McWilliams’ World

Just noticed today that my gift (Zune + iPod Nano bonus = check) from CheckoutPath.net has shipped. Hopefully it’s a good amount (I’m estimating about $300 or so) so I can cover the drum stuff and 2 Zunes I bought recently.

The last dangling items can be found on my Freebie Tracker. Mostly some video games and $2000 in gift cards from some Brandarama sites.

I also noticed that I got a $5 bump over at FusionCash.com when one of my referrals cashed out. Sweet! If you sign up, you’ll get a $5 bump just for signing up and if any one signs under you you’ll earn some scratch as well. There are a ton of 100% free offers, email clicks, site sign-ups, etc… When I started FusionCash, I managed to rack up about $50 in about two days of clicking. Just have an extra email address handy.

Another similar site is Inbox Dollars and I’ve been slowly building up some cash there. Mainly just clicking on emails and doing surveys. It’s actually pretty fun and easy.

Just received a $110 check from FreeGameConsoles.net today to cover the 12mo Xbox Live subscription ($60) and $50 GameStop gift card bonus I signed up for. Well, that’ll cover one of the Zunes I bought off off Woot.com today (got two). Check out the Freebie Tracker for more info on the status of other freebies I’m waiting on.

I jumped on the “pay what you want” bandwagon and ordered Radiohead’s new album In Rainbows. I payed $0.00 for it. I’m not a Radiohead fan by any means, but I liked their song Creep from a few years ago.

I just listened to it and… it’s okay. Nothing stood out to me. It’s very atmospheric. Nothing too catchy - so you won’t walk around with a song stuck in your head for 3 days but it’s easy to listen to for the most part. Lots of percussion.

After listening to it, I can say I wouldn’t buy it (ha! I didn’t) - unless I was a die-hard Radiohead fan - which I already stated that I’m not; but I’m open to most music.

Nice thing is… if I’m sick of it - I can delete it and let it fade from my memory and not be out anything. Thanks Radiohead!

Just posted my dedicated page to the current freebies I’m waiting on. Although I was keeping track within a post, my bud Ender slapped up his own freebie tracker and I thought it was pretty cool idea so I did the same.

Be sure to take a look and envy.

Just was notified that my FusionCash payment has been deposited into my PayPal account! $88.15.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m on a bit of of “freebie spree”, and today the first out of the bunch as gone ripe. It’s a small one but doing one offer that only cost me $7 netted me a $50 gift card to GameStop. I even had to request manual credit which usually takes forever, but this time I sent in one message, called once after a week of no updates and a few days later - it’s all good.

So let’s take a look at the current batch of freebies I’m going for and their status:

• $50 GameStop gift card (checkoutpath.net) [started: 5.27.07 | complete 7.23.07 | Shipped 8.6.07 | received 8.11.07]
• $100 EB/GameStop gift card (alwaysfreegifts.com) [started: 6.14.07 | complete 7.31.07 | shipped 8.8.07 |received 8.12.07]
• $100 EB/GameStop gift card (everyfreegift.com) [started: 6.14.07 | complete 7.29.07 | shipped 8.2.07 | received 8.9.07]
• 12mo Xbox Live subscription card + $50 GameStop gift card (freegameconsoles.net) [started 7.3.07 | complete 9.4.07]
• Microsoft Zune (club.live.com) [started 7.16.07 | still in progress]
• Xbox Live Unplugged (vo.l 1) (club.live.com) [completed around 7.4.07 | Shipped 8.15.07 | received 8.21.07]
• Microsoft Zune + bonus iPod Nano (checkoutpath.net) [started around 7.19.07 | complete 8.31.07]
• Mass Effect (yourfree360games.com) [completed 5.4.07 | waiting for shipment - Nov 07]
• Too Human (yourfree360games.com) [completed 7.8.08 | waiting for shipment - Late 07 or Jan 08]
• Guitar Hero 2 (yourfree360games.com) [started 7.27.07 | complete 8.17.07 | Received 8.24.07]
• $1k Visa Gift Card (yourtopbrands.com) [started 7.25.07 | Complete 8.3.07 - waiting 4-6 weeks]
• $500 American Express Gift Card (rewardsparade.com) [started 8.12.07 | complete 8.17.07 | waiting for gift]
• $500 American Express Gift Card (trustedrewards.com) [started 8.19.07 | complete 9.7.07]

Estimated value of freebies? $3150.

Whooo! What a list! Why all the Zunes? Why the heck not?! Tracy would really like one (as the MP3 player she has isn’t all the great) and I wouldn’t mind one either. They’re easy enough to do the offers for (one site is only 3 offers and I think it cost me about $6) the other one - if my card play out - will cost me zip. Can’t complain about that when you’re getting a $250 media player.

So the long wait begins. I just hope they’re a bit faster than before (typical 6-8 weeks) and I don’t run into any approval issues; which I can’t imagine as all my offers are “in progress”.

What am I going to do with all the gift card? Buy games of course! I’m still looking to pick up Assassin’s Creed, COD 4, Burnout 5, maybe Rock Band, maybe Two Worlds, plus whatever else catches my fancy (Halo 3, Bioshock, Naruto, and GH III are all on order).

[update: edited list to include site and recent udpates to statuses]

[update: I mistakenly called alwaysfreegifts.com "anyfreegift.com". my bad.]

[update: updated status for alwaysfreegifts.com - they're complete]

[update: 8.2.07: EveryFreeGift.com email stating that I'll be getting a check instead of a card within 10 business days!]

[update: 8.3.07: YourTopBrands.com confirms all 4 offers! This must be the fastest turn around and best deal on a $1000 gift card. Ever!]

[update: 8.6.07: CheckoutPath.com shipped my $50 check today]

[update: 8.8.07: AlwaysFreeGifts.com offer is shipped: $100]

[update: 8.9.07: Received $100 check from EveryFreeGift.com]

[update: 8.11.07: Recieved $50 check from CheckoutPath.com]

[update: 8.12.07: Recieved $100 check from AlwaysFreeGifts.com]

[update: 8.15.07: Notified that Club.Live shipped my Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged]

[update: 8.16.07: Added RewardsParade.com $500 AmEx gift card]

[update: 8.17.07:
» Completed RewardsParade.com $500 AmEx gift card
» YourTopBrands.com $1000 Visa gift card scheduled to be shipped
» YourFree360Games.com offers complete; after a very long manual credit Guitar Hero 2 ordered (then will ship back to Amazon.com for credit)]

[update: 8.21.07:
» Received my Xbox Live Unplugged Vol 1 today from club.live. Now only if they'd ship my Zune!
» Added $500 AmEx gift card from TrustedRewrds.com (another Brandarama site - 3 offers)]

[update: 8.24.07:
» Received Guitar Hero II from yourFree360Games.com
» Updated TrustedRewards.com - 2 of 3 offers complete]

[update: 8.31.07: Zune offer from checkoutpath.net went complete]

[update: 9.4.07: FreeGameConsoles.net offers for XBL subscription and $50 GameStop card go complete, sending in certs]

[update: 9.7.07: TrustedRewards.com $500 AmEx gift card finally goes complete]

I just check my FusionCash account and it’s now over $82 $87. An offer I completed a few days ago finally was credited - which gave it healthy $20 bump. Plus, I just had someone register under me so there could be a few bucks there as well.

Now, I’m not going to get rich off this but as it stands, I just covered the hosting and domain I purchased from Godaddy.com. I’ll let the current balance ride for the rest of the week as most of the remaining offers that haven’t credited have a few more days to credit. I plan to cash-out before the end of Aug. as you get paid the month after you cash-out.

[updated: I just realized that I never received my $5 sign-up bonus (which is still going on by the way!) so I logged in and got it taken care of. Yeah!)

All done. I’ve pretty much tapped all available, decent offers. My last attempt is another $500 AmEx gift card from TrustedRewards.com (a Brandarama site). Only 3 offers but I took some risk trying to complete it. I did a Disney movie club (can ship back my initial order to cancel), Zomba - a book club, and a Cookbook club. All similar in requirements. Obviously I’m taking a greater financial risk with these as I’m having to dole out $10 -  $15 per sign-up; but I should be able to recoup that if i decide not to continue with these programs.

So all in all, I’ve potentially have over $3200 worth of freebies, with maybe an investment of less than $100 and some patience and diligence. Not too shabby.

FYI… My FusionCash account is now up to $60 and climbing. I’m still expecting another $20 - $40 to be credited withing the week.