Last week I wrote a little about Mystery Shopping. (Click here to read)
For the most part it has been fun and a good way to earn a little extra cash.
The last 3 days have presented me with a few problems that I wanted to make you aware of.
First, I have been asked to do some rather difficult assignments for very little pay. One job, which I declined, involved me going into a store and supervising employees for an hour or so. I was to give them directions on how to set up a particular display but not do any of the setting up myself! They pay was to be $8 for the hour!!!
Now, let me set up the display and get paid for it. But supervising employees who don’t know me at all...I can’t imagine. I don’t really understand why they need to bring in an outsider to do that job. I’m sure there are good reasons for it . None-the-less, it is surely worth a little more than $8.
Another job, to which I was actually assigned, asked me to call certain businesses and make inquiries. After the inquires were made I needed to report on them. "I can do that," I thought.
However, after receiving the paperwork, I was dismayed to find a script that I was to stick to. If I were to stick to the script I would be telling many lies. Lies about my family. As a Christian, I can’t do it. My conscience won’t let me. (And all for the price of $2.00)
One could call it acting...but it is with the intention on deceiving. So, I had to tell them I wouldn’t do it. As you can imagine, they were not impressed!
I HAVE had some very positive Mystery shopping experiences. Others did not require lying and paid $25 and $45. They were interesting and fun. The only drawback (which was slight) to those assignments was the report writing.
Some shops require a simple questionnaire to be filled out. Others ask for a complete narrative of the experience. It took me a VERY long time to write out a narrative of an hour long experience including all the "he said..." "She said..." stuff. You have to be careful not to miss particular points or you will not be paid.
When you take into account all the time put into the report in addition to driving to the location and conducting the shop, the pay may not be very much an hour.
I tried to write reports in the evenings when my kids were in bed. I was fairly successful in doing that. However, on more than one occasion my husband was going to bed before me. And that is saying something...he is the night owl!!
I did receive a 10 out of 10 score for my report. Was it worth it? I don't know.
I’m not giving up on Mystery shopping, just evaluating every offer on a case by case basis.
I don’t want to work a job. I want to stay home with my kids. I’m a homemaker and I take much pleasure and pride in being a homemaker.
There are many different ways to earn a little extra money. So far I have found it difficult to find any way to make extra money that doesn’t end up taking away from the family. I know people can do it. I just don’t think I’m one of those people. Even when I was doing Mary Kay a long time ago (before we had kids), it became time consuming. I want to be good at what I do and that takes time and effort.
We always need to be aware that when we say "Yes" to an opportunity we are saying "No" to something else. We can’t "have it all," as the world says. When I see those words I want to run!
If we are faithful Christians we really DO have it all. What could be better than eternity in heaven? I won’t give that up for anything! | 
