Not As Many Mystery Shops Right Now?

I have noticed that there doesn't seem to be as many mystery shops available right now. Not sure if it is my imagination, or if it is a fact. I used to get a lot of opportunities just a short while ago, but now they seemed to have dried up a tad. Maybe it is an end-of-the year thing, or maybe more people are out of work and need to do more shops. I could use the extra money, but I need the extra time I have by not doing the shops as well. You know--studying for the bar exam and all that. Time is definitely money in that sense. Maybe it is lucky after all I am not getting shops right now.

Dodged A Bullet!

I think I dodged a bullet and may escape getting overdraft fees this time. This is sad, isn't it? That I have to dodge a bullet to do this? Well, at least this time I had the presence of mind to contact a couple of people and ask them if they could hold a check I had given them for a week. At least one said yes. And I think that is enough for me not to get overdrafts, even if the other person says no or has already deposited the check. With Christmas and everything coming up, I just can't afford to give right now to my regular charity--Regions Bank. Hope they understand! They are so used to my regular paycheck to them. I am so happy! yay!

A Mystery Shop Was Snatched Out From Under My Keyboard!

This is wierd--I have never had this happen before. I had just gotten an email saying that some new mystery shops were available in my area. A lot of mystery shops are released at the beginning of the month. I clicked on the link to learn more about this particular shop, and I couldn't have spent more than a couple of minutes pondering whether I should take it or not. I clicked to go backwards on the link, and the shop was already taken. Right from under my nose! I have never had something like that happen so quicklyl. Probably for the best, as it required me to spend some money (of course I would be reimbursed). But with studying for the bar and all, I really shouldn't take too many shops. But this particularly company is one of the fast-paying companies, which made me consider it for that couple of minutes.

I Could Have Been Taken By A Mystery Shopping Scam!

I have been doing mystery shopping for several months ago and was aware that there was some kind of check cashing scam going on. It is sort of similar to the Nigeria scam but on a smaller scale. A friend forwarded me an email, and I actually applied. Nothing about it seemed wierd. But when I got "accepted" as a mystery shopper, I got a reply back saying they wanted me to do a Wal-mart and a Western Union shop. Something about Western Union rang a bell in my head. I googled mystery shop scams and sure enough--there are scams out there involving Wal-mart and Western Union. I wrote back and told him to cancel my application. I wish I hadn't done that though. I would love to turn him in. I read comments from others on the internet who had been taken by this same scheme for about $3,500 or so. Whew! Glad I figured it out. This is the email reply I got, just in case someone else gets this too:

Hello XXX,
You have been Accepted as our Mystery shopper/Survey Agent.
You will be evaluating a Wal-Mart Store and a Western union outlet in your neighborhood. You will need to locate the Nearest Wal-mart and Western union store as soon as you get this email today. Email us the STORE NAME AND STORE ADDRESS in your next email. That is where you will be doing your 1st Secret shopping and Evaluation.
Please remember that you are to act Cool, Calm and Confident through out the period in which you will be carrying out the survey, in order not to arouse any suspicious. We will furnish you with transfer details which you will send Funds to via Western union. Also you will be shopping at Wal-mart stores close by, after which you will write a report and send back to us via Email using the following pointers:
1) How long it took you to get services.2) Ambiance/Outlook of the Shop/Outlet3) Smartness of the attendant4) Customer service professionalism5) Reaction of personnel under pressure6) Information that you think would be helpful7) Your comments and impressions.
Payments will be mailed out to you as soon as you reply back to this email,which you will cash and expend in carrying out all that will be required of you including your compensation.

Online Coupon Sites

I stumbled onto this article today that mentions some good online coupon sites: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/5-favorite-sites-for-online-coupons.aspx.

I was glad to find it as I tried to find online coupons the other day for Target and didn't get very far. I wanted to find online coupons I could use in the store but had no luck. I finally called my local store, and they told me they didn't accept online coupons.

But I am glad to find these sources as I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet, and I know I will be buying some things online. Every bit helps!

Mystery Shopping Has Made The Difference For My Budget

I read an article online not long ago about how many people just need to earn an extra $100 or $200 a month to make it through the month. That that little amount of money can make the difference between meeting your budget and going further into the hole. Well, I have been doing mystery shopping for three months now, and I just added up the checks I have received thus far. Total: a little over $600, or $200 a month. That has made the difference for me. It has plugged up some of the holes between paychecks and helped me not overdraft. It has been a godsend actually. I can't wait until after the bar exam, when I can go whole hog on it again.

Target Was Like A Ghosttown Tonight

I went to Target tonight to pick up a few things after work, and it was like a ghosttown. Usually, this Target at that time of night is humming. It was almost scary. I bought a slipcover for my sofa and felt like a spendthrift. Everyone else just had food and essentials in their carts.