Swagbucks - Surviving and Thriving

Swagbucks fans: Today is $100 Million Day.

September 30, 2015 by Donna Freedman

As regular readers already know, Swagbucks is my favorite rewards program. That’s why I post special offers every so often – and today’s offer, the $100 Million Day, is a good one.

Since I’m currently on the road I was unable to get the post up first thing this morning. Thus by the time you read this the first couple of Swag Codes have already come and gone. But you’ve got a shot at four more before 5 p.m. PDT, and you’ve got until 11:59 p.m. PDT to earn up to 400 extra points (called “SB”) in several other ways.

What ways? So glad you asked.

Who wants a $50 gift card?

August 17, 2015August 15, 2015 by Donna Freedman

The Swagbucks rewards program has offered to sponsor a prize of 5,000 SB, enough for a $50 gift card of the winner’s choice.

This week’s giveaway is going to be a bit different:

It will last longer (11 days instead of five).
As indicated by the headline, the prize is bigger than usual.
You can enter only once and in a very specific way.

I’m calling this the “Dog Days of Summer” giveaway as a reminder of the ways that gift cards can help the heat-weary battle through the waning (but still steamy) season.

For example, you could opt for a $50 movie gift card and sit a cool, dark theater. Or get $50 worth of Starbucks scrip and sit there with a cool drink on the hottest afternoon.

Maybe you could get $50 worth of restaurant credit and avoid cooking on a particularly uncomfortable day, or choose Amazon gift cards and buy something to take your mind off that heat rash.

A one-day Swagbucks bonus offer.

August 12, 2015 by Donna Freedman

Readers of this site know that I’m quite fond of the Swagbucks rewards program. I’m happy to report that you can get 500 SB for signing up for Visa Checkout, a digital wallet service. (More on that in a minute.)

To get the extra SB credit, you must sign up today, Wednesday, Aug. 12. And to sweeten the deal, Swagbucks is offering an additional incentive if 100,000 members register. (More on that in a minute, too.)

Here’s how to qualify for the bonus:

A newsletter, double Swagbucks and BTS shopping.

June 28, 2015 by Donna Freedman

Recently I added a sixth way to enter the giveaways on this site: subscribing to my Write A Blog People Will Read newsletter. The weekly(ish) newsletter is writing-focused, but that doesn’t mean that non-writers shouldn’t read it.

Sure, it includes info like how much freelancers should charge and why blogging matters. But general-interest topics show up as well, such as why walking can change a bad day, how “Moose: The Movie” can inspire us all and the ways that fear can actually be good for people.

So even if you aren’t itching to start your own website, give the newsletter a try. Here’s how to do it:

Go to WriteABlogPeopleWillRead.com/blog.
Look for the “Free Writing Tips” box on the right-hand side.
Enter your name and e-mail address and you’ll be subscribed.

Every time you enter a Surviving and Thriving giveaway, be sure to leave a separate comment stating that you’re a newsletter subscriber. It’s just one more chance to win.

Fish for the elder in burning Alaska.

June 15, 2015 by Donna Freedman

I am officially an elder. My niece and her fellow went dip-netting in Chitina over the weekend and scored 60 Copper River red salmon.

Yes, the fish that cost a bomb in the Lower 48. Her sweetheart, who is Alaska Native, had a list of elders with whom he wanted to share his catch. Happily, DF and I were on that list.

“Elder” is still a term of respect among Alaska Natives. Older people get fed first, get the most comfortable seats and most important of all, get treated as though their opinions matter.

They may also get Copper River reds. At least 15 pounds of them – and already filleted.

Giveaway: A $50 gift card from Swagbucks.

May 14, 2015 by Donna Freedman

Want a $50 head start on your summer fun? Let the Swagbucks rewards site give it to you.

The program, which is my favorite rewards site, is sponsoring a “Gateway to Summer Fun Giveaway.” The prize: a $50 card from its Rewards Store.

Normally you get up to five ways to enter my site’s giveaways. This time it’s different: Only one entry per person is allowed, and you have to do a little work to get it.

The good news? Some of this “work” will actually benefit you – that is, if you like earning free gift cards year-round.

Big news from Swagbucks.

January 30, 2015January 30, 2015 by Donna Freedman

Regular readers know that I’m a fan of the Swagbucks rewards program, which randomly awards points (“Swag Bucks”) for searches and also gives out rewards for watching videos, playing games, shopping and other activities.

As of March 2 the rewards redemption process will morph slightly – a change I believe is to the good.

Giveaway: $50 gift card, sponsored by Swagbucks.

November 29, 2014November 21, 2014 by Donna Freedman

Fun fact: During the holiday season, the lowest price for toys is about 10 days before Christmas.

Funner fact: You can get a $50 head start on your toy-buying (or anything-else-buying) if you win this week’s giveaway.

The Swagbucks rewards site has offered to award one lucky reader his or her choice of a $50 e-gift card from the Rewards Store. It’s quite the lineup of cards for restaurants, electronics emporia, retaurants, entertainment and other categories (including my personal favorite, Amazon).

This giveaway is a little different: You must be a member of Swagbucks and earn at least 50 points between now and 7 p.m. PST Friday, Dec. 5. Instead of entering up to five different ways, leave one comment with your Swagbucks user name.

Giveaway: Two $25 gift cards, via Swagbucks.

August 15, 2014 by Donna Freedman

Any time I give away a gift card the response is tremendous. And why not? Although some people think that GCs make awful presents, the chance to get a head start on a want or a need is fine by me. (And, apparently, by you.)

This week’s giveaway, sponsored by the Swagbucks rewards program, gives two lucky readers $25 in scrip – or, maybe in cash.

That’s because the winners get to choose any $25 e-gift card that Swagbucks offers, and among those offers is a $25 PayPal card. Thus you could choose to cash in for greenbacks or stick with shopping, at sites like Amazon, Target, Starbucks, Lowe’s, Home Depot, CVS, iTunes, GameStop and many others.

Tight belts, Capt. America and a Swagbucks promo.

April 7, 2014 by Donna Freedman

I’ve got two new pieces up at Money Talks News, one of which is serious and one of which has comic-book references. Both can help you marshal your finances.

“How to survive when your income drastically drops” is an article some people would just as soon not read. After all, who wants to think about hours cutbacks or having a spouse lose a job?

But stuff happens whether you want to think about it or not. Put another way: You have the option of a little prep work now or a lot of regret later on.

“8 personal finance tips from ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’” is another of my “PF is where you find it” pieces. Having done money-advice pieces based on “Parsifal,” “Gotterdammerung” and “True Grit,” I figured it was time to take on the latest in the Marvel franchise.

“The Winter Soldier” was great fun, by the way – as much political thriller as straight-up action flick. In fact, at least one reviewer warned fans of the first film that the sophomore effort contained less action.