Coinstar is currently offering a $10 iTunes gift card by mail when you convert at least $40 U.S. dollars in coins into an iTunes Certificate.

Here are the essential steps:
1. Find the nearest coinstar location near you.
2. Convert $40 or more in coins into an iTunes e-certificate.
3. Get your code for a bonus $10 iTunes card
3. Enter your code at coinstar website.
4. Receive your card by mail in 2 weeks.
5. Offer ends September 30, 2010.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day!  If you are search for a job or searching for a different career, check out the list of 100 career blogs to get ideas on how to make yourself a better perspective!

As part of an being an agent in the BzzAgent network I often sign up for BzzCampaign where I receive free products in exchange for starting conversation regarding the product.  The conversations are required to be my honest option regarding the product (does not have to either positive or negative).  For those of you who like to try sample products, it is a great network.

Recently I signed up for a BzzCampaign called Got2b inPlay.  Got2b inPlay offers hair styling products such as sculpting paste that you can find at your local CVS.  A week after I signed up for the campaign I received my free Got2b inPlay hair sculpting paste in the mail.  The paste is of ivory color and it is packaged in a flat container comparable to a bar of soap.  When I opened it, it looks similar to sculpting paste I have purchased previously for sculpting my hair.

The instructions states to use a small pea size amount of the paste and rub between the palms of your hand before applying to your hair directly.  Once applied, you can shape your hair however way you like.  On the positive side, the paste does not have a strong scent as other products.  I feel comfortable after I applied the paste.  On the flip side, while it gets the job done, it doesn’t hold the hair up as well as the days go on (which is typical of hair sculpting paste).  Overall, it is a fair product perfect for events where you need to sculpt your hair for a couple hours!

Disclaimer: The review above is strictly my own and I was not compensated in any other way except for the sample.

I have been calling 1-800 numbers a lot lately trying to sort out different credit card bills and one of the things I hate the most is waiting for an actual operator on the other end to pick up the phone so I can inquire about different transactions. I started research online to see whether there are any sites can help me with the wait time. I came a cross a site called lucyphone.com.
What it does it it allows you to search for individual company’s customer service number you like to call. Next, you will enter a number you like to be reach at. Just like that LucyPhone will try to connect you to an actual person in the customer service department. Once it does, the service will call you back based on the number you provided. Pretty slick especially for those people that have to call customer service department during work hours!

(disclaimer: I do not receive any benefit from Lucyphone for this post. This is strictly my own experience).

Reward Gold is offering a free subscription to Forbes magazine for answering their surveys.  If you are a fan of Forbes magazine, definitely give this a try!

My jaw just dropped when I saw this news yesterday:

“or the past three years, Marilyn Bess has operated Ms Philly Organic, a small, low-traffic blog that features occasional posts about green living, out of her Manayunk home. Between her blog and infrequent contributions to ehow.com, over the last few years she says she’s made about $50. To Bess, her website is a hobby. To the city of Philadelphia, it’s a potential moneymaker, and the city wants its cut.

In May, the city sent Bess a letter demanding that she pay for a business privilege license — which cost $50 per year or $300 per lifetime.”

Most people blog for fun and most people (including me) doesn’t make $300 from their blog.  Yet the city of Philadelphia is asking people to pay a business privilege license?  How about cutting back on the benefits they pay out to union workers?  How about going after the big business that stores their profit offshore so the profit won’t be taxed?  Going after bloggers who are struggling to make an extra side income is simply inhumane.  I would shut down my blog immediately if I received one of those notice.  Even if you are making more than $300 a year from blogging, is paying $300 for “business privilege license” fair?

I received an email today from MyGoodCents that I am the winner of her $25 Plastic Jungle Gift Card giveaway!  I am one of those people that rarely win anything in drawings so her email definitely brightens my day.  As for Plastic Jungle, I am a fan of their site as it is an efficient way to get rid of unwanted give cards and get some money back.  I wrote a review previously here.  As for the $25 gift card, I am going to see how much cash I can exchange the gift card for and hold a giveaway of my own some time this month.  Thanks MyGoodCents!