Guest Post: 4 Ways to Make Money in June!
Guest Post By Nicole from Nicole’s Nickels:
This is the my fifth month of guest posting for Collin and by now I am sure you all know the drill. So without further ado… here are 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 Global Test Market. I have been with them since I first started doing surveys over 2 years ago. I receive approximately 2 survey invitations each day. I usually only complete the ones for points (and not just sweepstakes) but I’ve noticed I’ve gotten some product test from the sweepstakes only surveys so if you have some time it may be worth it to try some of them. You redeem points for a check from Global Test Market.
B. The second survey company I wanted to bring you today is Valued Opinions. I receive probably only 5 invitations from them per week but find that I qualify for the majority. You take surveys in exchange for accruing money in your account. You can cash out once you’ve reached $20.00 for a gift card to a variety of places, including a Visa gift card.
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 Bare International. I have completed many shops with Bare International. They have a large selection of bank, restaurant and airport shops to be completed. I don’t often receive emails from them when shops are available so you’ll want to check the website often.
B. The second mystery shopping company I wanted to tell you about is Service with Style. I find they have a large variety of shops near me and are very straightforward in their instructions as report. Pay is very quick and they email when shops are open which I like very much!
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!
That is only 2 ways! 🙂
4 companies = 4 ways!
Is there a way to see what assignments might be available in a given area? Just want to make sure there enough assignments before I go through the sign up process.
No, the companies they shop for are confidential so you have to apply and accept the agreement before you can see what shops are available. Shops come and go throughout the month and often times companies will have new clients and shops. I recommend signing up for as many as possible and there will be sure to be some in your area!
does the mystery shopping really work? ive always been curious about this, but always thought of it as a scam
my SIL did it for awhile – I don’t know the specifics but I think the service she used yielded her lots of free mag subscriptions.
I have been doing it for a couple months now and it works. Its not going to make you the same money as a full or even part time job but I think its great to pick up some extra spending money. You can be as picky as you want about which jobs you do and there is no requirement to do a certain number a month or anything so if there are no good assignments or you are busy you can just not take any jobs. Just make sure to sign up with reputable companies and NEVER pay to sign up or do a job. Also I think it is important to factor in the time and driving distance before you decide to take a job, its not worth a 30 minute drive for a job that is only going to pay $15 but if that same shop is a 5 minute drive it may be worth your time.
opinionoutpost is reliable and we have got paid over 60 dollars!
Seems like more trouble than its worth.
That’s what people usually say about couponing too until they become educated 😉 I think that ‘worth’ is different for each person, and the return value is probably different depending on what company you use.
what about online offers
Unfortunately, the Ideal offers still require referrals but I always keep looking and will share if I find any!
I don’t think its more trouble than its worth. Think about it. If you are like me, who is an avid couponer and shops weekly at 7 or more stores, then getting paid to do something you’re already going to do and love to do is GREAT!
There was a post some time back about applying to companies to use your vehicle as moving advertising. I was wondering if anyone can tell me more about that. The post said you could apply to a company(ies) and offer advertisement on your car. I am very curious. Dawn
i got some virus from one website
Elizabeth – from one of the sites I posted? Are you sure?These are sites I go to multiple times a week and I have never had any issues. They are legit sites….
i got a virus from a legit coupon website and the coupon downloaders install spyware on my computer. My husband is a computer tech for a living, and in 17 years of internet usage I have never had a virus until coupon surfing. good luck to you
I got a virus too when I opened the page
https://becomeaguide.chacha.com
Makes me a few hundred a month 🙂
I used to work for ChaCha! Stopped at the beginning of this year because sitting at the computer ALL DAY killed my back and arm…..
I just got approved to be a part of ChaCha’s team! Soooooooo excited, and glad I’ll be able to actually start making some money! Can’t wait to tell my hubby this when he gets home 🙂
That’s so cool they are doing quick approval. I had to wait a month before I was accepted over a year ago!
Really? About how many deals do you do a week?
If you are referring to ChaCha I do about 100 questions a day as a Specialist/Generalist.
Can someone give me more info on the chacha site? what are you actually doing?
Thanks Collin
Nortons stopped me from continuing with Valued Opinions
I have been a mystery shopper for 10 years now. I love it! You do have to wait for up to two months on your reimbursements from most companies, so if you don’t have it to give, don’t do it! I shop hotels and restuarants mainly. So we go out to eat a lot and it’s free. They pay me to mystery shop the restaurant and usually give me the full reimbursement. Some only give you back up to what they allow. If you go over, it’s on you. I don’t do many of the ones that acturally pay you something for doing the shop……like banks and retail. I do not do purchase and returns! Never! That is too much trouble for me to go do the shop and then wait sometimes up to 3 days to go back and return the item. I charge most purchases so that when it is refunded, I usually get the bill around the same time. I have signed up with over 40 companies, but usually only work with about 10 of them. It depends on what they have to offer. Good luck to those just starting out and do watch out for scams. A friend of mine wanted to start mystery shopping and she was taken for over $3 thousand dollars that she never got back. They sent her money orders and told her to deposit them into her account……Ha! they stole her money from her account. If I had known she wanted to do this, I would have told her how to get started in it and the ones that are legit! Poor thing, lost all her money!
Would you mind sharing the ones that you participate in? I would love to do mystery shopping!
Kathy, can you please send me your list of companies and I will send you my list. I have about 20 mystery companies.
well i was invited to be a mystery shopper think this was a scam, they sent me a check and i had to call a number and they wanted my bank account number, ummm NOOO!!!
Yes, this sounds like a scam. As with anything in life, if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is!
Thank you so much for doing these posts Nicole! I love them!
Reading the FAQ’s (on Bare) it says you should get a tax id number? Is this necessary and if so how do you obtain one?
I have always just used my social security number.
I am a little confused. I know there are different types of shops but if it is at a restaraunt, do you get reimbursed for your meal, and if so, is it only you or your family too? How much money do you usually make from each shop? Any advice for beginners?
Each shop assignment is different – some will let you bring say 4 people but most will be you and another person and will clearly outline any ordering requirements and payment. My advice for beginners is to sign up for a few companies and accept some easier shops to start out. Make sure to read all instructions before you go!
Rebekah, an example of a couple I have done this week are as follows. I did one on Monday and it was for me and a guest. I had to order something specific (steak and a beer) and my guest could order whatever. I was given up to $55 including tip. My total was $56.19 so I will only get back $55. I did one on Tuesday night and I had $50 to spend and I could order whatever but I had to at least order an appetizer and entree. I spent under that so I will only get back what I spent. I hope that explains it. Let me know if you have any more questions.
The Service with Style website asks for your SSN “for payment” and this is not a secured website. Sounds fishy to me…
All companies require your SS# for payment, there’s nothing fishy about them following the tax laws in this country!
I understand that companies need your SSN to pay you, but the web page where you enter your SSN…it is not a secured web page. That would be like submitting your credit card information on a non-secured website. I have always wanted to be a mystery shopper, don’t get me wrong! I’m just weary of entering that kind of info up on the internet!
My former supervisor has been a Mystery Shopper for quite a long time. She loves it. She’s on the road a lot anyway so she just makes it work around whereever she’s going. She’s done shops from gas stations, tons of restaurants, retail stores (purchasing/returning), senior living centers. There’s a handful of companies she works with and I know she was getting experienced enough to be approved for mini-cruise/vacations type assignments.
Thanks for all this great information!!
I have been mystery shopping since October 2009. I first learned about it from a blogger and then I found Nicole’s Nickels and signed up with all the ones listed on her site. People think it is not legit but believe me it is!!! I am single and my daughter is away at college so it’s does not make sense for me to cook. It’s too hard and expensive to cook for one. I only do restaurant mystery shops and in my slowest month, I was reimbursed $350. It’s not anything to really make money from but it does allow me and a guest to enjoy a nice dinner or lunch. I have done upscale ($145) and I have done fast food ($5) Some companies have very long forms but those are usually the ones that pay more. I usually do about 7 a week. Sometimes 2 a day. The pay comes the following month on most shop and some shops pay after 60 days. I love it!!
I am new to this and dont know any companies to start with…Can u please send me a list of who u use?
Jaala: There is a list on my blog of the companies I shop with, that’s what Nichole is referring to. Just go https://www.nicolesnickels.com and click mystery shopping at the top. That will take you to all of the posts I have written about the companies I shop for. Hope that helps!