Watch Commercials For Free Stuff

Some advertisers are trying to stand out in the crowd by paying consumers to watch commercials online or on their mobile phone.

Virgin Mobile is banking on the trend with a rewards program known as "Sugar Mama," where consumers can earn free cellular minutes when they go to Vigin's Web site and watch commercials for products like Pepsi and Xbox.

The catch: Viewers must fill out a quick survey and rate the ads. For every minute consumers give, they get a minute of airtime back. Virgin Mobile says the minutes are posted within the hour of successfully completing the Sugar Mama survey.

Others are vying for consumers' precious time, too. Along with Virgin Mobile, an online service known as E-Miles, trades consumers their time for frequent-flier miles after watching or reading ads online and filling out a survey.

E-Miles' sponsors include Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and U.S. Airways.