Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys?

jobbingmusician

Tetsuko wrote: »

At risk of sound a noob all over again, does anyone know what an "open" audit is?

I mean in regards to auditing retail outlets.

AFAIK it is the opposite of mystery shopping: a review of the store when they are not (particularly) expecting you, but you tell them at the outset what you are doing and go through the stuff with them as you are doing it.

Becles

Tetsuko wrote: »

At risk of sound a noob all over again, does anyone know what an "open" audit is?

You go into store and tell them you are there on behalf of "manufacturer" to audit "products". You normally have to sign in as a visitor too.

You'll be sent paperwork for whatever you are auditing and it's just a matter of filling the sheets in. As it's open, you can take a clipboard and write everything down as you are going. Sometimes you have to take digi photos too.

Sometimes they just want to know how stock is arranged, how much shelf space different products have, do their competitiors have any promo's running - that kind of thing.

For reference covert auditing is doing exactly the same job, except you don't sign into the store so they don't know you've been in. You just have to mooch round like a shopper and collect the data secretly.

Annie_Fanny

A question for Becles perhaps?

The dreading topic - TAX! SScccccrrream!

I need to fill in my first self assessment online. Now if I do a job in March but receive the money in April (after the tax year ends) how do I record it? My job date or payment date?

Does this make sense?

Annie
Xx

Becles

You can do it either way, as long as it goes on either this years return on next years return!

Some people will declare all income earned in March, even though it may not have been paid yet.

Some will only declare the work that has been paid to date, and money they get in April will go on next year's return.

I prefer the latter method as I find it easier, but it's whatever suits you.

flis21

Hi All,

Well, in order to bring down our debt I am looking at trying to slightly increase our income. Taking on a second job is not really an option for either of us, so what else can we do?

Have been looking around the internet and the two best ideas have been to do online surveys and mystery shopping.

For surveys I have found a site called surveyhawk, but they want £18 up front. Has anyone else used them? Do you make a reasonable amount of money out of doing it? I don't want to pay £18 to only make £5 a month!!

Mystery shopping, can anyone recommend any companies that do this? I work full time, so will only be able to do it at the weekend? Does it pay very much? Is it worth pursuing?

Thanks all.

Taggie

Two9A wrote: »

So I just tried to sign up with Grassroots, and they denied me on the grounds that I run Firefox, and not Internet Exploder. I'm almost tempted not to reboot into Windows just so I can sign up...

but I will do anyway

It's because their on-line reporting system doesn't work on Firefox. When I signed up, I was on Crazy Browser, but have recently changed to Firefox, so when I need to enter GRG reports, I have to revert back to Crazy Browser, have to do this with TNS and another company as well!!!

HTH :beer:

angelavdavis

Can only comment on surveys - look at yougov.co.uk and quidco.

Do a forum search for secret shopping for ideas.

kathfisch

My advice would be to start with the mystery shopping companies that don't charge anything (never heard of that, dodgy maybe?!) and see how you go... I've found the grassroots group to be good. There's a popular mystery shopping chat thread on dfw somewhere, a quick search should do the trick.

I definitely recommend yougov, it takes a while to reach the payout level of £50 but the surveys are well designed, easy and interesting.

Pigsback is a good source of vouchers to save money on everyday things and/or treats. Have a look at the first post of the pigsback thread here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=396672 for everything you need to know.

Quidco is, in my opinion, the best site for cashback. Always check there before doing any online shopping and look at changing your insurance... around £100 cashback is available.

Kath

helping_hubby

Incase you haven't found it, the MS thread is here: Mystery Shopping Thread

On the first post is a list of companies, there are many more out there too. Bear in mind for most MS Companies you will need to register as self employed.

I work full time, so can only do them in my lunch hour, evenings and weekends...and to be honest a lot are for during weekdays. So I only really earn pocket money from doing this. But I would recommend giving it a go. If you wanted to just try it out, start out with TNS as they are PAYE, so they sort your tax out for you. Their application form is quite long, so make sure you have a good hour to fill it in properly, as it's not one you'll want to have to fill in again!

Surveys/clickthrus for cash/vouchers:
Quidco
Freefivers
Topcashback
Pigsback
MyTNS
Testandvote (although I NEVER get points from surveys here)
YouGov
Juicybrainspanel
Pureprofile
ipoints

Hope that helps

helping_hubby

Oh...and a company charging you £18 is more likely to be a con. Any genuine MS company/survey company will NOT charge you.

Although quidco takes £5 per year (but only if you earn it)