The Mystery Shopper’s Manual

When you do your taxes each year (or run a monthly profit/loss statement) you discover how much income you have netted through mystery shopping. However, there are spending traps that can cause your mystery shopping to be less profitable, or even to result in a net loss.

Here are suggestions to keep you out of the red and in the black, including how to spot hidden spending that does not show up on your tax return, but can make your mystery shopping less profitable. …continue reading Losing Money as a Secret Shopper?

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If you want to get more secret shopping assignments, there are several things you can do. But here is a quick and easy tip you may not have considered . . . …continue reading Get More Mystery Shopper Jobs - A Quick Tip

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I just returned from an out-of-town trip where I used a navigation system for the first time. Wow! What a useful device to have when driving in an unfamiliar area. Instead of trying to read printed directions and find road signs, I just drove and listened for the little voice that would tell me to turn right, or follow this road for 4.2 miles, or stay to the left . . . it was so easy to get where I was going. I couldn’t help but think how useful this would be when doing mystery shops. …continue reading Mystery Shopping with a GPS Navigation System

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In a recent post about saving money on gas, I wrote that you should avoid speeding to get better gas mileage, as well as to avoid the expense of speeding tickets. That prompted one reader to email me and ask (rather sheepishly) if she could deduct the cost of a speeding ticket on her income taxes. She was driving between shops at the time she got the speeding ticket, so would it be considered a business expense?

…continue reading Can I Deduct a Speeding Ticket?

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Are high gas prices making it harder for you to make a profit with mystery shopping? Here are a few tips to help you reduce your gas expenses. Remember that every dollar you save on expenses goes straight to your bottom line, increasing your profits. …continue reading Save Money on Gas and Make Secret Shopping More Profitable

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Do you want to make more money as a mystery shopper? You do not necessarily have to work at lot harder to have more money in your pocket.

One way to make more is to get paid more for the time you spend. That may mean making more money per shop, or it may mean using your time more effectively to get more done in less time.

And at least as important as making more money is keeping more of what you make. Cutting expenses, and finding ways to save money on taxes, will let you hang on to your hard-earned cash. …continue reading Make Mystery Shopping More Profitable

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