Category: Money

Now that you’re getting more cash flowing into your pockets, how can you keep it there?

Here’s what your Captain has to say:

Use a budget and stick to it. Any clue how much you really spend? Write it down. Carry a notebook and record all of your spending. Go through it at the end of the week. What is necessary and what can be eliminated?
Be frugal. Do you really need that Triple Grande Caramel Mint Frappuccino with skim milk on the side? Is it necessary to get through the day? Maybe you could cut down to twice a week and make your own at home on that fancy coffee maker you splurged on but never use.

Use coupons. They’re not just for PTA and soccer moms. Clip those coupons and shop smart. Check the sales circulars and compare prices between your local stores. Couponing is sexy, Captain PC says so.
Take a look at the credit cards you have and what the interest is on each one. Pay them off. And if you must have a credit card – keep the one with the rewards points, if you use it, pay off that charge right away.
Do one of those 52-week money challenges or the $5 challenge. The $5 challenge is really simple; every $5 bill that you physically get should be tucked away into an envelope and that should be hidden out of sight, out of mind. The 52-week money challenge is a little tougher. You need to save a specific amount of money each week. Traditionally you start by saving $1 the first week, $2 the second week and so on. By the end of the challenge, you will have saved $1,378. You can also switch this to the 26-week money challenge if you get paid biweekly. It might also be helpful to start the challenge with the largest amount and then work your way down to the smaller amounts. The real trick is to separate this saved money from the rest of your money and then pretend that it doesn’t exist. You can’t touch it, not for any reason, no matter what.

Make it a game. See how much of your paycheck you can keep by the time you get paid again.
Eat in. Cook your food, avoid take out. Not only is this cheaper, but it can also be healthier. But I’ll save that topic for a rainy day.

Find things in your area to do that are free. Check your local newspaper or community website. You’ll find free events and festivals for your entertainment!

I look forward to hearing about the bags of money you’ll be saving soon!

Go forth and save, Point Clubbers!

Ok, so passive monitoring. This is as low energy as it gets for being a respondent in market research. All you do is just go about your business. Surf the internet, check your email, watch your videos, play your games. So how is all of this part of doing market research you might ask?

With passive monitoring, you simply download an app onto your phone or a program onto your computer and it tracks all of your activity. Everything you do is monitored, but passively; the app or program just runs in the background.

What is so great about this? The feedback is more accurate since the program or app is doing all of the data recording. It is not merely relying on the respondent’s memory or honesty. I know I am not the only one who knows people who tend to embellish their stories. The same thing happens with respondents. Some of them can’t help themselves and inflate their income or they just want the information to sound better, so they shine it up real nice.

Now, some of you Clubbers are thinking, “Woah, Captain. They are going to track everything I do on my phone or computer. Every site I visit; every Instagram account I look at. This seems a bit creepy. Kind of like Big Brother is watching my every move!”

If you’re a paranoid person, this might not be the best option for you. It will likely increase your paranoia and drive you batty. Those of you who do not harbor any extra paranoia or just don’t care, might be interested in this aspect of market research. These monitoring apps can also take a toll on your battery life for your phone.

So how do you earn from this? Good question! Depending on the host and what they are looking for or how long the monitoring will last will impact how much you earn. Some of the passive monitoring apps can earn you $1 a week, while another can earn you as much as $100 for the year. You can also run some of these programs at the same time which increases your earning potential.

Keep earning, Point Clubbers!

So you’ve come to the survey stud seeking advice? Well, I’ve got just what you need. Here are some pointers for my PointClubbers!

Be honest — Now, we’ve talked about this and you know how your Captain feels about honesty. I know a nice lady with a Lasso of Truth and she’s not afraid to use it. But seriously, lying can get you banned and you would forfeit any points or rewards you have earned. Talk about a bummer, man!

Be attentive — Just as you hang on every word I utter, so should you read every question carefully and completely. Companies are looking for your feedback and you should make sure you are paying attention and giving them your true responses. Remember surveys often contain security questions to weed out any robot responders and you don’t want to get disqualified just because something shiny caught your eye and distracted you. Hello goldfish!

Set up a specific email for survey opportunities — This way, you can access all your survey opportunities without the clutter of all the other emails you get but never read.

Fill out your profile — Do you really need me to explain this one?! Come on, just do it; fill out your profile. How else can I use my superpowers to match you to the best opportunities?

Refer your friends — Share the love. If you are having a fantastic experience with a certain panel, *Cough* PointClub.*Cough*, tell your friends. There might even be a little bonus in it for you. *Wink*

Keep track of your activity — It’s a good idea to keep track of what surveys you complete, when, and what you earned. Just in case there is ever a discrepancy, you have something to reference, as opposed to just your memory.

Join panels that offer more than just surveys — Look for panels that offer you other ways to earn in addition to surveys. Sweepstakes, Contests, Daily polls. Wouldn’t you know it, PointClub has all these ways to earn and more!

Don’t Rush — There is no prize for completing the survey the fastest. Leave the super speed to the pros. Take your time. Read and process the questions. Give some thought to your responses.

Don’t take surveys to the detriment of your sanity — Survey taking should be fun. Don’t take so many so often that you end up burnt out.

Don’t Pay — Avoid joining panels that require a membership fee or make you pay for “training.” Someone’s spidey sense would be all tingly. True Market Research panels will not require you to pay anything to join. If the panel is asking for your credit card information, it’s a trap!
There you have it folks. Use these pointers and you’ll be invincible, just like me!

Sayonara, PointClubbers!