Blockbuster Online is running a new PayPal promotion where new members can get a $25 rebate for signing up for any Blockbuster movie subscription trial and keeping (and paying) it for at least on month. Any plan qualifies. Their cheapest plan is only $3.99 per month, which allows you one video out at a time via mail only, with a maximum total of two per month. So you could see it as “lots of free movies” or “$21 + two free movies”. Just in time for some movie watching over the holidays!

1. When signing up, be sure to click on “See all available plans” to see all your options. Make sure you click the right radio button for the plan you want.
2. Click “Checkout with PayPal” and log in to PayPal. Agree to Blockbuster monthly subscription plan. Confirm date that you’ll be charged and fill out your Blockbuster profile.
3. Remember date and wait to be charged for one month, and then you can cancel. $25 bonus should arrive 6-8 weeks after 12/22 (promotion end date).

Here are selected portions of the fine print:

Eligibility: You must be a new BLOCKBUSTER Online subscriber in order to take advantage of the free trial to BLOCKBUSTER Online and this Offer. Eligible Purchase: To receive the $25 Cash Back Offer, simply stay on as a paying BLOCKBUSTER Online subscriber, using PayPal as your payment method, for one (1) monthly billing cycle. Any BLOCKBUSTER Online plan qualifies for the $25 Cash Back Offer, so long as you remain a paid subscriber for one monthly billing cycle. Offer Period: The $25 Cash Back Offer starts on November 19, 2008 at 12:01 am Central Time and ends on December 22, 2008 at 11:59 pm Central Time. Cash Back Payment: The cash back payment will be deposited into your PayPal account within 6-8 weeks after the promotion ends.

Do you have an Capital One 360 savings account with unused referrals? I usually have lots of $25 bonus links available, but have been falling behind again. The first 25 people who comment below tonight and leave a working contact e-mail (real name not required, e-mail will not be shared publicly) will get one filled by me for free, which is $10 for you. I’m good for now, but will probably ask in a month or so. Thanks!

Due to comment moderation, your comment may not show up right away. One referral per person. You cannot have had a “freebie” before. Look for a message from me to your e-mail address with further instructions later on.

Here’s another decent deal with hopefully minimal drama. Online bank WTDirect is offering up to a $250 cash bonus for opening a new account and keeping a certain minimum average balance for January and February. WT stands for Wilmington Trust FSB, which is FDIC-insured and all that good stuff. Your bonus depends on your average balance:

Must be funded by ACH transfer initiated by 12/22. You must type in the promotion code WTG3DNC, or simply apply.

This offer is available to new WTDirect clients only. To receive the bonus, clients must enter the promotion code “WTG3DNC” at the time of account opening. There is no minimum balance required to open the account. WTDirect account must be funded via electronic (ACH) transfer which must be initiated by 12/22/08. Clients may transfer funds in and out of the WTDirect account during the promotion period (1/1/09 – 2/28/09) and the bonus will be based on the average balance level during that time. Account must remain open and in good standing through the end of the promotion period. Bonus will be credited to client’s WTDirect account on or about the second week of March. WTDirect reserves the right to cancel or modify this promotion at any time without notice.

How good is this bonus? To start, you are already guaranteed 3.06% APY for the first 60 days, which using my APY to APR calculator gives you roughly 3% APR. On $10,000 for two months, that’s 10000 x 0.03/12 x 2 = $50 in interest. Since the bonus is also $50 for a $10,000 balance, you’re basically getting double the interest, or roughly 6% APR during these two months.

Alternatively, if you’re trying to see how much more interest you’re earning as opposed to DollarSavingsDirect or FNBO Direct, even compared to 4% APY you’re looking at least $30 extra interest for every $10k invested ($150 on $50k).

So if you’ve got the cash, I’d put in $50k to max out what is basically a 6% APR 2-month CD. There is supposed to be no hard pull. I’d also do it sooner rather than later, as you still have to verify some trial deposits to set up the ACH by the 12/22 deadline.

If you missed it last month, MyCorporation is offering their incorporation filing services for free again for the entire month of December for a “limited time” with the coupon code MYGIFT. Usually this costs $149. Tip: You can also check out now but delay the official filing of your corporation or LLC until 2009 if you want.

Must use coupon MYGIFT to obtain discount. Document shipping, state fees, publication fees, and additional product fees are additional. Discount valid for orders placed for a new corporation or limited liability company only.

More info in this previous post.

OptionsXpress brokerage is offering a $500 bonus if you open up with $500 with promotional code C3. You just need to keep $500 in it for 6 months*, and complete at least one trade. You’ll get the $500 on May 15th, 2009. That’s a while from now, but I’ll remind you. 😉 Well, it looks like I’m going to have to open up another brokerage account this month… I can’t pass this up. The deadline is today, November 30th!

Thanks to readers Roger and Anonymous. Selected fine print:

*Offer limited to one $500 bonus for each newly activated, funded optionsXpress account meeting the terms and conditions of the offer. To qualify for the $500 bonus, the account must be opened through [link] or with promo code C3 by 11/30/08, a per account average balance of $500 must be maintained for 6 months, and the account must trade at least once. The $500 bonus will be deposited into the account on May 15th, 2009 if terms and conditions are met. A customer can only qualify for the $500 bonus a total of one time. Deposits of new funds or securities from existing optionsXpress accounts are not eligible for this offer. Qualified (IRA), linked and shared accounts are not eligible for this offer.

* Since the average account balance required is $500, and you need to make one trade, I’d deposit a bit more than $500 to make sure you qualify, since a trade costs $14.95 and your investment’s value might also drop. You can decide what to buy, but you’re already getting 100% ROI on $500. A possible low volatility choice is BSV, the ticker for Vanguard’s short-term bond ETF.

I don’t quite know why Dr. Pepper cares about Guns and Roses, but…

Beginning Sunday at 12:01 a.m., coupons for a free 20-ounce soda will be available for 24 hours on Dr Pepper’s Web site. They’ll be honored until Feb. 28.

Via AP Article, thanks to readers Kerri and Billy.

You can apparently get a free currency trading with $25 in it when you sign up for this CNBC Portfolio Challenge, with no upfront money required from you. At first I thought it was play money but they even have a requirement before you can cash out:

You must complete five (5) round-turn trades in your new FXCM Micro account, and your account must be in good standing before you are eligible to withdraw any funds from your account. Existing FXCM account holders are not eligible to receive the promotion.

Thanks to reader Andres for the tip. I’m still in Spain so I haven’t tried it myself. I’m just happy the Euro/USD conversion rate is much better than a few months ago! (I’d just gamble with the $25 and cash out, personally.) Please share any experiences or new discoveries in the comments.

Update: MyCorporation is now running a promotion where they have free filing services for all of December with coupon code MYGIFT!

The coupon code for a free LLC or Inc filing from MyCorporation is FREE149. More information here. Again, this is only valid 11/11/08, 6AM–6PM PST. A reader writes in that there is a “delayed filing” option where you can check out now but have the filing done for 2009.

Coinstar is running a 2008 Holiday Promotion where you can turn $40 in loose change into $50 of Amazon.com gift certificates (or any gift certificate that they offer). Not a bad way to get rid of some change and pay for some holiday shopping. Selected fine print:

The $10 holiday bonus offer ends 12/07/08. Offer valid at participating Coinstar Centers in the U.S. only and excludes Puerto Rico. Consumer will receive a $10 gift card or eCertificate for the same brand that was originally cashed in for. Please expect 6-8 weeks for delivery. Offer good on qualified transactions made between November 7, 2008 and December 7, 2008. Transactions occurring before of after these dates are not eligible for this offer. Offer is only valid on coin transactions. Limit one per name or household.

Directions:

1. Use the Coinstar machine locator to find one that dispenses eCertificates, as not all of them do.
2. Cash in at least $40 in coins, and choose to convert to an Amazon.com gift certificate. There are no fees with eCertificates.
3. At the bottom of your receipt, there will be directions for you to mail in the “rebate”.
4. In 4-6 weeks, they will e-mail you a code for another $10 GC.

The especially industrious could combine this with buying $1 coins from the US Mint to get credit card points.