Bzzagent: How a Frugal Mom Finds Free Stuff

Everyone who knows me knows I love being thrifty. I enjoy saving money, but I also enjoy trying out new products. I like to stay on top of things and I like to use things that work.

On any normal day I wouldn't go out and buy say the Oust Air Sanitizer, at $29.99, if I didn't know it workedI just coulden't justify it. However, if I knew it worked and would make my house, with two cats and a pug, smell fresh as a daisy I would be all over it. This is where bzzagent comes in. It is a brilliant company that does word of mouth marketing. You sign up to be a bzzagent, and they send you products to sample.

I know what you are asking yourself right now, "How much does it cost up front?"

The answer is....nothing.

" Well then what is the catch?"

There isn't one. "So they just send you free stuff for the heck of it?" Not exactly. What BzzAgent is a word of mouth company that helps it's agents spread the word about products naturally and honestly by allowing them to test out and then spread the word on how good, or bad they work. With some products you are actually given samples to pass out to friends.

In order to be a good bzzagent it is important to be social. I talk with all my friends and neighbors, and will gladly let anyone who asks know what I think of something. This worked out well when I had the coppertone quickcover lotion to test out. One of my neighbors has a pool, and my daughter and I love to go visit. This presents the perfect oppurtunity to not only talk about the product, but to have other moms test it out on their children and get valuable feedback. I then take that feedback and write out a BzzAgent report, which lets the Central Hive know how the product was. I wasn't a fan of this product, I mean what is the point of spraying on a lotion when you have to rub it in anyway, and I let the central Hive know that.

Once you report bzz, you get points to redeem for products or you can even trade them in for a donation of made in your name to various charities such as, Women International, Stop Globabl Warming.org, or even 826 National.

One point about being a BzzAgent is that you need to disclose when talking about the product that you are a BzzAgent. YOu aren't paid, but you are given these products to sample and then provide feedback. I actually find the disclosure the best part because it opens up the conversation. The people you are bzzing to find it easy to talk objectively about the product, they know they won't be hurting your feelings if the thought the Windex Wipe you gave them to test wasn't up to par. It also gives them the chance to critque things, and who doesn't love feeling like an expert judge from a game show.

I feel that bzzagent is a great program and an excellent way for a frugal mom to try it before she buys it. Back to that Oust Air Cleaner, I wouldn'ty spend $29.99 on a whim to purchase it, but now that I have reviewed it for bzzagent, and love it, I have actually bought two more of them to give to friends as housewarming gifts!