The $100 Refer-A-Friend promo for TradeKing.com has been unusually popular this time around. If you get a referral from an existing account holder, open a new account with at least $1,000, and make a trade, both people will get $100. I’ve already gotten paid $500 for 5 referrals since the beginning of March, and the referred have gotten paid too, so TK is both opening accounts quickly and crediting the money faster than in previous promos.

Visit this post for details. Offer expires March 31st, 2011, but you have 30 days from initial application to fund. (And yes, according to TK Live Chat you can double-dip this with the $150 broker transfer fee refund.)

Update 3/31: Extended to April 14th!

The Amazon Appstore for Android OS smartphones has opened, and they are offering new free apps every day to promote it. Yesterday’s app was Angry Birds Rio (still free)… Wednesday was World Series of Poker: Hold ’em Legend (not free anymore), Thursday is Doodle Jump.

Even though I don’t really play games, I really should upgrade to an iOS or Android phone when my contract ends in August. Some of the apps out there nowadays are really useful.

Starting Monday, the New York Times will limit visitors to NYTimes.com to only 20 articles per month. They’re trying to drive more paid subscriptions. However, they also don’t want to kill off the traffic that tends to be lucrative for attracting advertisers, like search engine visitors and social media users. The Wall Street Journal has been limiting access to their online articles for a while now as well.

Many people know this already, but a quick tip is to copy and paste the article title into Google, and then click on the link from the Google search results. Alternatively, try Google News specifically. (Google may get capped after a while too, so try Bing.) You’ll be able to read the full article. Try it out with the last WSJ article I linked to, which is normally blocked:

Schwab To Spend $1B On OptionsXpress

Additionally, Gizmodo shares more tricks to view the Times, and another fellow made a simple bookmarklet.

It’s a hard balance between paid and advertiser-supported content, and I do value some of their content, but honestly I won’t pay for it if I can’t share it online with other readers to read for themselves. I suppose we’ll see if this nag-ware experiment works.

Groupon has a nationwide deal again that will get you five one-day rentals at Blockbuster Express kiosks for $2. The regular cost would have been $5. I don’t really get the limitation of one per person when you can buy seemingly unlimited as “gifts”. By the way, Blockbuster Express kiosks are owned by NCR, not the Blockbuster Video that is in bankruptcy.

Note: You can only use one free code per transaction. In order to use all five promo codes you must rent (and check-out) five separate times. I tend to use these Blockbuster kiosks more than Redbox ones simply because they are at Safeway grocery stores, but the idea is basically the same.

If you don’t have a Groupon account already (what!?), please use my sign-up link, and I’ll get some Groupon credit for referring you. Then visit the deal link. Thanks!

Valid through May 1, 2013. Limit 1/person, may buy more as gifts. Valid only at any Blockbuster Express kiosks and for online reservation for pickup at kiosks. Not valid on Blu-ray or Hot List titles. Groupon value reduces by $3 after 5/1/2013, except where prohibited by law.

British Midland International, an airline based in the UK, is currently offering new members of their frequent flier club Diamond Club instant a free upgrade to Silver Elite status, good for 12 months. The important associated perk is that this gets you Silver status for Star Alliance, a global group of airlines including Continental, United, and US Airways. Assuming you don’t have a better alternative, this will get you a free checked bag when traveling (and potentially other smaller perks depending on the airline). Via ViewfromtheWing.

One annoying factor is that you may have to provide your BMI Diamond Club number initially with your reservation in order to get the free checked bags and sometimes Priority security lines, and then switch to your “regular” frequent flier number to actually earn miles on the program that you want. This must be done at the gate before you board the plane. Last month, I was checking in for a flight behind an angry guy who couldn’t believe you actually had to pay to check a bag. How quickly things change in a few years…

Groupon has a national deal through the end of March 1st that will get you three one-day rentals at RedBox kiosks for $1. Retail is $1 per day, so $3. If you don’t have a Groupon account already, please use my sign-up link, and I’ll get some Groupon credit for referring you. Then visit the deal link. Not valid on Blu-ray or video games.

Expires Jun 1, 2011. Limit 1 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. May redeem across up to 3 visits. Tax included.

If you’ve never used Redbox before, first-time users that register for a new account on their website also get a code for a free rental after their first paid rental. The unofficial site InsideRedbox is a good source for ongoing free coupon codes. Here is a kiosk locator.