Explanation
Well, in Jan '05 I decided that, since I was broke, I'd try making money the easy way. Online. Heh. After paying 30 bucks (seriously, I did) to get access to a website with a list of hundreds of legitimate survey companies, and signing up to many, I have narrowed it down to the handful that pay cash instead of with entries into sweepstakes. All of the links below I have actually been payed at. This isn't a get rich quick (or ever) scheme, it's simply a little extra pocket cash.
There are two categories here. Sites that send you a check for each survey, and sites that pay in points, which you accumulate and can either cash out for a check or for an item. I'd suggest getting a new, free email for these sign ups, yahoo or something, because you do get a ton of spam.
For those of you wondering, these companies are paid by manufacturers to poll people on anything and everything that businesses think will increase their sales. The survey companies, in turn, keep a file of people who are registered, of all demographics. When a company hires them for a survey, they usually have a target population in mind. If you are registered and fall into that category, you'll get a survey invite in your email. Do them while checking other emails, watching a movie, listening to music, waiting for the water to boil, etc. For all of this, the key is patience. If you don't have it, then online surveys are not for you.
Cash
SurveySavvy~ My profile must not be their big target group, because invitations are rare, but they've ranged from 1 to 3 dollars a survey so far.
American Consumer Opinion Panel~ Another rare qualifier for me, but I did qualify for a 6 dollars one a while back.
Inbox Dollars~ Okay, this site is not surveys. It's email. You sign up, and once every other day or so you get an email from them. You click the link in this email, and your account is credited with a couple cents. Takes about a second. Sometimes the offers are good and, if you sign up, credit you with more money (a buck to 20 bucks). I've signed up for a few. Once you reach 30 dollars, you can request a check. I've been clicking emails during my daily email checking routine for a couple months, and just recently got my first 27 dollar check (they take out 3 as a processing fee. Cheap, I know). So anyway, it's worth the two extra clicks a day.
Points
MyPoints~ Another email for points program. Except, you can't redeem for cash. You redeem for gift cards to stores. I find this one quickly accumulates, and some of the deals aren't actually that bad.
NFO My Survey~ This one is points for cash. 1,000 points is a 10 dollar check. I regularily get surveys here.
Lightspeed Panel~ Another regular one. Cash or giftcards.
One more, called PineCone Research, has been very consistent (every two weeks or so) in sending me surveys that I always qualify for, and sending a 5 dollar check for each one. But, they do not take referalls or allow people to sign up at their site. You have to sign up through one of their banner advertisements on a different site. The one I signed up on was through Neopets. Good luck!