Earn extra money online from these legitimate sites!

I don't blog often, and it's not for lack of freebies, it's lack of time! I get a fair amount of time online in between the constant needs of my toddler, but it's usually in small chunks - 5 minutes here, a few more minutes there, a quick glance at my Facebook news feed or checking my email. It makes taking the time to write a blog nearly impossible!

However, I would like to do a (relatively) quick write-up of some of the various ways I do spend online that have been lucrative for me. Doing things you already do, like checking your email, searching the web, or watching videos, can actually pay. Sometimes it's cold hard cash, or gift cards to your favorite stores (when it comes to Target and Amazon - that's as good as cash to me!). As a stay at home mom, it's really easy to do and really helps with my budget! I earn gift cards and checks all year, but I try to save them for December - because not only do I have to deal with Christmas, but my daughter's birthday is in the same month. Last December, I nearly completed paid for both birthday and Christmas presents, not only for my daughter but for my entire family, with my online earnings. So here's how I do it:

The absolute best site I can recommend is Swagbucks (referral link here: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/jmn1981). Why is Swagbucks my favorite? Well I earn way more on Swagbucks than any other site, over $1000 since signing up in January 2012. Swagbucks pays in gift cards - I prefer Amazon and Target, but there are tons of other stores (Walmart, Barnes and Noble, Starbucks, even cash through PayPal). Swagbucks lets you earn a variety of ways, randomly when you use their search engine, for watching videos, taking surveys, playing games, shopping online, signing up for special offers (most of which are free but the high paying ones are usually for signing up with a trial or purchasing a product) and more, including getting a percentage of what your referrals earn (so please, if you sign up, use my link). I absolutely love Swagbucks! No other site I've used pays better.

Another of my favorites doesn't pay out nearly as much, but it's very quick and easy - Bing Rewards (referral link). How does it work? Just do a few searches with Bing every day and you can earn gift cards, sweepstakes entries, Hulu Plus subscriptions and more! Now that I've reached gold status, I earn about $10 a month in Amazon gift cards. It might not seem like a lot, but it only takes a few minutes a day to check into Bing and earn my maximum (which is about 30 credits a day at Gold Level) and that adds up to $120 a year for me! Just remember - $5 at a time might not seem like much but it really adds up especially if you are earning gift cards on multiple sites.

I am also a very big fan of MyPoints (referral link)! This was the first earning site I ever signed up for, and I've been actively using it for about 15 years now!! The amount I earn varies, I last cashed out in the summer for a $50 Old Navy gift card and I'm nearly at enough points for another $50 gift card right now. You earn by checking your email, taking surveys, and shopping online. Be sure to always check between MyPoints and Swagbucks when shopping online, sometimes one site will pay more for a specific store while shopping online, that way you always get the most points for your money.

There's a lot of sites where taking surveys can significantly add to your earnings, but this next site is strictly for surveys - Springboard America (referral link). I find that it pays better for a survey than other sites like Swagbucks or Mypoints for comparable surveys. And it pays exclusively in cash (well, a check or PayPal). I've already cashed out once with them - for a cool $50 check and I can cash out again any time. I would recommend checking your email frequently for survey opportunities - some surveys fill up quickly but if I click on the link in my email within the first day or two of receiving it, I can usually get in.

The next two sites I will discuss together, as they are actually sister sites. They are Send Earnings and Inbox Dollars. The sites look nearly identical and both will give you a $5 sign up bonus. They usually have the exact same offers and send the same emails out. You earn by checking your email, taking surveys, playing games, searching the web, watching videos.. so these sites are very similar to Swagbucks although I never earn as much on these as I do with Swagbucks. However, every little bit adds up! With both of these sites I have cashed out for $30 checks multiple times. I earn faster now that I take the surveys on Inbox Dollars - I used to skip them, but now that's where I get my greatest earnings with these sites! And with Inbox Dollars, every time you take a survey (whether you get disqualified or not) you earn a spin on the wheel that will sometimes give you extra bonus cash! I've earned up to $5 on a spin before.

I also use a few apps on my phone to earn extra money! I have an iPhone and I don't know if these apps are available for other platforms. The first I use is Shopkick, you earn points when you check in to physical stores by having the app open when you first walk in. There's a lot of stores that participate including Target, Walmart, Best Buy and more. You can earn bonus points by scanning items in the store and even with purchases at some stores - I got a huge point bonus with a purchase at Best Buy! I've earned $15 in Target gift cards with Shopkick - not a huge amount but like I've mentioned earlier - every bit helps! Another app I like is Viggle. You use it to check in while you're watching live TV (apparently you can check in to music now as well but I haven't tried it). I've used my points earned with Viggle to purchase iTunes gift cards. And I can't forget to mention Cartwheel. You don't actually earn money/points with Cartwheel - it's a Target store app that has coupons for hundreds of products in the store, but I've saved almost $80 with Cartwheel since adding it to my phone last summer. You can even scan a product you are buying to see if a coupon comes up!

Well, that's my not-so-quick guide to some ways to earn extra cash online! I try to keep tabs on my earnings and since purchasing this computer in October 2013, I've cashed out $325 in gift cards with these sites and I have another $200 that I have earned that I haven't cashed out, because I'm saving it for the holidays. That's $500 in less than six months!

Disney Movie Rewards - Free Movie!

It's been awhile since I have posted. I always have the best intentions with blogging but I quickly fall behind and lose track of time. I suppose that first my pregnancy, then adjusting to life with a newborn, then moving around, and now finally stable but with a one year old has kept me busy over the last nearly two years! But I'm back and with a great deal that I just redeemed and want to share with everyone.

As a frequent buyer of Disney movies, I have long been a member of Disney Movie Rewards. Every Disney movie you buy comes with a magic code you can enter on the Disney Movie Rewards site. You receive 100 points for DVDs and 150 points for Blu-Ray/DVD combo packs. I've also received bonus points for the monthly newsletter, my birthday, and during a Christmas/Pinterest promotion. You can redeem these points for Disney merchandise. However, right now, if you enter three magic codes by 3/31/2014 you can receive a free Disney Blu-Ray/DVD combo back (no use of points needed)! You can choose from Dumbo, Cars, Tron: Legacy, and Secretariat. These sell on Amazon from approximately $12 for the Tron: Legacy combo pack to about $27 for the Cars combo pack. I really debated between Dumbo and Cars, unsure which my daughter might prefer in the future, but in the end, I decided that Dumbo is a classic that needs to be a part of our movie collection. While the movie IS free, there is a small $3.95 shipping and processing fee. To me, the shipping is more than worth the free combo pack promotion! If you have any Disney movies laying around with codes that haven't been entered - now is the time to get them in! Or if you see any Disney movies on sale, now might be a good time to purchase them. If I didn't have codes from two movies I bought on sale a couple months ago (Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh), plus another movie I just received, I would have considered buy more Disney titles just to get this promotion. For more information, please see the official offer details here.

Another note on Disney Movie Rewards; I just redeemed my first prize with points I've collected on the site! I decided to get The Princess & The Frog on Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack. I received it in the mail less than two weeks after ordering it, I was very pleased with the fast shipping! I think I'l hang on to it and give it to Madeline for an upcoming holiday, perhaps Valentine's Day or Easter.

Dr. Scholl's Cozy Cushions For Her

I recently received Dr. Scholl's Cozy Cushions For Her, complimentary of Influenster on behalf of Dr. Scholl's, as part of this Fall's Rose Vox Box. I'm so excited to have received these for the purpose of reviewing!! I'm already a big fan of Dr. Scholl's, because my feet/ankles/legs get tired and sore very quickly and the shoes I like to wear aren't always the most supportive. So these insoles really had an extra layer of cushiony support. Well, this new style - Cozy Cushions is especially great for winter because they are soft and warm and fuzzy and comfortable, while still providing the level of care and support I've come to expect from Dr. Scholl's! These will look stylish in any fall/winter shoe or boot.

BzzAgent - Playtex Secrets bra

It's been a little while since my last post, it's been hard to blog while packing/moving/unpacking, all with a little baby! But I'm back and with a great product I tried recently, thanks to BzzAgent! For those unfamiliar with BzzAgent - it's an amazing online program where you are given free or discounted products to test and "Bzz" about. I love it as a consumer because it gives you the opportunity to try new things you maybe wouldn't have thought to buy. I've worked with some great companies this way, including Burt's Bees, Kellogg's, Stella Artois, and more and now I can add Playtex Secrets to the list! If you're interested in becoming a BzzAgent yourself - sign up here.

I was recently sent the Playtex Secrets Sexy Fit bra. I was nervous, being a sent a bra via the mail, without trying it on first. I had no idea if the size I thought I was would be accurate because bras can vary widely between brands, plus I had given birth a few months ago and my body has fluctuated so much in the past year! Well, I have to say, the Playtex Secrets bra fit like a glove, so well, in fact, that I might need to change that saying to "it fit like a Playtex Secrets bra"! I have always struggled to find a well-fitting bra. As someone who is curvy and well-endowed, it can be very difficult to find a bra that fits properly. Something is always wrong - whether it's spillage or straps digging in or underwires poking out (ladies you know what I'm talking about!). Well I can say that finally, I have found what might be the perfect bra! Playtex Secrets goes up to size DDD and they're actually made to be comfortable and well-fitting, even at that size. The straps are thick and cushiony soft so it's actually supportive - that's probably one of my favorite features of the Playtex Secrets bra. Too many times I've purchased a bra that looks great and seems like it fits, only to realize after wearing it the first day that the straps aren't supportive enough and it's digging into my skin after an hour or so. Not a problem with this bra! It's strong and supportive but looks soft and feminine, which reminds me of what else I love about this bra - it's beautiful!

So many bras for real-sized women are unattractive. You can always find cute, dainty looks for women with an A-cup but once you're in the larger sizes (D and up), it starts to feel like you're looking through grandma's closet. It's hard to find something that makes you feel beautiful and sexy, but Playtex Secrets does just that while still giving you the most amazing support. What more could a woman want in a bra? It's supportive, stylish, comfortable, beautiful, sexy... and the best part? It's affordable too and easy to find at your nearest Kohl's!

Bzz Agent - Schick Hydro Silk Razor

First, let me explain what Bzz Agent is. It's a great online program that provides either free or discounted products to consumers like me (and you, if you're interested in signing up for free) in exchange for providing feedback (or "Bzz"). All you have to do is complete some very easy, short surveys to potentially qualify for product campaigns. Depending on how active you are with your Bzz (such as writing reviews, posting blogs, sharing pictures, discussing the product with friends, etc), your Bzz Score goes up or down. The higher the score, the more likely you are to receive campaigns! It's very simple and very fun. I've had the opportunity to try products from brands like Kellogg's, Claritin, Glade, Burt's Bees and more, all for free! I highly recommend signing up.

Which leads me to my latest campaign - the Schick Hydro Silk Razor for women. I received this product for free as a Bzz Agent, and I would like to share my honest opinion with my readers. I typically prefer using disposable razors for men because I can usually get a closer shave that lasts longer. However, this razor absolutely proved me wrong! I got just as close of a shave, but with the added bonus of soft, silky legs thanks to the "Water-Activated Moisturizing Serum" built into the razor, above and below the blades. Thanks to this feature, you don't even need to use shaving cream, which helps me save time AND money! Who doesn't love that? I highly recommend making the switch to Schick!

Movie Cash from Mike's Hard Lemonade

I just received an email from Mike's Hard Lemonade that I was a second place prize winner in their "A Good Day to Die Hard" Instant Win sweepstakes! The prize? Codes for $50 in Movie Cash! I guess my fiance and I will be seeing some movies in the near future. I'm thinking about checking out Oz the Great and Powerful in 3D. I'm definitely excited for this prize, I love movies (I spent 6 years working at a video store). This prize was unexpected - I didn't win anything during the instant win portion of the game but I lucked out with the second round! This just goes to show that those instant win games online can be worth it. I've entered a lot of contests like this without any success and had gotten to the point where I felt it was not worthwhile to continue entering but this recent win has changed my mind. So don't be discouraged - enter, enter, enter when you see contests and eventually you'll win something!

This movie looks amazing but the reviews haven't been the kindest. Getting to see it for free means I won't have to worry about whether I'm wasting my money or not. I can't wait!

L'Oreal Paris Healthy Look Creme Gloss Hair Color

Every day through March 18th, L'Oreal Paris is giving away 10,000 boxes of their Healthy Look Creme Gloss hair color! On my first try, I won, so I'll be receiving a coupon in the mail soon to try it out. If you want to try your luck, here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/lorealparis/app_435626486514541. It's a Facebook app so you will need a Facebook account and you'll need to "like" L'Oreal Paris in order to participate. It's hard to say what the odds of winning are without knowing how many people are participating, but you can try every day through the length of the contest until you win! The hair dye is semi-permanent and should last through about 28 shampoos. Here's the full description from L'Oreal Paris' website:

"Healthy Look gives you natural-looking colour with glossy, healthy-looking shine in just 10 minutes. The ammonia-free formula deeply nourishes hair while also helping to counter dullness and prevent damage. The crème formula softly blends away greys, and won't have any visible roots. The conditioning treatment infused with Royal Jelly seals in glossy shine, leaving hair soft and silky."

Sounds good to me and I can't wait to try it! I've already picked out the color I'm planning on picking up (Darkest Plum) :