Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys?

cptncanary

Could someone list the commonly used mystery shopper companies? :beer:

hathor

Thanks for the advice, Trubster: I try to learn as I go on; but I confess I'd be stranded without the collective wisdom of you folks on here.

Actually, still reeling with jealousy at the idea that it's possible to find enough assignments to do up to 10 a day: not in Cornwall, I think.......

trubster

its very hard to get 5 a day on gap, you really need to register with several companies :-D but once the novelty wears off, you will realise that its not as good as it was to start with

Sarahsaver

onthecase wrote: »

I'm about ready to input my earnings for the inland revenue too, but my earnings are £321 but petrol at 40p per mile/paper copies at £0.06p each comes to £431, showing a loss of £139.

Everything is legitimate and I've kept details of the job, mileage, copies of paper but now I'm worried that they'll think I'm fiddling, but I'm not.

I see some of you have altered your figures, not sure what to do. Wonder if it's worthwhile if I might be investigated over something I've not done!!

What do you think please, anyone else been in this situation? Thanks for any advice in advance.

If you are being paid travel expenses as some companies do then it is NOT legit to list these as an expense as you would effectivelty be having 2x tax free of the same amount.
Simple, don't do a job if you will be out of pocket!

hathor

Actually, I'm registered with Gap, Kern, Grass Roots, Blue Star, Retail Eyes (yet to find a job near me: Tel Aviv too far!), CRI, Bare, TNS (still awaiting login after returning Starter Form a month ago), Assossia, eMystery Shopper, DQM, Indiefield, Pulse Assessor, Fresh Set of Eyes, and React Surveys so I am trying to maximise my opportunities, but I guess it's a combination of location and age (wrong side of 40) that limits my chances.
Still, I enjoy the jobs I do, and the money is welcome, so I just keep looking. Never thought it was going to be a "proper" income, but I guess I'll soon work myself out of a job owing to the small size of the pool (you can't keep going to the same shops & not arouse suspicion). Fun while it lasts!

cptncanary

hathor wrote: »

Actually, I'm registered with Gap, Kern, Grass Roots, Blue Star, Retail Eyes (yet to find a job near me: Tel Aviv too far!), CRI, Bare, TNS (still awaiting login after returning Starter Form a month ago), Assossia, eMystery Shopper, DQM, Indiefield, Pulse Assessor, Fresh Set of Eyes, and React Surveys so I am trying to maximise my opportunities, but I guess it's a combination of location and age (wrong side of 40) that limits my chances.
Still, I enjoy the jobs I do, and the money is welcome, so I just keep looking. Never thought it was going to be a "proper" income, but I guess I'll soon work myself out of a job owing to the small size of the pool (you can't keep going to the same shops & not arouse suspicion). Fun while it lasts!

Blimey!! :eek: I never realised there were so many agencies out there! :beer:

Gemmzie

hathor wrote: »

Actually, I'm registered with Gap, Kern, Grass Roots, Blue Star, Retail Eyes (yet to find a job near me: Tel Aviv too far!), CRI, Bare, TNS (still awaiting login after returning Starter Form a month ago), Assossia, eMystery Shopper, DQM, Indiefield, Pulse Assessor, Fresh Set of Eyes, and React Surveys so I am trying to maximise my opportunities, but I guess it's a combination of location and age (wrong side of 40) that limits my chances.
Still, I enjoy the jobs I do, and the money is welcome, so I just keep looking. Never thought it was going to be a "proper" income, but I guess I'll soon work myself out of a job owing to the small size of the pool (you can't keep going to the same shops & not arouse suspicion). Fun while it lasts!

Hi hathor, woah that's a lot of companies :eek:

I'm in Cornwall to and I do find the jobs are few and far between unless you do Penzance or St Austell who seem to have loads available.
I think we are missing a lot of the big chains who require the shops

I get the odd one from Retail Eyes, but generally via phone, so it's worth making sure they have a number for you.

lewpster

tsharp wrote: »

Has anyone here ever won a survey sweepstake offered by Lightspeed or a prize draw from Valued Opinions? I've been doing them for ages and I am beginning to think it's a myth...

I have won £10 twice which I used for a Next voucher from Lightspeed but now longer a member as no time to do surveys!

josie

Genie75 wrote: »

You need to look at why you've lost money and learn from it. What's the point if you are losing money? (Which is what the IR will ask if this happens each time). Common places for people to lose money are, for example, driving more than 4 miles for your average Gap job, or no fee jobs when you weren't visiting the outlet anyway.

Suspect you are missing the point the OP is trying to make - it's better (in terms of the tax you have to pay or not) that you make a "loss". This is a loss on paper and not an "actual" loss, or as you say there'd be no point in doing it.

This can come about when visiting other parts of the country and doing jobs whilst passing or doing jobs near where you work, which might be 10 miles from home - i.e. looks like you've spent £4 to get there, when in actual fact you can do it on your way home, so you're not really out of pocket.

Becles

josie wrote: »

This can come about when visiting other parts of the country and doing jobs whilst passing or doing jobs near where you work, which might be 10 miles from home - i.e. looks like you've spent £4 to get there, when in actual fact you can do it on your way home, so you're not really out of pocket.

I didn't think you could claim mileage for MS work, when you were doing the journey anyway, such as on the way home from a fixed place of employment or visiting relatives etc.

I thought you could only claim for journeys where the sole purpose of the job was MS work