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. Some of these mystery shops required me to pay something out of pocket to purchase a good or service (which I get to keep) but I was reimbursed for my purchase and was usually paid an additional fee. The amount I earned from mystery shops includes the reimbursement for my purchases.
Mystery shopping usually requires that you purchase something specific from the store you are evaluating for which you are then reimbursed. I usually charge those purchases onto my credit card so that I get rewards points and so that it does not use up my grocery budget for that month. When I am paid for mystery shopping I pay myself back and transfer the amount of money I spent on those mystery shopping purchases back to the credit card. The remainder is my profit.
January 2015
Freelance Writing- $50.00
Blogging/ Ad Revenue- $15.00
Intellishop– $32.15
Sinclair Customer Metrics– $26.28
About Face– $13.00
Rebates- $20.00
Pact– $15.08
Ibotta– $10.00
Shopmium– $.45 (use referral code HGCCMKWQ for a free Lindt chocolate bar when you sign up!)
Gigwalk– $6.00
Field Agent– $23.50
EasyShift– $21.00
Total: $232.46
What did I do with this extra income?
I used this extra cash to make the last payments to my Mom and sister for the rental houses we stayed in while we were in England over the summer for my other sister’s wedding! YAY! I was so excited to write those checks. I have never been so happy to give someone money I owed them. I feels great to know that all this hard work has been paying off and two more debts have been scratched off of my list. On to the next one!
Did you make any extra income last month? What are you using your side hustle money for?