Software Budgeting

Wondering where all that hard earned money is going? Programs such as Quicken are available to help budget and organize your spending and earnings, but it may be rather costly. We like things as close to free here. Wesabe is FREE financial budgeting software, which can use your bank statements to format the data in your profile.

Whether you are using the iPhone app or simply your computer, Wesabe's free personal budgeting software can safely track your expenses and help you set budgets for individual categories. It also a has various communities that strive to help find ways to create better savings, pay off debt, or discuss financial planning.

Daily money management could not be easier to obtain. All services are secured to protect your privacy. With an easy interface, clean graphics, and no cost to you Wesabe is sure to be a great service in keeping your wallet from getting too thin.

Free Laptop, iPhone, and Plasma TV ...Oh My

Check out this site I found called Gift Monkey. They give away FREE high end Laptops, Video Game Consoles, iPods, Plasma TVs, and they even have GPS Navigation Systems. That's just the beginning, you could get FREE cash (sent via PayPal), cellphones (including a free iPhone) and much much more!

This site is different from all of those others. They don't give you a time limit to earn your product, and they DON'T make you sign up for 10 sponsors yourself. All you have to do is try ONE of their sponsored offers like eBay (which doesn't cost anything), refer your friends, and they ship your free gift to your door, which is also free!

1. Browse Gift Monkey - choose the item you want sent to you
2. Provide a valid email address and password for your new account
3. Complete one offer - Some are free and others have a minimal cost, but the best part is you only have to complete one
4. Refer your friends and family
5. If you decide you want another prize, no problem, simply change it to the one you want
6. Once you have all your referrals, they will send the product to you
7. When you finish the first prize, you are then eligible for another

I signed up and completed the Napster Trial offer which cost me nothing. In addition to being one step closer to my FREE PRIZE, I get 7 days of free Napster music.

UPDATE: (4/11/10) As of yet I have not received anything, let alone a confirmed trial approval. Me thinks this is one for the scammers unfortunately.

Earn Hundreds of Dollars

When money is easy to come by, I am sure to take advantage of the situation. Here is an offering I just could not resist. Vindale Research is a gateway to surveys and trial offers that will pay you $5 to $75 per experience. You are free to set your own hours and complete as many or as little as you would like.

In just my first few minutes as a member, I made $2 for simply filling out a profile and another $5 is to be had for my first survey offer. I have seen others who have made hundreds of dollars simply by spreading the word.

Should you decide to participate in trial offers, be sure to keep a record of how long the free trial period is in the event you decide to cancel. Once you are a member you can refer friends and earn $5 for each referral. It may not sound like much, but the cash adds up quick. They pay by check or Paypal once your account has a $50 balance. Follow these directions and you are off to making some serious cash.

1. Go to Vindale's website
2. Fill out the information on the first two pages to get started
3. Create a profile for $2
   
4. Complete your first offer for $5
5. They will keep you updated by email and you are on your way to making some easy cash

UPDATE (2/09): I have completed some of the opportunities available with no verifications made on their part. Try this company if you like, I have heard stories of those who have received money and those who have received nothing.

Are you Prize Happy?

How does $1500 in cash sound? Perhaps you are more into itemized prizes. Only steps away, you could win home goods, exercise equipment, or jewelry. It takes next to nothing to cast a vote for the prize you want.

At Prize Happy, you find the prize you like, submit your vote and return the next day to enter again. You are allowed one vote per day, per item, per person. It only takes a minute to submit your vote with no membership or fees. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter.

Drawings are held four times a year at the beginning of each quarter. Entries are randomly selected to determine the winner of each prize, each quarter. The more you enter, the more chances you have to win.

UPDATE (2/09): For the better part of a month I registered for the prizes I wanted. I even asked for a notification of the winners. Nothing came and I therefore stopped entering the drawings.

Make Money Every Time Your Phone Rings

This is likely one of the easiest ways I have found to make a little extra money on the side. Imagine the hundreds of phone calls you receive and imagine getting paid for each one. It only takes a few minutes to set up and the best part is that it is FREE.

How it Works
When you sign up, you select a three digit area code of your choice. A list of phone numbers become available. Once chosen, this number becomes your personal number for life, so be sure to choose one you like.

Now that you have a phone number it must be activated by following the steps given on the website. When the phone is activated, you can start making money.

Easy Money
Simply give your new number out to friends, family, coworkers and anyone else. When they call your new number, they hear a ten second advertisement after which they are connected to the phone number that you already own. You can talk as normal and you have already made money.

You have the option of setting up the ads to run every call or fewer. It depends on how often you want people to hear your ads and how much money you want to make. Each call currently earns five cents but the first ten calls earn $1 each. If you profile your friends, make groups, or even share your number you can earn extra cash.

Personalize
You have the option to choose a ringtone from their selection or upload an mp3 of your choice. This will be heard after the ad is played as you are being contacted at your current phone number. The ads that are played can be optimized to better fit the interests of those who call you.

What are you waiting for?! It is FREE to join, easy to start and money in your wallet. Click here to sign up. Free money with every phone call, who could resist. More on this

UPDATE (2/09): I just cashed out for the first time and will be posting proof of payment soon.

Free Movies and Free Products

Trying to save a little money when it comes to entertainment or merchandise? Perhaps you are a coupon clipper and search for the best deals. Discounts and freebies are not always easy to come by, but they do exist if you look in the right places. For some it may be required to put in a little effort to 'earn' the reward, but it can easily be done with very little effort.

Movie Night

Cinema
I am a very big fan of movies, both in the theater and in the comfort of my own home. Although my movie library is small, I make it a point to see a new movie every week or two. For those of you who love the big screen, it can still be done while saving money. According to NATO, average ticket prices are almost $7 a piece. Luxury theaters may cost up to $20 a person for that special occasion and private seating. It's OK not to see a movie on opening night...really. Wait a few weeks until the same movie is in the discount theater and watch it for a fraction of the price with all the visual and auditory magic the big screen provides. Many of these will have a Monday or Tuesday special for only a dollar per ticket which means more movies for less.

Home
With the advent of the DVD, movie rentals have never been easier. First, there was Netflix and then a few copycat organizations attempted to run them out. They have some great deals for unlimited movies in one month delivered right to your mailbox. Second, and this is my personal favorite as of late, Redbox. If you don't already know about it, you must not have done too much shopping at your local grocery store or McDonald's. With a click, you can have the FREE promotional codes each week. It doesn't get better than that, FREE MOVIES!

New Products

We've all seen them, the ads that promote secret shoppers or prize give-aways. Well, when was the last time that you actually received the product you were hoping to obtain? I am a member of a program that provides actual products to test for FREE. All they ask in return is that you fill out a report sheet every time you share the product or talk about it with others. Believe me, it is easy to do, requires very little time, and costs nothing. There is no referral bonus for me to even share this. The company is called BzzAgent. They use word of mouth marketing to share the latest product which you get to have as part of the campaign. I have been a member for almost two years and initially joined to obtain a Sonicare electric toothbrush. When it happened I was surprised to learn that the brush was valued at $180! New products are promoted regularly, so give it a whirl.