Paid Research

We've all seen the ads for getting paid to do research, but how many of us actually do them? If you are lucky and live in a bigger city, you might have more opportunity than you know. There are various avenues one could take. For example if you are willing to get paid for testing drugs and medical procedures you might check out one of these two sites:

1. ClinicalTrials.gov
2. ClinicalConnection.com

If you have a little extra time on your hands perform a quick search of your surrounding area via Craig's List for "Volunteer" positions. Many times these are paid opportunities that are close to home. Even a simple Google search for "paid research" + your town will bring up local focus groups that are paying for your opinion on products or services.

I was lucky enough to join a group that tests oral hygiene products on a regular basis. When I finish one study, they sign me up for the next and it goes all year until I am done. The best part is that these are products that I would normally use and they are already approved by the FDA. As you can see, with some investigation on your part, you too can make your thin wallet a little thicker.

Mail Decoy

Who doesn't like to receive a little mail every now and then? Unfortunately, much of the USPS revenue comes from third class or "junk" mail that is delivered every day. If they can get paid to deliver it, why not get paid to receive it?

Mail decoy programs use your current address at home or work to send mail from various sources to ensure that client mail is being delivered without damage and on time. As an agent you will receive pieces of mail, catalogs, magazines or products. Simply log into their online database and answer a few simple questions about the mail and earn a little spending cash. It takes time to build up a steady flow of mail and most pieces only pay $0.25 each, but it's easy money and free magazines.

A couple of the better known and more reputable programs are The Hauser Group and US Monitor. By using the following links, you can apply for positions with each company: The Hauser Group and US Monitor. Commonly, they will only have one position per zip code. Now lets see if my mail has been delivered yet!

Free iPhone Apps

I am still enjoying the perks that come with a smartphone. If you own one, you know that they can get expensive quickly even if you are not exceeding your calling limits. Purchasing applications, ring tones and accessories adds up quickly, but it doesn't always have to empty your wallet.

Since purchasing my Apple iPhone 3Gs a few months ago, I have not yet paid for a single application. I would estimate my savings in the hundreds of dollars as prices vary depending on the app. Among the 100+ applications, I have various subjects, tools, games, and even doodads that cost me simply the time to download.

Listed from (previously) most expensive to least, Free App Alert notifies you of iPhone applications that cost you nothing! Every day there are 20-60 applications that are new or on sale for FREE with the hopes of getting more acceptance. There is no need to sign up or pay a thing. So if you want free iphone apps, Free App Alert is the place to be.

Free Credit Report

Keeping track of finances can be difficult and cumbersome at times. When checking for your credit reports it is important to know that you can access these for FREE, despite what other sites may say. Many are actually out to make you think they are free, and then they require signing up for their service, not in this case. Checking your report is a good thing to do regularly to ensure you are not a victim of fraud.

In order to get a reporting of your credit history you have to know a few things in advance. The site posted below will offer three different reports through three different companies. Each is free, BUT you can only use one service in a 12 month period. If you set up a calendar to check your report with one service every 4 months, you will be able to get reports all year round to ensure the safety of your credit. An example of this would be to use Experian in January, Equifax in May, and Transunion in September. Then repeat the cycle each year for regular updates and changes.

1. Go to Annual Credit Report
2. Enter your current state in the drop down menu
3. Click on the "Request Report" button
4. Fill in the required information - this is used to verify your data for security purposes
5. They will ask you a series of questions to authenticate your information
6. Select ONE service to get your current credit report
7. Either print or save the report for your personal records
8. Verify the data for accuracy
   

Earn $$ Online

Do you like sharing your thoughts, knowledge, or talents with the online community? Why not make a little money on the side doing something you enjoy? Triond is a web community that pays you for submitting content on their site.

With a few articles, photos, videos or audio files, you are sure to see a little revenue. How easy would it be to take a picture once a week, or write a poem in a few minutes? In due time you will have fans and earn money on the internet.

1. Join the Triond community here
2. Create content (text, photo, video, or audio)
3. Submit your content
4. Triond will post your content to relevant sites that have viewers
   
5. Earn money and avoid a thin wallet

$25 FREE with AT&T

Free money is always a pleasant thing. $25 is yours for free if you have recently switched to AT&T (within the last 30 days). Few people take advantage of this money because it takes 5 minutes of work, but when your wallet is thinning, anything helps.

Now that you have this great new phone with all of its wireless capabilities, why not treat yourself to some of the rewards that come with it? New members to AT&T can be rewarded with a $25 card that actually works like a Visa and can be used to pay your phone bill, buy gifts, or to pay for just about anything that money can buy. After registering my new number, it only took a few weeks to get the card by mail and used it to pay my upcoming phone bill.

REMEMBER, this only works if you are NEW to AT&T and have activated your service within the last 30 days. After registering your number, you too are eligible to refer others. Every referral you make earns you another $25 up to $125! Ready to get started? I've tried to simplify the process for you step by step:

1. Register at AT&T
2. Click the radio button "My Friend is an AT&T customer and referred me."
3. Enter the referral code 7024618469 in the space provided
4. Fill in the required information on the form including your new phone number
5. Click the "Register" button at the bottom of the page and AT&T will take care of the rest...your card is on its way
6. When you receive the card be sure to use it like a credit card (not as a gift card)

Enjoy your new phone and your free money!

FREE iPhone & Apple TV

Once again Mindfield Online is offering rewards for its members both old and new. This time it is in the shape of a FREE iPhone 3G or FREE Apple TV! So get on board while the offer still stands. The deadline is December 10, 2009 so don't wait too long to get your entries in the running.

Just follow these easy steps and you too can have a chance at these great prizes.

1. Sign up FREE with Mindfield
2. Once you are a member, go to the "Member Home" tab
3. Complete the member questionnaires (each one counts as a separate entry - total of 15 possible)

While waiting for the drawing on December 10th, be sure to check your email for money making surveys. Surveys range from $1 to as much as $30. The minimum payout has been lowered to $5 which means you get paid more often and they have recently added payment by PayPal to make things easier.

To date I have received $50; half by check and the other half by PayPal. They will NEVER ask you to pay a cent. With monthly drawings for cash and gifts, money making surveys, and prize drawings, you have nothing to lose. It's so easy I can't believe more people don't know about Mindfield.