Originally Published September 8th, 2026
You know me — I’m always looking for a way to make a little extra money. And if that extra money happens to come with food? Even better.
Over Labor Day weekend, I squeezed in a few mystery shops, including a couple of restaurant shops.
My weekend total? $75 in shopper pay PLUS two meals reimbursed.
So basically, I spent part of my Labor Day weekend eating burgers, fries and chicken tenders while making a little extra money.
There are definitely worse ways to side hustle.
Yes, You Really Can Get Paid to Eat
Restaurant shops are probably some of the more fun mystery shops to do, especially when it’s somewhere you would have eaten anyway.
You go into the restaurant just like any other customer, order your food and enjoy your meal. The difference is that you’re also quietly paying attention to everything going on around you.
Depending on the shop, I might be watching how quickly I’m greeted, whether the employee suggests anything else with my order, how long the food takes, whether my order is correct, how clean the restaurant is, and how friendly and attentive the employees are.
Sometimes there are specific things you have to order or questions you need to ask. Other times, you have a little more freedom.
Then comes the not-so-glamorous part…
The report.
It’s Not Exactly Free Food
This is one thing I think is important to explain, especially if you’re new to mystery shopping.
Most of the time, I pay for my meal myself at the restaurant. After I complete the shop, submit my report and everything is approved, I’m reimbursed according to the terms of the assignment.
Some shops offer reimbursement only.
Some offer shopper pay plus reimbursement.
And some pay a flat amount that you use toward whatever you’re required to purchase.
Every assignment is different, which is why I always say:
READ. THE. SHOP. INSTRUCTIONS.
Seriously. Read them before you accept the shop, read them before you leave the house, and probably read them one more time before you walk inside.
The Part Nobody Sees
Mystery shopping can look pretty easy from the outside.
Go eat lunch. Take a picture. Get paid.
Not quite.
You have to remember names, times, descriptions, what was said, what was offered and sometimes exactly how long certain things took. You may need pictures of your food, the building, your receipt or other specific things required by the assignment.
Then you have to sit down and write the report.
I’ve definitely been the person sitting in the parking lot afterward typing notes into my phone because I know if I drive away, half of those little details are leaving my brain with me. 😂
The more shops you do, though, the easier it gets. You start automatically noticing the things you know you’ll probably be asked about later.
Why I Still Love Mystery Shopping
Am I going to retire on mystery shopping money?
Nope. 😂
But that really isn’t the point for me.
This Labor Day weekend, I made $75 in actual shopper pay and had two meals reimbursed.
That’s $75 I didn’t have before, plus money I didn’t ultimately have to spend on those meals.
And those little amounts add up.
I’ve done restaurant shops, banks, apartments, retail stores, oil changes and all kinds of other assignments. Sometimes the pay is the reason I take a shop. Other times, the reimbursement is worth it because it’s something I was going to spend money on anyway.
If I’m planning to go out to eat, get an oil change or do something else that costs money, you better believe I’m going to check my mystery shopping companies first and see if someone wants to pay me to do it.
Want to Try Mystery Shopping Yourself?
One of the hardest parts when you’re first getting started is figuring out which mystery shopping companies are actually legitimate.
There are a LOT of websites out there, and unfortunately, there are also scams pretending to be mystery shopping opportunities.
So I put together Your Free Mystery Shopping Guide with 11 legitimate mystery shopping companies and their official shopper websites. It includes a quick explanation of what each company is known for and what types of shoppers or assignments they may be good for.
My advice? Don’t sign up for one company and assume there aren’t any shops in your area if you don’t see something right away.
Sign up with several legitimate companies and check back regularly. Different mystery shopping companies have different clients, and available assignments can change all the time. And one more important thing:
You should never have to pay a mystery shopping company just to register as a shopper.
Also, if someone sends you a check and tells you to deposit it, buy gift cards and send money back — that is NOT a legitimate mystery shopping assignment. My quick guide includes that reminder too.
Not a Bad Way to Spend Labor Day!
So there you have it.
$75 earned. Two meals reimbursed. A few reports completed. And plenty of fries consumed. 😂
Was it life-changing money? No.
Was it an easy way to add a little extra money to my pocket while doing something I actually enjoyed?
Absolutely. That’s why I keep doing it.
Side hustles don’t always have to turn into full-time businesses or make thousands of dollars a month to be worthwhile. Sometimes an extra $50 or $75 — or a dinner you didn’t have to pay for — is a win.
And this Labor Day weekend? I’m calling it a win.
Until next time, Aunt B
