Desperate, please help

misssarahleigh

To comment on Glasgowdan's post I must seperate surveys and mystery shopping.

These are two separate entities. Like everything there are some things that are paid well and others that are not. Mystery shopping can and is profitable for a lot of people, but this depends on the work. e.g. you may have to go into bank for a fee. Just so happens that the member of staff gives you a little information and your in and out in 5 mins and it will take you 20 mins to write the report. thats 25 mins in total with a little petrol as it's just down the road. That fee for 25 mins is more than I make at work in an hour.

However, if the bank is further away (more cost in petrol) the staff member is nice and chatty and keeps you there 30 mins and then because of that the report takes 30 mins then you clearly have made the same amount of money but for more effort.

For Glasgowdan to rule this particular type of employment below NMW is very untrue and either doesn't understand the industry properly or didn't do it right if he undertook some mystery shopping work.

considering your circumstances i would suggest the typical 'shop' visits where you go out wouldn't suit. Although there are companies that do telephone calls and website reviews which may be more suited to your needs.

Surveys are less profitable. For those wanting to make a regular amount of money this isn't the case, but if you need to build a christmas/holiday fund it's very good.

I complete surveys when i don't have any more profitable work to complete. I would suggest i spend on average 1 hour per week on surveys and have made £312.93 this year (so, £7.56 per hour ish).

This isn't regular but picked up when nothing better is to be done and many times i'm often completing other work at the same time.

For more advice on surveys have a look here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3034918

I completed a 'how to guide'. The best advice I can give is to treat it as an 'extra' and do it when nothing better is to be done. Also, do those which are more profitable. Some companies pay a good fee, others quite poorly.

annie12

I have social anxiety, but, not to your extent.
If you're anything like me, the thought of doing mystery shopping would make you ill. You've already said that you've tried everything, so I would say you need something you can do at home. I'm not sure if anything would pay enough to warrant you coming off benefits. They may class it as therapeutic work though, so that you don't lose all your benefits.

desert_rose

I'd learn a new skill if I were you. There's money to be made in craft type activities and I know of someone who makes a good living from knitting hand made jumpers for adults and baby bootees as designer gifts for newborns.

Dropshipping is another avenue to explore and selling via ebay or Amazon could be done successfully from home.

If you enjoy the written word how about doing an online course in journalism, proof reading or copy writing?

Another idea would be to do a course in counselling as I'm sure your experiences could help other people to deal with their problems.

There are loads of opportunities out there when you take a look. The hard bit is taking a chance and finding out if the idea you choose will work for you. Best advice (as another poster suggested) is to focus on something you truly enjoy. That way lies success.

pineapple

glasgowdan wrote: »

My comments about online surveys and mystery shopping really relate to the fact that when you consider your hourly income from this work it is way WAY below NMW,

The online surveys I do pay £3 for 10 - to 15 minutes work and no need to get in the car to go anywhere. I think you'll find that is well above the minimum wage rate. The point is one is unlikely to get anywhere near enough surveys to earn a decent wage.
Can I suggest - if you can face going out of the house - dog walking/sitting is an option. Sometimes animals are easier to interact with!

humantraffic

i cant comment on the mystery shopping or online survey as i've never tried them, However I would say evie - small steps is all it takes to build you confidence back up. after all a journey starts with a single step.

You mentioned you had 2 years of a degree but had no specifc skills, (everyone has skills, just they dont know it) perhaps you can relate you degree studies to something that you enjoy doing that earns money?

Or a volunteer course somewhere, If the social aniexty aspect is a problem and interaction

try dog walking as above,
or if getting out of house is problem why not combine the mystery shopping with the weekly shop? (something you do already)
as you mentioned "The uncertainty of it all terrifies me though, as if it doesn't work out I'll be in big trouble." if you combine it with something you know you know it wont end badly.

I've had social anxiety and still have but is controlled, but there are ways and means about things, but life sometimes is meant to be uncertain sometimes

p.s I think styder is right.

VSC

Hi,

You could try offering some service on these:
www.fiverr.com
www.fivesquids.co.uk

Take care,