Hello! I didn't come here to ask for all kinds of advice. I am not going to ask which companies are the best ones. But, I after a few weeks in I can offer some of my own advice and observations.

I decided to try mystery shopping after reading an article about it recently. I had done a few restaurant shops years ago, but that was about it. Now, the honest reason I wanted to try again... I wanted to find a way to pay for the new boat without feeling guilty about it. My goal is to clear about $225 extra a month. After a few weeks in, this feels doable. But, time management could be the biggest challenge for me.

I have completed roughly 15 shops clearing $275 since 12/9/16. Not all of them have been traditional shops. There were a couple of easy phone ones for $5 and a few quick cheap stops for the Field Agent AP.

Here are some of my thoughts / experiences...

- I look for shops on my way home from work or on the way to an errand I need to complete anyway. Then I can make a little money and write off the miles on top of that. (Miles I would have driven anyway)
- I have been trying to sign up for 2-3 new MSCs per day. That way over time I will build up a list and not feel overwhelmed at the beginning. ( I started saving narratives, so I can copy and paste in my profiles)
- I have been trying a variety of shops, some were easier than expected.. one was a real uncomfortable pain in the butt (Western Union shop where I had to ask for a refund at the end... holding up the line on a Friday night pay day for a lot of people is a bad idea)
- There was one shop that I could do.. but I wasn't excited about it. I asked the scheduler if they'd be willing to pay $5 more and they did. (I wouldn't do that one again for $25 more... see above) But, I learned I can negotiate.
- I have enjoyed the process of mystery shopping more than I thought I would. I can be a story teller and be someone that I am not for a bit. That part is fun to me.
- I have been very friendly and helpful with schedulers... I assume this will pay off over time.
- I have learned that If I see a job that I may want that I need to grab right away. The shops can go quick.
- The hardest part so far for me is time management. It takes time to sign up with MSCs, time to read the guidelines, time to do the shops, time type up narratives, time to find more shops, and then also time to read about the industry. I already have a full time job and a wife, both of which I love.

I am assuming that the time management will get easier as I learn shortcuts, learn the MSCs I like, and learn how to prepare for shops better. But, maybe a few of you can confirm that for me??

First, welcome to the forum! It sounds as though you are off to a good start.

@Jk1nole wrote:

- I look for shops on my way home from work or on the way to an errand I need to complete anyway. Then I can make a little money and write off the miles on top of that. (Miles I would have driven anyway)

Talk with your tax preparer abut this or read about 'commute' miles and 'business' miles at irs.gov. If you have a job other than mystery shopping you have 'commute' miles going to it and those miles cannot be counted as 'business' miles as an independent contractor. If you are leaving from your home to do shops on a day when you are not going to your other job, those can be 'business' miles.

@Jk1nole wrote:

I am assuming that the time management will get easier as I learn shortcuts, learn the MSCs I like, and learn how to prepare for shops better. But, maybe a few of you can confirm that for me??

Yes, along the way you will discard some MSCs where their shops just take too much time before, during, during report writing and in follow up. You will find some MSCs where the guidelines and reports feel natural to you so they go quickly. And you will begin to repeat shops, which cuts down enormously on prep and report time because you know what they want.

Yes, I believe you are correct on the miles to and from work. I probably have to deduct my normal commute first. But, then I should still be able to write off miles if leaving from my house outside of a normal work schedule even while on errands at the same time.

Interesting thoughts. You will pick up speed as you develop shortcuts. Over time, you'll probably keep doing some of the same shops forever but drop others that aren't as much fun or if you realize they really aren't worth. Some shops I've done so many times the last 6 years I feel like I could do them in my sleep. And you'll learn to spot the shops quickly in an email you receive, and you'll recognize adddresses, knowing what is close to what other shop. Building routes gets easier.