Feedback Forms Offer Cash: Tip-of-the-Day #251

If you're like me, you'll consider providing your feedback - with the right incentive. Sometimes it's free miles (if an airline is asking), sometimes it's the promise of a drawing for a trip or shopping spree.

I just got a feedback request from Living Social, a leading daily deal site, and in exchange for two mins of my time, they credited my account with $5. While $5 isn't a ton of money it's real money and it isn't just a promise it's a reality.

When you receive requests for feedback and the offer is something tangible, I say go for it. These little cash bonuses add up and will offset your next purchase with that retailer.

Free money! Woohoo!

Build Your DVD Library - For Less: Tip-of-the-Day #250

In a post earlier this week I mentioned that I'd finally cancelled my Netflix DVD subscription.

In doing so, I was asked to return any DVDs that were still in my possession or I would be charged $14 per DVD.

I actually had to pause at that because I have purchased a couple of DVDs in the past few months and I spent more like $25 for new releases. Thus, if you actually wanted to build a DVD library and wanted to spend less, you'd be better off absconding with your Netflix DVDs than buying them outright!

It actually may just be a win win situation because I'm guessing Netflix gets those DVDs for pennies on the dollar and is making a nice profit by charging $14 for a lost or stolen DVD. But you and me, we're paying more for entertainment and $14 seems like a steal!

Just had to share this because it made me stop and think before pulling off the adhesive tab and sealing the contents of my red envelope forever. That said, given I hadn't watched The Iron Lady in the ten months it had been sitting on my console, I was pretty certain this wouldn't be the moment for grand theft.

Lol.

O! My. God. oDesk Rocks: Tip-of-the-Day #249

Have you heard of oDesk? Launched in '06, oDesk is a virtual environment for contract workers and employers to connect to get a job done; designers, marketers, coders, etc. all come together using collaboration tools, a time clock, and monitoring features.

I have used oDesk for things as complicated as building a back end engine for sending "anonymous" emails on an amusing website I developed called freecorrection.com. And, I most recently used oDesk to surprise my bf with a brand new logo for his website.

Now I'm using oDesk to explore giving my own blog a brow lift; with a customized and creative header for the homepage. ;)

What I'm saying is that you can use oDesk for ANYTHING. And, if you're the one with the talent, you can make your services available to people like me who constantly need help to get stuff done.

For the one doing the hiring: people's rates vary wildly. In some remote parts of the world labor comes very inexpensively but I would strongly encourage you to review portfolios and certifications to ensure you're getting someone capable of performing your assignment. It's great to have access to affordable talent, but don't forget the old adage: you get what you pay for. It may seem overwhelming at first when you're sorting through thousands of contractors, but I like to use the filters to sort by skill set, region, price range, etc. Before you know it you have a manageable list to look through.

For the contractors looking for work: this is an awesome way to make extra cash or even work full time if you create a steady flow of clients. I recently turned an artist friend of mine on to this site to make up the gap between his current salary and the cash he needs to cover his SF rent.

Save money. Make money. Get your sh&% done. That's what it's all about! (Foot stomp!)

Discount magazine subscriptions: Tip-of-the-Day #248

I've been ordering People and US magazines through Amazon for as long as I can remember. I usually subscribe in 3 or 6-month increments so I don't have to feel the hit at one time (these magazines aren't cheap and People rarely extends discounted pricing).

I was on Facebook the other day and saw an ad for US magazine for only $33 for THREE YEARS. It was something like .17 cents an issue. I'd BEEN paying $33 for six month subscriptions ($66 a year) through Amazon!

I immediately clicked on the ad and was redirected to DiscountMags.com. And, sure enough, that is the price they are extending! I quickly cancelled my lastest re-up with Amazon and purchased this outrageous deal through DiscountMags. I'm not sure how these prices can vary so wildly from site to site but this was legit. Before you renew your favorite magazine subscription, check out DiscountMags first. Just sayin'.

Skip Netflix DVDs and Stream: Tip-of-the-Day #247

I've had two Netflix DVDs sitting on my TV console since last September. That's nearly ONE WHOLE YEAR! They haven't been watched and they haven't been sent back. They have just been collecting dust. And, Netflix has been collecting $13.04 from me every single month. That's $130 over the last ten months!

Now at some point I had the sense to order the streaming service for $7.99, which together totalled out at over $20 a month but on its own makes good sense. With the streaming service you don't necessarily get access to all the "just released" flicks but you do get thousands of titles that can be watched on your TV, tablet or phone. In fact, I just installed the Netflix app on my iphone and have been catching up on all the Arrested Development episodes I missed back in '03.

Hard to believe it took me ten months to hit the "cancel" button on the DVD program but I finally did it and I feel like a weight has been lifted.

Need to see a brand new movie? Rent it from Amazon. Rent it from Comcast OnDemand. You have options and guaranteed they'll cost a lot less than the cumulative coin that builds from unwatched (dusty) DVDs.

Freedom!