I’m 63 and I’ve been asked to fill out my TV viewing habits twice in my life. Both were a long time ago and from 2 different addresses.

Keep the five and pitch it.
I get so many solicitations with dimes, nickels, pennies, address labels up the ying yang. I give when I can. I got caught up in donating when they give you something in return like a jacket or hat for the Olympics, a knapsack or duffel bag or gym bag or whatever. And now they keep asking for more, every day. I can’t keep giving; I don’t have it.
I like the DAV, USO, AdoptAPlatoon. My wife likes to give to a group of original Americans in the southwest.
I used to do Help Hosp. Veterans until they started with some kind of sweep stakes. That just turned me off.
Thanks for getting me started.
.-= GregoryJ´s last blog ..Thoughts at Random =-.

I think I would fill it out, only because there are so many television shows that I enjoy that end up being cancelled because they have low neilson ratings. (You know, the thoughtful, well-written shows that actually have CONTENT! These are always the first to be cancelled!).

I know what you mean about the address labels. I hate when I give to a charity (I’m not wealthy, so it’s usually not a grand amount, but I know every little bit helps), then they immediately spend that money on pummeling me with letter after letter after letter asking me for MORE!! Sigh!

I just found your blog and I think it’s really beautifully laid-out. I’m new and am trying to figure out what to do with mine! You are a great inspiration! Thanks!
.-= Joan´s last blog ..Pink Plastic Real Estate =-.

I think I would fill it out. I can’t understand why some of these shows make it. My Dad worked with the networks for years and they take those ratings seriously. So if I could have a say on some of the shows, it would be great. Maybe we would have more wholesome shows to watch again.
.-= Auntie E´s last blog ..It’s Feburary 2, 2010 =-.

I thought that they had gotten rid of the diaries and had switched over top those boxes that monitor viewing ages ago. I do think that it would be nice to have a say, but there are so few things on TV that are any good that I don’t know if it would matter anyway if you fill it out. There’s nothing wrong with keeping the 5 and pitching it–you didn’t ask them to send it to you.
.-= Tina T´s last blog ..Why Won’t He Marry Me? =-.

I might go ahead and fill out the diariy. We don’t watch TV very much but there are probably 5 shows that I really enjoy and I could get a plug in for those, if it even matters. I also wouldn’t feel bad about keeping the $5 and tossing the diary.
.-= Buggys´s last blog ..Health Reform? =-.

I would definitely keep the five and at least make a half hearted attempt to fill out the form
.-= ann´s last blog ..Looking back =-.

I think I would fill it out. I like being asked for my opinion!
.-= Lynne´s last blog ..Piecing a Table Runner =-.

The first time, I heard from Nielsen, I didn’t even have a TV. I invested my five bucks in drug paraphenalia and mufflers to keep me from listening to the sounds from the people next door who were watching TV. I made all my stuff up in the diary, and I still haven’t bought a TV, although I’m getting my crisp ones on a regular basis.
.-= Doctor Faustroll´s last blog ..Breaking gnus =-.

I used to want to be asked to do this but now I rarely watch tv. I’d keep the $5 and I would write down what I could remember if I thought about it. I’d be honest, I would’t make it up but I’d tell them the tv was on but no one was watching it. Which is exactly what happens here, unless they count the dog and the cat as viewers.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..US Bank =-.

I’ve done the harris poll and the nielsons both. I filled them out and sent them back so that they’d know that not everybody thinks that crap they put on television is worthy of my time. infact I remember putting down the news and pbs / bbc programs only. yepper that’s what I watch. the rest of it is for dh.

I remember doing the Nielsen diary maybe fifteen years ago. I thought it was fun and not too hard.
.-= Patricia´s last blog ..The First "Good Communicator Award" Recipient =-.

We got one several years ago and did it. I finally felt like my opinion counted for something and since we don’t watch all that much TV, it wasn’t hard to do.
.-= Karen & Gerard Zemek´s last blog ..10 Things I Learned This Week–#57 =-.

I got a survey (not a diary) from them in January with $2 in it. I’ve always wanted to have my say in how much crap is on TV so I filled it out. Then last week I got a bigger packet, with a couple of diaries and $30 in it. And I don’t even get to write in my regular shows because it’s the olympics this week. Oh well, maybe they’ll pick me again sometime.

I received 2 Nielsen TV diarys and 30 dollars in cash in a big cardboard envelope yesterday. They had put a 20 and a 10 in there. I have to keep track of 2 tvs for a week and send it back in and they already paid for the stamp.

Forget to mention that i have filled out 2 mini surveys in the past couple months(they both were identical surveys). The survey where they send you 2 dollars at first to fill out your info and send you 5 dollars after you send it back in.

I jus recieved this yesterday in the mail and if you ask me.. i dont think the 2 dollars look real.

As for the bills looking fake. They get so many bills at once they come right from bank vaults. They r new looking bc they probably just came from a bundle that was in a vault.

DO IT!! Once you fill it out and send it back in when you are supposed to, they will send you more money at the end just for doing it. It is not a hoax or anything. Neilsen is a big company and they are trying to figure out tv ratings and what people watch in your area. I got a big chunk of change back after filling it out last year. Really hoping I get another one this year!!