Amazon Warehouse Deals

Did you know that Amazon has their own outlet store? I was trying to find an inexpensive camera for my friend Victor (he's in Afghanistan right now) and I knew that Amazon ships to APO addresses. While looking at the gold deals for today, I found the Amazon Warehouse Deals site which sells items that have either been overstocked or returned. All items are tested to ensure that they work and they seem to be lower than

Have you shopped the warehouse before?  Thoughts? Opinions?  Feel free to leave a comment.

Doggyloot Offers Great Deals for Pet Owners

So ever since Benny entered my life, I have really been trying to find deals for him.  My local shelter posted about a new site, Doggyloot.  Doggyloot is a social shopping site dedicated to pets.  Each day, you will find a new deal for your furry friend.  Additionally, you can make donations to your local shelters which is why they posted about the site.

I will be keeping an eye out for deals you might be interested in, but I wanted to let you know the site exists so you can look yourself as well.

Movie Review Rating System

I love going to the movies, but how often have you walked out of a movie theater and felt that you wasted your time and money?  For now on when I see a pre-screening of a movie, or go during the first few days of release, I will post a review.  These reviews will be completely my thoughts so please remember that I am not an expert on films no matter how much movie trivia I know and your opinion might differ from mine. Feel free to leave comments on the reviews if you've seen the movie.

Since the whole point of Making Cents of It is saving money, my rating system will be based on the cost of a movie. Please refer to the following chart to understand my ratings.

	This image will only be used if I saw the film in 3D and felt it was worth the extra charge.
	Must see as soon as possible. I feel this film was great and worth every penny.
	See it in the theater, but wait until you can get a discount. Either go to the matinee show or wait until the film has been out long enough to use one of the discount passes purchased through deal sites (normally restricts opening weekend tickets).
	Wait until it comes out on DVD and rent it. It was alright but I wouldn't spend the money driving to the theater and buying a ticket.
	I'd watch it if it was free or on television but I wouldn't spend money on it.

Check out my original post for more information regarding free movie screenings.

$10 Off Membership to Angie's List

Have you used Angie's List? It's a site full of company reviews from your own neighbors. They also have a separate section for health reviews such as doctors, dentists, and more. Unlike most review sites, Angie's List charges a membership fee but they currently have a coupon code for $10 off. Just use the promotional code SAVE TEN.

I've never used the site before, but it does look interesting. This coupon code might change my mind about joining but I wish they had a free trial first, even if it's just an hour, to let you see the site before deciding. If you've used Angie's List, please let our readers know what you think.

Riding the Cloud: Guide to Online File Storage

Recently more companies have been coming out with cloud storage and you might be wondering a few things.

What is a cloud?

Cloud storage is a model of networked online storage where data is stored on multiple virtual servers, generally hosted by third parties, rather than being hosted on dedicated servers. (Wikipedia)

Basically, a cloud is online storage which allows you to upload your files and they are stored on the companies server. Some companies use multiple servers so your files are still safe if they have an issue with one.

Why should I use a cloud?
Using a cloud is a smart idea because it gives you added security that your files won't be lost if something happens to your computer. A cloud can be used as your main storage, or just as a back-up. I personally keep my pictures on a cloud server. I have a friend that is writing a novel and he saves it on a cloud.

Another benefit of cloud storage is that you can save the file on computer A and open it on computer B. This is great if you're like me and get to work only to realize you left the document on your printer at home.

How much does it cost?
The biggest road block in using cloud storage use to be the cost. Luckily, we know that there are always ways to get things for free and storage space is another example of how shopping around for deals can result in little out of pocket expenses.

How do I decide which company to use?
Depending on your need and how much you are willing to spend, there are a few good options to look into. Below are my favorite clouds along with a quick description and the pro and cons. I have also included how much storage each will provide you for free. That's right, most clouds provide a basic account for free. If none of the services offer enough storage you can always open accounts at different companies. I use one for my work files and a different company for my personal files.

Is it safe?
As with anything on the internet, nothing is 100% safe. We've all read in the news about major companies being hacked. That being said, I've never had any problems with the files I've stored on any of these sites.

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Amazon - Amazon has recently rolled out a cloud server in association with their digital content store. You get a basic 5 GB for free and that can currently be upgraded to 20 GB for free when you purchase an MP3 album. I personally like the MP3 storage because I can play my music from work or home. Purchases are automatically backed-up in your cloud but you can still download them to your computer for iTunes. Amazon will allow you to upgrade up to a 1,000 GB storage plan and the prices are some of the lowest around. If you need 100 GB, you'll pay $100 per year. Remember, a 5 GB storage is free. To upload your files, you will have to manually open your cloud on Amazon and upload individual files.


Dropbox - I personally like Dropbox for the ease of use. Their free account is only 2 GB but I needed to clear my files off the work computer before turning it in at the end of the school year. Dropbox allows you to download a free program which creates a folder on your desktop. Any file dragged into that folder is automatically uploaded to your cloud for back-up. It's extremely easy to back-up multiple files at once. Since I only had basic documents to transfer, 2 GB was plenty of space. Another nice thing about Dropbox is that you get additional free storage (up to 8 GB) for referring new members. Dropbox is more costly for upgrades but I like the automatic syncing. If you need 100 GB, you'll pay $19.99 per month or $199 a year. If you are a student, you can earn double for your referrals. After you enroll, head over to the Dropbox edu link to earn up to 16 GB for referrals. You must already have an account before completing the student upgrade.

iDrive - iDrive is similar to Dropbox because it allows you to download a program which makes syncing as easy as dragging a file into a folder on your desktop. Free storage begins with 5 GB and you can earn an additional 50 GB of free storage through their referral program. The only thing I really don't like about iDrive is possibility an error on my part. A few months ago they had offered a promotion for a free $10 iTunes gift card. I never got the gift card and I never got responses to email follow-ups. iDrive offers different upgrade packages including personal and business. The 100 GB business account is $199.50 per year. The personal account only has one size, 150 GB for $49.50 a year. I can't figure out the difference between the personal and business accounts.

Google - Google's cloud isn't actually a cloud in the sense of the other sites. Google has tons of different serves that can store and save all your files. Google Docs will save your documents such as Word, Excel, PDF, Powerpoint, and others. Google Picasa will store your photos. Google Music, which is still in beta testing, will allow you to upload your music. All of Google's features are free.

For the purpose of comparing apples to apples, I selected to price the 100 GB plan on each site. Prices were obtained on June 6, 2011. If you are reading this post through an archive, please note that prices can change. See the individual sites for current pricing.

Have You Tried DealPulp Yet?

DealPlup is a new social shopping experience that only offers online and nationwide deals. They also host a daily contest called Still Ripening where you can guess the next deal. If you guess correctly, you have the chance to win a $20 credit to the site. They cover the logo of the upcoming deal so you can still see part of it.

It's normally difficult to figure out but the other day I was very lucky and was able to see the top of a red logo and the bottom of what looked like DVDs. Using the magic of Google I figured out the site and made my guess. Today I got an email that I won and they added $20 to my account. I can't wait for a deal to come around that I can use. They had HP.com about two weeks ago so hopefully I'll get some pretty cool stuff.

I highly recommend joining DealPulp because it's another great site to help you save money.

InboxDollars

InboxDollars is one of those websites that help you make money online. I first heard of the site a few months ago, but I didn't want to post about it until I tested it out for you all. I have now received my first check and can verify that the site does actually pay.

It took a few months and the check was only worth $33.23. So the big question isn't whether they pay or not, but is it worth it? Every day you will get a few emails from advertisers and for each email that you click the link to confirm you read, you'll get $0.02. Additionally they have offers, games, stores, and more to earn money faster. I personally tried a few of the offers but there were very few that didn't have some kind of catch.

Once you've earned $30, you can request your check but don't expect it to arrive the next day. They take about six weeks to process your first check and charge you a small fee for the processing (the fee is taken from the check, not actually charged to you). Once you've redeemed a check, you automatically become a gold member and they claim to process checks in two weeks. Since I have not hit the $30 mark for a second time, I cannot verify that the checks arrive faster.

If you are going to sign up for InboxDollars, I recommend setting up a separate email account that you check once a day. This way you don't have to search for important messages through the tons of emails they will send you.

Fitness Motivation

Do you need motivation to exercise? After seeing a news report about ways to motivate yourself, I decided to try a review a few in hopes of keeping you informed. This post will serve as an introduction to the reviews as well as a central location to access all of the programs and products I wrote about.

As I publish each post, I will edit this post to include direct links.

S2H Replay Watch - A watch that monitors your activities. The more you move, the more you are rewarded.

Gym-Pact - A social experiment in motivation. Members set goals and pay penalties if they don't reach their goals. Those penalties help to reduce the gym membership fees for those that keep their goals. Since you set your own goals, everything is up to you.

EarndIt - A free website that tracks your activities and rewards you for it.

Is My Money Safe if I Open a Bank Account for the Promotions?

Often times you will see me post promotions from banks and might wonder if they are safe. I want to let you all know that I will never promote a bank that is not FDIC or NCUA insured.

What does it mean to be FDIC insured?
FDIC stands for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation which was created by Congress to protect your money. Any bank that is insured by the FDIC has met strict government standards. You're money is protected, up to $250,000.

What does it mean to be NCUA insured?
NCUA stands from the National Credit Union Administration. Similar to the FDIC, NCUA protects your money if you choose a credit union. Since credit unions are run differently than banks, the FDIC doesn't deal with them. You should note that your money is still insured up to $250,000.

Don't deals have fine print that will end up costing you?
While this is possible, I make sure to read the fine print for you and point out anything you need to know. Most promotions will require a minimum deposit and you will forfeit the bonus if you close the account too soon. That doesn't mean you shouldn't also read the fine print, but I do try not to post deals that have tons of fees or rules attached to the accounts.

Daily Deals

What are daily deals? Daily deal sites are a popular trend where companies offer discounts when multiple people participate. As long as the minimum specified amount of people sign up for the offer, you will get it. Companies are able to offer consumers these great deals because they guarantee the businesses a minimum number of customers. These deals range from restaurants, to shopping experiences, to spa treatments, and more. Some of these programs are offered in metropolitan areas, however more deals are beginning to appear for online services and multiple locations.

Click here to see all the posts tagged as daily deals

I would also like to tell you about a new site that combines all the other social shopping websites. Yipit acts like a search engine of the other social shopping sites that allows you to see all available deals for an area. You can sign up for emails in specific categories and Yipit will let you know when deals become available that might interest you. It's easier than searching Groupon, Living Social, and all the other websites that exist out there.

Plastic Jungle

Whether you want to buy or sell gift cards, Plastic Jungle is a great website to use. They guarantee all purchases and offer free shipping. This means that you can purchase gift cards at a discount and combine with coupons for an even greater savings. 

Have you ever gotten a gift to a store and wondered what the person was thinking? Or received a gift that you returned for store credit to a store you never shop at? Plastic Jungle will buy your unused gift cards/store credits for up to 93% on the dollar. This means that you can get cash for your unused giftcards.

Plastic Jungle's stock is always changing as they buy and sell gift cards so you can set up alerts for your favorite stores.  When a card becomes available, they'll send you an email.  You can then head over to the page and see what their newest stock has.  Since people can sell store credits and partially used gift cards, you will not always get a rounded amount, but Plastic Jungle will always tell you the exact value, your cost, and the percentage you're saving.  They also verify and guarantee each gift card so you can be assured that your purchase is safe.

Free Flys is Offering Free Samples

I've never heard of this website before, but I was reading about it earlier today and thought I would share it with all of you.  Free Flys is a site that provides you with free samples or coupons for free products from popular brands.

I looked around the site and am really impressed by the type of products they offer.  The only downside is that you must sign up in order to view their offers but I think you'll like the samples that are available.

Source: Wild for Wags

Giveaway Scout

If you're feeling lucky, check out Giveaway Scout. I just learned about this site today, but it's an interesting concept. When a blog is registered with them, Giveaway Scout will automatically pull any post that includes the word giveaway. This allows a reader to have a centralized location for all of these great blog giveaways.

Source: I Am Wicked Cheap

My Coke Rewards

My Coke Rewards is the reward program for anyone that drinks Coke, Sprite, Powerade or other products by the Coca-Cola company. Most of the packaging has a code which you can enter for points.  The points can then be redeemed for free products or saved for larger prizes.

It is rare to find promotional codes for extra points, however it's a free reward program and if you already drink their products you can collect points quickly.

If and when promotional codes become available, I will post them here with the label MCR.

I've tried to compile a list of questions you might have regarding My Coke Rewards. If there is something I've missed, please leave a comment and I will try to find the answer for you.


What products come with codes?

There are thirteen brands that participate in My Coke Rewards.

• Barq's
• Coca-Cola
• Coke Zero
• Dasani
• Diet Coke
• Fanta
• Fresca
• Mello Yello
• Minute Maid
• Powerade
• Pibb
• Sprite
• Vault

How many points can I earn?

You many enter codes for up to 120 points per week but there is no limit to the total amount of points you can earn.  Different product sizes have different point values, however the following list is valid for a majority of the values listed above.

• Bottle Cap = 3 points
• 12 Pack of Cans = 10 points
• 24 Pack of Cans = 20 points
• 32 Pack of Cans = 25 points

What kinds of prizes are available?

Depending on how many points you save up, the prizes you can redeem will differ.  Here are a few of the most popular prizes.

• 30 points = Free 20 oz Coke Product
• 100 points = Free Blockbuster Rental
• 2000 points = $50 Nike Gift Code

Shop at Home

Do you shop online? Why not earn money for every purchase. Shop at Home offers cash back on everything you buy online. Plus, you'll get an extra $5 with your first purchase through them.

Here are some of the most common questions with my best explanations of answers.  If you have any additional questions, post a comment and I'll try to answer them.  Otherwise, you can contact Shop at Home directly.


How Does it Work?
 
When you are shopping online, instead of going directly to the store's website you login to Shop at Home and click the store through there.  You can type the store's name directly in the search feature or browse the list of stores.  Once you click the store's link it brings you to the store's site and you shop like you normally would directly from the store website.  Shop at Home tracks that you visited the store through their link and verifies a purchase with the store.

Each purchase must be made after clicking the Shop at Home's link.  If you click through Shop at Home, go off to another website, and then return to make a purchase you will not be credited.  When in doubt, go back to Shop at Home and click the link again before checking out to make sure you are credited for the purchase.

Between Shop at Home and your selected store, you will see a page that looks similar to this screenshot:

When and How Do I Get Paid?

Shop at Home will send a rebate check approximately thirty days after the end of the month when your account balance reaches the $20 minimum.  If your account has not reached the minimum of $20.00, your cash back balance stays in your account and once you reach the monthly minimum, a check will be mailed out.



Also check out eBates which runs a similar program but offers different payouts.

Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com is a website that helps you save money when you eat out. It allows you to discover new restaurants for a fraction of the cost by offering discounted gift certificates to participating restaurants. Besides the already discounted gift certificates, promo codes can often be found to provide you with additional savings.

I've tried to compile a list of questions you might have regarding Restaurant.com. If there is something I've missed, please leave a comment and I will try to find the answer for you.


How do I search for restaurants?

Restaurant.com's search is done by location. You just type in your zip code or city name and your local restaurants will show. You can refine the search using a list of options on the left column, but there is no way to search for a specific restaurant name. This is because the discounts are offered in hopes that you will discover new restaurants in your area. It is a form of advertisement.

This search method makes it easy to find good deals for vacations because you can just type in your destination and find places to eat.


What type of discounts are offered?

Depending on the restaurant, there are different gift certificates available. The most common are:

• $10 Gift Certificate, Your Price $4
• $25 Gift Certificate, Your Price $10

What type of deals do the promotional codes provide?

Promotional codes are good for anywhere from 50% to 80% off the already discounted prices. When I find a promotional code, I post it here at Making Cents of It with the expiration date.


Are there any restrictions for using Restaurant Gift Certificates?

Yes. Each restaurant puts their own restrictions on the restaurant.com gift certificates. The details will be written below the "add to cart" button. Some restrictions exclude days or times while other restrictions require a minimum purchase.

If you want to be sure about all the restrictions, call the restaurant before purchasing the gift certificate.


What do I do if the restaurant won't accept my restaurant.com gift certificate?

Although rare, sometimes restaurants go out of business or change owners without informing restaurant.com. If your gift certificate is denied, contact their customer service. They will exchange your unused gift certificate for an equivalent credit to a different restaurant.com restaurant.


How do I receive my gift certificate after my purchase?

You will be able to print your gift certificate immediately after completing your purchase.  You will also receive an email to allow you to print the certificate at a later time.  Each gift certificate has a unique number

Click here to see find the most recent promotional codes

Even better, eBates (15% back) and Shop at Home (25% back) both offer cash back on restaurant.com purchases.

Disney Movie Rewards

Any fan of Disney should join Disney Movie Rewards.  As you can guess from the name, the site rewards you for things involving Disney movies. Basically, you earn points that can be redeemed for prizes.


How do I earn points?

There are a few different ways to earn points.  These are the main ways, but there are often promotions that will allow you to earn bonus points.

• Promo Codes - Occasionally, promo codes are released for free points.  When this happens I will post them here.
• Buy Disney DVDs - Every new DVD comes with a personalized code that you can enter for points.
• Buy Disney CDs - Physical CDs, not digital downloads, will allow you to earn points.  Instructions are on Disney's site.
• Submit Your Ticket Stubs - After you see select Disney films in the theater, you can submit your ticket stub for points.  You will need a digital camera to submit your ticket stubs.

What type of prizes are there?

The prize catalog is always changing, but  here is a sampling of what you will find.

• DVDs
• Posters
• Experiences
• CDs
• Exclusive Memorabilia

Click here to see all the posts tagged for Disney Movie Rewards

HouseParty.com

If you haven't already heard of them, I'd like to talk today about HouseParty.com. House Party is a marketing program that gives you new products to share with your friends. If/when you’re selected to host a party you will receive a party package including the product to demonstrate or use at your party along with party favors for your guests.

When you sign up for their mailing list or follow them on Facebook, you will find out about new opportunities as they become available. If you see something you're interested in, sign-up. If you are selected to host a party, you will receive a party pack in the mail.


Past parties include:

• ABC Family All New Mondays (Advanced Screening)
• DJ Hero
• Hasbro Game Night
• Oscar Mayer's Thrill of the Grill
• Play On with PS3

I've tried to compile a list of questions you might have regarding HouseParty.com.  If there is something I've missed, please leave a comment and I will try to find the answer for you.



How do I apply to host a party?

When you see a party that you are interested in, just click the "apply to host" button on that page.  It will bring you to an application which will ask you qualifier questions.  These questions determine if you are eligible to host.  For example, if you don't have a PS3, how can you host a party for their newest game?  If you qualify, your application will be reviewed.


Will I get to host every party I host?

Sadly, no.  House Party gets lots of applications and sponsors only provide a set number of party packages.  I'm not sure the criteria they use to make the final selection.  In a Wallstreet Journal article from a few years ago, it mentioned that 15,000 people applied for a party that had 2,500 hosts.  Since then, House Party has gained popularity which means even more people are applying to host.  Just don't get discouraged and keep trying.


What is the hosting experience like?

When I hosted my first party for DJ Hero, I created a three post series about the experience.

1. Before the Party
2. Day of the Party
3. After the Party

How do I know if I've been selected?

You will find out if you were selected through an email.  Additionally, you can always log on to HouseParty.com to check your application status.



If selected, I am inviting a lot of guests? May I request extra supplies? Will I be reimbursed for additional items I purchase?

Unfortunately the answer to both questions is no.  Each party pack is pre-boxed and ready to ship.  Therefore, each package will be identical for every host of the selected party.  House Party has made suggestions of raffling off the items or using them as prizes for party games.

As for purchasing additional items, all you get from House Party is what they listed on the party's page.  Anything else you want at your party will be supplied by you.  My suggestion is to use all of our coupon and deal finding knowledge to keep costs down.  Some of the food related parties will provide you with plates and such.  If you need more, check your dollar stores.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a site that rewards users with points, referred to as Swagbucks, for using the internet. Swagbucks can be redeemed for prizes.


What are the prizes?

The most popular prize is the $5 amazon.com gift card for 450 swagbucks but the Swag Store is full of all different prizes and sweepstakes.


How do I earn swagbucks?

These are the methods that I use to earn swagbucks.

• Searching the Web - Swagbuck's search engine combines Google and Ask to bring you search results.  You can set your browser's default search engine to Swagbucks to increase your chance of winning.  Not every search will result in swagbucks.  On Fridays, referred to as Mega Bucks Friday, you can win even more swagbucks through searches.
• Finding Swag Codes - Codes are placed randomly throughout the social networks.  You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, Swagbuck's blog, and more.  Sometimes the codes will be easy to find and other times they might require a hunt.  Please note that sharing the swag codes can result in your accounted being canceled.  
  
• Daily Polls - Earn a swagbuck everyday when you vote in the daily poll.
• Inviting Your Friends - You will earning matching swagbucks, up to 1000 each, when you refer your friends.  The matching swagbucks are only for searches. 
• Use the Widget - You can install the widget anywhere including Facebook and Twitter. 

Here are some more methods of earning swagbucks.

• Install the Toolbar - If you install the toolbar, you will earn one swagbuck each day when you open your browser.  They also put swagcodes through messages on the toolbar so that's an additional reason to install it if your browser isn't already cluttered.
• Surveys -You can qualify for surveys.  Depending on the length of survey, you will earn a different amount of swagbucks.
• Special Offers - This includes signing up for mailing lists or just watching commercials.  It's something to look at when you're bored to earn some extra swagbucks.
• Shopping in the Earn Mall - When shopping online, click through the Swagbucks Mall to earn points on every purchase.
• Recycling -You can send in your old broken electronics to be recycled and earn points.
• Post Your Prizes - When you post pictures of your redeemed prizes on Facebook or Twitter, you might win extra swagbucks for sharing.

What can I do to increase my swagbucks?  Can abusing the system cause my account to be deleted?

I listed these two questions together because they go together.

You can set your browser's default search engine to swagbucks.  This way you have a chance to earn swagbucks each time you search.  Make sure you only make real searches.  If you search for too many things in a row, Swagbucks might suspend your account for spam.

When a swag code is published somewhere, you have the opportunity to earn extra swagbucks.  There are rules surrounding the swag codes which include you can't share them.  This is because the codes are sometimes designed as a scavenger hunt.  You are allowed to say something like "check out the swagbuck's twitter for a swag code" but you can't say "Swagbuck's twitter just posted the code 'FAKECODE' for 8 bonus swagbucks."  Abusing the codes can also result in an account suspension. 

Posting your link around the internet is a great way to increase your swagbucks from referrals.  Just don't spam.  If you spam your link, Swagbucks has the right to close your account.

Swagbucks has put together a great list of dos and don'ts if I missed anything.


What is the Widget?

The widget allows you to use and share the different features of Swagbucks.  You can install the widget on any social network page or website.  As you will notice, the widget below has my name on it.  This is because as I mentioned, you can share it with your friends.  The bottom right has a sign up button which is customized with my referral link.  If you install a widget somewhere, it will be personalized with your link.

Additionally, the widget will always tell you where the swag codes are located when codes are released.  If you don't have a place to place the widget, I recommend selecting the Twitter version because it is a link to a website that has just your widget so you can bookmark it.








If you have any additional questions about Swagbucks, please leave a comment and I will help find an answer.

Groupon

If you haven't heard about it before, I highly recommend looking into Groupon.  Each day they publish a great deal in your community and/or online.  You can search by city so if you're planning a vacation, you can look it up.  Deals include restaurants, entertainment, spas, shopping, and more.

The basics on how Groupon works is that they advertise gift certificates or pre-paid offers on their site, often for half price or more.  As long as the minimum specified amount of people sign up for the offer, you will get it.  If not, your credit card will not be charged.  Groupon is able to offer consumers these great deals because they guarantee the businesses a minimum number of customers. It is also a form of advertisement for the business so they want to give you a deal to get you in and prove that you should return for future business.