When we make plans to retire, most of us look forward to doing more of the things we enjoy, like shopping and eating out with friends.  What sometimes happens, though, is that all the financial planning for retirement can leave out the extra money needed during what used to be working time. 

Retirees often work part-time to offset the costs that crop up outside their regular expenses, to have extra money to dine out, travel, etc.  What if there was a way to combine time spent shopping and dining out, earning extra income and keeping active as an advocate for retirees as consumers? The perfect part-time job that makes a difference – paid shopping!

What’s that, you say? shopper jobs means accepting assignments from companies that want feedback from consumers, in every situation from returning a product at a retail store, to getting a haircut or shopping for a new car. The mystery shopper completes the assignment and fills out an evaluation or report on the experience, and is paid for their time/mileage.

It is a great way for retirees to maximize the benefits of having time to manage. They can earn extra money, control the amount of time and effort put into their part-time career, and can often even receive the benefits of reimbursed or free meals, products and services, as part of their shopping assignments. It’s a great use of their experience as consumers, too. No one can speak better for them than one of their own.

But where to begin? A great place to start is the “Mystery Shopper Handbook.” It’s an ebook that is chock-full of all the information needed to begin working as a secret shopper. Everything from defining the types of shopping/consumer assignments given, to a rundown of the organizational tools and steps to follow – all are included in this manual.  Even if you are a retiree who is not particularly computer-savvy, you can earn extra money as a shopper by following this helpful plan.

Why shopper jobs? Well, for a retiree, it’s a great combination of earning extra income, plus the social aspect of shopping or using services like stylists and mechanics, and using writing and observing skills to report back to the companies that hire shoppers. The sense of accomplishment they can feel by adding their voice to the feedback companies receive is an added bonus for those retirees who want to supplement their income in a way they can control.