SURVEY INFORMATION - Here are the companies that have paid, along with the ones I do not use anymore because they don't. These are companies that I have actually received money from (via checks,Paypal,etc.) I'll update this as I get checks from new companies - I'm still waiting on a couple to add. If you know of any others, please do add them so that others can sign up!
I also just added a site to find companies that do focus groups in your area at the bottom - another great way to make extra money.
Let me know if you have any questions by e-mailing me - for some reason, I'm not getting any subscriptions!
Miriam
mir322@aol.com
SurveySavvy.com
They usually pay 10-20 bucks a survey. There are some for less than that, but the surveys are pretty painless. My link for them is:
http://www.surveysavvy.com/ss/ss_index.php?id=1986193&action=join
I think I get paid when I refer people for SurveySavvy, but it's some small amount like $2 for every survey you complete. You can also refer your DH and get paid for every time HE completes a survey.
NFO (aka mysurvey.com):
Another great one that uses points that you redeem. WIth this one, 1000 points=$10. The way it usually works is they'll give you a screener survey for 20-30 points and if you qualify, they'll ask you to continue on to a larger survey. These usually start from 300+ points. The points add up a bit more quickly than Lightspeed. My link for them is:
http://join.mysurvey.com/join.cfm?r=2155752 I'll get 150 points if you use the link. Otherwise, you can just join through the main site.
Lightspeed: www.lightspeedpanel.com
I get a couple of $10 checks here and there. The points accumulate to 1000=$10.
Buzzback: www.buzzback.com
They pay no less than $5 a survey - they're infrequent, but I just received a check - 5 bux is 5 bux! Yay!
Survey Direct: www.surveydirect.com
Their surveys pay between $3 and $10 via Paypal.
Harris Poll: http://www.harrispollonline.com/
Another infrequent one, but I just got my Blockbuster gift card in the mail 7/2/05 - so I'm happy
American Consumer Opinion: www.acop.com
I get paid 6 or 7 bucks for each survey.
Pinecone Research: www.pineconeresearch.com
Unfortunately, you can only join this one via invitation when the company asks its members to send them out, or in a banner link. The banners are really hard to find (still haven't seen one to this day). But if you get in, each survey pays $5 and it's usually about 15 minutes. The checks arrive within a week.
Test Spin www.testspin.com
I've gotten paid between $2 and $8 for each survey. They pay you via
Amazon Gift Certificates that they e-mail you. Payout is after $10. No referrals here. Just sign up on their main page.
SurveySpot http://www.surveyspot.com/joinus.htm
I got a check for $15 on 7/26/05. A lot of these surveys are for contests to win money, but I only do the ones that say, "You will be paid $5 to complete this survey." Otherwise, I just delete the others
Brand Institute www.brandinstitute.com
This is aimed more for people in the medical field, but I got a couple of surveys for a few dollars each. A friend said she got several for $15 apiece and recieved her payment via check. They do require you to provide your social security number in order to get paid.
www.Esearch.com I just got paid by them for a two-week diary (each day took less than 5 minutes). I got paid $25 via Paypal within a couple of weeks. That was the first survey I received from them (and the only one).
Harvard Business School http://www.hbs.edu/cler/
With this one, you actually have to check the site for studies. They don't send you an e-mail to let you know it's available. It was 15 minutes long and I got the $5 money order in the mail today (8/26/05).
Gozing www.gozing.com
This company pays you after about 2 months via Paypal, Napster, or Buy.com. I have them pay me with Paypal since I have no use for the Napster or Buy.com stuff - only cash for me

Surveys from this site can pay from 50 cents and up - usually up to 3 or 4 bucks. There are a few out there for more. The downside to this site is that I've had to answer "qualifying" questions for 10 minutes, only to find out that I end up not qualifying after all that work. They're probably my least favorite site to deal with.
Opinionsite.com
They pay you after every survey. You don't accumulate anything. You complete a survey and they send you a check. Simple, if you ask me

I think completed a 10 minute survey for $3 and it took about a month to receive the check. Some surveys enter you into a drawing and others pay you cash. I only do the ones that definitely pay though.
I would not pay to join a site. This isn't a way to make a great amount of money, but I'll take what I can get!
Greenfield and Vividence are the ones I don't do anymore - they don't pay up. I don't really do others. The ones I told you about are the ones I do because they actually pay you, rather than just enter you into sweepstakes.
Focus Groups! Go to
http://marketsdirectory.com/visits/1q05USmktsi.htm to find companies in your area that do focus groups. They usually compensate well. I've gotten no less than $75-$100 for two hours of my time. DH or I will get a call every month or so asking us to come in for a study. Be forewarned though - some of these companies don't have panelists - they're more client based. So if you call them up, you may just want to ask if they have a database of panelists in which they recruit for studies. If they say no, then you know they don't call people like us for their research. Otherwise, they may send you out an application to fill out or ask you questions over the phone. Some companies are rude if they're asked if they have a database of panelists- don't take it to heart

Just move along to the next company.