Instant Win Games 5/23

Here are the links to some of the Instant Win Games I'm Currently Playing ~~

Play the Dish Network Game of Thrones IWG
    For a chance at mousepads, t-shirts, hoodies, steins, a Season 1 dvd or other prizes.

Play the Olive Garden IWG
    For a chance at $20 gift cards or a year supply of olive oil.

Play the Skinny Cow IWG
    For a chance at freebie coupons, a Dirty Dancing dvd, or a party pack.

Play the Game My Summer IWG
    For a chance at freebie coupons, Xbox Live Gold membership, and other cool prizes.

Play the Family Guy IWG
    For a chance at dvds, games, tote bags, iTunes gift cards, and other prizes.

Play the CocoaVia IWG
    For a chance at mugs, product freebies, water bottles, and other prizes.

Samples and Freebies as of 5/23

Here are the links to some samples, coupons and freebies that are still around and available. Click on them to sign up.

Sample of TRESemme from Walmart Plus a $1 off coupon


Sample of Prilosec OTC to protect against heartburn


Sample of Propel Zero Powder Stick


Coupons for Vocalpoint Members to save $$ on Bounty


Sample of Clear Men Scalp Therapy


Splenda Sample

How Do You Sweep?

I admit it, I'm beginning to become a "Sweeper". No, not someone who enjoys using a broom and dustpan. I have made it a hobby to enter sweepstakes and try my luck at instant win games (IWG).
Now, I actually started entering them last year  (2011) around April. I didn't have as much ambition to enter them consistently, and due to this I rarely won. This led me to disappointment and even longer periods of time without entering sweeps or playing IWG. Eventually I gave up entirely. Still I saw various people proudly proclaiming their wins and I decided to give it a second chance.
My first step was developing a spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel. Pictured below is the latest version of mine, that I'm going to take a few minutes to update later tonight.

My main organization method is to put them in order of their ending date. That way, as soon as one ends and I've entered it for the last time, it gets deleted and the entire list can be moved up a spot. In the second column I list what type it is, if it's just a Sweepstakes where I continue to enter the entire length without knowing if I've won, or if it's an IWG where I'll know immediately if I've won and can therefore delete it if you can only win once during the promotional period. Third column is the brand name or name of the site of the particular Sweeps/IWG. This is just used as a bit of a reminder. Next comes the URL, so all I have to do is click on the link and it'll pop up in a new tab on Chrome which is my default browser. The last two I just added, one column which displays free codes if you need a code to play so I wont have to waste time looking at the rules for one each time, and the last column displays if I can enter more than once or if there are multiple ways to enter. Whenever I have free time I bring up the spreadsheet and go down the list.
The spreadsheet, always being up on my computer, serves as a reminder AND an organized way to store the info so I can get through my entries faster. This has allowed me to enter consistently over the past few weeks and win more often. I admit, I haven't won anything big.... yet, but I'll give it time. Mainly I've won freebie coupons for products, movie tickets, and my most recent win was a $50 Speaker System. I'm definitely looking forward to future wins.
~
Do you sweep? What's your gameplan/organizational method? Have you had any wins recently?

Making Money At College

I'm a college student, and this is the end of my second year at college. I live in one of the on-campus dorms and conveniently am within a reasonable amount of walking distance to some stores and fast food places including Target, Shopko, Cashwise, Arbys.... The only issue I seem to have at school is the lack of money. I definitely don't want to partake in a job while attending school (props to those that do), because with the multiple classes I take and the multiple clubs I'm in (including being an officer in some), I don't have a lot of time left over for homework and just time to hang out with friends.
Last year, my first year at the university, I decided to start not only saving money, but also earning it. This was when I began couponing. My mother has used coupons for as long as I can remember. She didn't take it too seriously, just used them if she had them and if it was a product she often bought. I never really thought twice about it, but when you're running low on cash, you realize how even a 50 cent coupon can make a difference. I began printing coupons (oh the joy of having print credits at school that I usually don't fully use anyway) for things I knew I would need eventually. Cleaning supplies, food, makeup, beverages.... but I couldn't survive on couponing alone. Even the overage coupons couldn't stop the inevitable reduction of money in my pocket. It was then that I turned to money-making sites.
It started with survey websites. Pinecone, Synnovate, MyView, Opinion Outpost, Swagbucks etc.... It seemed to take forever, but once I started earning enough to redeem my points/$$ on those sites it made the time spent worth it. A few minutes each night, and I was starting to earn Amazon cash. I chose the Amazon redemption option for a reason--- Amazon Prime. As a college student you can get a free trial of Amazon Prime for, what I believe was, six months. For some items this can lead to free two day shipping, and still sometimes make the product cheaper than what you can get in stores or from other sellers on amazon with shipping price included. So if you have a college email address, I recommend taking them up on their trial offer.
This was all fine and dandy, but I needed money I could use at the nearby stores when I needed it. So I joined a new site called Jingit. It was just starting out, but I looked into it thoroughly to figure out if it was legit before joining. Through watching commercials I could earn up to $10 a week, so I was hooked immediately. I could easily watch their ads during commercials while I was watching a tv show. Why watch the ads on tv when I could be paid to watch the ones online? Now, the site is up and running again, and now I can (and have) earn $15 a week. The money is transferred to a debit card immediately once you click to transfer it, and is ready for use at stores that accept Visa debit cards. It has definitely become my favorite money earning site.
Overall, I must say I made this post to show that you CAN earn and save money at college. I hear so many of my fellow classmates complain about being broke, and yet they continue to shop without even considering saving money or finding quick ways to an extra income. I can't wait to see how much I save on school supplies before the next fall semester comes around with couponing and the money I earn on the various websites.

Review: MiO

I'm a BzzAgent and was given the opportunity to try out MiO (fruit punch flavor).
MiO is a liquid water enhancer. Use it to add some flavor to your water, or be creative and add it to other drinks or food items. MiO currently comes in 6 flavors-- Fruit Punch, Berry Pomegranate, Strawberry Watermelon, Sweet Tea, Peach Tea, and Mango Peach. At 0 calories, it's the perfect thing to use if you're trying to avoid extra calories, but you don't want to avoid flavor and taste.
Each container can provide you with 24 servings. You add one squeeze of MiO per 8 oz of water. (If you're like myself and drink from a water bottle often, make sure you add 2 squeezes.) You can also add a little more to get the exact flavor intensity you want. The top locks with 2 clicks, telling you it's secure.
I have been using MiO for a few weeks now and absolutely love it! I'm a college student, and the water we get in our dorms is incredibly disgusting. I always carry water around with me, however, so I needed to find ways to make it taste better. I turned to water flavorings and enhancers. I have only tried the Fruit Punch flavor that was sent to me, and I have enjoyed this flavor. If I add just enough to my water bottle, it doesn't even seem like I'm drinking water anymore. MiO now goes with me everywhere. It's small, and locks securely so I feel comfortable putting it in my backpack or purse so I can take it with around campus. I have never had it spill, even though I'm pretty rough with my backpack.
Would I purchase this product? Definitely. I used to use other products that I will not name, and they only added a little flavoring to the water and gave it a sour taste. I have yet to find something better than MiO.

*Click Here to check out MiO's Facebook Page to Stay Up-To-Date and Get Ideas on Creative Ways to Use MiO, Other Than a Water Enhancer. (They also announce new flavors)
*Click Here to check out MiO's website.

Review: Maybelline Baby Lips and Lots of Lashes

I am a BzzAgent and recently I was accepted in the Maybelline campaign which provided me with Lots of Lashes mascara and Baby Lips lip balm to try out, review, and give away to friends/family/others. I received 5 mascaras and 5 different varieties of the lip balm. *This was all free from BzzAgent and Maybelline. Everything that follows is my honest opinion of the products.

Maybelline Lots of Lashes mascara comes in 3 different shades. It comes with a new applicator brush designed to build your lashes, prevent clumping, and to get to those hard to reach corners of your eyelashes. You can find it at mass retailers at around $6.40.

I have been using this mascara for a few weeks now. I really like the new brush design. Getting the corners of your eyelashes has always been a big problem with other brushes I've used. This brush gets in there without making a mess. I have experienced a small amount of clumping, but a lot less than other mascaras I have used. Price-wise it's a bit cheaper than the other main mascara I use which is usually anywhere from $7 to $8. Would I buy this when I run out? Maybelline Lots of Lashes mascara would definitely be a top contender on my list when the time comes around in which I must buy mascara again.

Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm is a relatively new product. It comes in 6 different varieties. (Pictured above left to right: Peach Kiss, Pink Punch, Cherry Me, Peppermint, Quenched) I did not receive the sixth one, Grape Vine, to test out. The lip balm has an SPF of 20 so not only are your lips hydrated, they are also protected. It comes in two clear varieties (Peppermint and Quenched), and the others have a hint of color to them. (Peach Kiss- nude/tan, Pink Punch- pink, Cherry Me- red, Grape Vine- purple.) They can be found at mass retailers for around $3.99.
I decided to try Peach Kiss because I either like lip balms with little to no color or with a natural looking color. The other varieties were given to friends and family to try. This was definitely an enjoyable product. It left my lips smooth and gave them a bit of shine and just the right about of natural-looking color. I found myself using the lip balm on a daily basis. Would I buy this again? I think I definitely will be buying the Peach Kiss lip balm again, and also the Grape Vine one mainly because I love all things purple/grape scented and because I didn't get to try it here. Do you want to try it and save some money? Coupon links listed below.

Click Here to Save $1 on Maybelline Lots of Lashes MascaraClick Here to Save $1 on Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm

Free 20 oz Coke Coupon