August 2004 Archives
I got an email from Adam at SixQuestions today about some issues he's having with another trivia site. The SixQuestions program lets you earn points redeemable for GCs when you play games, complete offers or polls, refer friends, or submit quizzes. Some SixQuestions members have been submitting quizzes they've cribbed from other places, and one trivia site is complaining about it rather vocally. Yes, submitting quizzes to SixQuestions is a great way to earn points (10,000 points for each one published!), but please don't swipe quizzes verbatim from other trivia sites!
Tip: When shopping through a rewards program, you will NOT be paid for the portion of the total that you pay for with a Gift Card! Keep in mind, this is not a rule made up by any one rewards program -- it's a rule that the merchants have set up for their affiliate programs. If you use a GC, the RP won't get paid for that part of your purchase, so they can't pay you for it, either. In addition, most purchases *OF* gift cards aren't eligible for rewards. Exceptions are GiftCertificates.com (a list of participating rewards programs is here) and GiveAnything.com (participating RPs are here).
Are you a AAA member? Don't forget to take advantage of ALL of your membership benefits! Kicking myself because hubby just spent over $300 on an eye exam and glasses at LensCrafters and didn't show his AAA card for the 30% discount! AAA members also save on movie tickets (at AMC and United Artist theaters), Disney World, Sea World, and Busch Gardens tickets, prescription drugs (at many pharmacies including Wal-Mart), Hertz car rentals, and hotels (a lot of participating ones). Plus, get 5% off at Barnes and Noble online, 20% off at Reebok outlet stores, 20% off at FTD.com, 10% off regular prices at Payless Shoes stores, and show your card at a Tanger outlet mall and get a free coupon book! And that's in addition to free maps, free towing, free popalock, and free gas delivery if you run out! Membership for one person costs around $60 (here's their dues calculator).
SixQuestions has increased its referral bonus -- you used to be able to earn 500 points for referring a friend; now it's up to 1,500! They have also added $10 GCs in the redemption area (used to be the cheapest ones were for $20). They've added a lot of big-point offers that don't require a credit card, too. I think that actually taking quizzes is the SLOWEST way to earn points there now! :) Anyway, if you haven't joined and want to give it a whirl, please join here -- thanks!
Get rewarded for ordering from Pizza Hut? Maybe! The scoop: MyPoints has an offline dining rewards program (it's affiliated with iDine). It's free to join -- in fact, they'll give you 10 points to do it. Basically you just register a credit card with them, and they'll give you a list of participating restaurants in your area. Then you'll earn 10 points per dollar for eating there and charging it to that CC! Louisiana has a ton of participating Pizza Huts, as well as some other smaller (non-chain) restaurants. Go to MyPoints.com, Earn Points, Food/Restaurants, MyPoints Dining by iDine. Not a member of MyPoints yet? Please read my review here and consider joining!
There's a new way to earn points at Freeride -- up to 100 a day! Under Hitchhiker's corner, go to IFilm. You'll get 1 point the first time you visit there... and 5 points for every movie trailer you watch at IFilm, up to 100 a day! If you're not a member of Freeride, would you please email me and let me send you an invitation? Thanks!
Memogold sent out an email yesterday saying that Memolink will be dropping their redemption costs on some options and MG folks get first crack at 'em, starting August 31. First in line to wait a year or more -- lucky them! With MANY people still complaining on the forums about long over-due redemptions, what the HECK is Memolink doing making some redemptions cheaper? Only thing I can figure is they're trying to get rid of some stuff that's been collecting dust on their shelves -- GCs getting charged dormancy fees, etc. Who knows. Just passing on the info. Click MORE to see the full text of Memolink's email.
Well, they focused on programs that give you cash back in the form of savings bonds, college savings program credits, and mutual funds/IRAs/money market funds.
Their stance was that spending doesn't equal thrift. I think the author failed to take into account the fact that these purchases were going to be made anyway -- if you're GOING to buy a new computer, why not earn something back for it? Whether the rebate is in the form of an actual check mailed to you, or a deposit into your child's 529 plan, is in my opinion, irrelevant.
Anyhow, the full article if you want to read it, is here: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040809-674774,00.html
