How to check if affiliate codes are working?

[HunkyLuke]

you could - if possible - set up some promoting campain and use it to click the link once, then check if your click shows up in your stats...

This is the best and prolly only way to do this, or ask friends to click and then check stats to ensure the click is being recorded.

I usually buy a trial membership after setting up a long term partner and than have him cancel it about 5 minutes later, or I just spend that euro, dollar or so

buying memberships under your own linking code is against most site terms, we ban affiliates for this.