Mystery Shopping

Mystery shopping is where a company requires you to try out their services as a normal (but unknown) customer and report back to them your findings.
This can be in many forms including shopping in a Supermarket to test their service and general appearance, buying a particular product from a shop or Service Station, eating in a Restaurant, staying at a Hotel etc.

This work is now virtually 100% internet based and set forms are given to
you to fill in.

Example - Fast Food Restaurant - Did they give you a welcome greeting,
did they smile, did they look clean, were they wearing a name badge,
did they try and 'up-sell', did they say thankyou, was the food well
presented, was the food hot', would you go back there again etc. Often they
will specify the meal you have to purchase, or at least give you a few options. Scores out of ten are given and a brief summary required.

Normally a form would take about 15 minutes to complete. The average 'payment' woiuld be the re-imbursement of the meal cost plus about a £6 fee.

The nice thing about this is you can often tie it in with your own shopping thus saving on petrol money, get a meal whilst there and make some money out of it as well.

Some retailers may ask you to buy a product, then take it back a few days later for a refund to get the reaction and service etc.

There are many Mystery Shopping companies out there and although not very well paid, it can add up.

One of my more adventurous and unusual jobs - owl sitting !

Maybe you've spent 20 / 30 years 'doing the norm', 9 to 5, secure, quaranteed £XXXX every month. Suddenly that's gone. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Forget conformity, have a front and go for it.

Earn extra income from various sources

Online Surveys
 These are quite simple and don't take up much time. Click here for more info

Boot Fairs and Selling
 With the coming of ebay, Charity Shops and Boot Fairs are taking a bit of a down surge. Boot Fairs can be fun and they are 'quick cash'. You can use them for clearing out all that stuff you've been hoarding in the lofts and sheds.
A better price would probably be had doing online auctions and you can start quite a lucrative 'business'. The downer on this is that it's not instant money, you have the trouble

of wrapping things up. Also, you'll find yourself buying stuff as well ! (see NEW 'Successful Boot Fairs' page)

You can also look into the online auction shop schemes plus becoming an Agent to sell other peoples items.

Personally, when I'm in this particular mood, I look for bargains at local Household Auctions, then sell online.
Sometimes it hasn't paid off, but over the past 4 years or so, I've made a good profit. It's finding the time to do it all !

Other Ideas

Newspaper and Leaflet rounds - Easy money, not so good in bad weather though, good exercise and stress free.

House Sitting - Make it known you could pop into a persons house every day they are away on holiday - feed the cat, the goldfish and whatever - or even stay there ! It's surprising how many people would rather pay for this service than have a neighbour do it. See new page here

Dog Walking - An idea originating from the USA. Maybe someone's ill or getting old and want someone to take their dog out for them.

Web Site and Internet - Have you a 'niche hobby' you could build a web site about. There are plenty of opportunities to earn money this way - and by other means. Click here

Film Extra - I've had a lucky break here. I heard of a company after background extras for a TV Show, sent my details and they phoned me the next day offering me work. It's £60 per day, but 'if the face fits' you can earn a lot more, quadruple even. Look in Yellow Pages or hunt around the net.
 
Grass Cutting - If you've a decent mower, why not cut other peoples grass. If not the neighbours, at the very least it will pay for the petrol. Word gets round and before long you can have a nice little lucrative business for the summer.
For my guide to lawn mowers, click here. For new gardening work page, click here.

I'm sure there are many other ways of earning that little bit extra to help pay the bills. These are just a few things I've done to stay above water (just !!).

The main thing is to remember there are a lot of people who have things they either don't like doing or can afford to have someone to do it for them.
It's just sitting down, looking at your locality and finding holes in the market and going for them.

Look for those holes in the market Think 'niche'

Earning a Living