General Discussion

That I was in a car accident. The settlement allowed me to pay off the house. I have a hybrid. If I want to go out to eat, I mystery shop. Last week I was able to take my adult son go a bar/restaurant mystery shop that reimbursed up to $200! I get cc points and I am reimbursed. The high end shops are few and far apart.

Last week I took my car into the shop for an oil change. Again, it was a shop, so free. Two days ago I did a car wash shop. I will be fully reimbursed and paid $20 for doing it. Next week I eat at a lo all IHOP for free. The week after, I will eat at two different burger joints and get reimbursed and paid. I usually do burger joints for the cash and hand the food off to my son, after I taste it for the report. My husband recently passed. I have done postal shops so I can send some items to his mom. Yesterday, I did trailer checks and watched a movie for free. The trailer checks are just going to the theater and reporting on the reaction of the audience to the trailers. Simple. You are supposed to leave after finishing the required checks, but the manager has become familiar with me. He gives me free popcorn and let's me stay for the movie I am doing checks for. Sometimes I need a new shirt or pants. That's when I do Goodwill shops. I get $5 to spend, and I get paid on top of that. If I want energy drinks, I do a gas station shop. I come home with two energy drinks. I get paid to eat at the restaurant on premises - in the restaurant, and I have to do the drive through, so I get breakfast for the next day. I also get paid on top of that. My favorite is a steakhouse. I get a steak and drink reimbursed and get paid. And if I want to get groceries, there are mystery shops for two different chains in my area. It only covers a very small order, but you also get paid on top of that.

You will not get rich mystery shopping, but it can help enrich your life a little and take the edge off of your bills.

I also shop on seniors day at a local grocery store. That gives mean e,tra 5% off, which is no e when added with sales and possibly a mystery shop.

I look for sales on anything and everything.

I also have been selling things. When I moved in, my hubby did not want to get rid of much. After he passed, my adult son moved in. He brought all of his stuff. To say it is crowded is an understatement. My husband had around 4,000 books! With my double vision (refer back to the accident I was "lucky" enough to have), I can not read books. So, I am slowly selling the books and a lot of other things. I do not sell the things for a lot, but every little bit helps, right?

I also bought protein powder on sale. It is a good meal substitute for me. It is convenient because with my accident, it is sometimes hard to make meals through the pain.

So, there are a few of the ways I am getting through these hard times.