ModestNeeds.org

I ran across this and I wanted to pass it along... My family doesn't qualify for this, but I reckon someone reading out there might, or at least knows someone who could benefit... So many folks laid off recently, unemployed, etc... Please pass it along!

Modest Needs offers three types of grants: Self-Sufficiency Grants, Back-to-Work Grants, and Independent Living Grants. The grants we offer at Modest Needs come with no strings attached and do not ever have to be repaid.

To learn more about the types of grants we offer at Modest Needs, please read about our Grant Types and Eligibility Requirements.

More About Our Bridge Grant

Modest Needs makes Bridge grants by remitting payment to a creditor for a relatively small, emergency expense on behalf of an individual or family suffering from short-term unemployment due to the current economic downturn.

In making a Bridge Grant, our goal is to allow a person who has recently become unemployed through no fault of his or her own AND who has yet to find a new position OR to begin receiving the unemployment benefits to which s/he is entitled to continue to look for work without having to worry - at least in the short term - about losing his or her home, car, health insurance, child care, or other items / services essential to an individual's ability to look for / accept new employment and / or to remain self-sufficient while that person is waiting for his or her unemployment benefits to start.

I'm making the Internet work for me...

I thought I'd toss out a few of the things I do online to score free items, cash, coupons... the like..

Mindfield Online. A site that sends you surveys you can complete for cash. It's been slow going so far ($15 since OCT), but hey- free money is always a good thing!

Lightspeed Online - I haven't earned anything yet, but just signed up last week. I've heard from others though that this is a good one, you can redeem your points for things like Applebee's Gift Cards!! Katie over at Cincinnati Cents says it's a good one, I believe her. Make sure you check out her blog too, her new layout design is AWESOME. Maybe someday I'll have one too!

BzzAgent - As a BzzAgent, you'll get to:
* Discover and try new products and services (often for free)
* Spread sincere word of mouth about them
* Have your opinions influence some of the biggest companies and brands around
If you'd like to receive those benefits, become an Agent today. Don't worry, BzzAgent respects its members' privacy and won't share your personal information or spam you.

SheSpeaks gives you many ways to have a say, including... testing products to inspire the companies who created them, writing your opinions on our blogs and discussion boards, creating your own product reviews, or getting expert advice on a range of topics to keep you in-the-know. And the best part is... we promise to never charge you a penny.
I've gotten to try OPI Nic Sticks nail polish, and Ghirardelli Peanut Butter Chocolates... Both products I actually liked a lot...

Synovate/Global Opinion Panels - By far my most favorite Survey site. You earn cash pretty quickly, and I have been selected for more than a few really fun product tests, since joining in late October. If I could only pick one survey site to be a member of, this would be it!

Pssst by General Mills... Right now my account is empty, but not too long ago there were great links to printables for Progresso (the $1.10/1). Make sure you sign up there.
Pssst…is all about some of the best known food and consumer brands in the country. If you would like to receive news about new products (and even samples and coupons from time to time), you can become a member.
Pssst… also offers a behind-the-scenes look at General Mills and occasionally an opportunity to give your opinion about products and initiatives. Pssst… is fun and it’s free to Join.

Survey Spot. This is another paid survey site, and I've gotten one product test from them and $8. They tend to send a LOT of surveys (a few per day), but many are for "chances to win" instead of actual payment. It pays to take those surveys too though, because a few have turned out to be screeners for product tests, lol. Sneaky survey spot!!

ViewPoint Forum - this one's by email referral only... If you wanna join, shoot me an email and I'll send one over. I have earned about $18'ish dollars so far, but haven't gotten any surveys from them this week...
Forum Points Program
As a member of Viewpoint Forum you will always be compensated for your opinions. Most of our surveys are rewarded with Forum Points. The amount of Forum Points you can earn will vary depending upon the length and complexity of the survey, although most surveys will earn you 75 Forum Points for completion. The amount of Forum Points you will earn for each survey will be communicated to you in the initial survey notification email. Most surveys will take about 10 minutes to complete.

Members can accumulate Forum Points and are eligible to request payment once they reach a total of 375 Forum Points (the equivalent of $10). Members can also allow their Forum Points to accumulate and request payment at a later date. Members are able to view and manage their Forum Points account via their personal home page on our website.

Your2Cents. I have earned $13 so far, and haven't had a survey in a while... But again - free money is free money...You have to have 30,000 points to cash out ($10), but most the surveys I've gotten from them are for $1 - $3, it just takes time...

Vocalpoint. What can be said about Vocalpoint... If you're not already a member, you have to join asap. Examples lately have been: A package with a coupon for a free box of Kashi TLC bars, and a set of $2 off coupons to give to friends.. There's always a package of coupons, one awesome one, and a few high-dollar ones to spread the love. I recently got a suction-cup hook to hang my tuna pouches on courtesy of the folks at Starkist. It went along with a promo with some really awesome tuna coupons! Sign up now... don't wait.

Join the Kashi Community too. I recently got a package in the mail (similar to the vocalpoint pack) with coupons for $2 off Kashi TLC bars, and a coupon for a free box!!! They don't send you a bunch of spam emails or anything... Definitely worth it..

Do you have an interesting place that you're registered at that hooks you up? Share!!! :)

Sam's Club...

Ok so I want to say first... these are just things I found at Sam's Club that I fell in love with today. First are the reusable shopping bags. These things are HUGE!!!! They're a sturdy plastic'ish feeling fabric, and come in a pkg of 2. (19" x 14" x 11") They've got both handles and shoulder straps, and will hold up to 70lbs. I will use these a LOT. I love my reusable shopping bags from the Meijer, but they're TINY by comparison. Cost: $2.74
(yes, that's my GIANT coupon binder on the left)
The next one is the most adorable cookie jar I have seen - ever. There were more styles, but this is the one that grabbed me as I walked by. It comes with 2 little bags of sugar cookies inside... But I think you'll find it very easy to stuff with goodies that you make at home. Cost: $9.86