Saying all this as to not working, I found myself unable to say no to one of my favorite MSC's, and did them a favor doing Carl;'s Jr. today, pay low, close by, just nice people and needed help over the holidays. Food is my one consistent. The company I did tons of work for and felt price was right, has lowered fee more than half, I'm done with them for that reason, happy I am able to protect myself from the "users" of the trade, and yes balance is the key to life....when overload happens, time to take a break or do Yoga. Shopper8, we've always been on the same page...

My mystery shop working ebbs and flows depending on what is going on in my life. There are months where I barely do 2 shops a week and other months where I pack in 40-50. I don't necessarily need the extra money from mystery shopping, but sometimes it's nice to have the option to get a nice experience for free or really try to earn extra cash if I am completing a project. Right now I'm remodeling my house so I'm packing in as many shops as possible to pay for it and not cramp my lifestyle. As soon as I get too tired or feel like I made enough, I'll take a break again. It's like everything else in life, you just balance it in your juggling act.

Yes, I think it is called a "vacation."

I can't imagine writing 40 reports a week! Plus, I can't find 40 shops to do where I live. Even so, when I get bored with my shops, sick of the food, or just plain tired of driving to small towns and back, I take a break until I want to do them again. Some shops I have just stopped doing, period. When I see something new to try, I get excited. That's why I like this gig. I'm in control of my time and I choose what I want to do and what I don't.

I've been shopping since 2014. I too often feel "burnt out" if I do enough shops (and the shop reports) in a week that would equal a FT job, and for too long of a continual period of time. I also have health issues that prevent me from sitting up in a chair for long periods, so the majority of my reports are completed while laying down or with breaks in between sitting.

I've taken months or whole seasons off at a time... I usually "burn out" once I feel I've gotten too close/personal with a scheduler and thus, they feel they can exploit that friendship to give me MORE shops at a MUCH LOWER fee per assignment (ultimately my problem/fault, but honestly, us Mystery Shoppers don't deserve to be a treated like this, especially if you're a reliable shopper). I've also found that I'll start to assign myself too many assignments that are truly physically possible, and then get anxious because I can't complete them all properly. When the shopping begins to not be "fun" anymore and I don't feel like it's providing a positive affect on myself, I stop shopping for awhile (usually threatening to never perform another mystery shop ever, no matter how great the fee or bonus is).

I've often found that the "money talks" and I return for the money/big bonus shops, along with the rejuvenated passion that comes from taking time off. Always remember that no amount of money is worth your personal sanity and there are far greater things in life than mystery shopping. You lived before MS'ing and you'll live afterward.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2019 04:20AM by timgordon2448.

After moving, I've really pared down the shops I'm willing to do. I'm down to a few a year instead of a few a week. The traffic is so much worse here. I used to drive 100 miles for a job that was no big deal. In the city traffic, I can barely get across town in 90 minutes.

After moving, I've really pared down the shops I'm willing to do. I'm down to a few a year instead of a few a week. The traffic is so much worse here. I used to drive 100 miles for a job that was no big deal. In the city traffic, I can barely get across town in 90 minutes.