There is nothing for free. But how about almost free, or free with little effort? Ah ha! Now that youre paying attention, lets talk about the world of Mystery Shopping.
Mystery Shopping, or being a secret shopper, is merely evaluating a product or service, and then getting paid to do it. The only stipulation is that you must be covert about it. The list of assignments is literally endless. You could be asked to go to a fast food restaurant, a clothing store, an employment agency, a car repair establishment, receive a bouquet of flowers, get your eyes checked, be a potential renter in an apartment complex, or eat out at a fine dining restaurant. Many will reimburse you for the item they required you to purchase and also give you a small bonus ($8-$15) on top of that. Sometimes youre allowed to spend $40 for dinner and youll get an extra $10 if you submit your report on time. Other times you will be reimbursed only for what you purchased and thats it. Each company compensates differently.
Like everything, there are a few downsides. Perhaps areas of consideration is a more appropriate word to use here. What is your time worth? Sometimes youll be offered a gig where...