Luckily, most utilities are not arbitrary, and there are many different strategies for bringing them down and using less energy. So if you want to figure out some obvious (and not-so-obvious) ways to save on your utility bills, keep reading for some excellent tips. 

Switch Your Light Bulbs

Switching from regular light bulbs to energy-efficient ones can help you save quite a bit on your utility bill. The best light bulbs to conserve energy are called compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or LED bulbs. Not only do they save energy, but they are also better for the environment. That’s because they can last up to twenty times longer than older, less efficient styles of light bulbs. Therefore, you won’t need to replace them nearly as often! 

Many states have coupons and programs that allow residents to get new energy-efficient bulbs for cheap or even free. Check with your state utilities commission to see what’s available in your area. 

Change Air Filters

All furnaces or air conditioning units have air filters that protect against dirt, dust, and debris flying into the air. Many experts recommend changing these filters every two to three months for the best air quality. And many people find that air quality is indeed much better when the filters are new. But there’s another reason to swap out these filters regularly. 

If you have a clogged filter or wait too long to change the filters, it causes your furnace or air conditioner to work harder while running. As a result, they use more energy and cost you more money on your utility bill. 

Keep Vents Clear and Open

Like the last tip, the vents in your home should also be kept open and clear of dust, dirt, and debris by cleaning them often. When your vents are clogged or closed, your furnace or AC has to work much harder to distribute air around your house. This takes up more energy and can cost you considerably more money. 

You should also avoid putting large furniture or other items in front of vents, particularly for those vents that are placed closer to the floor. 

Replace Older Appliances 

The older your appliances get, the less energy efficient they will likely become. This is why it is crucial to replace your appliances regularly, particularly if you live in an older home. Most new appliances have enhanced energy-efficient mechanisms, saving tenants and homeowners hundreds (even thousands) of dollars a year in utility costs. 

If you have a stove, dishwasher, microwave, or other appliance that’s particularly old, consider replacing it to save on energy costs. On average, most basic appliances last around 10 to 15 years. However, some of the more high-end and expensive appliances can last up to 20 years. Regardless, check your appliances to determine whether you should replace them. Like the light bulbs discussed above, many state energy programs provide rebates to homeowners who switch to energy-efficient appliances. So be sure to check your state utilities commission to see what you qualify for. Most people are surprised to learn you can save money on your electric bill just by updating older appliances. 

Upgrade Your Thermostat

Upgrading to a programmable thermostat allows you to set and change the temperature according to your schedule and needs and be very precise about it. If you are going to leave the house, for example, a programmable thermostat will allow you to turn off the unit for a certain amount of time, turning it back on right before you arrive home. This saves energy while you are away from home and prevents you from wasting unnecessary energy you’re not using.

Turn off Lights

This one might seem obvious, but turning off the lights when you aren’t using them is a significant energy-saver. This tip is essential for everyone in your home to utilize. Get into the habit of turning off lights when you leave a room or when you leave the house. Small things like this really can cut back a lot on your monthly energy bill!

Unplug “Vampire” Electronics

“Vampire” electronics are things that, even when turned off, use a small amount of energy when plugged in. By just remaining connected to the outlet, devices like fans, microwaves, gaming consoles, and other small appliances use energy when not in use. Get into the habit of unplugging these “vampire” electronics to save on your energy bill, including DVD players, entertainment systems, computers, TVs, stereos, kitchen appliances, and more. 

Seal Any Air Leaks

Air leaks can appear in your home around doors, windows, or any other opening to the outside. One way to check for an air leak around a door or window is to look for caulk that has been damaged or stripped by weather. Additionally, you can usually feel where air leaks are, especially in the more extreme seasons of the year when your home is a much different temperature to the outside. You should routinely (every couple of years) replace the caulk and weatherstripping on doors and windows to prevent air leaks. 

Be Mindful of Appliance Usage

There are many things that people may do out of habit regarding older appliances. But these same activities may waste energy with newer appliances.

An excellent example of this is pre-rinsing dishes. Many people grew up rinsing their dirty dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. But today, this is generally a waste of time and energy. Newer dishwashers work smarter, harder, and are more energy-efficient. There is no need to waste hot water preparing to load them. Just scrape and add your dirty dishes as is. 

Shop Around for Providers

You usually have more than one option for utility providers. If you can’t find them, you can always call your state utilities commission for a list of energy providers in your area. Once you have this list, you can search around, contact all the providers, and compare the prices for each. Just by making a few simple calls and comparing the costs of local energy providers, you can save hundreds of dollars a year.  

Run Appliances Late at Night

This tip might seem odd, but running your appliances late at night can save you quite a bit of money on your utility bill. That’s because many energy providers charge more for utilities during peak times when everyone is using their appliances. For example, during dinner time, energy costs are sometimes higher because everyone is using their stove, microwave, etc. 

So you should run your appliances late at night when you can, as it will help you save money. Before you go to bed, turn on your dishwasher, washing machine, etc., to save even more on your utilities.

Don’t Invest in Unlimited Data or Minutes

One way to save money on your phone bill is to not invest in unlimited data. While having unlimited data might seem tempting, it’s incredibly expensive, especially if you have multiple phones under your plan. Additionally, nearly every public place has free WiFi these days. So if you are conservative with your data usage, you probably won’t need a ton of data added to your phone plan. 

Closing Thoughts

Saving money on utilities is one of the most simple and straightforward ways to save money during the month. And, of course, this is only a partial list. There are many other ways to save money and reduce energy usage. Hopefully, implementing some of these tips will help! 

The post How to Save Money on Utilities appeared first on The Branded Daily Digest.

Below, we’ve crafted a list of 10 cheap or free summer activities that you can do with your kid or create for them to do while you’re away. If you need some fun new ideas for ways to entertain your kids during the summer, keep reading!

Backyard Obstacle Courses

This idea is especially great for those who might not have a park or playground nearby. Creating an obstacle course for your kids to go through is a great way to entertain them with only the things you have lying around your home. 

Using hula hoops, hoses, sticks, rocks, jump ropes, and other materials, you can create races and obstacle courses for your kids to jump and circuit through. If you agree to time your kids and make it a competition, backyard obstacle courses can entertain your kids for hours. And if you can’t be there, buy a cheap timer and let them challenge each other!

Backyard Water Park

One of the best ways to entertain your children, especially on sweltering days, is by making a backyard water park. If you have a tarp of any kind or a plastic slide, you have what you need to make this activity. 

Simply grab a tarp or slide, secure it safely (so nothing is poking out to scratch your kids), and then cover the slide with water from a hose and some dish soap! The dish soap will bubble up and allow your kids to enjoy a makeshift water slide. If your children are young, this activity could entertain them all afternoon. 

Backyard Camping

If you have a full-time job, you might not have time to take your kids on the road to go camping at a National Park or campsite. Therefore, if you want to camp outdoors as a family, you’ll need to get creative. 

If you have a tent, sleeping bags, or any other camping supplies, you can easily create a little “campsite” in the backyard and make some lasting memories together. This is a great activity for parents who work a lot and can usually only see their kids in the evenings. If you feel especially nostalgic, you can light up a bonfire and roast some marshmallows to make s’mores. 

Practice Cooking Skills

Practicing cooking skills with your children is one practically free way of letting them try a new, productive activity. So while you’re cooking dinner or prepping your lunch for the following day, let your kids help you by (safely) cutting up vegetables, pouring and measuring ingredients, or mixing things. 

Practicing these skills will not only help your child’s development, but it will also keep them entertained and make them feel as though they are chipping in. Who knows? Practicing these skills could even help your child identify a passion for culinary tasks. 

Related: Cheap Activities to do With Your Kids

Outdoor Chalk/Paint Party

This activity is great for families that might not have a lot of backyard space but have a wide sidewalk or safe, non-busy street. Having a sidewalk chalk party or sidewalk paint party can help your children feel more engaged in their neighborhood and community. 

Get some chalk or sidewalk paint and allow your kids to get wild and imaginative. This can help them harness their creative energy for something positive and non-permanent. As soon as it rains or you take a hose to the sidewalk, the art will disappear, and they can start over!

Decorate/Paint Rocks

Decorating and painting rocks is actually a widespread activity among adults and children. It’s become a trend for people to leave painted rocks with inspirational messages or images around their community to spread positivity. Teaching your children to spread these positive messages can help their development and make them feel more connected to their community. 

You’ll need to find some large rocks and gather some paint and paintbrushes. Then, after you’re finished with them, you can place them anywhere in the neighborhood. Put them on a park bench, on a table in the library, or on a shelf at your local grocery store for someone else to find and hide. 

Volunteer in Your Community

Volunteering in your community with your kids is a win-win situation and a perfect summer activity. The extra help will surely be needed and appreciated no matter where you volunteer. Additionally, your kids will learn the value of donating time to non-profit organizations and those less fortunate. Volunteering will give them perspective and boost their own sense of self-esteem.

They may balk at first. But whether you choose to volunteer at a soup kitchen, a community garden, or any other organization, your kids will feel great after helping their community. 

DIY Scavenger Hunt

Creating a scavenger hunt for your kids can be as intensive or easy as you want it to be. If you only need to occupy your kids for a little while, try hiding their favorite items around the house and giving them clues to make them search for them. 

If you have a bit more time, try leaving clues around your house and outside, or make a list of random things for your kids to find. Your children will likely find themselves competing with each other and thinking up new scavenger hunts to keep the game going. 

See Also: How to Stay Productive When Working From Home with Kids

Host a Toy Swap

Hosting a toy swap is a great way to set your kids up to be entertained with some new toys without spending any money! Put up posters around your neighborhood or text other parent friends and ask people to bring lightly used, functional toys for a “toy swap,” which will operate as a garage sale without money.

Have your kids swap toys with other neighborhood kids, and everyone will go home with something new! This idea is also a great way to teach your kids to go through their own items and decide which things they can part with and which they want to keep. 

Tour Your Town

This idea is especially good for those who have moved recently or are exploring a new area. Taking your kids on a “tour” of your town is entirely free and can give them some more perspective on where they live and give them some geographical orientation. 

Additionally, you and your kids might find new places around town you want to explore together! Drive around to visit all the parks, schools, churches, or stores in the area to truly get a sense of what exists around you. Your kids will thank you!

Related: How To Make Money Online and Travel the World

Keeping Kids Occupied Over Vacation

Keeping kids, especially young kids, busy during the summer vacation can certainly be a challenge. Summer is long, and many kids become bored quickly in an unstructured environment without their peers. But with this list of 10 different activity ideas, you can keep your kids entertained during even the most boring days of summer vacation. By using some of these fun, cheap, or free activities, your kids will be back in the classroom in no time with some incredible summer vacation memories. 

The post The Best Cheap Summer Vacation Activities for Kids appeared first on The Branded Daily Digest.

Not only does a little extra cash free up your bank account to enjoy the little things in life but you can enjoy going out for lunch instead of bringing it from home, catching the hottest new movie on a Tuesday night, staying out on Friday to grab drinks with your friends, or even filling up your gas tank without dipping into your paycheck.

But finding ways to get extra cash without working yourself half to death is the tricky part. What if there was a legit way to make money online? In reality, there is. With Branded Surveys, the aim is to make enjoying life a little bit easier, by offering you a way to make money without the hassle and using something you already have: your opinion.

Make Money Online With Branded Surveys

Major brands and companies are desperate for feedback on new and existing products, and they want to hear from you directly. But collecting the opinions of countless customers can be a time-consuming and laborious process. To make this process easier, surveys are created for brands and companies to pinpoint the most important information relevant to their industries and products.

Branded Surveys connects you to these surveys, and we have more rolling out every day. Each time you complete one of these surveys, Branded Surveys will pay you, because your time and opinion are valuable, and should be treated as such. Just let that sink in: you get paid to complete surveys as a real way to make money online. Seem too simple? Hear it from the source!

How To Earn Money From Online Surveys

Each survey generally takes 15 minutes to complete and earns you 50 – 200 points per survey. Once you reach 1000 points, you can hit the “Redeem Now” button and earn gift cards (from a number of different vendors) or everyone’s favorite option, directly in dollars. Most people earn an additional $10 – $20 a month, sometimes every other week! It all depends on you. The more surveys for cash you take, the faster you can potentially earn money from home, and the more you get paid for your opinion.

It’s easy to get started. Head over to Branded Surveys, enter some basic information about yourself, and you’re all set to jump in! Once you’ve taken a couple of surveys, you can refer Branded Surveys to your friends for additional points. With new surveys rolling out every day straight into your inbox, you’ll start making Branded Surveys work for you in no time.

The post Can You Make Money & Get Paid By Taking Online Surveys? appeared first on The Branded Daily Digest.

Here are 21 DIY life hacks that will change your world.

Freeze grapes to chill your wine.

Use grapes to get your Chardonnay cold; they won’t water it down like ice would.

Put a Parmesan cheese lid on a mason jar.

Fill a mason jar with items you’d like to “shake out” (like spices, seasonings, home shredded cheese, etc.). Then, add a Parmesan cheese lid and get ready to shake. 

Get your glass squeaky clean.

Turns out dryer sheets aren’t just for clothes; you can use them to remove unpleasant buildup from glasses.

Use hooks as hat holders.

I love baseball caps and used to simply throw them in the closet. Here’s a way better technique: Buy some inexpensive, stick-on plastic hooks from your local hardware store (or Target) and mount them on the wall. Then, hang your hats. Not only does it make them more accessible, it makes for some cool wall decor.

Make the perfect toasted sandwich.

One of my favorite DIY life hacks: Slide 2 pieces of bread into one toaster slot. The result? Bread that’s toasty on one side and satisfyingly soft on the other. Perfect for a savory BLT.

Keep apple slices fresh.

Here’s a great DIY life hack for having apple slices don’t turn brown.

Cut an apple into slices. Then, push the pieces back up into the full, original apple shape and rubber band the parts together. When ready to eat? Remove rubber band, and your apple will fall apart into fresh slices!

Hate crumbly cereal?

Use a colander to drain out those pesky cereal crumbs left at the end of the cereal box. Gross cereal, be gone thanks to this DIY life hack.

Easiest way to clean your microwave.

My microwave gets mighty filthy from daily use (namely making microwave popcorn and reheating of leftovers). Here’s a super-easy way to clean it: Mix a cup of water with a tablespoon of vinegar. Put in a microwave-safe bowl and then microwave it for 5 minutes.

Your mind will be blown.

Use a coffee filter as a snack holder.

On the go and looking for a DIY way to hold that breakfast sandwich? Throw it in a coffee filter; it’s like you just hit the local bakery. You can also use coffee filters as snack holders at parties; put out bowls of pretzels and popcorn, then put a stack of coffee filters next to them. Cheap, yet hip.

Put a blue ink cartridge in a red pen.

This may sound silly, but think about it…when have you ever had one of your red pens stolen? People always take the blue and black ones. Switch cartridges to stop pen theft. 

Use spaghetti to light hard to reach candle wicks.

Use this trick, and never be burned again. 

CD Case → Bagel container.

Use a CD case (the type that holds 50 or 100 you burn yourself) as a to-go container for a nice, fresh bagel. Warning: Once I learned this, my bagel sandwich intake increased drastically. Just be sure to wash out the plastic first before using it as a bagel sandwich holder.

Heat up lunchtime food evenly all over.

Here’s the DIY hack/trick: Leave a space in the middle of your plate, and put your leftovers in a circle around the middle. I was dubious at first, but after preparing my dinner of spaghetti bolognese with this life hack, I’m never going back.

Use a sunglasses case to store wires.

On the go and have all types of chords? Earphones. Phone chargers. Just stick them in a sunglasses case.

Enjoy Nature Valley Bars Without Crumbs. 

Love Nature Valley bars? Me too…they’re just annoyingly crumbly. Microwave them for 30 seconds and they’ll crumb no more.

The magic of Nutella lids.

Nutella Lids are the perfect size for tin cans, so keep them and use them to store leftover canned goods. (Plus, it’s another excuse to buy more Nutella.)

For an ice-cold drink.

Just arrived home with a Coke and am ready to quench my thirst when I realize something sad…the bottle’s room temperature. No problem, I’ll just wrap a wet paper towel around the beverage and put it in the freezer. It will be ice cold in about 15 minutes.

Hide emergency money in Chapstick.

Get a chapstick container, take out the lip-softening inside and put in your rolled money.

Another way to hide valuable items (at the beach).

Bring a diaper to the beach. Wrap your valuables (cellphone, wallet, keys) inside to make it look used. Now, you can hit the waves without any worry of someone stealing your goods. Odd? Yes, but also highly effective. Nobody is going around looking to steal dirty diapers. This is one of our favorite DIY life hacks!

Forgot to include something in your envelope?

If you’ve already sealed an envelope, I recently learned an ingenious solution: put it in the fridge. After an hour, it’ll be easy to peel back open. 

If you are interested in earning money online for taking online surveys, visit our site and get started today. Read how taking paid surveys works, or if you prefer, get started immediately. It’s free to sign up! Once you have earned enough points you can cash out and earn gift cards or cash.

The post 20 DIY Life Hacks That’ll Blow Your Mind appeared first on The Branded Daily Digest.

Use a Planner.

In school, we used planners to keep track of important homework assignments and exams. Why shouldn’t we continue the practice now?

Consistently using a planner keeps appointments top of mind and ensures important to dos are off the back burner.
Here are a few tricks to picking the right planner.

1. Pick one you GENUINELY like.
You need to want to use this planner on a daily basis, so select one that aesthetically pleases you.

2. Be smart about size.
If you carry a small backpack or satchel to work, you won’t want to lug around a massive planner.

3. Evaluate how much room you need per day.
Need very little in order to remind yourself? If so, a weekly one should do just fine. Or are you like me, someone who fills in all the relevant details? You’ll need a daily one.

Budgeting Tip: Order one from Amazon. Planners there will often be far cheaper than in-person stores.

Get Intentional: Track Your Time Online.

Many times I’ve gone online with productive intentions of banking or checking work emails. But later, I realize I’ve been on Facebook and Tumblr for 2 hours.

In this world of Youtube watching and Wikipedia surfing, it’s so easy to get distracted. The Solution: Use online tracking tools to evaluate how and where you’re spending your time online. My top recommends are:

Rescue Time:
This is a desktop application that can be used with Windows, Mac, and Linux. It tracks your activities on both applications and websites. The best part? You can set up alerts for the number of hours you want to spend on a certain website per day.
For example, I love reading articles on sites like Mashable…a little too much some days. I’ve instructed Rescue Time to send me an e-mail when I’ve spent forty-five minutes on Mashable. That’s my cue to shut down that window and get on with real work.

Online Stopwatch:
This is a simple tool that can be used in many ways. Set a timer for when you log onto your email to make sure you don’t get lost in your inbox or set one for monitoring your work productivity. For example, I set an Online Stopwatch for writing this very blog post.

Set Aside Sunday Evenings for Evaluating the Week to Come.

Sunday evening, it’s tempting to sit on the sofa and stream Netflix but, trust me, taking some time to prep for the week to come will make a world of difference.

Consult your planner (which you’re now using from Tip #1). Go over your entire week. When you consciously remember there’s a potluck at work Friday, you won’t be stressing out the morning of that you forgot. That hummus and veggie platter will already be in your fridge.

Get on the Bandwagon: Meal Prep.

After a long day of work or errands, coming home to cook can be daunting. I used to avoid it altogether by ordering delivery or throwing a frozen pizza in the oven. (Not so healthy, my friends.)

I got on the meal prep bandwagon and will never go back. When I open my fridge and have onions pre-chopped, mushrooms pre-washed, cheese pre-shredded and salsa pre-made, it makes whipping up a Spanish omelette a quick fix meal instead of a trial.

Tip: Do meal prep on Sundays at the same time you evaluate your schedule.

Stop the Search for Passwords.

Across our lifetime, how many hours have we spent trying to remember lost usernames and passwords? End the search and rescue with one of two options:

1. Create a private spreadsheet for storing this information.
Each time you create a new profile or set up a new account on Twitter, enter the username and password into this spreadsheet. If you don’t feel comfortable putting the exact password for privacy reasons, no worries. Just write in a statement or question that’s sure to trigger your memory.

OR

2. Utilize a tool.

Use a tool that specifies in password management like Roboform, a tool that remembers your passwords so you don’t have to.


Trust me, such methods have saved me a freakish amount of hours.

Take Paid Online Surveys

Instead of mindlessly scrolling through newsfeed or Youtube, why not make some money? You can get paid to take surveys from home. It’s a super easy way to be productive with your time.

The post 5 Tips to Increase Your Productivity and Efficiency appeared first on The Branded Daily Digest.

I used to feel this way. With so many programs available, I’d get overloaded and sign up for almost no rewards programs. That was a mistake.

If you know which rewards programs to use and how to most maximize them, free customers reward programs can offer you many benefits and savings. If you want to earn more rewards, get paid to do surveys to earn cash and gift cards to your favorite retailers.

Shop with SavingStar

I’ve become a true enthusiast for this SavingStar’s program: Cash Back Shopping Mall, a mall that actually gives money back.

Here, members get money back on purchases at over 800 online stores. How?

With Double Cash Back Every Day, customers get 100% of the commission back from select stores. Here are some example savings:

• 10% cashback on local Groupon deals
• 6% back from Lands’ End
• 7% back on Hotels.com (This especially prime for avid travelers.)

There are even more possibilities with their credit card, SavingStar American Express card, which you can learn more about at the SavingStar website.

Use Credit Cards that Cash Back

David Bakke, a consumer expert at Money Crashers, gave me top tips from his experience. He suggests using Discover Cards because they come with cashback rewards. Yes, that’s money back for spending.

You get money back based on a set of rotating categories. Each quarter of the year, Discover selects a different category of business and establishment to receive 5% money back each purchase. Examples of categories you can earn cashback on include:

• Dining (restaurants, cafes)
• Movies
• Gas
• Online Shopping

The best way to save the most money and maximize rewards is to match more purchases with the current category receiving rewards.

During the quarter of the year restaurants receive rewards? Eat out and then grab snacks for a movie at home. During the movies’ quarter? Whip up dinner at home and then spend the evening out at the local cinema.

Learn more about Discover cards and their cash and benefits from this Money Crasher Discover Card article.

Tracks Credit Card Cash Back Programs

Bakke, our Money Crashers expert, understands keeping track of these types of programs and rotating quarters can be overwhelming.

Well, not with this app. Download Wallaby on your smartphone, and it’ll do all of the work tracking credit cards and rewards for you.

Sign up for Staples Rewards

If you purchase office supplies regularly, why not save money on them? The office supply and electronics retailer, Staples, offers a valuable Staples rewards program. Here are the perks to look forward to:

• Receiving 2% – 5% on all purchases
• Earning 5% back after spending at least $1,000 in a one year period
• (My favorite perk:) Rewards members get free shipping on all purchases. Shipping and handling can add up to a fair chunk of change, so this is no small benefit.

Check out Kroger Rewards

The national chain Kroger offers the Kroger rewards program to save customers gas money. Here’s how it works:

• Sign up and earn one point for each dollar spent. Two points for dollars spent on gift cards. (Know you’re going to Starbucks anyway? Get a Starbucks gift card and let it get you points for gas.)
• When you’ve accrued 100 points, on up to 35 gallons, you get 10 cents off per gallon (only the Kroger Fuel Center).

At the end of each month following purchases, points DO expire, so here are tips to maximize:

• You can only redeem 100 points per transaction.
• So, if you have 394 points, purchase something for $6 (like a new DVD or 2 tubs of your favorite ice cream!) That way you have a solid 400 and can get 40 cents off per gallon rather than just 30 cents that 394 would’ve gotten.

Don’t Want the Newsletters? Make Up an Alternative Email.

The main reason I used to dislike signing up for free rewards programs was the fear of emails. I have a full inbox as it is, but, here’s a simple trick to hack that.

• Make up an alternative e-mail address. You can call it [email protected] or any other name you like.
• When you next sign up for store rewards, input this email address.

With this method, you can utilize your card at a national grocery without getting multiple emails a week on the newest deals you may not have time to look at. When you do want to see the deals going on, simply log into that specific email.

The post 5 Customer Reward Programs to Help You Save Money appeared first on The Branded Daily Digest.

Cut TV time by half.

According to the NY Daily News, Nielsen reports that the average American is watching 5 hours of television a day. I challenge you to do what I have myself: Cut down on that number by half, at least. Why?

1. The more TV you watch, the more commercials you see.

   Advertisements expose you to products and services you then want to buy. The fewer commercials you watch, the less you’re exposed to want and purchase.

2. TV = Energy costs.

   Powering your television requires electricity, which costs money. You’d be surprised how much a little energy conservation can help you in saving thousands of dollars a year.

Try this: Turn off the TV for several extra hours each week and crack open a book or bring out a family board game instead.

(There are many other benefits, as well. I’ve discovered that reading before bed gives my eyes a rest from bright screens, which helps me relax and fall asleep better.)

Quit the bookstore.

Perusing Barnes and Noble is fun but dangerous. With new books costing upwards of $18 to $30, buying even a few adds up to over $60 real fast. Instead of walking into temptation, hit the local library. Libraries provide vast amounts of books, CDs, audiobooks, DVDs and more for FREE. With so many options, you’re sure to find great material…without the credit card bill after.

If you’d rather own the book, check out second-hand shops and Goodwills first. I’m often shocked at the level of selection and incredibly low prices.

Switch to LED Bulbs.

Using energy-efficient bulbs is not only eco-friendly, it’s bank account friendly. The less energy a light bulb takes, the less money it costs to keep it lit.

Newer LED bulbs are more expensive initially, typically $5 to $9 dollars more than old-school CFLs, but save you money in the long run. Check out the data. LEDs:

• Are good for 25,000 hours vs. the older CFL bulbs at 4,000 – 6,000 hours (meaning you have to purchase and replace 5 CFL bulbs across the lifespan of just one LED).
• Essentially last 25 years.
• They are healthier because they don’t contain mercury, while CFL bulbs often do.

Limit your Redbox Renting & DVD Buying.

Redbox appears cheap. At $1.50 a day for DVDs and $2 a day for Blu-Ray, it doesn’t sound like much, right? But the cost sneaks up. With so much on our plates, it’s easy to let several days pass before realizing The Lion King is still sitting in our DVD player.

If you rent Blu-Ray, typically return within 3 days and rent once a month:

$2 a day x 3 days = $6

$6 fee x 12 times per year = $72 a year on Redbox fees

As with the bookstore, check your local library for movies first and save that money.DVDs are wicked expensive. Plus, with so many streaming options, they’re easy to do without. Currently, subscribed to Netflix? Find a flick on there. Always make the most out of what you’re already paying for.

Learn the top grocery store hacks.

Grocery stores have been designed to trap you into spending your money. Here are 3 basic tips to hang onto yours:

1. Always buy “off brands”.

   Safeway oats instead of Quaker. Kroger peanut butter instead of Skippy. According to Business Insider, the store brand grocery products are approximately 25% less expensive than the national brands. For example:

   Name Brand Products: $275 per month x 12 months per year = $3,300 a year
   Grocery Store Brands: (25% off Name Brand Price) $206.25 a month x 12 = $2,475 a year
   
   Savings per year: $825

   Wow. Save nearly $1,000 a year right there.

2. Make a shopping list.

   When I sit down and make a grocery list, even just for 5 minutes, it makes me enter the grocery store with a purpose. As long as I stick to my list, I come out with groceries I truly need…instead of a freakish amount of sugar-coated cereals and circus cracker cookies.

3. Grocery Shop on Wednesdays.

   Most grocery stores double up deals on Wednesdays, offering sale prices from the week before and the week to come.

Learn more tricks for saving major dollars here and make more to save more money by taking high paying surveys online. Paid surveys are an easy way to make extra money. Sign up with Branded Surveys today!

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Foap App – Cash for Your Custom Photography

I love capturing images around my neighborhood, whether that’s a summer sunset or a cup of coffee from my favorite cafe. Why not earn money for these images? You can, with the app Foap. Foap is a site that enables anyone with a smartphone to upload photos and potentially make money from them. Large companies like MasterCard, Volvo, Malibu, and Garnier are the types of companies that will work with you and purchase one of your photos online, through this app. The Foap app works by empowering the user to sell their photography for another company to buy, then use.

Here’s how Foap works:

1. 1. Download the app for free.
   2. Upload photos.

1. Make $5 for every photo sold.
2. Sell that photo as many times as you want; there’s no limit.

Receipt Hog – Earn Cash for Your Receipts

Imagine this: You’re at the grocery store getting ingredients for your favorite meal, and you’ve just paid at the register and, upon getting your receipt, the cashier hands you more money. Receipt Hog essentially does just that –  research companies want to see what items customers are purchasing and willing to pay for such information. So, through this app, you can earn cash, gift cards, or Amazon cards by shopping and taking a photo of your receipt.

All you have to do for Receipt Hog is:

1. Take a photograph of your receipt.
2. The app processes the image.
3. You receive coins for each transaction.
4. With enough coins, you get to cash out with real money (or gift cards)

Fieldagent – Make Money through Photos and Surveys

Take on money-making missions with the Fieldagent app, where you’re paid money for doing simple tasks (such as taking photos of products, doing price-checks of products, secret shopping, and/or doing customer surveys), that actually add up to a good amount of money over time. An average job pays between $3 and $12 according to the website.

One user, Marc Baskin, told me he made $180 in just a few months using this app. His tasks? Being a secret shopper at places he already shopped at. He “just took a few pictures of product placement in stores and answered a few questions. Really cool and easy app to use.”

Marc mostly took tasks at national chains in his suburban neighborhood but saw even bigger opportunities with metropolitan areas like NYC. “There was once an audit of bars in NYC that paid something like $7 – $10 each bar and there were over 800 bars…” That’s potential for literally $1,000s of dollars for places that a person would normally visit while out socializing with friends.

Here’s how the Fieldagent app works:

1. Download the app.
2. Find a task, aka a job listing, near you.
3. Once accepted, you have 2 hours to complete it.
4. Get paid upon finishing assignments.

These responses offer real-time insights to companies and, in exchange, extra cash for you.

GigWalk – Earn Extra Cash Through Secret Shopping

Similar to Fieldagent, GigWalk pays users for completing tasks, such as secret shopping to review product placement, verifying product costs, and retail branding. Core GigWalk jobs include mystery shopping, retail and merchandising verification, taking pictures of products within their display cases, reviewing delivery services, and even testing out mobile apps.

GigWalk offers really easy local tasks, such as:

• Writing a review (like Yelp, only getting paid)
• Taking a picture of a menu at a nearby restaurant
• Verifying hours a business is open

This isn’t exactly chump change, tasks can pay anywhere from $2 to $90.

One Catch: It’s only in larger cities right now, such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, but it’s steadily growing.

Findyr – Task-Based Work in the US

Unlike GigWalk, which is only in a few metropolitan areas, Findyr is a task-based app that’s all over the country. On average, an assignment on Findyr pays $7.50 per assignment. However, some companies will give bonuses as big as $50 for tasks – that’s a nice steak dinner right there.

Findyr app users are paid to:

• Take a photo of a supermarket product
• Capture a video of a newsworthy event
• Answer fast opinion surveys
• Take part in contests and more

VP of Marketing, Vik Panda, tells me he sees people on Findyr gain more than just money. Users discover new experiences and develop new skills, such as “regular people (who) hone journalistic skills when covering newsworthy events around them.”

It also heightens city pride and knowledge. Panda says that “so many of us take for granted what is right near us, but with a little cash incentive, people now want to tell the world about everything cool their city has to offer.”

App Trailers

Do you enjoy previews? I know most people go to the movies for the feature film, but I secretly get a thrill watching the previews beforehand. There’s something kind of exciting about getting an exclusive sneak peek.

With App Trailers, you actually get paid to watch trailers of new hot apps. Simply sign up, watch videos and start earning points that translate to PayPal money.

Incorporate these daily tasks and apps into your everyday life, and you may be surprised at how much extra money you have within just a few months.

If you prefer to make money on your computer, consider taking surveys for money. This an easy way to make money online, it’s also one of the most popular ways to make money. The best thing is you can take paid surveys anytime and anywhere you want. Then, one you have enough points you can cash out for cash or gift cards.

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