Since I've had some pretty good success the past 6 weeks or so, since amping up my online survey participation, I thought I'd list how I'm doing to give others an idea...
First off, Harris Interactive (creators of the Harris Poll), has now included in their redeemable prizes a $5 Paypal credit (which can then be deposited into your bank account free of charge). I had saved up points since there weren't any prizes I wanted, so I cashed out $20! I have nearly enough points for another $5 as well (their surveys come in spurts...sometimes one a week, sometimes three, it all depends).
I previously mentioned Inbox Dollars, and how I only opened the emails. After reading this thread, I started doing the surveys and signing up for email lists and such for money (usually $.50 for signing up for a partner e-newsletter or something, $.50 for each survey). My total for nearly a year of just emails was around $16. Quickly after starting the surveys, I got to the $30 plateau and cashed out (they take out around $1.50 processing). I have not yet received the check. My mom and sister have signed up to save for our next WDW trip too, and I have earned $2 from them so far. I also have more than $16 toward my next check, all in just a few months.
At first, I did not receive any invites for surveys from Opinion Outpost. Lately, though, I have been getting a lot (and qualifying for a fair amount). In around six weeks, I have earned $18.10, and I received $12.10 yesterday, and I requested the checks just on August 5 (17 days - not bad at all!). I'm still waiting on another check for $5, and there is an issue with me being credited for an 80 point survey ($8.00), so I'm waiting on that to hopefully get resolved too.
Lastly, I am also doing Survey Spot (I can't do more than these, as I just don't have enough time). I've done quite a few "free" surveys, but as people have mentioned, keep doing those, and you'll get a good one. I've had two $5 surveys (no checks yet) and just last night I got a follow up invite for a free survey....and I'm getting $20 for it! So keep doing the freebies, you might get a follow up like me!
So, here's the tally:
Earned Cash Received
Inbox Dollars: $45.18 $0 ($28.45 set to be processed on 9/2 according to site)
Harris Interactive $20 $20
Opinion Outpost $18.10 $12.10
Survey Spot $30 $0
Totals: $113.28 $32.10
And except for around $16 of this, this was all done in the past 6-8 weeks or so. I'm really excited, because our trip is more than a year away, so if I can earn at least $300 toward my spending money, I'll be happy (but of course, more is better - anything that can help).
EDIT: I actually just went to check on my HIPoints from Harris Interactive, and it looks like they stopped doing the Paypal thing....they only had it for a short time, so I'm guessing maybe a lot of people (too many) redeemed their points for that (why wouldn't they, it's cash). Very disappointing. I used my points for a $5 Amazon gift card instead. Oh well. Keep checking, I guess, since it might come back another time.
This is why I HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMEND this site. It takes way to long to get any checks and the communication has been poor.