Guest Post: 4 Ways to Make Money in May!
Guest Post By Nicole from Nicole’s Nickels:
This is the my fourth month of the 3 ways you can make money post I’ll be writing each month for Collin and I am changing it up a little. Because the Ideal online offers available still all require referrals (I am hoping this changes soon!), I decided to give you 2 survey companies and 2 mystery shopping companies this month, so here is 4 ways you can make money this month!
1. Surveys
I love how flexible surveys let you be. Many let you start and stop them at different times and they don’t care if you complete them from home in your pj’s! For many of us, this flexibility is key and while surveys won’t make you rich, you can earn some gas or grocery money you may not have otherwise had!
Remember to sign up for a separate web-based email address to use just for surveys. I don’t get any spam from the survey sites but I do get a large volume of emails from all of the companies I am signed up with. That way the invites won’t clog your personal inbox. You can also read more about all of the survey companies I am signed up with and my experiences with them.
A. The first survey company I wanted to talk about today is Surveyhead. Surveyhead is the only survey company I know of that gives you $5 just for signing up and of course, sign up is FREE! You can cash out via Paypal when you reach $25 in earnings.
I receive approximately 10-15 survey invitations a week from Surveyhead and they do have some higher paying surveys (i.e. $7 and up!) as well as focus groups that pay well.
B. The second survey company I wanted to bring you today is Epoll Surveys. I don’t receive many survey invitations from Epoll but I do qualify for pretty much every one they send me. They have a lot focusing on TV and your viewing habits that I find interesting and different than other survey companies.
You earn points for each survey you do and the points can be converted to giftcards for all types of places such as restaurants and retail stores. I have been with Epoll for almost 2 years and have cashed out many times for giftcards.
2. Mystery Shopping
If you’re new to mystery shopping, you’ll want to read my Mystery Shopping 101 post. If you are an experienced mystery shopper please be aware that it is a violation of your ICA with each company to reveal what places you shop with each company so please don’t jeopardize your shopper status in the comments of this post! You can also read more about what companies I shop for and my experiences with them.
The most important quality you need to be a successful mystery shopper is to follow the shop directions carefully and write a comprehensive shop report, doing whatever they ask. The money is nice and I enjoy being able to set my own assignments/hours and earn some extra cash each month.
A. The first mystery shopping company I wanted to tell you about today is Feedback Plus. This is one of my favorite companies because they pay so quickly and have such simple and straightforward reports. The downside is they don’t have a ton of shops available in my area but since that varies depending on where you are you should sign up to see! Feedback Plus emails me when I have shops available and pays super fast. I have done several restaurant shops with them – from fast food-ish to very high end so they do have a range.
B. The second mystery shopping company I wanted to tell you about is Service Sleuth. Service Sleuth is a large mystery shopping company with a lot of assignments available nationwide. They do not pay the quickest but they do pay me everything I have earned. I like the variety of shops. Service Sleuth everything from restaurants in airports (great way to pass some time when traveling since you need to check in early!) to movie theaters!
**Remember, it’s FREE to sign up for the mystery shopping companies I discuss here. No legit mystery shopping company will ever make you pay to sign up.
Set your own hours, choose your own assignments and earn some extra money today!
Hip2Save here: Have you started earning money from some of the previous companies Nicole has highlighted? Or do you have another company you’ve made money with that Nicole hasn’t mentioned yet? Let us know.
LOVE surveyhead! The only downside is it takes about a month for you to recieve your money via paypal…..but I get offered a lot of surveys!
Epoll is good & legit too. I’ve gotten 3 gift cards from them. I dont get as many surveys but they are legit.
Hey Everyone!
I am a member of both Surveyhead and Epoll, and I wanted to just throw in my two cents about them… Personally, I don’t like surveyhead, I joined months ago and have still not earned enough to cash out (you don’t qualify for most of the surveys they offer). I do like epoll, but I am a member of a bunch of different survey sites and there is one of them that I absolutely love and wanted to share!
My VERY favorite is Opinion Outpost… Your credits add up quickly, are credited instantly, and you can choose either an instant amazon code at cashout time, or a check. Also, you are allowed to cash out at ANY time, unlike some other sites that you have to wait until you reach a certain amount (this is pretty unique, it’s the only one I belong to that works like that!) My referral link is below, I would REALLY appreciate if anyone who wants to sign up for them would go through me! Referral link: https://OpinionOutpost.com/join/6362871
A few other good ones: toluna.com, mysurvey.com, and myview.com 🙂 Hope that helps some of you! Have fun (and make money)!
I love mystery shopping. I make about $500 a month doing it and it’s tons of fun!
Wow! I’m so intrigued! How many do you have to do a month to make your $500?
I love watching my shows so I’m hoping Epoll will be a fun way to make a little extra! 🙂
So do get to keep what you purchase and get refunded the money for it also?
Yes you do get to keep what you purchased. They will set a limit for the amount that they will repay you. The last one I did I had to spend at least $20 and they would repay me $20. Another one was a restaurant and they set a limit of $35 and then if you got the survey done by the due date they would send you extra money!
It depends on the assignment. There are some where you are instructed to buy and then return something so in that case you don’t keep what you bought. Just make sure to read the assignment instructions carefuly before accepting a shop so you know what’s expected of you.
I love Focus on Service. Going to Longhorn Restaurants for a great meal, reviewing it and then getting paid — nothing better!!
https://us.lightspeedpanel.com/US/public/index.us
This is a great survey company. You get points for every survey you qualify for. Points vary from 75,150 and 300 per survey. I took 4 surveys and already cashed for my first $5 paypal prize. Already going to get my second, just need one more survey. I have qualified for all the surveys I have been sent. I have only been a member for about 3 weeks 🙂
I didn’t see a way to sign up with them. How did you get on with them 3 weeks ago? Maybe the no longer need people….
I am part of opinionoutpost.com and i think its really good! I have already got a 10.00 check and have almost 4.00 for my next (you need at least 5.00 to cut a check). I have been with them for abouta month now. I am a stay at home mom, but as you know its a full time job. Add couponing to that and a survey company here and there and you have 2 full time jobs! but saving money on coupons and working your deals for the week and trying to make some money from surveys I think is all worth it.
how to signup with feedback plus….i did’nt find the sign up option…or i am i am missing something….?
Ayesha: On the top right of the page it says “become a mystery shopper”…just click there.
I signed up for Surveyhead, took 7 surveys, and didn’t qualify for a single one! 🙁 These things never work for me. I have better luck just doing Swagbucks! 🙂
I have signed up with Focus on Service and Mystery Guest and have done shops for both. One for Long Horn’s and the other for the DIsney Store! It’s so much fun to get paid to go shopping or going to eat. I have another one scheduled for next week to go eat. Thanks so much for sharing this info with us!!
Sunny: Disclosing the shops you do for what company is a violation of your ICA with the company. The only exception I know of is Focus on Service where it is revealed that they shop Longhorn For other companies, you aren’t allowed to say who you shopped!
Just another Thank you to Nicole and Collin! From your guest post on February 3 about the Ideal online offer I decided to try it myself. Low and behold my $500 in Visa gift cards came in a week or so ago. I’m hoping they come out with some non-referral offers soon as well. I can’t wait to try another. The hard part about free money is deciding what to use it on…myself, my kids, gifts, etc. I almost want to frame them and tell everyone “see the free $500 I got!!!!”
Thanks again to both and keep up the great work you do on your sites!
I haven’t really done anything to win $$$, but all of the free sample sites really help me save money. I recently got 2 full size CoverGirl products in the mail (free!) from bzzagent. In order to receive the free stuff, I just have to give a report on how I like them. So fun!! I already love the lipgloss and I’m excited to try the smokey eye product! Check out bzzagent.
I have made a pretty decent amount of money from surveys, and I’ve also gotten free products to test and do surveys about. Also, from one survey I was invited to a Walmart Mom’s focus group and if I fill out surveys weekly I get $15 gift card to Walmart every month! Surveys are great, as long as you try to be honest, have some time. But they are not get rich quick schemes either.
which survery sites you are using?
Thanks for the great info Nicole! I don’t belong to a survey site per say but I do belong to a site that pays you $2.00 per day for viewing ads! It used to be around $1 but they have added more paid emails to view, so now there are 50 for .04 per email ad. In addition to the surveys, offers, etc you can do. The payout is $1 min instant Paypal payout or weekly $5 Amazon gift certificates. I just LOVE this site! Check it out if you want with my link above 🙂 Thanks!
I am not working outside of the house while the kids are out of school. Sounds like a fun way to get some fun money.
I don’t like all the surveys and stuff. They payout some money and that’s ok, but you’ll never make a nice income with them. Just a few extra dollars.
The safest and easiest way to make money online is still with GDI. I’m using it, loving it and there’s zero risk.
Check out my site for more information.
hey all, I seen a ton of people talking about https://2010blessings.com and I wondered if any of you have used it yet? I seen good reviews and it said it looks pretty amazing. Please share your thoughts.