I will continue to update this list, but for now, here are my favorites:

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is virtual currency that you earn a number of different ways.  By using Swagbucks.com as your primary search engine or by checking the blog for Swag Codes, you can earn swagbucks that are good towards hundreds of items or gift cards.  You can also earn swagbucks for different purchases you make at the online stores you shop at regularly.  These are just a few of the ways you can earn swagbucks, mostly for doing just what you normally do online.

I currently have 305 swagbucks. I’ve already earned one of the Southwest Gift Cards, and now I’m saving for another.  If you use the site regularly, it only takes about a month to earn upwards of 450 Swagbucks.  And if you get referrals, it goes by much quicker.  You earn up to 1000 Swagbucks per person who signs up under your referral link.  Whenever the person you referred earns a Swagbuck by searching the Swagbucks search engine, you earn matching points, up to 100 per person. Click here to sign up and start out with 30 swagbucks!

Toluna

Toluna.com is a legitimate survey site that offers rewards for your time spent answering questions.  Once you sign up, you will receive an email each time there is a survey opportunity.  You can choose to participate in each survey if you like.  You won’t qualify for each survey you choose to participate in, but even if you don’t end up qualifying for a survey, you are entered into a monthly $5,000 drawing.  Each survey you complete is worth $1 – $3 each.  It just depends on the survey.  There are also $5 surveys sometimes as well.

Rewards are redeemable starting in $15 increments.  This site is not a fraud.  I’ve received checks from them, and there’s another in the mail right now.  And recently, Toluna has begun offering gift cards and merchandise as well as checks.  I highly recommend this site!  I’ve earned money and look forward to redeeming gift cards next!  Hopefully I can snatch up a few gift cards to give as gifts before the holidays are over.

YouData

Another site I wanted to let you all know about is a new one I started called YouData and it pays you to click on the links of their sponsors.  The cool thing is that you don’t have to provide a lot of personal information, like your address.  Its things like your name, email, age, etc.  And there are no required introductory surveys you have to participate in.  You can choose what information you share with the site.

Another plus is that they pay you via PayPal EVERY Friday!  I started on a Thursday and had $1.33 in my account.  By Friday evening it was transferred to my pay pal account.  So it doesn’t matter how little you have in the account, you always get paid!  And it takes so little time!  I spent maybe 2 minutes racking up that $1.33.  You just click on links.  You don’t even have to click around the site or answer any questions about what you saw.  Just instant money.  Check it out!

MyPoints

MyPoints is a site that gives you points for purchases you already make, as long as you connect with the retailer you are buying from through their site.  The amount of points varies between retailer.  For example, Disneystore.com offers 10 points for every dollar you spend.  Which means when I bought a $25 gift card online, I earned 250 points for my purchase by going through the MyPoints website first.

An easy way to tell if you’re earning MyPoints at a particular website is by installing the toolbar they offer.  If you are earning points at a website, a green light will be on.  If not, a yellow light will appear.  If you click it, it will activate your MyPoints account, so you can earn points for purchases made on the site you are visiting.

It sounds complicated, but its actually really easy.  You just have to take 10 minutes to read about how the site works.  You can earn points a lot of other ways too, and the points are redeemable for gift cards to many different stores.  I just earned a $25 gift card for Amazon.com.  One of my good friends is getting married and is registered there, so along with my Swagbucks earnings, I’ll be able to get them a nice gift.

Ebates

I’ve signed up for this site, earned $10 right off the bat for signing up (I think its normally $5) and then got $5 for Chris signing up and making a purchase.  The way it works is kind of like MyPoints, but instead of earning points, you earn a certain percentage back on your total purchase price.  I know a lot of people who use this site and love it.  I love it too!  Whenever I’ve purchased online, I’ve always gone through MyPoints because at the certain stores I shopped at, MyPoints had a better return for my purchase.  It just depends on the store, but I always compare the two before purchasing anything online.

Bank Rewards Programs

A lot of banks offer rewards programs on your debit or credit card for free, you just have to ask!  I started out with the free program at Chase that gave me 1 point for every $1 I spent (at $2000 points you can exchange them for $4 cash back deposited into your bank account).  I recently upgraded to the Chase Leisure Rewards program which costs $25 a year but offers a return of 4 points for every $1 I spend.  At that rate, I’m earning $4 cash back for every $500 I spend.  You can also redeem the points for gift cards as well.

I realized that with the amount of money I spend each month just paying my bills and student loans, I could be making a lot more than $25 a year, making it much more worth while to upgrade.  Its totally up to you whether you want to do a free program or a paid one, and it also depends on what your bank has to offer.  Just ask next time your in your local branch.  It can’t hurt.  And maybe in a month or two, you’ll be getting cash deposited into your bank account for doing nothing but paying your bills!