Tag Archives: earn cash and prizes

Christmas Comes Earlier, and Earlier, and…

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Kipper Williams 30 August 2012We were in Kmart over the weekend – that would be September 14th – a time when it is 92 degrees in Charleston, and the streets are still lined with garage sales. And what do we see? The Christmas displays are already out.

It’s a terrible, terrible cliché that “Christmas comes earlier every year!” But, dang! Doesn’t it seem like it?  It’ still regular season baseball. It’s week 2 of the NFL (when the Bengals still have a shot!) I haven’t even raked my first leaf!

So it’s no surprise that the Today show has already done a feature on the topic, appropriately enough, on Kmart.

Kmart is receiving a lot of attention for airing a Christmas ad a full 106 days before the holiday. Many customers feel the retailer is jumping the gun, but business analysts think the ad is necessary for the chain’s layaway program. Today.com

Meanwhile, in Walmart yesterday, I heard the announcement reminding shoppers that “our Christmas layaway is in full effect!”

Watch the video, and tell me…is 106 days too early? Does it bug you, or are you already taking advantage of the savin’s? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Free is Always Better!

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Free+Samples+4.1Here’s a fun one for Friday. Free Samples. They used to be a big deal; manufacturers and retailers used to advertise them all of the time. Now, in the internet age, the Savers Club age, you don’t hear as much about them. But Free Samples are very much alive!

Sample.net has put out a fun infographic that tells you what the popular samples are, who has them and how to get them, as well as a little bit of the logic behind them. Here are some highlights, then I will give you the link.

Why samples?

Well, they are a fast and efficient way to get your attention. Even better, for the companies, they get all kinds of info about your wants and interests, what you like and don’t like. That’s marketing gold to them!

Who has them?

Most of the biggies you would expect, such as WalMart, Target, P&G, Gillette, etc.

Like what?

Cosmetics, bath, home, pet supplies and more!

OK, enough yak-yak. Where’s the link!?!

Fine! Here ye be. Enjoy!

Have any good sample secrets? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook Page! And have a great weekend!

Too Much Debt?

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debt
It’s a TRAP! – Admiral Ackbar

Here’s a recap of a classic blog post from money guru and radio personality Dave Ramsey. He takes a look at folks who always seem to stay in debt. Whether they have money, or not much, they always have too many bills – and they don’t seem to do anything about it.

But what keeps people from getting out of debt? Why would someone want to stay in chains instead of living in freedom? Sadly, there are all sorts of reasons people choose MasterCard over being free from debt.  Dave Ramsey Blog

He lists a few reasons. Briefly…

  • Keeping up appearances. You’re trying to keep up with the Joneses, but they are probably as underwater as you are!
  • Fear of change. Sometimes, it’s the devil you know, right?
  • Stuff – Gotta Have It! Some folks need stuff to feel good about themselves, and can’t imagine not having it.
  • Unwilling to Sacrifice. He points to eating out all the time and having the full-blown cable TV package.
  • They don’t know how. I mean, there’s no way to get out from under this mountain, right? There is almost always a way, you just have to figure it out.
  • Laziness. ‘nuff said.

Anyway, this is not an ad for Dave Ramsey, but he does have some ideas at his blog, take ‘em or leave ‘em. What do you think? Do you recognize any of these behaviors in your family or friends? How do they cope? Have you ever been in debt and worked your way out? Tell us about it at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Tweeting Too Much?

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twitter-bird-white-on-bluePersonal information, that is. The answer is probably Yes, according to Consumer Affairs.com:

Social media users compromise their privacy all the time. They post pictures while they are on vacation, for example, advertising the fact they aren’t at home. They reveal other personal information that ought to be private. ConsumerAffairs.com

One big reason is geo-tracking. You have GPS turned on, and your tweet goes out there with really accurate location info for all to see. Other times, it’s the info you carelessly blab in your tweets.

Anyway, the article tells of a grad student in California who has studied people’s tweets and is able to map out their activities, online and real-world. He says they are usually pretty shocked what he knows about them! He has developed a site, geosocialfootprint.com, to help educate folks on privacy issues.

Now, this isn’t a indictment of Twitter. This is about personal responsibility. If you don’t like sharing all of this information, you can take steps to change it. So, what do you think? Is this a big deal, or just paranoia? Do you care if people know this stuff about you? What about your kids? Give us your thoughts over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

September Savings!

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LB_01Hope everyone had a fun and safe Labor Day!

Here’s a fun exercise: do a search for “September Savings” and see what you get! Among the most popular items, you will find:

  • Bicycles
  • Camping Equipment
  • Cars
  • Perennials, shrubs and trees
  • Lawn equipment
  • Ceiling fans
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Summer food items (picnic, BBQ, etc.)
  • Diabetes products (weird!)
  • Seasonal Produce (summer items)
  • Camping gear
  • Gardening supplies
  • Bug spray
  • Fans and air conditioners
  • BBQ supplies–grills, charcoal, lighters
  • Air Fares: Late September is always a good time to book a flight!
  • Beach houses: If you’re somewhere warm, there’s plenty of time left to enjoy the beach!

There are a bunch of websites to help fuel your September spending – I mean SAVINGS – so check them out here, here, here, here and here.

How about you? Found any good deals lately? Let us know at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Labor Day By the Numbers!

10425650-illustrated-labor-day-text-designIt’s By the Numbers time again (…yay?) This time, we celebrate the worker on Labor Day. And, if you somehow manage to HAVE a job these days, the celebration should be non-stop!

Anyway, the US Census Bureau has a stack of Fun Facts to share, so let’s take a look!

Today’s Top 10 Occupations!

  1. Retail salespeople
  2. Cashiers
  3. Food prep, including fast food
  4. Office clerks, general
  5. Registered nurses
  6. Waiters and waitresses
  7. Customer service representatives
  8. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers
  9. Janitors and cleaners
  10. Secretaries and administrative assistants

Wow. Talk about your “service economy!”

By the way, the top 3 occupations in 1910 were farm owners, farm laborers (paid) and farm laborers (unpaid family members.)

Median income:

  • Men $48,202
  • Women $37,118

Fastest Growing Jobs, 2010-2020:

  • By percentage: Personal Care Aides
  • By number of jobs: Registered Nurses

Labor Day Retail!

How many retail sores are out there for your Back-to-school and Labor Day consumption? THIS MANY!

  • 28,128 family clothing stores
  • 25,448 shoe stores
  • 21,227 sporting goods stores
  • 8,407 bookstores
  • 8,144 office supply and stationery stores
  • 7,093 children and infants clothing stores

So, now that we know what we are doing the other 364 days of the year, what are YOUR plans for Labor Day? I’m going to the beach! Whatever you get up to, be safe, and happy Labor Day!

Remember When?

In this Mental Well Being Moment, Reader’s Digest cites a number of studies that suggest reminiscing about past good times can be healthy for you.

Nostalgia has been shown to counteract loneliness, boredom, and anxiety,” John Tierney wrote in a recent New York Times article. “It makes people more generous to strangers and tolerant of outsiders. Couples feel closer and look happier when they’re sharing nostalgic memories.  Reader’sDigest.com

Some Suggestions?

  • Take Time to Make Time: Almost 80% of us spontaneously reminisce one a week. But why wait? 20 minutes a day might do a world of good, says Psychology Today.
  • Just remember, don’t write: One study says that Thinkers are happier than Writers. I know when I write them down, I am always trying to make them clever and perfect and more awesome. Takes the fun out.
  • Sounds and Smells can Lead the Way: Ever have a song come on and immediately remember the first time you ever heard it? Again, why wait for it to happen? Also, smells. I must have said this before, but the smell of freshly cut grass always takes me back to the first day of kindergarten – though that’s not necessarily a nice memory!
  • Don’t Compare the Present to the Past: Yeah, especially if you are thinking about the economy!
  • Think back with others: Others that share the memories, I guess. Chatting on Facebook with your high school friends about all the various kinds of trouble you got into can be fun. Just remember, your kids are watching!
  • Have Memorable Experiences Now: As Kate Gosselin used to shriek so charmingly, “WE’RE MAKING MEMORIES!” So do that. I mean, make memories…don’t shriek.

So, is this a healthy habit? Have you tried it? What do you think? Let us know at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Social Media Done Right

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Listen-Up-Consumers-Social-Media-Matters-More-Than-You-Might-ThinkYou may be hearing from friends and family about “social media fatigue.” It’s a vague term, but I think it has a few causes. First, the technology; it’s hard to keep up with the latest and greatest platform. It used to be just MySpace and Twitter, now there are a million of them. Second, human nature. I don’t know why, but people seem to bare their deepest selves, from the sugary-sweet (I know a girl who posts “I love my husband!!!” EVERY SINGLE DAY) …to the inane (“hit LIKE and we can end poverty!”) Finally, corporate intrusion: about half of my Facebook news feed these days consists of advertisements!

It’s enough to make you want to log off permanently. But wait…

Consumers say they’re tired of receiving useless information through the latest and greatest social network and wary of giving up their personal data. But here’s one good reason you shouldn’t delete your social media accounts just yet: Companies are paying close attention to what you say. Closer than you can imagine. Mint.com consumer Blog

Because it’s SO public and SO immediate, companies are doing everything they can to keep up with social media. A complaint that used to sit for days in the email IN box is addressed tout-suite (that means NOW) on a Facebook page.

So, who is doing social media right? Here’s a partial list, courtesy of OnlineMBAPage.com:

  1. Google
  2. Starbucks
  3. Coke
  4. Disney
  5. Intel
  6. Nike
  7. Lowe’s
  8. H-P
  9. Ford
  10. Target

…and 40 more!

So, do you visit a lot of corporate social media sites? Which ones? Who do YOU think does it well? Let us know at the MindField Online Facebook page! And have a great weekend!

Conspiracy at the Return Desk?

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2391.mdaThe next time you return something to the store, just know that the all-seeing Eye of Sauron is watching you! It’s up to you to decide if that’s a bad thing or not.

Returns account for almost 10% of all retail items purchased each year, over a quarter-trillion dollars a year in the US! And while the majority of people doing the returning are average upstanding Joes and Janes like us, there are some whose practices aren’t so wholesome, and the retailers are pushing back.

Many retailers are tracking you, too — or at least your merchandise returns. The companies say it’s all in the name of security and fighting fraud. They want to be able to identify chronic returners or gangs of thieves trying to make off with high-end products that are returned later for store credit.  Salt Lake Tribune

They pass this info along (mostly in secret) to companies, almost like credit agencies, who collect your return information and create “profiles” of your habits.  Naturally, the retailers say they are trying to protect the bottom line and prevent fraud. Just as naturally, shoppers are getting worked up about profiling and transparency.

What do you think? Necessary evil in the name of Low Prices, or one more intrusion in a life that already has too many? Read the original article, and tell us your opinion over at the MindField Online Facebook page. And have a great weekend!

Facebook Fans Speak (August 2013)

megaphone-kid-croppedIt’s time once again to feature comments from satisfied MindField Online panelists, collected from our over 36,000 Facebook fans.  You will find them at our “Panelist Feedback” page. Here’s a sample from Lorna Marie …

Just want to say hello to everyone! Love MindField! I look forward to each survey opportunity! It is FUN and it makes me feel like I am making a difference in helping Companies provide quality products to American consumers.

Thanks Lorna Marie! So take a look, and have a great weekend!

(photo: southerncrescentsolutions.com)