More and more people are turning to the Internet as a way to make money – and many are reporting more income than ever. Have you checked out the job scene on Craigslist lately? It’s not much fun sending out resume after resume only to find that 500 other people are doing the same thing for the same job. So I did some research on where people are making a living online now, and how they are doing it. And do you know what I found? People are actually making a good living taking assignments as “mystery shoppers”.

For those unfamiliar with the concept of mystery shopping, the idea is simple: you go into a store, buy some merchandise, groceries, etc. and notice various things about your experience. Basically these are things such as employee behavior to store conditions to the way they handle your cash. You do it “secretly” and act just like a regular customer (because really, you are one), so the employee doesn’t know they’re being reported on. Store owners pay big money for this, because it helps them save money in the long run: cleaner stores, better service.

Here are 3 reasons why mystery shopping is catching on with everyone:

1. “Regular” jobs aren’t cutting it anymore – First: where are they? Commute times are ridiculous, gas is still high, and no one is getting a decent raise any time soon with the way the economy is right now. Secret shoppers are providing one of the few services that people pay for.

2. Extra cash – Many secret shopper programs allow flexibility in their programs. So even if you already have a job that pays, you can pick up extra work on the weekends, on the way home, or even during a regular shopping trip. An extra $20/day is $600/month.

3. Easy to pick up – This one’s obvious: who doesn’t know how to shop? Really, the only training you need here is to not give yourself away. Just shop like you always do, and keep your eyes open. Easy money.

So in summary, earning extra cash shopping is an idea most people are finding is the easiest way to pay off their bills, save for a vacation and, in many cases, make a good living. Once you have found a good program that pays (and they are out there, if you know where to look) it’s up to you how much you want to work, and how much you want to make.

Raven X, writer and self-employment guru

For more information, and a review of one of the best mystery shopping programs available today, visit: http://www.squidoo.com/earn-extra-cash-shopping

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