I was a mystery buyer for 11 years; I saved thousands of people on luxury

Fresh out of the university, I worked my first real work and the money was tight. I could cover the bases, but there was not much left for good meals or updating my wardrobe.

I deal with an evening or a day of snowboarding felt out of reach, and I could not imagine a way to get around this until I see an ad to do secret shopping that has changed everything.

It seemed too good to be true – being paid to shop

I spent a few hours digging online to make sure it was not a scam. It turns out that mysteries purchases – as it is also called – is very real.

I applied to two companies, each with an surprisingly in -depth application process that tested my writing, grammar and communication skills.

I did not know it yet, but the shopping part was only half of the work; The other half wrote in -depth reports on each part of the experience.

At the beginning, I was only offered small jobs

Initially, the job lists were rare, and I could only apply for smaller jobs, such as examining a fast food for $ 10 with up to $ 40 for food refund or win $ 20 for a retail purchase of $ 15.

A few months, I finished several stores, but others, I did not have time to do it. I finished each job, whatever the small size, in time and I submitted extremely detailed reports.

It didn’t bother me with small concerts, I save money and that I mark free burgers, pizzas, gas and grocery store. However, I was after the greatest jobs, such as stays at the hotel, which would come after having accumulated my reputation.

I started to disembark bigger concerts after half a year

It took me six months to prove that I was reliable, and it was then that I started to disembark more advanced concerts, including one for a high-end clothing store with a gift card of $ 100.

After that, I was given several other locations, each with a gift card of $ 100 to buy what I wanted.

Then, after about a year of successful stores, I was responsible for reviewing a day’s snowboard experience in a neighboring mountain.

This work included snowboard rentals, lifting passes and several meals on the mountain for myself and a friend – an experience that I could never have offered at the time without my status as a secret buyer.

After this concert, he came the multiple hotel nights that I received in four and five -star hotels, at home and on a trip. Applying for hotel evenings outside the city has become a way for me to have a weekend getaway without paying for that.

By combining assignments of hotels and restaurants in neighboring cities, I have often been paid while enjoying mini-vivulation. Talk about a fabulous stampede.

I kept this agitation aside and I was a secret buyer for 11 years. I saved thousands of dollars and even made a few hundred more along the way.

My only complaint regarding secret purchases and why I left

My only complaint regarding secret purchases – and the reason why I decided to stop – was the time it took to complete the detailed reports.

Particular attention to details and patience is necessary to complete the in -depth reports which cover each part of the experience. Often, I would spend almost two hours carefully fill in questionnaires of ten or eleven pages.

The hours I spent filling them finally prevail over the advantages. And if you make a mistake, they can hold the salary. It only happened to me only once, but after adding the additional information required, I was quickly paid.

I do not regret my days of secret shopping

I arrived at dinner in fantasy restaurants, staying in luxury hotels, refreshing my wardrobe and enjoying unforgettable experiences – all for free. The little extra money I earned for my time was also a good bonus.

I am eternally grateful to have tripped on this announcement for secret purchases. This click has completely changed the way I dined, bought and traveled.

For me, becoming a secret buyer has never been to become rich, and I was not rich. However, I can say with confidence that it was worth it to me at that time in my life.