InboxDollars

I finally got to the minimum amount to cash in on InboxDollars.com!  It's about time!  Now there's only a couple of problems.  

First, they are not sending the check ($30.15 minus $3.00 processing fee = $27.15) until January 2, 2009.  

Second, I have to remain an active user until the check is sent.  

Bummer!  That means I have to keep on clicking on their little email things and cannot cancel the account yet.  I really wanted to get rid of it, too!  *sigh*  I suppose a little longer won't bother me too much.  And I am still clicking away on the SendEarnings.com emails until I get enough to cash them out, too.

Money earned online and more free stuff

I just earned enough points from Lightspeed Panel to get another $5 in my Paypal account.  That should go in by end of business tomorrow.

I also received a $5 check Synovate that I'll need to cash soon.

I completed a little survey about myself on mariobadescu.com.  I didn't think anything of it, but later I received an email saying they were sending me a bunch of samples.  Neat!

PF Goals, Survey Companies, Expected Future Expenses, Considerations

PF Goals

I haven't talked about my 101 Personal Finance Goals for a while.  I guess it's because I'm still stuck at #46.  *sigh*  I need to spend some time thinking about what else I'd like to accomplish, though I suppose I don't have to think of them all at once.  I still welcome any ideas on the subject and would love to hear if you've started your own personal finance goals!

Survey Companies

I updated the money earned online section in my sidebar.  I'm seriously considering paring down quite a few of them once I hit their next payouts.  A few take way too long to earn any money and probably are not worth my time.  Others have me spend too much time on surveys and then tell me I'm not qualified without giving a partial payment or points.  

• American Consumer Opinion--I think I'll keep them on there.  They don't send many requests, but the few they do are usually worth my time.
• ClearVoice Surveys--Like American Consumer Opinion they have few survey requests, but are pretty worthwhile, though it does take a while to earn enough.
• Clixsense--Not worth it.  Would probably be better if they sent me reminder emails so I know what is available, but they don't so I miss out on a lot of them.  I may just cancel it now and call it a loss.
• Deals'n'Cash--I just started with them so I may give them some more time.  But it doesn't look good for them either.
• Ebates--Oh I'm keeping them!  I love shopping through them and getting cash back on items I would have bought anyway!
• epoll--I'm split with them.  They've been good in the past...nice short surveys, but I haven't been getting them lately.
• Global Test Market--I like them.  Their surveys can sometimes be on the long side, but the ones I don't qualify for still get me reduced points.  Plus I love the payouts--$50 for 1000 points and I've been getting a lot of survey requests so even if I don't qualify it adds up.
• Hits4Pay--It's like Deals'n'Cash (same company) and I may get rid of them once I get the payout because the emails are not really compatible with what I selected.
• InboxDollars--Takes too long to earn money.  I've been working for this first payout since last year and that's just too long!  $5.09 more and bye-bye to them.
• Lightspeed Panel--I like them, too.  Survey requests can be spotty, but overall they are a keeper.
• Mindfield Online--I used to like them, but since I've switched to Mac they don't like my browser, Safari, so it's taking longer to earn the payout.  Too bad!
• MyPoints--KEEPER!
• Netwinner--They are pretty much just for fun.  I don't expect to ever win anything though it would be nice if I did.  I don't play often, but I'll leave them there for fun.
• NFO MySurvey--I like them, too.  Nice short surveys when I get them and the points add up sufficiently for payout.
• Opinion Outpost--I used to love them, but I'm just not getting any survey requests anymore.  It's been almost a year since I've gotten one and I updated my profiles, too.  It's a shame, but they'll have to go, too.
• RewardTV--I just started with them, but like Netwinner they are just for fun.
• Send Earnings--Like InboxDollars they'll be out of here when I earn the payout...only $20.46 to go!  It'll take a little longer to get rid of them.
• SurveySavvy--I just started with them and so far I like them alright.
• SurveySpot--I'm not sure about them.  Still thinking about it.
• SurveyTeam--They'll probably be gone.  It really wasn't set up how I thought they were and I don't like them.
• Synovate--LOVE THEM!  They increased their points value recently and also give partial points depending on how much of a survey you qualify for and complete.
• Testspin--I'm getting pretty sick of them.  I liked them in the past, but they are getting ridiculous now.  I just need $4.00 to close them out.
• Zoompanel--They are great!  They give 5 points if you do not qualify and the surveys are pretty good, too.

I think I got them all listed there.  So anyway...the list on the sidebar should be getting smaller little by little as I get a payout with some of them and others will just be going away.

Expected Future Expenses

I'm expecting a few extra expenses soon.  I know I'll be getting a bill soon for my last endocrinologist appointment in June.  That is usually in the $100s because he's a specialist and I haven't reached my deductible yet...and probably never will.

I just made the boys each a much needed appointment for a new pediatric dentist here in town.  Unfortunately, they don't accept insurance so I'll need to pay in full and get reimbursed.  They do sometimes put insurance claims in as a courtesy, but I may want to do it myself and know it's done correctly and I have a copy of the claim in case something goes wrong.

School supplies will be coming up soon as they go back to school in 4 1/2 weeks!  YAY!  Did I just say that?  I meant: "Oh darn!  Now I won't be enjoying their wonderful presence during the day!"  That sounds good, right?

Considerations

So I'm considering whether or not to buy a domain name for this blog (not necessarily Ditch My Debt because it's already taken...I've checked so I have some ideas) or just keep it where it is for now.  

I'm in the process of considering the pros and cons for both.  I'm not much for programming and stuff so I'm a little leery of that, but my husband is a programmer.  I'm just not sure I want his hands on my blog...LOL.  I can do little things in HTML, but not full programming.  But if I find a good template, then I won't need to worry much about that.  *sigh*  It would be nice to have my own domain, but I wonder if it would be more work than I'm willing to give right now or not.  I obviously have some more research to do in the area.  

Any suggestions, clues, tips, hints, information...you get the idea...would be welcome!

$5.00

I've cashed out another $5.00 from surveys.  This time from Lightspeed Panel.

I have a couple of others that are close to a pay out of some kind--Synovate only needs 465 points, which is like one or two really good surveys.

A couple of survey sites I'm thinking about dropping because they are no longer sending surveys or sending ones that are not pertaining to me, therefore, no earnings.  

Opinion Outpost used to be good for me, but since they changed the website I haven't received a single survey.  

Testspin keeps on sending me business to business and business computer hardware/software surveys even though I've said I was a homemaker and student.  I need $4 more to cash out with them so I'm hoping for a couple of good surveys soon.

Hodge Podge

I have a mixture of things to talk about and decided to do it in one post...hence the hodge podge.  Don't ask...LOL...anyway...

My debts have been going down (slowly, but going down) and my net worth has been going up (again slowly).  It's always nice to see them moving in the right direction!

Yesterday, I received the excess money from my college grant.  I immediately transferred the $106.15 to my credit card.

We also received my husband's paycheck so off went $442.60 to the savings for 1/2 the mortgage payment.

I'm pretty sure my husband needs to get gas today so we'll see how that goes.  A few days ago the gas was up to $3.869.  I'm sure it's above that by now so filling up will probably be over the $65.00 it was last time.

Also on an "earning money online" note, I signed up with Ebates.com today.  They were giving out $10.00 referral bonuses to both me and the referrer.  I don't know how I missed them in the past because I am always shopping online!  Thanks to 2 Nickels Making a Dollar for mentioning and referring Ebates!  I've now added Ebates to my list of online money earnings and a referral link.  Again no pressure!

Money Earned Online

I wanted to take a moment to explain my "Money Earned Online" list in my sidebar.  

Basically it highlights all of the ways I currently make some additional cash online, generally from surveys and paid e-mails.  Though I have made money through Half.com (subsidiary of eBay.com) in the past so I'll need to add them and I'm considering selling through eBay.com, as well (I'm a little unsure if I want to deal with the hassle of selling things other than books and videos).

For those companies that send merchandise in lieu of cash (through checks and/or paypal) or monetary gift cards, then I will look up the current monetary value of the product and place that amount next to the company.  For example, I just cashed out some points with Zoompanel for a book.  After looking online at Amazon.com, I found the price to be $7.99 at this time to purchase the book new.  So next to Zoompanel you will see an amount for $7.99.  There are very few that give merchandise only so a majority of the cash you see with be for actual cash or gift cards received.

I may fool around with the list a bit by perhaps adding how many points/money I have, but am unable to cashout at this time due to not hitting their limits yet, and/or how much is still needed to cashout again.  I really haven't decided if that is something I would want to do or not.  I already keep a spreadsheet on my computer to keep track so it would be just a matter of adding it to the sidebar.  

Also, I'll be considering whether to add referral links below each company or not, if available.  I don't like to pressure people, which is why I barely have referrals for any of the survey companies I am currently signed up with, but I also know that some people are interested and for those it would be available for them.  If I add the links, then signing up will be their choice...no commitments or pressure.