Get Paid for Taking Surveys

There are many online paid survey programs available, but for many the payout versus time spent just isn't worth the effort. However, three online paid survey sites that I really recommend are American Consumer Opinion Panel (ACOP), NFO MySurvey.com, and Green Field Online Surveys. I also recommend SurveySavvy although I haven't qualified for one of their surveys yet. However, you do earn cash for completed surveys so I think it's worth joining - be sure to fill out the profile section to increase your chances of qualifying for surveys. Finally, check out Opinion Surveys.

All of these programs are free to join and you won't receive any email from them except when a survey is available. ACOP and GoZing pay cash for all surveys for which you qualify and I have been paid by each of them more than once. NFO pays reward points which can be exchanged for cash or prizes. I highly recommend all of these programs as an easy way to bring in a few extra dollars here and there.

In addition to online surveys, it is also beneficial to join local marketing groups that hold focus groups in your area. A focus group is a small group of people chosen by a marketer to talk about a new product or idea. A session usually lasts between 1-2 hours and pays $50-$200 for your time. You can now sign up with many of these companies online. Check out Greenbook.org for listings in your area. Craigslist.org is also a good place to look for focus group opportunities under "jobs-etc" if your city is listed.

Also, check out email reward programs. Get paid for reading emails and for shopping and it's free to join. My favorite is My Points where you read their email ads to earn points which you can redeem for gift certificates. You can also do your online shopping through their site to earn extra points, although I prefer to use Ebates first if I can. After a few months you'll have enough points to cash in and it doesn't take up much time.