Mystery shopping is a way I make some extra money, and many of you have asked about it. I typically earn around $150 to $200 a month from it.
I mainly use Bestmark for my mystery shopping tasks. While I can’t vouch for other companies, I know for sure that Bestmark is legitimate.
Last month, I didn’t earn much because there weren’t many good opportunities in my area. I’ve also become more selective about the shops I sign up for.
Here’s what makes a shop worthwhile for me:
– It’s either an online or phone call shop.
– If I have to drive, it’s close to where I’ll already be.
– It’s something I’ll use, like Estee Lauder shops because I love free makeup.
– Restaurant shops, since I have to eat anyway.
What works for me might be different for you. When I first started mystery shopping last summer, I signed up for everything. It was decent money, but it was exhausting. The surveys can be very repetitive, sometimes taking just a minute, other times an hour. Restaurant shops usually take longer because you have to grade every detail.
Some examples of mystery shops I’ve done include:
– Restaurants: These range from cheaper places where I’m reimbursed around $30, to fancy steakhouses where I get $100.
– Dealerships: Bestmark has many dealership shops. I usually do the phone call and online scheduling ones, which are easy and pay around $5. Recently, the pay dropped to $3, and the work increased, so I had to cancel a few shops.
– Retail: I mostly do Estee Lauder shops, getting free products like foundation, lotion, and more, plus around $10 per shop. I’ve also done Best Buy shops, which are quick and pay around $13.
The highest-paid shops I do are usually for restaurants. I’ve had to eat over $100 worth of food at some places. There are also hotel mystery shops, but I haven’t done those yet.
If you can’t complete a shop you signed up for, you can usually reschedule or cancel by contacting your scheduler. Try not to do this too often, as schedulers will remember and reward reliable shoppers with better opportunities.
Mystery shopping won’t make you rich, but it’s a nice way to earn some side income and get free stuff. I add what I make to my vacation fund. It’s a fun way to get paid for activities I enjoy, like dining out.
Do you do mystery shopping with Bestmark? Any tips? If you join Bestmark, please mention my referral ID: MO4999.
If you’re new to my blog, I’m all about finding ways to make and save money. Here are some of my favorite tips:
– Cut your TV bill by getting a digital antenna for free TV.
– Start a blog. I make a living from blogging and earn over $30,000 a month. You can start your own blog with my tutorial.
– Save money on food with the $5 Meal Plan, which provides affordable meal plans and shopping lists.
– Answer surveys with companies like American Consumer Opinion and Pinecone Research to earn money.
– Use Swagbucks for online searches to earn points that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.
– Try InboxDollars to earn cash by taking surveys, playing games, and more.
– Find a part-time job on sites like Snagajob or Craigslist.