Pimp my Browser! or Shill, shill, shill

[pinkphatty_wut]

Ok, I'm not usually a "pimper", but it worked for me, and y'all know I love saving money/ getting free stuff. So... I'm pimping "Swagbucks".

"Swagbucks" is basically an advertising-driven search engine that rewards you with "swagbucks" to redeem for prizes. Prizes vary, but what made me try it in the first place are the gift cards.

The pros:

• Um, free gift cards. Duh. It took me less than a month to acrue enough swagbucks to redeem for a $5 online g.c. to Amazon.com without any friend referrals or other helps. I've only been using it for about 1.5 months, and I'm about 1/3rd of the way to a $10 g.c. to Starbucks (130 Swagbucks). They offer other prizes, too, but I'm in it for the gift cards. I haven't paid a thing.
• It's really easy to use. You can download it to your Firefox browser as the search toolbar in the corner. That's what I do. Super easy, and my browser hasn't had any problems that I've noticed. As long as you select "keep me logged in" the first time you log in, you never have to re-enter your log-in name. *unless you log out or log-in on another computer, naturally*
  
  • There are other ways to earn Swagbucks in addition to the search engine, too, but I haven't tried them yet.
• It could be more profitable for those of you with lots of online friends that sign up. (which, I ain't gonna lie, I'm kinda hoping one of you signs up and helps me, too. ;D) With the referrals, supposedly you earn the same swagbucks that your referred friends earned. (I think only up to a certain amount, like 100+, but still, easy way to earn more gift cards!)

The cons:

• The search engine isn't as thorough as Google. Sometimes the links they give you are misleading, but that's only happened twice so far. Like Google listings, they do provide the actual website underneath to help you avoid that. I think the ads-links are what gets them to offer the prizes. 
• You only earn Swagbucks two times a day, and it's random.
• Once a "swagbuck" pops up, you have to send a confirmation email to yourself. (You just click a link.) It's not more than 2 times a day, though. I've yet to receive any extra "spam".

The way I use it is I just do a web search for stuff I'm already familiar with and will have easy, clear results for me. Like, "perez hilton", y'know? Usually within 2-4 searches I'll hit my "swagbuck", and it's usually 1-3 bucks. So if I do it twice a day, it works out pretty nicely. I mean, I'm all for free stuff in the laziest way I can get it, yo. I mean, no spam, I just have to use a search engine, and it's paid off so far!

IF you're interested, here's the referral link to join with. I mean, it's really easy and so far, all benefit with no recourse! Esp. when Bobby and I are trying to save up for things we like by cutting out the easier-to-live-without luxuries. I know some of you are in a similar situation of cutting back on those things, too. I used the $5 g.c. to Amazon with a $20 one I earned by filling out a survey through my school, and I bought two comic book collections for $1+! With shipping! It's a nice, free way to earn yourself an occasional treat. They have g.c.'s for Amazon, iTunes, Starbucks, B&N, Target, Disney... With a little time, you earn free stuff.

ETA Update 4/29/09: I've just redeemed $10 in g.c.'s for Amazon again, and I'm only 19 swagbucks away from my 3rd g.c. $15 in G.C.'s to Amazon will allow me to pre-order a book by an author I like for about $2. The last time I redeemed a g.c. was 3/18/09. Now, granted, part of this was helped by having a friend referred, but still... it really doesn't take too long to earn the prizes! It rocks!