What's the best use for vouchers (tavim)?

If you're like most salaried employees (known in Hebrew as schirim), or if you've taken my advice and signed up for one or more online survey sites, you're probably in possession of a number of gift vouchers, known locally as tavei shai, tavei kniya or just plain tavim. These vouchers are usually issued by one of the large supermarket conglomerates - Shufersal, which owns Shufersal, Shufersal Deal, Shufersal Sheli and Yesh, produces Tav HaZahav, and The Ribua Kachol (Blue Square), which owns Mega, Mega Ba'Ir, You and Zol B'Shefa, issues Rav Tav.
Other than the supermarkets owned by the company issuing them, these vouchers can be used in a variety of chain stores you often find in malls.

Companies who give these vouchers as a holiday gift (Shai LaChag) to their employees before Rosh HaShanah and Pesach each year typically buy them at a discount, which makes it an attractive proposition for them. The limits upon their use - many stores don't allow purchases with vouchers of items on sale, or their use annuls any other discounts on the items - make them a somewhat less attractive proposition for you, at least as compared to a plain cash gift. However, let's not look a gift horse in the mouth and see how we can make the most of these vouchers.

Making Money Online: Survey Sites

One of the easiest ways to make money in your spare time, if you speak/read passable Hebrew, is participating in paid surveys. This is far from a get-rich-quick (or even a get-rich-slow!) scheme, but everyone can use a little extra money for those small luxuries in life. In addition, you ensure your voice is heard on a variety of subjects, from consumerism to politics.

Luckily for us Israelis, there are several reliable local survey sites to choose from. Or rather, there is no need to choose - you can sign up to them all! The ones listed below are all ones I have personal experience with and have received either cash-equivalent vouchers or checks from, once I reached the points limit specified. Some of the survey sites allow answering surveys via smartphones or tablets as well, so you can make money while waiting on line at the post office or on the way to work, as a passenger of course. You'll be notified you have a survey waiting for you via email; don't wait too long, as an email is usually sent to all registrants at a given panel, and surveys can close fast.