Start Sampling

A rewards points and free samples site all in one?!? Can it really be? Yes, Start Sampling is the best of both worlds, allowing you to get free samples and earn points towards reward items (Amazon.com gift certificate, Restaurant.com gift certificate, etc) for visiting the site and taking surveys.  I've received many a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate from them and I'm now working on an Amazon.com gift certificate. You also get points for referrals, but they only allow you to have 10 referrals, so I'm not gaining anything from you clicking on my link (except passing this amazing site onto you).

Row Nine

Row Nine (<-- private referral link) is a site exactly like Rue La La.  May as well join to have maximum selection of amazing brand name deals.

Rue La La

Rue La La (<-- it's a private, referral only site, so join through my link) is a great site. They host many "boutiques" each week of top name brands (think Theory, Tumbuk2, Sorel, Illy, Guess, Reebok, Calvin Klein, etc.).  I've bought a few items from them at majorly reduced prices (usually at least 50% off). You have to be quick, though, because their items sell out fast (that's because the deals are so awesome). 

LivingSocial

LivingSocial (<-- click for a $5 referral bonus!) is yet another site like Groupon. Daily deals in your area for at least 50% off (are you tired of me writing this yet?).  Hey, at least it gives you a heck of a deal selection every day.  I've purchased deals from this site for luxury escapes, restaurants and massages.  Click my link above for a special $5 bonus to get you started. That can take care of half the cost of some deals!

InboxDollars

I just requested my check for $42 from InboxDollars (<-- click my link for a $5 sign up bonus. You're welcome) the other day. This site pays you to read emails, search the web, take surveys, and shop through their site. Much like Mypoints actually.  This one also pays you to do various "cash tasks" that can entail things like Google-ing for some random restaurants across the country to find their websites for some database. Grunt work, but hey, it pays! 

Free iPods!!

Really. No joke. No spam. No virus. Honest.  Sign up here or here [both sites have great prizes. When you've earned one from the first site, sign up for the second one].  Then complete one of their offers (there are many that are free or ones that you sign up for, then cancel after a month with no charge to you. I'd recommend a free credit report, Stamps.com or Gamefly).  Then get 5 friends to do the same.  Bam - you got a free ipod. This works because this company makes money every time someone completes an offer.  Try it - you have nothing to lose (but a free ipod if you don't).  I need 2 more people to get mine.  They even have the latest models available. Don't want an ipod? You can get $350 to use at apple.com.  You choose your prize.

Walmart

You can always count on Walmart (<-- direct link) to have free samples, and they're pretty good ones too. They ship pretty quickly and they're usually of a decent size.  Check the site often, as they are always getting in new samples.

Groupon

If you haven't heard about Groupon (<---link) yet, you probably live under a rock (or in a city they don't cover yet, like Helena, Montana (sorry, no deals for you!).  This site is free to join and if you request it, they will email you a deal in your city each day.  The deals are usually at least 50% off original prices.  There have been deals on restaurants, bars, salons, vacations, retail stores, spas (I love the massage deals), gyms, yoga studios, events (like a dessertfest, truffle making workshop or ladies' night out) and more.  I've saved lots of $$ buying Groupons (is that in the dictionary yet? If not, it should be) for things I do and places I eat anyway (and for ones I'd like to try).  You've got nothing to lose if you sign up for Groupon!

MyPoints

MyPoints (<--- click on this link for 100 bonus points) is one of the first sites I joined back in '95.  Yes, I've been an active member for 17 years. Wow, that makes me sound old. You earn points on this site for doing lots of stuff, including:  reading emails, clicking on links, searching the web, rating websites, playing games, shopping (say, if you normally shop at Bestbuy.com or want to rent a car through Avis.com or even book a flight through United.com or use any of their other 100s of merchants, you can earn lots of points for those purchases).  They also have printable grocery coupons!
    In my 15 years, I've earned 48,635 points. The very first prize I earned was a $50 gift certificate to Tower Records (man, do I really, really feel old now).  I think I then went on to purchase my very first CD with that gift certificate (I think it was Ugly Kid Joe. I liked their "Cats in the Cradle" cover).  Given how expensive CDs were back then, I probably only had about $20 left on that thing afterwards, but it was totally worth it!!
    Since then, I've earned countless gift certificates (which means over $500 worth) to Amazon.com, iTunes and other merchants I am too drunk to remember right now. Either way, click on my link to MyPoints. It's worth your time.

Introduction

    Hi. I'm JMW (those of you accessing this through my Facebook page, I know my identity is no mystery to you). I'm unemployed. I've been this way since September 1st, 2010. Finding a job has been much more difficult that I thought. Not that I had a choice; I was laid off (essentially a corporate takeover).  After about 2 months of applying for about a hundred jobs and getting rejected or not even acknowledged (I have an undergrad degree from an Ivy League school and a graduate degree from a top tier school in Boston - WTF?), I figure I'll put my energies into writing a blog about it and the things I've been doing to make money. I may as well help others who are unemployed (currently 9.6% of Americans) and those that are employed who want to earn a little extra cash, get some great things for free and find some awesome deals. That's something I've always been good at (well, ever since the internet came to my house in 1995 - good old AOL with my 14.4K modem).  I've been earning free stuff since I was 13 years old.  You can too with a little time and effort. 

UPDATE: As of December 6th, I'm no longer unemployed!  I will keep up with this blog but I may be a little slower on updating.