What mystery shopping has done for my Christmas

With only a week to go it is good to look back on the last few months of mystery shopping to see what they have done for my Christmas. It is a great way to get your hands on some free stuff that takes some of the pressure off over the Christmas period. I use my mystery shopping assignments to get hold of some extra things and to take the pressure off rather than to generate an income. If I can pick up extra things throughout the year for birthdays and Christmas and break even then I am always happy. This is easy to do if you know how. So here is what mystery shopping has done for my Christmas.

Stocking fillers

The reimbursement from a mystery shopping company for an assignment is rarely massive. So you can't often get an assignment that will give you £50+ to spend on gifts. Even the shops in jewellery stores are usually only to make an enquiry rather than a purchase. For this reason I use the mystery shops for those little extra presents that fill stocking rather than try to use mystery shopping for main presents. The kids are still fairly young so it helps to have something extra for them to open on Christmas day.

I think that mystery shopping can really help in this way as you can get your hands on those smaller extra gifts that help make a good Christmas for the young ones.

Gifts for other family members

We have many people that we buy 'a little something' for that only costs a few pounds. It is a gesture of our appreciation, especially if they buy something for the kids and don't have children themselves. So mystery shopping can really help here. many mystery shops give you the chance to pick up something that would be prefect for a gift, such as-

• perfume
• a candle
• a box of chocolates
• a bottle of wine

And these are ideal to give to people as a small token of our love.

The Christmas table

Again, you will be unlikely to be able to find a mystery shop with enough of a payment to buy a turkey but you can pick up extras like chocolates, wine, Christmas crackers, etc that will help to make the day go with a little more style without spending any more money. Mystery shopping opens doors for people to make their Christmas day a little more special. If you have a set budget then mystery shopping will allow you to push out the boat a little.

Much of this takes planning. I generally start thinking about mystery shopping for Christmas when the kids go back to school in September. This gives me plenty of time to pick up those extra items that will make a big difference to the day.

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my book is a great place to start learning all about it. Check it out on the Amazon Kindle store now.

The 5 reasons why stay at home mums are perfect for mystery shopping

Mystery shopping is a great way to bring in some extra money or to pick up some freebies. Because many of the mystery shop assignments have to be carried out in the daytime it needs someone who is available during that time. Step forward the stay at home mum. Here is my guide to the five reasons stay at home mums are perfect for mystery shopping.

5 - You probably have the free time
If the kids are at school then you may well have enough free time to go out and carry out the odd mystery shop or two. If you are going to a local town or shopping centre then you will often find a mystery shop available there. Whether it's to get a bite to eat or to pick up something free, it can help.

Mystery shopping can take up very little time at all. You can select as few or as many assignments as you like, even making yourself unavailable during the school holidays if needed. This makes it the ultimate job for a stay at home mum.

4 - It can help with the bills
Getting something for free can really help. I use a lot of my mystery shops to get a few groceries, lighten the financial burden at Christmas or for little treats. This means that you can make your weekly budget stretch that little bit further.

You won't get rich from mystery shopping but it can help out here and there. Those little extras mean that you can keep your weekly spending to the essentials. All the extras you get from mystery shopping can make life a little more luxurious.

3 - A free cup of coffee or lunch - with a friend
It can be good to hook up with other people every now and again. If you can get this paid for by the mystery shopping company then all the better. There are loads of opportunities to mystery shop cafes or restaurants so you can invite a friend and get a free meal.

It is good to spend time with others on a regular basis. The fact that a short mystery shopping report is all it needs to make it free should have you making a regular thing of it. This works whether you are grabbing a coffee on a shopping trip or meeting someone for lunch.

2 - Clothes (for you or your kids)
There's no two ways about it. Clothes are expensive. This is the same whether you are buying for yourself or your kids. Sometimes you have to put all thoughts of a new top to one side as you have other expenses with a family.

But mystery shopping can provide the answer. Many fashion retailers need their stores mystery shipped so you can pick up a bargain or two along the way. The fact that you can supplement your wardrobe with a new item every now and again is helpful.

1 - Get out of the house and meet people
Although you are not making lifelong friends through mystery shopping, there is ample opportunity to get away from looking at the same 4 walls. Mystery shopping can get you out and about as well as earning a bit of extra money.

I use it to go back to places I haven't been for a while or to explore new ones. Mystery shopping can open a lot of doors and getting you out and talking to other grown ups after days of dealing with nothing but kids can be quite therapeutic.

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my book is a great place to learn what it is all about. Check it out on the Kindle store now


 

Mystery shopping is easy when you know how

I have carried out what must be two of the easiest mystery shops of my life today. They were both simple purchases made and all I really had to remember was the name and description of the person who served me. This is the beauty of mystery shopping sometimes as you get to carry out fun assignments that don't take up a lot of time.

There were other parts to the mystery shop such as was the place clean and we're team members wearing a uniform but these are general points that are really easy to remember at the point of completing the report. The reports is what you fill out when you get back home and often there are large parts of it that you will remember as a matter of course. The general impressions of a place are still there in your mind when you get home and are asked to reflect on them.

Mystery shopping can be an easy way to make some extra money and pick up some free stuff. Today I made enough money to pay for the petrol I used to get there and back, a few pounds for my time and I got -

• A pack of toilet rolls
• A tube of toothpaste
• A pack of toothbrushes
• Curry, side dishes and drinks for two

Maybe not the most glamorous of shopping trips but all of this was paid for by someone else (in fact by two different mystery companies) and it was somewhere I was going anyway. This is the beauty of mystery shopping. Many of the possibilities will be in one of your local towns, cities or shopping centres so you will be visiting these places anyway.

Mystery shopping reports can look daunting when you first start out but they are not difficult. In many reports there may be up to 70 questions but the vast majority will be simple yes/no clicks of a button and move on. The reports today took me around 6 minutes combined. Add this to the visits and this was an easy way to make money and get free stuff. It is best practice to take a copy of the report with you so you can complete it as soon as you leave, that way yo can record all the important details and even possibly go back and check again if you need to.

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper then my book is a great place to start. It contains a step by step guide on how to be a successful mystery shopper. Check it out now!

There is such a thing as a free lunch with mystery shopping

I have reached the end of my challenge. I set our last Sunday to feed myself a main meal every day for a week all paid for by the mystery shopping companies. I feel strongly that mystery shopping can aid your lifestyle. It can give you a little bit of freedom and free up the family budget. This week I have -

• Got a main meal for four people on three days
• Got a main meal for two people on four days

And at the end of the week I've managed a main meal every day without having to put my hand in my pocket.

But let me explain what that means. With mystery shopping you do pay for the food that you eat. You act just like any other normal customer. You must not reveal yourself as a mystery shopper, or mystery diner. And in many cases you are not allowed to use discount vouchers either. What happens is that every mystery shop is assigned two payments-

The reimbursement, which is how much they will give you to cover your meal.

The fee, which is what they will pay you to travel and carry out the paperwork.

So you know from the outset what you will be paid for the successful completion of the mystery shop. I use this as the figure to set my budget. Over this week I have broken even, so I made no income but didn't have to pay out for all these meals.

Mystery shopping is a way to get extra meals, get your hands on free things and earn a little extra money. If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then my book is a great place to start. It guides you through the process of applying and reveals the secrets of mystery shopping-

The 'feed myself for a week on mystery shopping' challenge reaches day 6 - Saturday

The week started with me setting myself a challenge to have all of my main meals for a whole week off the back of mystery shopping assignments.

This is to show some of the real benefits to mystery shopping and how it can save you money, make you money and give you some nice treats. I think that mystery shopping is a great way to add a little extra to what you do and the week has shown some of the aspects of mystery shopping so you can see what it is all about.

I said at the start of the week that I would back each day up with a short blog so you can see my progress.

We have reached Saturday!

This took in a visit to a national quality pizza chain restaurant. It was a visit for four people (the kids being off school at the weekend) so I had to stretch the budget a little further today. In fact we lost out by the tune of around £10. You can look at this two ways-

• Either £10 isn't bad to feed a family of four in a quality restaurant
• The surplus that was made on other mystery shops made up for this

I try to look at things with the second way in mind. As long as the cash evens itself out over a month or so then I am happy. I then get to walk away from my mystery shopping experiences with free food and goods while not being out of pocket.

For example I could do the following mystery shops in a week-

A no purchase visit to a jewellers that paid me £10

A restaurant shop that costs me £5 more than the combined fee and reimbursement

A visit to a cafe where I broke even

A mystery shop at a bookmakers where I had a £3 fee

A pub meal visit where I spent £8 more than the fee and reimbursement

So overall I broke even in cash terms, but I got a meal for two in the restaurant, my lunch in the cafe, a free bet in the bookmakers and a pub meal for four. Mystery shopping can open doors for you like this. You just need to know which doors to knock on. My guide to becoming a mystery shopper is available now and will give you all the information you need to make it a success.

Fish and chips rounds off the weekdays on my free lunch mystery shop challenge

My regular readers will know that I am on a mission to have my main meal paid for by mystery shopping company every day for a week. I am doing this to highlight the great things that mystery shopping can bring you.

Today was a lunchtime meal for my mystery shop. Many restaurant mystery shops are actually designed for one person to carry out. It can be difficult to feed multiple people without supplementing it with a little of your own money. Today was different.

Chain pub fish and chips for two!

The mystery shopping assignment itself is always a straightforward one for this client. They are very efficient at what they do and serve thousands of customers up and down the country every day. I like to do this mystery shop and there are a few of these pubs within a twenty mile radius of my home so they come up quite often.

This one saw a change in some of the requirements against what is usually asked do this is a good time to remind all you budding mystery shoppers to read the notes thoroughly before every visit. Sometimes you visit the same client so often that you know the visit like the back of your hand. But if the assignment notes change and you've missed it then you are high and dry - you won't get paid for the mystery shop.

Many different things can change, such as-

• The visit times that you are allowed to perform the shop in
• The required purchases
• How long you need to be in the establishment
• Any questions you might have to ask

It is always best practice to check all of this out before going on your mystery shop. If you are discrete then you may be able to check and confirm these details on your smartphone while you are here. However make sure that you do not give yourself away as a mystery shopper.

Always be prepared for what you have to do and you can become a successful mystery shopper. My guide to mystery shopping is available now on the Amazon kindle store. Check it out-

Can I survive for a week on mystery shopping alone?

A slight change today in my attempt to feed myself with my main meal for a week from mystery shopping. The rest of the week has seen me get my main meal from a pub or restaurant. Today I had a mystery shop in a supermarket.

There are often supermarket mystery shops available where you can scoot around the shop end pick up your groceries with someone else picking up the tab. You won't get your full weekly shop paid for but there is £10 to £15 on offer so it can go quite a way. I used my earnings today to feed all four of us and to pick up a few extras.

The mystery shop comprised of a few elements. There was a shopping list of items that I had to check stock levels on as well as the general cleanliness of the store. In addition I had to make an enquiry and record what was said. I was then to count the number of checkouts, the number open and whether there were any queues. It was quite an interesting mystery shop because there were different things to assess.

A visit to the supermarket is something that most of us do on a regular basis so if you can get you hands on one then it can help with the grocery bills. Keep your eye out for Market Force, Grass Roots and React Surveys as these are the most likely mystery shopping companies to find then with.

Mystery shopping is a great way to earn a little extra income and get your hands on some free things. With Christmas around the corner mystery shopping can really help you to fill those stockings.

If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then my book is a great place to start-

What goes into a mystery shop?

This week I have been trying to get my main meal every day paid for from mystery shopping. I have set up a mystery shop every day in a restaurant, bar or pub. I think that there are great benefits to mystery shopping and to prove it can feed me for a week!

But a lot of people ask me what mystery shopping is all about. Let me talk you through today's mystery shop so you can see what it entails-

First I had to read and print all the job notes and the questionnaire - 10 minutes

I had to plan the visit such as travelling there, parking and how long I'd be there - 5 minutes

Travelling to the venue in a nearby town - 10 minutes

I carried out the mystery shop itself with all the requirements that the company gave me - 30  minutes

For this one I had to buy a meal and a drink, ask a question about the meal - is the coffee you use Free-Trade?

This also had a requirement that is becoming more common, which is to take a photo of the meal before I eat it. I guess they are looking 

After the job I had to complete the questionnaire on paper soon after completing the mystery shop - 5 minutes

Then it was on to home to answer the questionnaire online - 10 minutes travel and 20 minutes online

The whole mystery shop from start to finish took around an hour and a half. So you have to weigh this up when thinking about whether mystery shopping will work for you. An hour and a half might be too much out of the day of certain people. It might be a good amount of time to earn a free meal for others.

On to the next meal!

Mystery shopping is a great way to earn some extra money. If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then my book will let you know what it is all about and guide you through the application process. Check it out now!

Mystery shopping for my dinner every day this week - Tuesday

Part two of my mission to get mystery shops for my main meal every day for a week was a success.

For those of you they don't follow my blog every day I have set myself a challenge. I firmly believe in the power of mystery shopping to earn a little extra money and get your hands on a few freebies. Family life can be tough on the finances so freeing up a little money can help.

For those of you that do follow, you will know that I have promised a small blog entry every day to let you know about the meals I have got from mystery shopping and how my progress is coming along. The next blog (later today or early tomorrow) will go into some detail about what I have actually got to do in return for these free meals.

One of the best things about mystery shopping to me is a free meal. There seemed to be a few around so I decided that I would try to feed myself (and others) for a week solely by mystery shopping.

Tuesday saw a visit to a national pub chain for one of their theme evenings. It focuses on a type of cuisine and gives you a choice of meals with a drink for a set price. The reimbursement and fee for the job was enough to cover a meal for two with a drink.

It's great to go out and mystery shop. There are several benefits-

• Extra income
• Free food and drink
• Gifts for others
• The chance to meet other people

When it is cold and wet out there (and it certainly is that in the North East today) then it's good to get warm food some place where someone else is footing the bill. You should try it some time!

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my book is a great place to start. It's a available on the Amazon kindle store now-

First day of my mission to mystery shop my main meal for a week

Mission one accomplished!

I have been and carried out my first mystery shop main meal of the week. It was at the catering facility of the local hospital. It is owned and run by a third party so I am not taking money from the National Health Service!

It was a simple mystery shop of buying food and assessing the service that was given. These facilities are never that busy so they are easy to navigate, get around and get the necessary elements of the mystery shop done.

This one included-

• selecting a main meal
• seeing if I was offered anything extra (an upsell in mystery shop[ terminology)
• gathering the name and description of who served me
• paying at the till
• gathering the name and description of the till person

The meal was good home-cooked food - a vegetarian cottage pie. It is always good value as well. The fee and reimbursement covered a meal for two people, including drinks and dessert.

On to the next one. Join me on my week where I attempt to feed myself, my wife and the kids at the weekend in mystery shops alone.

Mystery shopping in restaurants is quite easy when you know how. If you are thinking of becoming a mystery shopper then my guide to mystery shopping is a great place to start.

Can I have a full week without paying for my main meal through mystery shopping?

I often write about the benefits of mystery shopping and how it cab bring you some little treats and some much-needed cash to help ease the pressure of modern family life. This week I have set myself a challenge. There are a lot of mystery shops available at the moment for restaurants and pubs to go out and have something to eat. My mission for the week is to have my main meal every day for one week without having to out my hand in my pocket.

We are a family of four so this challenge is a little more difficult than it would be if you were on your own. The kids have a school dinner Monday to Friday so at the weekend I will have to find a mystery shop that will cater for four people rather than two.

Let's have a look at the challenge-

On Monday I have penciled in a mystery shop at the restaurant in the local hospital.

On Tuesday my wife and I will be having a main meal in a well-known British pub chain that is famous for its food offering.

On Wednesday we will be visiting a pub/restaurant chain locally.

On Thursday I have planned a visit for four in the evening to the cafe in a major supermarket chain

On Friday my wife and I will be having a main meal in a well-known British pub chain that is famous for its food offering - the same chain but a different location to Tuesday

Saturday is at a branch of a nationwide pizza restaurant

Sunday will be at an Italian chain restaurant in a nearby town

So, as you can see the plans are in place. Don't get me wrong, mystery shopping isn't a way to never have to buy a meal again but it can get you out to restaurants that you may not have been able to afford any other way or at least to loosen the pressure on the purse strings every now and again.

I will keep you updated as the week goes by with further small blog entries with a few details of how each one went and to let you know if I am still on track with my mission. Wish me luck!

If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then there is a lot that you need to know and learn. My book is available to help you understand what it is to be a mystery shopper and guides you through the application process. Check it out-

The 4 reasons why mystery shopping can help with your university finances

It's only a few weeks into the start of the university year and if you are anything like the way I was then reality is starting to kick in. The freshers week celebrations are a distant memory and the partying is slowly being replaced with the studying. Welcome to student life!

The other thing that used to hit me around this time of the year was the fact that my finances were looking a lot thinner then they were at the start of term. Having a big chunk of money in my bank account was a real novelty (and it still is!) and the first few days and week saw pizza being delivered, taxis everywhere and "getting a round in." But as that money raced away I turned to beans on toast, walking or hitching to every destination and counting the pennies to buy a drink.

And that is where mystery shopping can come in really handy for student life. It is flexible, convenient and can help to stretch your finances when you need it most. Mystery shopping for student is a breeze. You have to spend a little time in a shop, restaurant or bar and then write a report. All you need is a little spare time (I know students have plenty of this) and internet access. I file most of my reports within an hour of doing the shop so it feels like I've drawn a line under it.

But you need to know what you are letting yourself in for, so here is my guide to the 4 reasons why mystery shopping can help with your university finances-

4 - Presents
Meeting many new people when you go to university means that you seem to celebrating someone's birthday every week. The partying is great but if toy need to buy gifts then this can pout a strain on your pocket. Mystery shopping takes in gift stores and perfume shops so you can ge access to great items that you can use as a gift. Saving your money for essentials such as food and heating is much easier if you can mystery shop for all the little luxuries in life. Try it!

3 - Stock up on groceries
All of the big supermarkets need their customer service to be assessed by mystery shoppers. The have extensive mystery shopping programmes so you can get that loaf of bread or your dinner paid for by someone else every now an again. The mystery shops at supermarkets and grocery stores are often among the easiest to carry out. You will have to go in, ask a question, buy something and the leave. It is a great way to get into mystery shopping when you start out.

2 - Cash
When it all boils down to it, cash is king. You may like the little treats that mystery shopping can bring you but none of it replaces the cold hard cash that you can earn. Don't get me wrong, mystery shopping can't make toy rich. The fees for mystery shops are usually under £10 but do a few of these a week and you can end up with a nice little extra income to help you along. Some more money every week can really help, especially now the weather is getting colder and the student loan feels like it is running out.

1 - Free food and drink
This can be a major issue when it comes to student life, especially if you live in a city. Eating and drinking can be quite a cost so anything that can help alleviate this burden is welcome. The top reason why mystery shopping can help with your university finances is to get free food and drink. There are many places that you can find mystery shops to carry out, including-

• Wetherspoons
• Pret A Manger
• McDonalds
• KFC
• Morrison's Cafe
• Greggs
• Bella Italia

and more.

If you want to get free food from these places then a mystery shopping account is the only way to go.You can get the chance to regularly visit these places and then report back on you experience.

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my book is a great place to get all the information you need. It takes you through the process of how to become a mystery shopper. Check it out today-

The top 6 qualities needed to be a mystery shopper

Mystery shopping is a great way to earn some extra money, pick up some great items and fill in your spare time. For anyone that is looking for a little extra then mystery shopping can really help. It is ideal for-

• University students
• Stay-at-home mums
• Parents with a family
• Those wanting to put something extra in their Christmas stockings

And mystery shopping companies are looking to recruit new shoppers near you right now. A mystery shopper has to be able to fulfill certain criteria and this guide will help you to see whether you have the necessary skills to be come a mystery shopper. Here is my guide to the top 6 qualities needed to be a mystery shopper.

6 - Be a good timekeeper

Mystery shopping companies are sticklers for time. You will have a certain date and time range outlined on any mystery shopping assignment and you need to tun up on that date within those times for your visit and report to be accepted. In some mystery shops you will also need to time how long it took you to be served or how long it took your food to arrive. Being able to keep and record accurate times is a key skill.

5 - Have good written skills

The report you have to file after any mystery shopping assignment will be typed into a website for the mystery shopping company and the client to read. This means that you need to be able to type in good written English for your reports to be accepted and used. Use a spellcheck program and then copy and paste this into the website if it will help you.

4 - Be a good planner

Most of the hard work for a mystery shop comes before you even leave your home. You will need to be prepared for what the mystery shop might entail. On most assignments you will receive a set of notes outlining what you need to do and the questionnaire that you must complete. Read both several times as well as checking the location of the assignment so you are able to get this just right.

3 - Be impartial

The people you are mystery shopping want to know exactly what went on during a visit, and you can;'t let your past experiences with them cloud what you report back. If you have had a previous encounter with the same brand (good or bad) then block this out of your mind and report only what happened on the visit. Mystery shopping companies want to know that you can be objective and give them a report that truly reflects the experience you had.

2 - Have a good eye for detail

A lot of the interesting part of mystery shopping involves looking for the small details that make a difference. As a mystery shopper you need to have a good eye for detail do you can pick these up and report back. The mystery shopping company will ask things like-

"Did all team member wear a name badge?"

"Were there 6 different sandwiches available?"

"How long did you have to wait to be served in minutes and seconds?"

Being able to see the little details that matter will set you up to be a great mystery shopper.

1 - Be accurate

The number one quality needed to become a mystery shopper is to be accurate. The mystery shopping company hire you to be their eyes in the outlets of their customers. They want you to be able to walk around like a normal customer and then accurately feed back what happened. Accuracy in terms of timings, descriptions of the people who served you, what was aid and other elements is a vital part of any mystery shopping report so make sure this is a skill that you have if you want to become a mystery shopper.

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper then my book will really help you to get to grips with the process of applying and starting to be a mystery shopper. It also contains a list and contact details of all the current UK mystery shopping companies. Check it out!

The steps to becoming a mystery shopper

Mystery shopping can be a great way to earn some extra money and hat your hands on free goods. Once you've been accepted by a mystery shopping company then you can start earning. But you need to know where to start.

If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then you'll need to know how to go about it. This is my quick guide to becoming a mystery shopper-

Find a mystery shopping company

You will need to do a little research to find a mystery shopping company that's right for you. I've already blogged on my tips for the best UK mystery shopping companies but you will want to make up your own mind. Each company has a slightly different set of customers for you to go out and visit. Start with one mystery shopping company and take it from there.

Fill out the application

All mystery shopping companies want to know about you. They will ask for all the basic details at first but also want to know your experience and your work history. You can't mystery shop somewhere that you work now or have worked before so let the mystery ship company know so they can keep a record. Once you've filled out this information then they can start to assess your application.

Send information and documentation

Most mystery shopping companies will need to see some form of identification from you, although this is now usually done electronically. They will also need to know your bank account or Paypal details so they can pay you when you've completed an assignment for them. Getting all the right info through to the mystery shopping company is going to speed up your application.

The questionnaire

The next step will usually be a questionnaire to assess whether you'd be a good fit as a mystery shopper. They want to know what you would be like and they are looking for certain skills and behaviours. The questionnaire can take one of three forms-

Yes/No

This is as you would expect. They will ask questions and you need to answer yes or no. It is to see how you would respond in a mystery shopping situation.

Sample question - Are you able to be objective when mystery shopping?

Multiple Choice

This is a little different and will give a scenario and three or four options for you to choose. They are testing your response to a given situation. Would you be able to act in the way they require? Your answers will give them an idea of how you would perform.

Sample question - If your food order was brought to your table and was wrong would you-

A - Say nothing

B - Tell them you are a mystery shopper they had better put it right

C - Politely let then know and give them a chance to put it right

Q&A

Some mystery shopping companies want to hear what you have to say. They will ask a question and then let you type away your response. It gives you more scope to give great answers (but also more scope to give bad ones) in your application. You need to think carefully about your answers here.

Sample question - Tell me what qualities you can bring to us as a mystery shopper.

If you are considering becoming a mystery shopper then I can wholeheartedly recommend it. My book is filled with advice like this on how to become a mystery shopper. Get it now!

The 5 top mystery shopping companies to sign up for if you want to free meals out

There are many benefits to mystery shopping. You can earn money, get your hands on free good or you can go out for something to eat and drink. These free meals (I thought there was no such thing?!) are my favourite things about mystery shopping. It allows me to grab something as I am passing through, for me and my wife to get a meal out or to take the kids out for something to eat. Free meals out can be had if you apply for the right assignments, follow all the right instructions and have a little time to give when completing your report. There are some great opportunities out there for the mystery shopper. Here is my guide to the 5 top mystery shopping companies to sign up for if you want to free meals out-

5 - ABA-i

Although they don't have a massive amount of places to eat as part of their mystery shopping programme, the ones that ABA-i have are real quality. You get the chance to test shop the restaurants of top High Street department stores to see the quality that they have to offer. All the meals are freshly cooked and the service is very good too in my experience. Try them out for a great free meal when you go out shopping.

4 - GBW

These are also known as GapBuster Worldwide and have cornered the market on fast food offerings when it comes to mystery shopping. Once you are established with these guys then you can regularly get free meals at fast food places to feed you on the go or to take the kids to every now and again. GapBuster and their clients are sticklers for detail so make sure that you have your timings and description spot on.

3 - Retail Active

Another that does not have masses of assignment for a free meal but have some that come in really handy. You can often get meals in themes parks or museums with Retail Active so check it out before you plan a day out. It can help to make the day out go smoothly and take a little financial strain away.

2 - Marketforce

These are the kings of mystery shopping in the UK in my eyes but are just pipped to the post when it comes to finding free meals -  you will understand why when you see number one. Marketforce have a great selection of places to get a free meal from breakfast to lunch and then on to dinner. They have great national pub chains and organisations on their books so there is almost always a free meal just around the corner if you sign up with them.

1 - The Mystery Dining Company

My number one on the list of the 5 top mystery shopping companies to sign up for if you want to free meals out is The Mystery Dining Company. This is all they do. You can only find free meals on their website so this is the pace to go if that is your main aim when starting out to be a mystery shopper. They have a superb range of different restaurants, bars and other catering facilities. This is the place to go for the best choice of UK food mystery shops.

If you want to become a mystery shopper then my book is available now to help you become a mystery shopper and then be successful at it. Check it out now-