Cash Back Bonus

Try to maximize on your CashBack Bonus by using Cash Back aggregators, which collect percent back from many reward sites and put it all on one page. Customers can earn cash rebates on online purchases that they make by clicking on links for a merchant from the particular site.

www.evreward.com
www.cashbackchart.com
www.rewardsdb.com

evreward.com has a good search tool (you don't have type the merchant name perfectly). It also has current coupon codes listed. It doesn't have all Sign-on bonuses listed. I like this the best.

rewardsdb.com isn't accurate (so check the actual site before making a purchase) It also reviews and New memeber bonuses (no accurate iether) listed on the site

cashbackchart.com is big chart. It's great way to get quick information.

Various Cash Back Site that have sign-on bonuses:
Mr. Rebates - Gives a $7.50 signing bonus. You can request check at $10 (minimum).

Ebates - Gives a $5.00 bonus. Cashout at $5.01.

Cashbaq - Gives a $5.00 bonus. You can request check at $10 (minimum).

SendEarnings: Not recommended, since Cashout is at $30. Check out the Review

Marketing 2.0: HouseParty v. BzzAgent

I love the concept of marketing. I think it's a very essential part of your daily existence. We do this ourselves through Resume writing and by joining social networking websites such as Facebook, Orkut, etc. It's no wonder that companies of all sizes have been putting a lot of money into research, strategy and to the actual practice of marketing. Recently there have been two companies that I've been working with HouseParty and BzzAgent. Both of them allow users to market products to people in their own circles.

HouseParty is marketing through events. They have a bunch of events that the user applies for. If the application is accepted, they host a party, invite a bunch of friends (10+), take pictures. The party is paid for by the user themselves and
They get a kit that has napkins, cups, t-shirt, buttons and various gift bags for the attendees. The kit varies from event to to event. After applying to at least 15+ events, I got accepted to the Carnival Cruise Line. Mostly because the Carnival Cruise people were marketing quite heavily in the Baltimore - Washington DC area.
How was the party? Somewhat lame. I paid for the entire party, the gift bags were lame, they gave me a t-shirt and didn't ask me my size (so I'll never be wearing it), the activities were boring. It could have been so much better. Recently there was a South Beach Living House Party event that I had signed up for, and of course got rejected. A couple of days after the official party I got an email asking me to invite guests to the AfterParty. After emailing HouseParty, I was informed that AfterParty was a more informal way of marketing where there was no party package. Basically everyone that was filled out an application to the South Beach HouseParty were asked to invite guest to the AfterParty whether they wanted to or not. Why? Because it was free marketing for them. It was utterly lame like being invited to a Bridal Shower when you aren't invited to the wedding. I don't like to repeat adjectives or words in my blog but this post has forced me -- I find this company to be Lame. I will update this blog if anything changes my opinion of them. They lack tools and they don't inform the user. It's all about the company that pays the bills. Basically I'm selling my word, my integrity (with my group of friends) and that comes with a price, at least some free stuff.

Hippopost

It amazes me things that started off as Facebook applications and made it off on their own. For example, the social lending site, Prosper.com used to be a Facebook application. Another example of this is Hippopost. And I love it and this blog fully endorses it. It lets users sending out free Postcards by USPS mail to anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.

Create a login, attach a picture, write a message, type a address and send it. You can also preview before you send it. Get Started with Hippopost. I used it after our Family Reunion to send out cards to family members that attended using a group picture we had taken together -- as memorabilia.

They will put an ad from one of their many advertisers on the back and let the receiver know it was sent through Facebook for free. They used to give 3 free a day, but now they are giving 10 a day.

Provident Checking Account - $123 Bonus

I'm looking for new ways to earn extra money. I thought about opening a CD at the bank but there weren't any good rates (that I liked).

Provident Bank has new promotion for new customers that open a new Totally Free, Regular, Interest OR Platinum checking account between Feb 2nd and March 31st, 2009.
It requires Direct Deposit and an active Provident MasterMoney debit card by April 30th 2009. Minimums and Interest depends on the type of checking account you open, so check the website. Some of the checking accounts have fees.

The Bonus is $123. Of course bonus will be reported to the IRS as interest. PB says this will be awarded on about May 31, 2009.

Promotion page: https://www.provbank.com/personal/checking/promotions/123-checking-promotion.php

Having opened bank accounts for bank bonuses, here are my suggestions:
1) Only open money in a bank if they are in your state or close enough. In case you need to go there to resolve something.
Provident Bank is located in DC, MD, PA, VA and WV.

2) Plan on keeping your money in the bank for at least 6 months.

3) Be sure the Bank is FDIC Insured, which Provident Bank is.

4) Keep a copy of the promotion page. Save as PDF and store in your email.
This will help you, if you don't get the bonus and need to have proof when speaking to Customer Service.

Free Yo-plus

The makers of Yoplait are challenging you to try Yo-Plus. But, if you don't they'll simply refund your money — guaranteed! Download the Love it or it's Free reimbursement form.

1 container has approx. 110 calories, 1.5g fat, 3g fiber, 4g protein

Plus, don't forget the coupon: $1.50 on a 4 pack

Swadhyaya: The Anti-Krishna

One day at home, I was looking at the Diwali 2008 booklet put together by the Association of United Hindu-Jain Temples, which comprises of 14+ organizations in the Washington DC area. One name was conspicuously missing - The Swadhyay Parivar. Why didn't it participate? Do they not celebrate Diwali? Of course they do? After it's leader received countless awards received from world-wide organizations ranging from Padma Vibhushan to the Templeton Prize, why was the organization so "small-potatoes". Swadhyaya founded by Pandurang Shastri Vaijnath Athavale AKA Dadaji in the 1950s.

In the DC area, for over 20 years they have been renting schools cafeterias/classrooms to conduct their teachings. Why haven't they established their own building? One could argue they are saving money to do good elsewhere?

One could argue, but one could also state the facts as they are.

Deskercise - Burn Extra Calories at Work

I sit at the computer all day at work. It’s not exactly good for the body. So I put together a list of different stretches and exercises that can improve your posture and burn some calories at the same time. Before doing these exercises, make sure your chair is stable.

You should also consider using an exercise/stability ball type chair – you’ll be engaging your core as you sit up straight, and it will help you to burn calories by just sitting still – which is called “active sitting”. Not a guaranteed way to lose weight all by itself, since it doesn’t burn that many calories, but it is yet another way that lifestyle changes can help you increase the chances for success.

Try to get up every 30 – 40 minutes and step away from the desk and take a walk to other offices or cafeteria/kitchen area.

Sitting up straight and practicing good posture will increase your calorie burning rather than leaning back against the chair or slouching.

Stretching

Sitting straight in the chair, stretch both arms over your head and reach for the sky. After 10 seconds, extend the right hand higher, then the left.

Legs/Thighs

Sitting straight at the edge of the chair, lift one leg off the seat, extend it out straight, hold for few seconds; then lower your foot (stop short of the floor) and hold for several seconds. Switch; do each leg 15 times.

While sitting, lift up your legs on your toes and set them down. Repeat these until your legs are comfortably tired. Then repeat it again about 10 minutes later. Do this whole routine for about an hour or so. This will exercise your calves. For more of a burn, place your some weight on your knees (i.e. books, notebook, laptop).

Lean forward as though you're going to get out of your seat. When your rear end is barely off the seat, hold that position. See how long you can hold it, using only your arms for balance.

Strengthen your inner thighs. Place a hand glove, water bottle or small object between your feet. Try to lift the item off the ground and squeeze your legs together at the same time. You can also place the blanket, pillow or other soft object between your knees and squeeze.

“Doin’ the Butt”

Butt clenches are also helpful in preventing the booty spread. Tighten your buttocks, hold, hold, hold, and then relax. Repeat 15 times.

Abs – Suck it in

Suck in your gut. Tighten your tummy muscles and hold for as long as possible and release. It is important to inhale as much as air as possible and exhale till your belly is big. Exhaling works the Abs as well as inhaling. Repeat throughout the day.

Arms/Legs Aerobics

While seated, pump both arms over your head for 30 seconds, and then rapidly tap your feet on the floor, football-drill style, for 30 seconds. Repeat 3-5 times.

Plan a routine for the day, which hour you plan to do which exercise. Remember to drink water throughout the day and get up off that chair every so often.