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!