchases of a certain amount. The highest cashout is a 1-year subscription to The Economist at $130. 

MyView - I didn't even realize this was an invitation-only panel until I went looking for a "join" link to post here! I know I signed up for points through either MyPoints or InboxDollars, but I can't recall which. If you have signed up for those two programs, keep your eyes peeled for a paid offer to join MyView. (If you haven't signed up with them, check out my post "Get Paid to Click" and join!)
Upside: Lots of invites--I get at least one a day. Also, you receive 125 consolation points for answering all the initial qualifying questions, even if you don't qualify to complete the survey.
Downside: I do not qualify for a lot of these; in fact, looking at my survey history, I have only qualified for one in the past two months. Before that, I averaged two per month. Also, the system was recently changed from dollars to points, and now the cashout feels quite high.
My earnings: Nothing in my pocket yet. I have been a member almost six months and am almost halfway to the cashout point for a gift card. (I joined on 9-9-09... perhaps this was an unlucky date?)
Cashout & Method: 28,000 points ($20) and up for charity donation; 35,000 points ($25) and up for a Visa gift card. There is also a merchandise reward option listed as "coming soon."