Eating out can be expensive. Rather than stop eating out, simply cut back and look for options of two-for-one. Restaurants of all calibers offer weekly specials and if you check in your Sunday paper, you can often find special bargains.

You might even think about signing up as a Mystery Shopper on the Internet where you can eat at fine restaurants free or at a huge discount just for writing a report on the food, service, and cleanliness.

I've actually done this however one thing to realize if your looking for a relaxing night out then mystery shopping is not for you... Cause it's really a job and there are hundreds of things you have to remember to look for things that have to be timed cause you can't bring in cheat sheets or anything that might give you away.. but the good thing about mystery shopping is that you can a lot of times get reimbursed for what you buy PLUS get paid a fee for doing the work.

Just curious, tipsy, what kind of "fee" on average does one get paid for doing the work? And how often do you get such assignments?

that's what I am curious about too. seems a lot of folks would want to do this and there would be very few 'assignments'..

Oh I wish I could be a secret shopper for some of these dumps around here... muahahaha.

aaron

all depends really some assignments can pay you $7 or $10 the most I ever made per assignment once was $50 for talking bout getting some insurance... And it's not just restaurants there are grocery stores, oil changing centers, even getting an eye exam and glasses, renting video's..

if it's okay (hehehe don't want to break the mod's rules) I'll post a link (none of them are referral links none of the links will provide me with any benefit)

and can I also say NEVER EVER pay money to be hired as an independent contractor real mystery shopping companies work legit like a real job..

http://www.volition.com/mysteryUSA1.html

look down and to the left you'll see the companies listed by ABC order and you can check them out and apply and then see if they have any jobs available in your area always good to apply for many cause not all companies will have something for your area unless you live in a really big city.