Money Blue Book

I love free stuff, don’t you? This is my first entry on free stuff currently available on the web. Although this blog is mostly a personal finance and investing site, I still would like to share some of the wonderful free offers I frequently come across. I’ll be posting more so I encourage you to visit the Freebies category again in the near future. Please feel free to browse the main page or subscribe to my feed. Subscribing is a good way to stay on top of new post updates.

The items listed below are available as of the date of this posting, but keep in mind that some may not last too long once people get a wind of them. I encourage you to register while they’re still available. Please let me know if and when they are no longer available. The freebies and samples come from random categories. If you have a particular category preference (e.g. food, t-shirts) let me know and I’ll post them next time. Here they are:

1. FREE Colgate Total Advanced Clean Toothpaste
2. FREE Democratic Presidential Candidate Bumper Sticker - Support your favorite candidate…if you’re a democrat that is.
3. FREE Dove Cool Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner
4. FREE Fit Smart Diet Bar
5. FREE Folger’s Gourmet Coffee
6. FREE Hamberburger Helper Singles
7. FREE Kashi Outreach Snack
8. FREE National Army National Guard T-Shirt - just remember to uncheck the box that asks if you want a recruiter to contact you
9. FREE Nature’s Bounty Odorless Fish Oil Softgels
10. FREE Post-It Sampler Pack
11. FREE Purex Ultra Concentrate Detergent & Purex Ultra Soft Fabric Softener
12. FREE South Beach Diet Sweet Nuts Creation Bar
13. FREE Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Pen

More freebies will posted in the future. Stay tuned!

Pinecone Research is an online survey site that conducts online interviews with consumers to obtain their opinions about new products. They conduct their polls by sending members online surveys as well as product samples to review, such as shampoos and detergents. You complete the online surveys and review the products in the comforts of your own home. The best part is that they mail you a $5 check for each completed poll (although shorter ones only pay around $3). The online surveys generally take around 15-20 minutes, but since I’m a pretty fast reader, it only takes maybe 10 minutes of my time.

Pinecone also occasionally offers the opportunity to review trial products. This is probably the most exciting part of these surveys because you get to test try products that aren’t even on the market yet. Interesting products include shampoos, candy bars, video games, and even frozen meals (sent in a foam cooler packed with dry ice). Not only do you get paid for completing the product survey, you also get to use and keep the product!

By the way, you might also be interested in other similar online paid survey opportunities. There are several really good ones out there as well.

Can’t Seem To Find the Sign Up Link? Yup, It’s Hard To Find!

The Pinecone Research survey program is getting more popular as people start to find out about it. However, the sign up process remains rather elusive and the company appears to want to limit new entrants to the program. The company does not automatically approve each application and I suspect they are trying to target certain demographics (such as age or race) or certain consumer characteristics (home owners etc). There is also no easy way to find the sign up application links as they appear on random advertisement banners from time to time. Open registration season is usually only available for short periods of time as well. The company is either trying to drive everybody crazy or it’s doing a great job of generating viral interest.

Please check back occasionally in the event that the existing link disappears back into the void. I will try to keep posting new active registration links as I discover them.

Currently, you can find an active registration link by visiting the link below. Act fast before it disappears - Hopefully it is still working:

Live Pinecone Research Application Link - (Click Here)

The other day I was at my local Giant Food grocery store and noticed several people examining a red kiosk. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it was a DVD rental station run by a new company called RedBox. I guess I must be blind because apparently the red kiosks have been sprouting up everywhere.

The company runs DVD rental kiosks, primarily located inside of McDonald’s restaurants and many grocery stores. The neat part is that DVDs can be rented for only $1 per day, with no late fees. Call it what you will, but you are simply charged a buck for every day you use it. Rentals must be returned before 7:00 p.m. the next day to avoid any extra day penalty (another $1). Each kiosk is fully automated, holding no more than 500 DVDs and can be accessed via a touch screen where you can select your DVD choice, and pay using a credit or debit card.

RedBox is excellent for people like me who want to go in, grab a movie, watch it, and be back in a day. For the slackers and lazy DVD returners, I suggest sticking with your usual video rental stores where they offer multiple day rentals.

Redbox is currently running a promotion, offering one night’s free rental at any of their RedBox kiosks. Just visit their homepage, enter your e-mail address, and they’ll send you a free DVD rental code. Wow you just saved $1. You’re rich!

Citibank’s ThankYou Points Network offers some of the best rewards. I currently own several Citibank credit cards (Citi Professional Card and Citi mtvU Card) and I get ThankYou rewards points for using them to purchase ordinary everyday things. With my current Citibank credit card setup, I receive 6% back in the form of Purchase Rebates on grocery stores, drug stores, and gas. I also receive 5% back on restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters, and book stores. 1 Purchase Rebate = 100 ThankYou Points. For every 1 mile I drive, I also receive the equivalent of 1 ThankYou Point. They all generate rewards points and contribute to the same pool of ThankYou Points. I have been saving for over a year and it’s time to put those points to good use. With the ThankYou Network you can exchange your points for things such as merchandise, electronics, gift cards, student loan credit, and even cash.

Great Exchange Rate for Travel Rewards

One of my favorite redemption choice is Thank You Point’s Variable and Fixed Flight Option. With the Variable Travel Option you can redeem your Thank You Points for the equivalent of whatever the value of the flight cost is. However, you’ll likely get the best deal by choosing the Fixed Flight Option. Below are the current point values needed for redemption (as of January 1, 2008, however since point levels are subject to change please contact a ThankYou Network Travel Specialist for the most current point pricing.

Coach:

Business Class:

This is a much better deal than simply redeeming frequent flyer miles, because for only 20,000 Thank You Points, you can fly anywhere within the United States. I’ve been researching airfare prices to Asia, and with the Fixed Flight Option, I can fly there for a flat price of 80,000 Thank You Points. You’re probably wondering if there are lots of restrictions. According to them:

Fixed flight option reservations must originate in the 48 continental United States, unless otherwise specified. There are no seat limits, blackout dates, advance booking and Saturday night stay requirements.

Plus, you will also get to earn frequent flyer miles for your trip as well! With the flight price savings you’ll get by using the Fixed Flight Option, and combined with the additional savings you could get by using a cash back credit card to make the purchase, your total savings could be in excess of 12% easily. This would offer you a much better redemption rate than if you redeemed your points for something like gift cards or statement credit. If you’re interested, you can find more information about the Fixed Flight Option on their website. Eligible ThankYou members who would like to redeem for Fixed Flight Option airline tickets or cruise rewards should contact 1-800-THANKYOU (1-800-842-6596).