Panhandling vs. Mystery Shopping
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Maybe get a different job...I hear the unemployment rate is down below 4% and jobs are going begging...hopefully where you live there are some available. at least part time to supplement your mystery shopping....oh wait the mystery shopping usually supplements the other job. But what ever works.
If you haven't figured out how to make money at this by now, then it is long past time to get a regular job.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@sandyf wrote:
Maybe get a different job...I hear the unemployment rate is down below 4% and jobs are going begging...hopefully where you live there are some available. at least part time to supplement your mystery shopping....oh wait the mystery shopping usually supplements the other job. But what ever works.
That unemployment rate is a lie. We learn in business and econ. that the real unemployment rate is what is called the labor force participation rate. Right now, it is 62.9%. That means unemployment is likely closer to 25-30% (some are "older" people who have retired, so there's some guesstimating).
The government provided one, called the U6, doesn't include people who have given up looking for over 1 year. It's ONLY people who want work, but cannot find it, or only have part-time work, for the past 12 months. This is why Donald Trump said Obama was lying about his unemployment rate when Barack Obama was POTUS and that the real unemployment rate was in the 20's or 30's% range when he was running for President and also before that when he was just attacking Barack Obama all the time (you know, because he sort of seemed jealous of him). Now, suddenly he uses the same lying statistic that all business and econ. 101 students know is a lie? Yeah, that's politics!
To be fair to Trump, he did get unemployment down. So, more people ARE working. It's just that the real rate is not 4%. It's at least 4x higher and that is conservative.
Yeah, ms-ing is a side hustle. Some here seem to make it work full-time. But, even as a side hustle, there are too many rip-off jobs.
Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2018 05:12AM by shoptastic.
I heard if you bring your dog, you get more donations.
I could always write a book on ms-ing.
No, no you could not.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I do have other options...just griping tonight. Another day, another rip-off report and fee.
Well, panhandlers do get paid daily - not every two months - and probably don't report for taxes?
*Snark-o-Meter is on high this week*
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2018 05:26AM by shoptastic.
*Snark-o-Meter is on high this week*
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2018 05:26AM by shoptastic.
Sorry you had a bad day. My accountant asks me a similar question each time he does my taxes.
Yeah, I tried the panhandling bit. It's really, really hard work. In a whole day, I made $7. I spent more than $7 in gas to get to this supposedly superb location.
If you're only making $5.50 an hour, definitely consider a change in careers.
If you're only making $5.50 an hour, definitely consider a change in careers.
@ceasesmith wrote:
Yeah, I tried the panhandling bit. It's really, really hard work. In a whole day, I made $7. I spent more than $7 in gas to get to this supposedly superb location.
If you're only making $5.50 an hour, definitely consider a change in careers.
It could have been location too, ceasesmith. I do remember your story and that instantly made me feel fortunate in life.
I'm just being a somewhat ungrateful whiner maybe. I really do appreciate people's perspective like your's.
don't mind me....I've been in a very nasty mood lately.
@shoptastic wrote:
I do have other options...just griping tonight. Another day, another rip-off report and fee.
You are an IC. Do not accept those jobs. Find a higher paying full-time job. If you live in certain states, you can make six figures teaching, for example.
Before becoming a shopper in 2003, I had 41 years of experience working as a sales contractor. In 2007, I accepted I had failed in my quest for success this business and modified my approach; the results were immediate and satisfying. The following was what worked for me and remain so:
1-The fee must be sufficient. Yesterday, I completed a bank officer visit that paid $30. My mileage was 11, my port to port was 61 minutes and the report time was 22 minutes. As this was my first shop for the MSC, I carefully noted all times.
2-Reimbursements that serve a purpose, but devoid of a fee, are acceptable. A musician friend comps me admission to his shows and I reciprocate by picking up dining assignments for he and I.
3-Finally, if I am traveling on personal or non-shopper business, I will consider waiving #1 above, but only if the work is en route, to assist with expenses.
1-The fee must be sufficient. Yesterday, I completed a bank officer visit that paid $30. My mileage was 11, my port to port was 61 minutes and the report time was 22 minutes. As this was my first shop for the MSC, I carefully noted all times.
2-Reimbursements that serve a purpose, but devoid of a fee, are acceptable. A musician friend comps me admission to his shows and I reciprocate by picking up dining assignments for he and I.
3-Finally, if I am traveling on personal or non-shopper business, I will consider waiving #1 above, but only if the work is en route, to assist with expenses.
There wad a homeless guy on the road yesterday talking on his new i-phone. Give him cash? Right..
What part of the country are you in?
You could write a book on panhandling, and sell it at your favorite highway exit ramp.
That is so true. There's no need for anyone to torture themselves in an avenue that is causing them stress. There are too many other ways to make money.
@LisaSTL wrote:
If you haven't figured out how to make money at this by now, then it is long past time to get a regular job.
Kim
My mind is boggled that this is actually a thread....figure it out, minimum wage is 11 to 15.00 per hour, but have to work. I think you may not want to work, as cell phone jobs pay 12.00 and up, doing three a day.......Sign with more companies, none of us would do this for 5$. No sympathy here.
Live consciously....
@LisaSTL you crack me up!
"No, no you could not."
"No, no you could not."
Hey shoppie - That's a provocative idea, begging for money versus working for it. Personally, I would rather do a job & get something out of it no matter how little, than rely on the charity of others.
@Irene_L.A. wrote:
minimum wage is 11 to 15.00 per hour............
Ha. Here it is $7.85. Voters approved a proposition to make it $12 by............2023. Because it was just the election two weeks ago, I fully expect preventing it's implementation will be high on the legislature's to do list come January.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
LOL. There is enough here for a monograph.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Wow, but don't forget CA has higher living costs..with gas at 3.75 (it was just lowered and 9.00+for state tax, it all adds up....there is a sign at McD's stating this new minimum, everything is larger in CA. Still your 7.85 would be higher than Shoptastic's 5 bucks.
Live consciously....
@Monk-N-Nut wrote:
Hey shoppie - That's a provocative idea, begging for money versus working for it. Personally, I would rather do a job & get something out of it no matter how little, than rely on the charity of others.
I was kidding!
Having read and been reminded of ceasesmith's story, I feel a little bad now!
But, seriously, my shop report times are probably in the bottom percentile of all shoppers worldwide and throughout history. I believe I could make $5.60/hour if I posted less here. Of course, my stress levels would maybe go up and I'd have higher medical bills...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2018 01:26AM by shoptastic.
in this industry, venting is therapeutic
Irene, absolutely most of your costs are much higher, although we do have sales tax between 8.4% and 9.5%. I just wanted to point out the higher minimum wage states are still few and far between.
In 2017 the city of St. Louis passed a minimum wage hike to $10. Our cost of living is higher than the rural areas of the state. Within two months, the state legislature overturned the city's legislation and barred any city within the state from raising it above the state minimum. Fortunately many of the businesses chose to just keep paying their employees the higher rate, but several wasted no time taking the money back.
In 2017 the city of St. Louis passed a minimum wage hike to $10. Our cost of living is higher than the rural areas of the state. Within two months, the state legislature overturned the city's legislation and barred any city within the state from raising it above the state minimum. Fortunately many of the businesses chose to just keep paying their employees the higher rate, but several wasted no time taking the money back.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
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