Online surveys and mystery shopping get a bad rap. Many people think that they are just scams but there are really some great (and legitimate) companies out there that will pay you for your time and effort. And to prove it, here’s what I earned from online surveys and mystery shopping last month, among other endeavors. I completed these mystery shops and surveys in the previous month (or earlier) and received the payment this month.

January 2012
$17.09 from Market Force
$31.00 from Service Sleuth
$18.58 from Sinclair Customer Metrics
$10.76 from Corporate Research International
$9.95 reimbursement for shipping from Freeshipping.com
$4.00 refund from Spreebird (deal was cancelled due to vendor problems)
$5.60 from Bank of America Add It Up cash back shopping

Total earned: $96.98

So, what am I doing with this extra cash? Well, some of it went toward my credit card balance but mostly it went into savings for traveling to my sister’s wedding in California later this year.

I post these numbers not to brag but to show that you really can make money this way. If I can do it so can you. Debt freedom here we come!