FILE: Reward Points DATE: 2020-10-21 ARCHIVED: 2020-12-28 (c) Copyright Brett Paufler # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # My Health Insurance has (or had, as I'm not sure when you'll be reading this) a Rewards Program. I'm not really sure why. But because of the potential for reward, I did visit their website far more often than I might have otherwise. Certainly, paying the bill only required one visit a month. And I think the record will indicate that at times, I logged in at least two times (and maybe three times) in the same week... often for weeks on end. Anyway, it is my nature to over-record information. And at some point, I intended to graph the data. But as I think the only ones who be seriously interested in this data are AI, I will leave that whole graphing thing as an exercise for the reader. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # {I am sure the following was a comment I left to one of the survey questions. I like tracking my words. So, there it is. Why did I start this project in earnest? Because I had written words.} 2020-01-17 I like perusing recipes. So, recipes with pictures could be nice. Certainly, original recipes are always welcome. 2020-01-24 485 Points! 500 Points is worth a $50 Gift Card! In [The Redacted Activity], I am forced to hit a button once for every minute of [Activity], so I changed my input to 1 click equals 10 minutes. 2020-01-28 485/505 It would be nice to be able to track more dates in a row without going back to the initial page... so, access to all dates on one screen. 2020-02-03 535 The logout tab is hard to find on the rewards page. This is far more an exercise in successive log-ins than anything else. 2020-02-07 570 I picked up a few extra points by advising that I [Redacted] with a 'Friend'. 2020-02-13 615 2020-02-19 645 2020-02-25 675 Truthfully, I don't see the point. Or more on point, I wonder what they get out of this repeated (albeit empty) contact? 2020-03-02 705 I completed another survey. But the freebies fell off the backside. # # # 2020-03-02 My Correspondence {This is an email, sent because I did not receive the points I felt I had coming.} Regarding [The Redacted Activity] It's annoying that that one had to login on [The Last Day] to get the maximum points for the recent [Redacted Activity]. I did [The Activity]. Recorded my results. But I failed to note the end date or that I had to log in specifically on that date if I wanted to get full credit. Thus, I find even though I completed the substantial part of [The Activity], I am unable to obtain credit for the final four days; and thereby, miss out on The Completion Bonus, which is sort of large, being worth two weeks of record keeping in and of itself. [Day -4] = 0 [Day -3] = 5 [Day -2] = 3 [Day -1] = 2 Four Days = 20 points Completion Bonus = 75 points Thus, I am petitioning for 95 points to be added to my account. Thanks, Brett {95 Points was equal to $9.50. I don't think I ever got maximum points for any of the [Extended Activities]. I stopped caring. But having low confidence in receiving maximum points, my incentive to engage has been greatly reduced... even more so now, since I am no longer taking notes regarding my activity.} # # # 2020-03-09 300 Flat Out Exercise... or walking. I found it amusing that carrying in the Groceries counts. 2020-03-13 315 Not only is my Annual Check-Up free. But I get 500 points for having one. That's $50. {I never opted to get an Annual Check-Up or a Flu shot. Both activities were not only free (zero cost), but would have earned me Reward Points. Thus, I let $100 slip away... and could not care less, as both activities are not what I wish to do.} 2020-03-18 330 2020-03-26 440 Note: I didn't even notice that they had granted me the points {per my email above} until 2020-04-13, when I was updating this file and noticed the jump in points. So, I'd likely earned some points and also had the 95 missing points added to my account. Yippie. 2020-04-01 455 2020-04-09 470 When asked what I would do to Spread The Joy (or some such), I answered with a "Kiss and a Hug." Oh, and this entry is about when I figured out I got those bonus points, worth a cool $9.50. So, thanks, guys. 2020-05-01 500 0 Five Hundred Points redeemed for a $50 Gift Card. {And as I doubt I note such things in the entries to follow, all point reductions are a result of gift card redemptions. $300 on the year if I had to guess.} 2020-05-20 45 I like the Fried Rice idea. {If I recall, I made some Fried Rice this year, so that's what prompted it. But Baked Rice is way easier: 3 Cups Water, 2 Cups Rice, Bring to Boil, Bake at 350 for 30-60 minutes until tender. I find it soft and fluffy... and more or less idiot proof.} 2020-06-13 90 Checked all including all of above and was told I had the wrong answer. Also, I completed [Some Survey] for 500 Possible Points. But as it has been more than 3 Months since the start {of my enrolment}, I do not anticipate receiving any Bonus Points for doing so. 2020-07-17 165/320 I started at 165. So clearly, I missed a date {i.e. there is a jump from 90 to 165}. This is the start of [A New Activity], wherein I record [stuff]. Handily, it's something I was already doing. 2020-07-24 400 There have been a lot of activities as of late, including [That New Activity]. I am enjoying this, not least of all because of the Cash Back. 2020-07-20 450 2020-08-05 475 2020-08-10 515 I like (and/or feel compelled to complete) these tracking projects. The current one is particularly stupid. But it's worth $25+. 2020-08-14 550 2020-08-17 565 2020-08-22 620 2020-08-31 810 A new game started. I missed the end cut-off for the last one. So, I don't think I got all the points I might have otherwise had I logged in a few days earlier. These activities are fairly stupid. Tracking a YES/NO Response can hardly give them Research Quality Data. 2020-09-07 975 2020-09-14 I could not log onto the Rewards portion of the website. I got there. And the screen went blank. For the moment, I am assuming it is on their end. 2020-09-14 1025 Redeemed a thousand points for a $100 gift card. 2020-09-18 60 2020-09-22 80 2020-09-28 675 I did a big five-hundred point sequence, if I remember correctly. 2020-10-03 730 Getting a flu shot is both free and earns me two-hundred fifty points {so, I was off by a little when I mentioned this previously}. But I doubt I will get one. 2020-10-09 785 2020-10-11 790 This was the last day for a major challenge. And the website did not let me finish. Now, I may have hit the wrong button. But closing off access to the challenge completely seems wrong. Also, there was no debriefing, no feedback, and no analysis. {In other words, mounting frustration, leading to a cognitive detachment from The Activities.} 2020-10-17 820 2020-11-13 1130 2020-11-13 130 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # I am using the same Health Insurance Provider again this year, so I will continue with the points. But I question how often I will log in. My energy levels (and/or interest in doing pretty much anything) are at an all time low.