| You don't need much cash on hand to lead a good life. | | | | be trying to build a customer profile for their product, or |
| I'm not talking about credit cards. If you are a resident | | | | simply trying to understand the market better. At the |
| in U.S.A., you can live well without having a big salary | | | | end of the day, you benefit with free stuff and better |
| or load of cash in the bank. Ok, you can live | | | | service or products as the company makes |
| comfortably if you know how, and have internet | | | | adjustments in line with the results of the surveys. |
| access. | | | | That means you can get what you want at kmart or |
| You can have your heating bills paid for, which would | | | | walmart by joining their programs and getting their gift |
| keep you warm. You can even own gorgeous | | | | cards. You can get $250 gift cards that can be used |
| designer handbags. You can dine at fancy restaurants | | | | to by your groceries or your thanksgiving food. If you |
| and get paid to live the good life. | | | | have a sweet tooth, you can get $100 worth of |
| How is that possible? | | | | chocolate for free. Gas bills too high, there is even a |
| By mystery shopping. You'll find where you can do just | | | | program that lets you have free gas for a year. Fancy |
| that in the resource box. Let's start with the really cool | | | | your own laptop? You can get yours for free too. Not |
| part about eating at fine restaurants and getting paid | | | | from an unknown brand but the good laptop brands |
| for it. | | | | like IBM, Toshiba or Gateway. You can get a Tiffany |
| Basically, the company wants to check on their sales | | | | bracelet, carry a Fendi bag, go for a vacation without |
| staff or service staff. Obviously, the staff would | | | | paying a cent. While you are on vacation, you can |
| recognize the big boss or top management people if | | | | take great photos with you new digital camera, listen |
| they were to show up. The management wants to | | | | to music on your new MP3 player and call home with |
| know whether the sales staff or service staff are | | | | your wireless phone, all of which you got for free. |
| doing their work properly. | | | | Want to lose weight, go to the gym, with a free 1 year |
| In the case of a restaurant, the management wants to | | | | gym membership. Even your pet gets to eat for free |
| know if the waiters please the customers, if the chef | | | | with a year's supply of pet food. |
| cooks well even when the management is not looking. | | | | So you see, you don't need much cash to live it up. If |
| So they get mystery shoppers to do these spot | | | | you spare the time to fill in some forms, you could |
| checks. | | | | basically live a good life... for free. |
| That means, the fancy restaurant pays you to wine | | | | Another way you can stretch the dollar is to get what |
| and dine there, like a regular customer. The restauraunt | | | | you need at discount prices. I like to go to warehouse |
| will pay for your meal. You then feedback to the | | | | sales or closeouts to get branded goods at below |
| management your experience. Imagine. Getting paid to | | | | retail prices. Big sales may be crowded but if you can |
| be treated like royalty. Now that's living it up. | | | | stand the crowds, they are well worth the trip. Some |
| Besides restaurants, many service oriented companies | | | | of the items could have been brought in specially for |
| hire mystery shoppers to keep their staff on their toes. | | | | the sale to attract crowds. These would probably be |
| Carpet cleaning companies could pay you to get your | | | | the first items to sell out. You might want to go to the |
| carpets cleaned. Pizza delivery companies pay you | | | | sale as early as possible to ensure you get the best |
| and give you free pizza. You get to live it up and get | | | | deals before they run out. |
| paid for it. | | | | You can also find lots of great stuff at below retail |
| Besides mystery shopping, you can get a lot of your | | | | prices online. Why? For one thing, online stores do not |
| bills paid for by filling in surveys. These could be as | | | | have the high rental overheads that a real brick and |
| simple as between 2 products, which do you prefer. | | | | mortar store would have to pay for. The savings could |
| Or what you like or don't like about a product. It could | | | | then be passed on to the customer in the form of |
| be your demographic information. The company may | | | | discounts. Even some brick and mortar stores have |
| be trying to get in touch with the likes and dislikes of | | | | web only discounts which are well worth a look at. By |
| their customers, or potential customers and are willing | | | | paying less than retail prices for your purchases, you |
| to pay your bills or give you useful gifts in return for | | | | can live it up even on a small income. |
| your participation in their surveys. The company might | | | | |