Become a mystery shopper and get paid to shop, dine out, visit breweries, or visit lots of other places.
It’s the perfect side gig if you have great attention to detail and a good memory. Mystery shoppers complete a task at their assigned location, then file a report or fill out a questionnaire immediately after “doing the shop,” as the pros say. Once your report is processed by the company you’re shopping for, your expenses get reimbursed. On top of that reimbursement, you get paid to complete the assignment. While the pay can be low—think $10 or less per hour of work—the addition of free meals, merchandise, or experiences makes up for the low rate.
There are a ton of scammers out there claiming to have mystery shopping opportunities for you. Legitimate opportunities won’t charge you a fee, and you’ll find legit companies listed by the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (www.mspa-global.org). You can also check Secret Hopper for opportunities doing mystery shopping at breweries, BestMark if you’re down to test drive cars or visit casinos, or Market Force if you want to go to the movies on someone else’s dime. Mystery shopping won’t dramatically boost your income, but it’s a fun way to make some extra cash while trying new spots around town.