‘Tis the Season to Be Thrifty…

This time of year, it’s always nice to be able to splurge a little on gifts and decorations. I’ll admit -- I’ve been known to spare no expense around the holidays, especially when it comes to buying presents for my loved ones. But in these tough financial times, it’s become almost impossible to do so. We’re all feeling the pains of a bad economy, forcing most people to cut back on their spending and become more frugal with their hard-earned dollars.

But cutting a few corners doesn’t mean you have to be an Ebenezer Scrooge this year. There are a number of things you can do to be thrifty this holiday, most of which involve some careful planning, a little ingenuity, and a whole lot of creativity.

We’ve put together a list of links that offer some great advice on saving money this holiday season. Take a look and let us know what you think… and while you’re at it, let us know what you’ve been doing to be more frugal this year. Feel free to share any advice, ideas, suggestions or stories with other members in the comments section below.


Frugal Holiday Gifts and Decorations
39 Frugal Tips for Saving Money at Christmas
Oprah's Favorite Things for a Thrifty Holiday
Ideas for Thrifty Holiday Shopping
Thrifty ideas for happier holidays - MSN Money
Thrifty Gifts for All Ages
10 Ideas for Making the Holidays Cheaper and Easier

Saving Username and Password

A few weeks ago, we announced that the Save My Password option was added to the login box on our new website. Unfortunately, we found out that it has not been working properly for many of our members. The easiest way to resolve this is by clearing your "cookies". The cookie we use to store your password may be interfering with the cookie from our old website, so it may be best to start over. If you are not sure how to clear your cookies click here.

Once you have cleared your cookies you can use this feature by checking the Save My Password box before you login. The next time you are ready to login to MySurvey.com your username and password will already be there.

Note: This feature is only recommended if you are using a private computer. Please do not use this feature on public computers such as schools, libraries or internet cafe's.

St. Nicholas Day

The feast of St. Nicholas, or Saint Nicholas Day, falls on December 6th and is celebrated in many different ways all around the world. While traditions vary, most often it goes like this: on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, children put empty shoes (or socks) outside -- and on the following morning of December 6, the children awake to find that St. Nick has filled their previously empty footwear with snacks, candies, and small gifts (if the children have been "good") or coal (if not).

In my family, we celebrate in a similar fashion: the kids hang their stocking on the fireplace and in the morning they would find the stockings had been filled with candy, a small toy and an ornament for the Christmas tree. It’s a tradition that we’re very fond of, and it serves as a small -- but very exciting -- way to build the little ones’ expectations for the “big night” when Santa Claus would arrive.

How other families celebrate
Who is St. Nicholas?
Saint Nicholas (For Kids)

So do any of you celebrate St. Nicholas Day? If so, what are some of your traditions? Feel free to share stories, ideas and anything else about this fun-filled holiday in the comments section below.

The Importance of Scholarships

When it comes to scholarships, most people wonder the same thing: When is the best time to start searching? Well, the answer is simple: the best time is right now -- because it’s never too early or too late to look. As tough economic times force consumers to cut back on spending, scholarships are an ever-more important way to pay for college. And unlike other forms of financial aid, scholarships do not have to be repaid.

While it may seem like a daunting task to some, thanks to the power of the internet finding a scholarship has never been easier. Below you’ll find a few places you may want to start in your search (keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive). Good Luck!

FastWeb: Scholarships, Financial Aid
FinAid : Scholarships
Sallie Mae's free scholarship search
Scholarships
Student Scholarship Search
The Scholarships Blog

How about you? Has the rising cost of college and tough economic times changed your financial approach (or your family’s)? Have you or anyone else in your family found college scholarships before? Feel free to share stories, tips and advice with other members below.

Contacting MySurvey.com Support Staff

MySurvey.com Support Staff is available to answer your phone calls and emails Monday-Friday 9 AM to 10 PM (Eastern Time) and 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday.

Just a reminder as we approach the holiday season that we will have limited support staff on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day so that our staff can spend the holidays with family. However, on these days our staff will be available to handle emergency situations as necessary.

Survey Frequency

We have received many questions and comments from our members lately about receiving more surveys. On average, we send a survey invitation about once every one to two weeks. You may notice that sometimes you'll receive surveys more often than this and other times less often. The number of surveys you receive during a month usually depends on the types of surveys we are conducting in that month and how they match with the information you provided about your household. For example, if we have lots of baby product surveys this month and there are no babies in your household, you may receive fewer surveys this month.

To ensure you receive our survey invitations, please add us to your "known or approved senders" list. Most email clients allow you to set this through an Options, Tools and/or Filters menu. By adding the domain @mysurvey.com, you ensure that all survey invitations will reach you.

Regardless of how often you take a survey, we greatly appreciate your participation in our surveys.

Looking for Photos

Are you an amateur photographer? Do you enjoy taking photos of your hometown? Well, MySurvey.com is looking for a photo to use in our annual New Year’s Greeting card. The New Year’s greeting card is sent to all active MySurvey.com members and last year we featured a photo taken by a MySurvey.com employee. Click here to see the greeting card. This year we are giving our members the opportunity to submit a photo to be used in this year’s greeting card.

Photos should be of a landscape or art style of interest or significance to where you live. Ideas include parks, bridges, natural landscapes, monuments, cityscape etc. Please do not submit photos that include people, we will not be able to use those. If your photo is selected we may add some animation such as twinkling lights, stars or snow. We may also share information about you, the photo and your hometown on my blog as well.

If you have a photo to submit, please send it to mycomments@mysurvey.com, with the words “greeting card photo” in the subject line. Be sure to include your username, some information about the photo and why you are submitting it. Photos should be submitted no later than December 7, 2008. If your photo is selected, you will receive bonus MySurvey.com Reward Points!

Saving Username & Password

We received many comments from our members about the Save My Password option not being available on our new website. We realize this is an inconvenience for many members and we recently added this feature to our new website.

To use this feature, just check the Save My Password box before you login. The next time you are ready to login to MySurvey.com your username and password will already be there.

Note: This feature is only recommended if you are using a private computer. Please do not use this feature on public computers such as schools, libraries or internet cafe's.

Celebrating World Kindness

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
- Aesop

Today is World Kindness Day, designed to promote acts of kindness by providing inspiration, information, and resources to celebrate kindness all year long.

In essence, it’s about dedicating ourselves to change the world, one act of kindness at a time.

So how can you help? Well, there are a limitless number of things you can do. Like, perhaps, you can shovel your elderly neighbor’s driveway after a heavy snow or put a quarter into an expired parking meter. It doesn’t matter what you do or who it’s for -- the only thing that matters is doing something kind and spreading kindness wherever you go.

Together, we can create a more peaceful, just and sustainable world through kindness. So pass it on!

So, how do you guys display kindness in your daily lives? Have you ever done a completely random act of kindness for someone, without them knowing or finding out it was you? Feel free to share your thoughts, stories and suggestions with members in the comments section below.

Reward Redemptions for Holiday Gifts

If you would like to redeem your MySurvey.com Reward Points for any of our current reward items to give as a holiday gift, we suggest you make your redemption no later than December 1, 2008. We cannot guarantee the delivery for any of our merchandise items, but if you order early enough there is a good chance you will receive your item(s) in time for holiday gift giving.

Reward Points & Transaction History

Below are some common questions I receive from members - you may have had these same questions from time to time:

"How do I find out how many reward points I have?"

"I don't see the points I earned for participating in an online discussion group."

"I redeemed my reward points for a check, but I don't know what the status is."

To find out how many points you have earned:

• Login to MySurvey.com
• Click on Rewards on the top menu
• The box on the left side of that page summarizes how many points you have earned.
• Click on Your Points Account to see the points you've earned or redeemed in the current month.
• To see prior transactions, click on Click here to view prior transactions, at the bottom of the page.
• From the drop-down at the top of the page select the month you would like to view transactions.

To find the status of any reward point redemptions:

• Click on Rewards on the top menu
• Click on Your Points Account
• Then click on Click here to view prior transactions at the bottom of that page
• From the drop-down at the top of the page select the month you would like to view transactions.
• Each transaction has a Status, here's what that status means

Ordered - We have received your point redemption request and will begin processing it shortly. Processing - Your request is being processed and will be sent shortly.
Shipped - Your request has been processed and sent to you via USPS or UPS. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
Cancelled - There was a problem with your redemption request and we could not process it. This is usually due to a lack of complete name and address or your check/item was returned to us as undeliverable.
Processed - Your request has been processed and sent to you via email. Please check your email for delivery. If you redeemed for one of our charity options it has been processed.
Complete - Reward points for completing a survey have been credited to your account.

November is Here

It’s hard to believe it is November - the weather is unseasonably warm in my area of the country and there are still many colorful leaves on the trees. Unfortunately, it won’t last long, by the end of the week we’ll return to more seasonable temperatures and then I’ll be hurrying to get the leaves raked before the snow comes. I do love a crisp fall day with big piles of leaves though.

A big thank you to everyone who sent in recipes last month, we received more than ever! With so many mouthwatering recipes it was hard to pick just a few. Click on Member Recipes on the left menu for some of the best Soup, Stews and Chowder recipes we received. This month we are looking for Holiday Recipes – go to Member Recipes to learn how you could earn Reward Points if we select your recipe.

Also be sure to take a look at the most recent Survey Results and Quick Poll Results. Did you miss a newsletter recently? Click on Monthly Newsletter to see past editions of Opinion Matters. Opinion Matters is delivered each month to your inbox and provides information about your MySurvey.com membership, recent sweepstakes winners and survey results.

“N’yuk-n’yuk-n’yuk!”

Today marks 105th anniversary of the birth of legendary Hollywood funnyman Jerome Howard -- better known as Curly of The Three Stooges. With his trademark “Woo-woo-woo!” and “Soitenly!” (among many other outrageous routines), Curly forever left his mark on comedy and cemented The Three Stooges as icons in American pop culture.

Personally, my favorite Stooges memory has to be from the short film “Punch Drunks,” where Curly plays a boxer with a secret weapon: whenever he hears the tune “Pop Goes the Weasel,” he snaps and goes crazy. As you’d expect, hilarity and chaos ensues. Just thinking about it still makes me laugh.

What about you guys? Do you have a favorite Curly/Three Stooges moment? Ever been in a pie fight before?? Feel free to share with other members in the comments section below.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to increasing awareness of the disease, raising funds for research, supporting those who have breast cancer and providing access to mammography and screening services. Please take the time to learn what you can do for yourself and those you care about.

In 2008, 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the US. I have known many women who have survived breast cancer and sadly some who did not. I know that I am not alone and that many of you have also been affected by breast cancer. There is hope, with so many organizations and researchers searching for a cure.

We honor the survivors and we are inspired by the strength and courage of those currently battling breast cancer. We thank and applaud the care-givers and researchers dedicated to treating, preventing and curing this disease. Our hearts go out to the families and friends who have lost the ones they love.

Looking for New Members

We are always looking for new MySurvey.com members, especially mothers with children under the age of 4. If you know someone who may be interested in becoming a MySurvey.com member, please ask them to join by participating in our Refer-A-Friend program.

To Refer-A-Friend:

• Click on Referrals on the top menu (you must be logged in).
• Enter the email address of up to 5 friends and send an email asking them to join.
• For each friend who joins MySurvey.com and completes the First Chance survey you will receive 150 Reward Points!
• Remember, they must click the link in the email you send and complete the First Chance survey for you to receive your reward points.

If you have any questions about the Refer-A-Friend program feel free to contact us.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to “Oz” Fest!

This weekend, the city of Liberal, Kansas proudly hosts the 18th annual celebration of “The Wizard of Oz." The three-day event brings together thousands of tourists and visitors, and features a parade, look-alike contests, arts & crafts, games, and even appearances by some of the original Munchkin actors.

Seward County Museum - Oz-Fest
OZtober Fest
The Wizard of Oz - Official Site
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Events

While most of us obviously cannot attend the event, we can, however, reminisce and show our appreciation for this amazingly timeless film. I, for one, have many fond memories of watching “The Wizard of Oz,” both as a child and as a grown-up. With all the wonderful songs (“Over the Rainbow, “If I Only Had a Brain” … just to name a few), the elaborate costumes and sets, and so many memorable lines (“There’s no place like home…”, “I’ll get you my pretty, and you’re little dog, too!”) it’s easy to see why it’s one of my favorite movies of all-time.

How about you? Anyone been to the “Oz” fest or plan to go this year? What is your favorite part from the Wizard of Oz?

National Hispanic Heritage Month

In 1989 President George H. Bush officially named September 15-October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month. This month was created to celebrate the Latin population, their culture and their contributions to the United States. During this time we celebrate everything Latino: art, music, food, history, people, events, and more.


Some of the people we celebrate this month:
Hispanic American Veterans such as Eva Romero Jacques, WW II; Raymond L. Ayon, Korea; Raymond Emilio Torres, Vietnam and Joseph Valentino Medina, Iraq, to name just a few.

Famous Hispanic Americans like Father Junipero Serra, Cesar Chavez, Jerry Garcia, Sammy Sosa and Jennifer Lopez.

There are many ways to learn about Latino history and culture in America:
The Hispanic Society of America
American Family: What It Means to Be Latino
Hispanic & World Timeline
LatinoLA Celebrating Latino voices, lives and souls
¿Hispanic or Latino?

MySurvey.com has partnered with The Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the nations leading Hispanic educational organization. To learn more or donate your Reward Points to this charity, click on Rewards on the top menu and Charity Partners on the left menu.

New MySurvey.com

Well, the new MySurvey.com has been up and running for more than a week. What do you think about it? As with any major change like this we’ve had some bumps and bruises. All the major issues have been resolved, but we are still working on some additional issues.

You may remember on the old website, you could only view the last 8 weeks of reward point transactions. On our new website you can view transactions for the past 12 months. To do this click on Rewards on the top menu, click Your Points Account on the left menu then click the last link at the bottom of that page. From there you can select a particular month to review from the drop down menu. I hope this improvement is something you find useful.

We’ve also posted new survey results, quick poll results and new recipes. As the weather cools down in many areas of the country I start thinking about comfort foods. Do you have a recipe for your favorite Soup, Stew or Chowder? If you do, please consider submitting it - if your recipe is selected you could earn extra reward points. Click on Member Recipes on the left menu for more information.

Feel free to submit your comments about the new look of our website. We hope you are enjoying it.

“The Gentle Genius”

Today we celebrate the anniversary of Jim Henson’s birth, he would have been 72 today. Jim Henson’s imagination and creativity has touched the lives of so many children and adults across the globe. Did you know that Sesame Street now airs in 140 countries? The Muppet Show has always been a favorite of mine - I loved to watch them on television, and it was always such a thrill to see one of the wonderful Muppet Movies at the theater. My favorite character was (and still is) the music loving, wild Animal.

Here are some more websites you might find interesting:
TIME 100: Jim Henson
The Jim Henson Legacy
Muppet Central
Sesame Street - Videos

What about you? What are some of your favorite Jim Henson-inspired memories? How has his work impacted you or your family? Feel free to share your comments.

How You Can Help

Our thoughts are with all our members and the many people who have been affected by Hurricane Ike. Although Ike’s destruction was primarily in the Southeastern regions of our country, the damage has been felt as far as the upper Midwest.

I have seen first hand the generosity of MySurvey.com members. I know many of you are wondering how you can help. The best way to help the victims of this disaster (and other disasters like it) is by making a donation to any of the charities listed on the Help For Storm Victims (CNN) website.

Remembrance

Today we remember those we lost, the heroes and the many lives affected by the events seven years ago. We will never forget.

TV Dinners

I saw a couple citations on the web that today is National TV Dinner day, but I have not been able to verify that fact. Regardless, I still thought it would be fun to post something about TV Dinners. Over the years we have done many surveys and product test about TV dinners and frozen dinners. In case you are wondering, we do ship frozen products for testing in special containers packed in ice. Our members really do receive frozen products just like if they were bought at the store.

I get very nostalgic when I think about TV dinners, it brings back a lot of fond memories for me. Similar to other new products, many companies played a role in the creation of the TV Dinner. The Swanson website has some fun information about the history of the TV dinner. You can also play a retro game of pong against your computer.

For something a bit more modern, there’s the Single Man's Guide to TV Dinners, user reviews for over 250 dinners and 1400 other frozen foods, how to choose a healthy frozen dinner and a growing number of organic frozen meals.

So tell us, do you eat frozen dinners? Which kind and how often? Do you get nostalgic thinking about TV dinners like I do?

Reading for Pleasure

Sorry I did not post last week, I was off on a long anticipated vacation with my family. We had a wonderful and relaxing time away from our daily schedules. While on vacation, I was able to spend time on one of my favorite activities – reading. I finished one book I was working on and started another book.

I really enjoy reading for pleasure and I use it as a “mini-vacation” from my daily life. I also use reading to expand my horizons and learn about history, different cultures and a different ways of living. As you can probably guess fiction is my favorite genre and I read almost anything in that genre including classic, modern, mystery, romance, espionage thrillers and sometimes science fiction. Here are some of the websites I use for book reviews and ideas:

Bestsellers - Barnes & Noble
Powell's Books - Review-a-Day
Books - The New York Times Book Review

How about you – how often do you read for pleasure and what do you like to read? Any good books you would like to recommend to our other members?

By the way, today is International Literacy Day, click here to read more.

Another National Day

As most of you know, I enjoy discovering unique and unusual celebrations and recognitions (think Donut Day, Potato Day, etc.). Well this one I just couldn’t resist – today is National Toilet Paper Day. This one definitely fits the requirements of unique and original, but it’s also a very worthy recognition. Really, how different would our habits be without this modern invention? Believe it or not, the current incarnation of toilet paper has only been around since the late 19th century. For some history and interesting facts take a look at these websites:

The Story of Toilet Paper
Toilet Paper Curiosities

And of course there is the age old debate of which is the best orientation when hanging toilet paper, over or under. While there is little scientific evidence to prove it, the over method seems to have a slight margin with most people. For some people, there is only one right way to hang toilet paper, the other is just wrong. What about you do you prefer over or under? Is there a debate amongst your family about the right method?

Back to School

It is time for school again. Time to buy school supplies and new school clothes; time to send the kids off to a new year full of new adventures where they will make new friends and learn new skills. Each year this time, I reminisce about my own school days - my friends, teachers, bonfires and football games.

Like many of you my teachers were very influential in my life. I had some teachers who were strict, others were laid-back and one of my favorites was a quirky teacher who loved horses. She always told us about her horses and how she loved to run around barefoot everywhere she went. She never wore shoes! I also had a history teacher who seemed to know every detail about the civil war and I learned so much in his class. How about your teachers? Do you have any stories about favorite teachers that you would like to share?

Going back to school can be a difficult transition for some families. Here are some websites with more information about preparing your children for the new school year:

Resources & Advice for Parents and Children
Back to School Tips
Recipes for Back to School (School Lunches, Snacks)

National Potato Day

Today is National Potato Day and potatoes are one of my favorite foods. Potatoes are so versatile and fun to cook with. What other food can you bake, broil, grill, fry, mash, scallop, sauté – the list goes on endlessly. Here are some websites with great recipes:

BigSpud.com: The Potato Recipe Collection
Potatoes Goodness Unearthed - Recipes
RecipeZaar: Potatoes Recipes

You may not know that the United Nations declared 2008 as the International Year of the Potato. What does this mean? The UN wants to promote potatoes as an economically sustainable product for farmers and consumers across the globe. In celebration of the year of the potato, the Idaho Potato Commission has partnered with UNICEF for Recipes for Relief which provides lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education to children in more than 150 countries around the world. Click here to learn more.

Don’t forget MySurvey.com and our parent company TNS are also sponsors of UNICEF. Click here to learn more about our UNICEF charity.

2008 Summer Olympics

Seems like we have been hearing about the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics for four years – oh, right we have been! Really, I’m a big fan of the Olympic games, particularly the summer games. So I’m really excited for non-stop Olympic action for the next 16 days.

I enjoy the competition and the sports in general, but what I really love are the back-stories of the athletes. Most of whom have spent their entire lives training for the chance at gold. Some athletes in Beijing that I find inspiring:

Lopez Lomong - The US flag bearer for the opening ceremony. Lomong was born in Sudan and spent 10 years in a refuge camp in Kenya. He came to the U.S. as one of "The Lost Boys of Sudan" and is one of three naturalized U.S. citizens on the Olympic 1500m team.

Dara Torres - A 41 year old mother and 9 time Olympic medalist in swimming. What more is there to say?

Sara Khoshjamal - Khoshjamal is the first Iranian woman to qualify for the Olympics. In keeping with Iran's conservative religious rules, Khoshjamal trains and competes in Taekwando wearing a headscarf and a protective helmet.

Amnat Ruenroeng – Reunroeng was starting his third stint in a Thai jail, when he signed up for a prison boxing program in to pass the time. He says it was his salvation and just a year after stepping into the prison ring, he won a national title and was released from jail on good behavior.

By the end of the games there will be many stories of inspiration for me to enjoy. Tell us what you are looking forward to. Are any of you rooting for a hometown favorite? Tell us about it!

Summer Vacation

Wow, I can’t believe it’s August already. I hope you are enjoying your summer so far. I certainly am and I still have a lot planned for the remaining weeks. Around here September is usually still warm and sunny, so I’ve got quite a bit of time left to enjoy it.

Due to the high gas prices, I’ve heard that many people are staying close to home this summer instead of traveling across country or abroad. The latest buzz word is ‘staycation’ – basically a vacation in your home town. All the news markets are talking about it since early spring.

Get away on vacation — at home
Staycations: Alternative to pricey, stressful travel - CNN.com
U.S. cities tout merits of less costly 'staycations'

How about you - have you changed your summer vacation plans this year? Have you enjoyed a ‘staycation’ this year?

Since August can get hot in many parts of the country, we are featuring “cool recipes” from our members. We have some really great recipes to keep you cool including popsicles and Mile High Pie. Also, be sure to check out the latest quick poll and survey results.

Continuing a Survey After Receiving an Error Message

Has this ever happened to you while taking a survey?

"I keep getting a message that I cannot continue because I haven't answered all the questions on the screen. I don't see any unanswered questions."

"I don't know how to get to the next screen, there is no next or continue button."

Usually this occurs when the web page is larger than your screen size and can't display all the items on the page. If you look closely you'll seen an inner scroll bar within the survey, located on the right-hand side of the survey screen. Use this scrollbar to verify you have viewed and answered all questions for the current page.

Some other possible reasons you may not be able to continue and how to resolve them:

• The question is asking you to enter numbers in several fields. Make sure you have filled in each field. If your answer is zero, you may need to enter 0 (zero).


• The question is in grid form; you must have an answer in each row (or column). Look at the specific question to determine what it is asking for: row vs. column answers. As you review the question, line by line, make sure all of the rows (or columns) have at least one answer selected.


• Sometimes the "Next Question" button is located to the far bottom right of the screen and therefore difficult to locate. Please scroll to the bottom and the far right of the page to see if the button is there.

We try our best to make sure all our surveys are clear and concise, but unfortunately something that “makes sense” to us, may not make sense to you. If you continue to have problems with a survey feel free to call or email me and we’ll help you get through the survey.

Out of This World…

After a half-century of astonishing discoveries and achievements, NASA is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this month! It’s simply amazing to me to think how far we’ve come since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first set foot on the moon…

By the way, did you know that only a few months ago scientists discovered traces of water on Mars? It’s a major breakthrough in the field of space exploration, as it raises the possibilities that life once existed (or still exists?) on Mars.

What about you? Do you think there is life on other planets? Tell us what you think - we’d love to hear your opinion(s).

http://www.nasa.gov/
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/
http://www.space.com/

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

July is National Ice Cream Month!

Aside from air conditioning and swimming, one great way to keep cool this summer is by indulging in one of America’s favorite treats –- cold, refreshing ice cream! Heading out to our local ice cream shop on a hot evening is one of my family’s favorite ways to spend time together. It’s definitely one of my favorite things about summer.

While I typically go with basic chocolate or strawberry ice cream, there are dozens of flavors I would like to try but have yet to do so. Take a look at some of these recipes and ideas:

http://www.makeicecream.com/hisoficecrea.html
http://www.icecream.com/
http://www.ice-cream-recipes.com/popular_recipes.htm
Who Wants Ice Cream?

What’s the craziest, weirdest, or ‘coolest’ (no pun intended) flavor of ice cream you’ve ever seen or tried? Tell us what you like!

And speaking of ice cream, right now on MySurvey.com we’re calling for your best “cool recipes.” If you have a recipe that keeps you or your loved ones nice and cool in the heat and humidity of summer, share it with us. For more information on submitting, visit the MySurvey.com Member Recipes section.

Managing My Time Better

Hello MySurvey.com members! I apologize for my delay in posting the past couple weeks. We’ve been very busy lately and the holiday last week just pushed me even more behind. I hope everyone had an enjoyable 4th of July, I certainly did. What I enjoyed most, was that it fell on Friday and gave me an extra long weekend.

Apparently I need to work on my time management skills. I found some websites and articles providing quite a bit of useful information.

Time Management from Mind Tools - How to manage time and maximize effectiveness
Time Management Activities - What Can You Do To Better Manage Your Time?

So what advice do you have for managing your time at work and getting all your tasks and projects completed on time? Please share your thoughts and ideas with us!

National Safety Month

What comes to mind when you think of “Safety Month”? I’ll admit it – I think of a kid on rollerblades in so much protective gear he can hardly skate. Hey, they didn’t have any of that stuff when I was a kid and I’m still here! But the truth is, we’ve learned a lot over the years and being safe is easier and more practical than you think.

Taking the proper precautions for you and your family can be as simple as: bringing sunscreen when outdoors, being aware and prepared when swimming or around water, and keeping well-hydrated in extreme heat. Of course, there are other things to keep in mind, too, but the point is –- it’s easy to be safe once you know how!

National Safety Month
McGruff.org -- Summer Safety and Crime Prevention
Home Safety Council

MySurvey Newsletter and July Recipes

I know that summer is a busy time for everyone so we have decided to combine the June and July editions of Opinion Matters into one newsletter. The June/July edition will be delivered to your inbox during the second week of July with all the usual information including recent sweepstakes winners, featured prizes and the latest survey results. We will return to our normal monthly schedule in August.

Also, I’m extending the deadline for July recipe submissions until Thursday, June 26, 2008. We are looking for your best grilling and barbeque recipes and will feature the best submissions in the Member Recipes section next month. Perhaps you have a recipe for grilled vegetables or barbeque sauce you’d like to share with our members. Remember, you’ll receive bonus points if your recipe is selected for the website!

The Power of Duct Tape!

Most of us know just how versatile duct tape can be. Personally, my family and I can’t live without it. Over the years we’ve used it to patch hoses, mend our tents for camping trips, and salvage a few more years out of our well-worn luggage. To us it’s as vital as a screwdriver or a set of pliers.

But beyond the common things we use it for exists a whole other world of duct tape fanatics. After a quick search on the internet, I discovered an entire culture dedicated to its near-infinite uses. From wallets, purses, and prom dresses to furniture and luggage constructed entirely out of duct tape, there seems to be no limit to what one can do with a few rolls of colored tape and a bit of creativity.

For some cool (and odd) uses for duct tape, take a look at some of these links:

Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival
Duck Tape Club
Duct Tape Guys
Duck Tape Products Creative Uses

What are some unusual things you’ve used duct tape for in the past? Feel free to share your stories and tips with other members.

Quick Poll Suggestions

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all our members who have provided suggestions for Quick Poll topics the past few months. Almost all the Quick Poll surveys you see are suggestions that were submitted by members like you. We really are interested in knowing what types of polls and surveys you are interested in taking.

We are always looking for new topics Quick Poll, if you’ve got an idea please submit it to mycomments@mysurvey.com. The only thing I ask is that you stay away from suggestions for polls about gas, driving and the presidential election. I know everyone is very interested right now in surveys about rising gas prices and the upcoming presidential elections, and we will do our best to get those out to you, but we have been inundated lately with suggestions for these topics. At this time we are looking for some fresh ideas for new topics.

Keep in mind, if we use your suggestion you’ll receive bonus points – so keep those ideas coming!

Happy Father’s Day

This Sunday we pay tribute to Dads everywhere. While normally that means sales on golf clubs and power tools alike, you don’t have to spend a lot to show Dad how you feel. Personalized items such as cards, letters, and poems are a great (and frugal) way to show your appreciation. And if you need more ideas, look no further than right here:

Father's Day Gift Ideas
Father's Day Poems for Free
Father's Day Arts & Crafts Ideas

While my Dad doesn’t like a big fuss being made over him, we almost always get together as a family each year and have a special dinner together (with Dad usually manning the grill). What kinds of things do you do for Father’s Day? Feel free to share your favorite stories and memories with other members in our comments section.

MySurvey Messenger

Here’s a frequent question I receive from MySurvey.com members:

“I received an email to take a survey, but when I logged into your website it said I have no surveys to take.”

Most of our surveys remain open an average of 3 to 5 days. Occasionally they remain open longer than 5 days and sometimes fewer than 3 days. If you want to learn about surveys as soon as they become available, consider downloading MySurvey.com Messenger.

MySurvey Messenger is a small software application we developed that is similar to instant messaging (although it can only be used for MySurvey.com notifications). As soon as a survey is available, an animated browser window opens to let you know about it. With MySurvey Messenger you will know about ALL your survey opportunities and chances to earn reward points as soon as they become available. I’ve received a lot of positive feed back from our members who have downloaded and installed MySurvey Messenger.

To download and install MySurvey Messenger, or just to learn more, click MySurvey Messenger on the top menu. You’ll receive 40 points just for trying it out.

Mmmm… Donuts

Happy National Donut Day! Of all the unique celebrations that mark our calendar, this one has got to be the sweetest (pun intended). If this isn’t Homer Simpson's favorite day of the year, it’s probably a close second.

The first Friday of June has been designated National Doughnut Day. It started out as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army and a way to honor the Salvation Army Lassies of WWI. Check out this website for more information about the history of National Donut Day.
National Donut Day

Krispy Kreme is offering one free donut to any customers who visit their participating stores today.

If you prefer something more unique check out these independent donut makers:
Stan’s Peanut Butter Donuts
Voodoo Doughnut - The Magic is in the Hole!!!
Hot Hand-Dipped Homemade Donuts

My personal favorite is the long john – a rectangular, cream filled, chocolate glazed donut. What is your favorite type of donut? Is there a local donut shop in your area you want to tell us about? Please, share your thoughts with us!

Getting Fit in May

It just so happens that May is Physical Fitness Month here in the U.S. and although May is almost over, it's not too late to become active. Tomorrow I plan on cleaning the rust off of my bike and taking a nice long ride! It’s great exercise, plus it’s a good excuse to get outside and take advantage of the lovely spring weather we’re having around here.

Getting fit is easier than you think. There are a number of things you can do, from biking to swimming to hiking or walking. For more info, take a look at some of these links:

Fitness programs: 5 steps to getting started
Health & Fitness Center

From Product Test to Supermarket Shelf

I recently received this question from a member:

"Last summer I was part of a test group for a new (hair product). The product was amazing! I have been disappointed that I haven't been able to buy it at the store and am anxiously waiting for it to be released to the public. When will it be available?"

It's a good question, but I don't have precise answer because our clients - the companies that provide the products that you test - don't share that information with us. Although product testing is usually one of the last steps before a product is released for sale, the feedback that product testers provide may result in the client abandoning the idea or reworking it considerably. Therefore, it is very difficult to predict when (or if) the product will appear on store shelves.

My best advice is to keep looking as this panelist did:

"What a delightful treat to find a product on the store shelf that I helped test market! Just this week Pantene Silver Expressions graced the shelf at our local drug store. I was so pleased with the results during the testing period, that I continued to use every drop of both the shampoo and conditioner! What fun to find this great product sitting on the shelf for everyone to enjoy now! It truly shows that what we as consumers think, actually is listened to."

I admit though, even this advice may sometimes be difficult to follow because some product tests are "blind"- meaning the test products have no identifying label that would help you later recognize it on store shelves. Despite my inability to provide a precise answer about when products you experience will be available, we appreciate your participation in surveys and product tests. Your opinions help manufacturers craft products that meet consumer needs.

Also, one quick reminder about concept and product tests. Just as we always keep your personal information and survey responses confidential - we appreciate your keeping the new products you see when you take surveys and test samples confidential too!

May 11th is Mother’s Day

Sunday is Mother’s Day -- a time to celebrate and commemorate all the wonderful things about Mom. It’s a day for breakfast-in-bed, hand-drawn cards, and family get-togethers. Because while it’s easy to overlook all the wonderful things that Moms do, Mother’s Day gives us all the chance to say “thanks” for everything.

Personally, I like to show my appreciation for Mom by buying her a beautiful ‘flat’ of flowers every year. She loves the color they add to her front porch, and she displays them for all her guests to see. It really makes me happy to see how much she enjoys them.

If you’re still looking for gift ideas, these websites may help you get started:

Mother's Day Gifts, Ideas, Cards, Crafts, and more!
E-cards For Mom
Mother's Day Ideas

So, what do you do to show Mom your gratitude? Or, what kinds of things have your children done for you in the years past? Tell us your favorite Mother’s Day stories.

Combating High Gas Prices

I can’t believe how much it cost to fill up my gas tank recently. I’m sure feeling the strain of rising gas prices, how about you? While it’s good to know there are some long term solutions in the works, I’d like to know what I can do right now, today, to improve automobile gas efficiency and save some money. I found these websites offering helpful advice:

Good, Better, Best: How to Improve Gas Mileage
Top 10 Tips for Improving Your Fuel Economy
We Test the Tips

Of course other options include public transportation, carpooling, walking or biking. What, if anything, are you currently doing to save money on gas? Leave your comments and share your insights with our other members.

Spring is Here!

We’ve had some really nice weather in my area this spring. I’ve been able to walk in the park, do some gardening and open the windows. I always look forward to May though. May is really the start of warm weather for my area, with longer days and warm nights. I can finally plant some flowers and hopefully leave the house without a jacket.

A big thank you to everyone who submitted recipes last month! We asked for your favorite spring recipes and it was very difficult to select just a few from the wonderful recipes we received. A few of our favorites are highlighted in the Member Recipes section.

For June, we’re looking for your best “Potluck Recipes.” The deadline for the June submission is May 15th. To submit a recipe, email it to us at mailto:mycomments@mysurvey.com?subject=RECIPE with the word RECIPE in the subject line. Please feel free to include a digital photo of your recipe if you have one available.

Also be sure to check out the latest Survey Results and Quick Poll Results to see what some of our members think about a variety of topics.

Earth Day 2008

What can you do today, tomorrow or permanently?

Earthday
Earth Day 2008 - April 22 - Celebrate Earth Day 2008
Earth Day 2008: Activities for Kids

Tax Day!

Well, if you haven’t filed yet, you better get moving. Time is almost up to file your 2007 income tax return or file for an extension. I can’t offer any tax advice, but here is some tax day humor if you need a little break.

Tax Humor - TaxGaga
Only Taxes: Best of TaxLetter

Protecting Your Email Address from SPAM

Like many of you I have a number of different email addresses. I have a few email addresses that I use for work, I have another that I use for internet related activity (purchases, newsletters, etc.) and then I have my personal email address that I use only to communicate with family and close friends. I guard this email address closely, yet I still receive SPAM in this inbox. It’s very frustrating and almost impossible to figure out how my email address got to a spammer. I’m sure many of you have experienced similar problems.

So how do we protect our email address from spammers? One thing I do - I always read the privacy policy of any website or company requesting my information. What does that privacy policy say about sharing email address and other personally identifying information? For example, the MySurvey.com Privacy Policy states that we will never share your information without your explicit consent. (Occasionally we may ask if we can share your information with a client or trusted research partner that may be doing a follow-up survey. You always have the opportunity to say no.) I recently came a across a website with a newsletter that I was interested in receiving. When I checked the privacy policy it stated that they may share, rent or sell my email address with other companies for marketing purposes. Reading that helped me decide if I really wanted that newsletter and which email address I wanted to use.

What are some of the things you do to protect your email address from SPAM? Let us know!

Here are some websites with more helpful information:
How to Protect Your Email Address from Spam and Scams
Protect Yourself from Spam
How to Protect Your Email Address

Idol Gives Back – Save the Children a Featured Charity

On Wednesday April 9 at 7:30 EST, Fox and American Idol will air Idol Gives Back 2008. This is the second installment of the popular TV event aimed to help children and young people in extreme poverty in the U.S. and around the world.

Last year the event raised $76 million and producers are hoping to raise $100 million for under privileged youth. One of the six worthy charities to benefit from the funds raised during this event is Save the Children. As you know, Save the Children is a charity partner of MySurvey.com. Save the Children gives more than 15 million children and families the tools they need to survive and thrive, including access to quality health care, education and job opportunities. In the United States, Save the Children focuses on improving reading levels, physical activity and nutrition among children living in some of the poorest, most isolated areas across the country.

In 2007 our members donated over 674,000 points ($6740.00 cash equivalent) to Save the Children. I hope you continue to show the same generosity to Save the Children and all our charity partners in 2008.

For more information about Save the Children, please go to:
http://www.savethechildren.org/

To learn more about Idol Gives Back 2008, visit:
http://www.americanidol.com/idolgivesback/

More MySurvey.com Changes

Recipes for Living is now Member Recipes. Instead of linking to various recipe websites, we are giving you - our members, an opportunity to share your favorite recipes. Each month we will feature a different theme and ask for recipes that go along with that theme. For May we are looking for your best “Spring Recipes”. Click on Member Recipes on the left menu to find out how to submit your recipes and view some of my favorite recipes.

You asked and we listened - More Survey Results! We know that our members take many, many surveys for us and often never get to see the results. So we are making an effort to share more survey results with you. You’ll notice that the Survey Results page now features results from three different surveys. We will also be sharing the results of some recent Quick Polls.

My staff and I have been working hard to improve your membership experience. I hope you enjoy the recent changes we’ve made. Feel free to let me know what else we can do to make your membership experience more enjoyable.

Happy April Fools Day!

I realize today’s not April Fools Day and personally I’ve never been much of a prankster. My mother on the other hand, enjoyed playing practical jokes on me and my siblings when we were kids. Almost every April 1st we’d find ourselves with pajama legs sew together, beds short-sheeted or a maze of string in our bedrooms. It was always in good fun though.

If you are a practical joker and looking for some inspiration for tomorrow, here’s a few websites you can check out.
April Fools Day
FamilyFun: April Fools Day Pranks
Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes Of All Time

If you’ve got a good April Fools Day story you’d like to share, please leave your comments. I’m sure our other members would love to hear your stories!

Lights Out

Today Earth Hour invites people around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – at 8:00 pm local time. Many cities around the world, including Chicago, Melbourne, Copenhagen and Tel Aviv, will participate and hold events to show their commitment to saving energy.

To learn more and find out what you can do, visit:
Earth Hour US
World Wildlife Fund - Earth Hour

Why Reward Options "Disappear"

Here is a common complaint I receive from members:

"It is unfair that you are no longer offering a prize that I have been saving up for. I answer your surveys diligently and I feel misled."

I understand how frustrating this is for you and it's usually frustrating for me too. Reward options generally disappear for one of the following reasons:

• The option is no longer available through our vendor. We saw this happen recently with the casserole keeper, a long time member favorite. The manufacturer we purchased the item from has decided to move different direction and will no longer be making this item.


• Because we know our members' reward preferences vary considerably, we try to make a wide variety of options available and include new options frequently, removing items that do not appear to be as popular or offering seasonal options that may be appealing.

What can be done to improve the situation?

• For reward options, such as the casserole keeper, which we know are popular but are unavailable through our vendor, we look for similar alternatives. My staff and I are currently on the hunt for new kitchen items to offer on MySurvey.com. If you have any suggestions feel free to send me your comments.


• Let me know what type of reward options you'd like us to offer. Be sure to also let me know when an item you've been saving up for has been removed. I can't guarantee that it will be replaced immediately, but if we know there is interest, we can make sure that we look for similar options to offer in the near future.

My staff and I have been working diligently the past few months to get some new and exciting rewards. I hope you are satisfied with our progress so far. Be sure to check back soon for updates.

Got a Question?

If you have a question about any aspect of your membership the quickest way to get an answer is to look in our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section. There, you will find a list of categories and sub-categories, separated by individual topics. Simply click on any of the links pertaining to your question and scan the page for your particular topic.

If for some reason you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, or you encounter problems with your account, send me an email. I’ll try to get back with you as quickly as possible, usually within 24 hours. Please be sure to include your username and a full description of your issue. That way I can give you a full and complete answer to your question.

If you need immediate assistance, you can also call me. Our toll free number is 1-800-537-4097. My support staff is available to answer calls from 8 AM to 11 PM (Eastern Time) on weekdays and 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday.

We always welcome your ideas, suggestions, comments and complaints about any aspect of your membership. If you’d like to share your comments with us please send an email to mycomments@mysurvey.com. Please note this email address if for general comments only, if you have a question that needs an answer please click the email link above.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Everyone is Irish today – enjoy the celebrations no matter where you are.

Watch the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade 3/17 at 11AM (EST)

Live Dublin Ireland Webcams

Survey Frequency

Here are some examples of the most common question and comment I receive from MySurvey.com members:

“I’m a new member and I’ve only received one survey. When will I get more surveys?”

“Please send more surveys.”

On average, our members receive a survey invitation every one to two weeks. You may notice that sometimes you'll receive surveys more often than this and other times less often. The number of surveys you receive during a month usually depends on the types of surveys we are conducting in that month and how they match with the information you provided about your household. For example, if we have lots of baby product surveys this month and there are no babies in your household, you may receive fewer surveys this month.

In-home product test opportunities occur much less frequently. That's because our clients do most of their new product opinion work online via a survey with pictures and descriptions of products. This allows them to use a much smaller sample for the more expensive in-home product testing phase. The longer you are on the panel, the more likely it is that you will have the opportunity for an in-home product test, but there are no guarantees.

Hopefully that answers a question about membership for many of you. Answers to many common questions can also be found by visiting our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section.

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New Reward Redemption Items

I wanted to let you know about some new Reward Redemption items we’ve recently added.

Garrity Power Light - Perfect for emergency situations, by simply cranking the fold-out handle for 60 seconds it produces 30 minutes of light. Requires 1700 Points.

Apple iPod Shuffle 1 GB - The world's smallest digital music player holds up to 240 songs and weighs in at about half an ounce. Supports MP3, WAV, AIFF and audio book formats, features a built-in rechargeable lithium polymer battery with up to 12 hours of skip-free playback. Requires 6000 Points.

Phyralon 7-piece Cookware Set - Set includes: 1-1/2-quart sauce pan with cover, 2-quart sauce pan with cover, 5-quart Dutch oven with cover, 10-inch heavyweight open skillet pan (Dutch oven cover fits skillet). Features Easy Grip, cool-touch handles and cover knobs. Requires 7000 Points.

To learn more about these items and our many other redemption options click Rewards on the top menu, then click on Select Reward on the left menu.

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Daylight Saving Time Begins

Don’t forget to change your clocks one hour forward this Sunday (March 9). In 2005 Congress changed the start date of Daylight Saving Time to the second week of March. That new policy went into effect last year. The main reason we observe Daylight Saving Time (DST) is to save energy, although a recent study disputes that claim.

For more information on Daylight Saving Time, visit one of these websites.
http://www.energy.ca.gov/daylightsaving.html
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/daylight_time.php

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Market Research Scams

In the past, we’ve done whatever is necessary to alert our members and the general public about scams and unethical business practices of companies claiming to offer market research surveys. We’ve all seen the ads: “Earn $25 - $75 for each Survey You Take!” This is simply false advertising. Just like many other false claims and promises, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. MySurvey.com is a great way to share your opinions with companies about the products and services they offer -- you may pick up some extra cash, but keep in mind you won’t be able to earn a living wage from it.

I have recently learned of a mystery shopping scam that, unfortunately, involves the parent company of MySurvey.com, TNS. In this particular scam, consumers are receiving a letter on fake “TNS” letterhead offering them the opportunity to make “easy money” by cashing a large-sum cashier’s check. The letter then asks the recipient to participate in a “quality assurance” study at Money Gram by wiring $800.00 to a specified address in Canada. The “reward” for participating in this study is keeping a percentage of the cashier’s check for $980.00 from Sterling Bank that is enclosed with the letter. The cashier’s check is bogus and it will bounce several days after cashing it. The participant is then out of the money they wired for this so-called mystery shopping project.

If you encounter this scam or receive this fake project request, please notify me immediately so that TNS can investigate further. Visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association website (the largest mystery shopping trade association) for more information about the scam and recommended steps to follow if you have been victimized: http://www.mysteryshop.org/news/article_pr.php?art_ID=73

Here's an online resource to help you detect scams and protect yourself:
http://www.scambusters.org/scamcheck.html

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Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I hope you enjoy this new addition to MySurvey.com. I’m replacing the Monthly Letter, previously in this section with this blog. I think you will find it more interesting, and I will use it to tell you about the latest news and information related to MySurvey.com. You’ll also be able to find fun information about current events, web trends and technology and a variety of other topics.

Because we enjoy receiving comments from our members, you will be allowed to provide comments and post feedback to blog entries. Keep in mind however, that I'll personally review all blog comments, and only comments with appropriate content (positive or negative) will be posted.

I'll update this blog at least once per week, so be sure to check back regularly! While you are visiting MySurvey.com, please visit the Useful Websites and Recipes for Living pages. This month features a variety of interesting topic such as March events, trivia and how-to websites. You’ll also find authentic Irish recipes and information about the benefits of eating a balanced diet.

Stay tuned – more coming soon!

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