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usedtobedemgurl

(2,073 posts)
54. I am very "lucky"
Sat May 23, 2026, 05:56 PM
22 hrs ago

That I was in a car accident. The settlement allowed me to pay off the house. I have a hybrid. If I want to go out to eat, I mystery shop. Last week I was able to take my adult son go a bar/restaurant mystery shop that reimbursed up to $200! I get cc points and I am reimbursed. The high end shops are few and far apart.

Last week I took my car into the shop for an oil change. Again, it was a shop, so free. Two days ago I did a car wash shop. I will be fully reimbursed and paid $20 for doing it. Next week I eat at a lo all IHOP for free. The week after, I will eat at two different burger joints and get reimbursed and paid. I usually do burger joints for the cash and hand the food off to my son, after I taste it for the report. My husband recently passed. I have done postal shops so I can send some items to his mom. Yesterday, I did trailer checks and watched a movie for free. The trailer checks are just going to the theater and reporting on the reaction of the audience to the trailers. Simple. You are supposed to leave after finishing the required checks, but the manager has become familiar with me. He gives me free popcorn and let's me stay for the movie I am doing checks for. Sometimes I need a new shirt or pants. That's when I do Goodwill shops. I get $5 to spend, and I get paid on top of that. If I want energy drinks, I do a gas station shop. I come home with two energy drinks. I get paid to eat at the restaurant on premises - in the restaurant, and I have to do the drive through, so I get breakfast for the next day. I also get paid on top of that. My favorite is a steakhouse. I get a steak and drink reimbursed and get paid. And if I want to get groceries, there are mystery shops for two different chains in my area. It only covers a very small order, but you also get paid on top of that.

You will not get rich mystery shopping, but it can help enrich your life a little and take the edge off of your bills.

I also shop on seniors day at a local grocery store. That gives mean e,tra 5% off, which is no e when added with sales and possibly a mystery shop.

I look for sales on anything and everything.

I also have been selling things. When I moved in, my hubby did not want to get rid of much. After he passed, my adult son moved in. He brought all of his stuff. To say it is crowded is an understatement. My husband had around 4,000 books! With my double vision (refer back to the accident I was "lucky" enough to have), I can not read books. So, I am slowly selling the books and a lot of other things. I do not sell the things for a lot, but every little bit helps, right?

I also bought protein powder on sale. It is a good meal substitute for me. It is convenient because with my accident, it is sometimes hard to make meals through the pain.

So, there are a few of the ways I am getting through these hard times.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I'm doing about the same. Haggard Celine Yesterday #1
The best gift he can give - his absence lame54 Yesterday #2
I'm doing okay. QED Yesterday #3
I'm being very conservative. Living on social security. TommieMommy Yesterday #4
Had to dump homeowner's ins. here in FL. Have tried to find a company that sells allegorical oracle Yesterday #48
I'm in FL too. I found an independent insurance agent that sells liability only policies. Good luck 🤞 TommieMommy 23 hrs ago #53
My credit cards were both up to the limit. I had to take money out of my now very meager retirement account. kerry-is-my-prez 23 hrs ago #49
Barely. Iggo Yesterday #5
Awful, but holding on barely Catlady123 Yesterday #6
I believe they do. The Madcap Yesterday #9
I guess I'm lucky dcbuckeye Yesterday #7
We are fortunate in that we are doing OK and weathering all of this - for now. Marie Marie Yesterday #8
Because other countries feel that we have made our bed, and they don't want to sleep in it DFW 14 hrs ago #78
I'm an adult grad student funding by a teaching assistantship mr715 Yesterday #10
Getting by. I'm retired and don't have a lot of expenses. Ocelot II Yesterday #11
Revolutions are fought by those whose ribs are easily counted. Lars39 Yesterday #12
Reminds me of the phrase: littlemissmartypants Yesterday #27
Yes, and so true! Lars39 Yesterday #31
We do make decent art, though. Iggo 19 hrs ago #63
Maybe not a coincidence: DFW 13 hrs ago #79
❤️ littlemissmartypants 13 hrs ago #80
Except for the Faux pas Yesterday #13
A fictional character in a book I once read had an interesting observation DFW Yesterday #14
Id love to know what character in which book, DFW. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Yesterday #26
The book was called "Shibumi" DFW 16 hrs ago #71
Looks interesting! littlemissmartypants 13 hrs ago #81
The book was fascinating! But beware..... DFW 7 hrs ago #83
I don't read much fiction, but for this, I'll make an exception. littlemissmartypants 7 hrs ago #85
This bit of escapism is worth the exception DFW 7 hrs ago #88
Deal! 🌞 littlemissmartypants 6 hrs ago #91
73% seems high... RPM 18 hrs ago #70
My income is all US sourced DFW 15 hrs ago #73
About the same as you... MiHale Yesterday #15
Living paycheck to paycheck. Social security checks. Maxed out credit cards. Trueblue1968 Yesterday #16
We aren't driving anywhere and we don't eat out Ritabert Yesterday #17
The worst ForgedCrank Yesterday #18
Housing relogic Yesterday #19
well said Skittles Yesterday #36
We rarely go out to dinner anymore - just too expensive and not all that good. waterwatcher123 22 hrs ago #56
That sounds wonderful! Love curries and Indian vegetarian food biophile 21 hrs ago #58
I hesitate to complain senseandsensibility Yesterday #20
I'm doing OK. Retired, but SSI covers all of my monthly expenses. OAITW r.2.0 Yesterday #21
We're doing okay. We're people of modest means with modest taste. I'm sure glad my husband is still Vinca Yesterday #22
I've reached my goals. multigraincracker Yesterday #23
I'm very upset about property taxes, atm. littlemissmartypants Yesterday #24
My sister and her husband live in New Jersey DFW 7 hrs ago #87
Cutting back Maninacan Yesterday #25
Grocery prices are going up to the point even snacks are too expensive sakabatou Yesterday #28
We are doing fine edhopper Yesterday #29
Okay so far, but being mindful about expenses and spending choices. n/t TygrBright Yesterday #30
Pet food. hamsterjill Yesterday #32
Wyoming is doing OK bernieb Yesterday #33
what is the deal with Spectrum Skittles Yesterday #34
I pay $15 a month for Spectrum internet Kaleva 7 hrs ago #86
I'm Okay BeneteauBum Yesterday #35
It's a little tight, but not unbearably.... lastlib Yesterday #37
Check out the price on Part D now and then, just in case. nilram 15 hrs ago #75
I retired nearly 9 yrs ago. I did all of the shopping for two then and now and pay all bills. twodogsbarking Yesterday #38
Trump has successfully LilElf70 Yesterday #39
I'm feeling it IbogaProject Yesterday #40
We're doing okay Grim Chieftain Yesterday #41
Yeah, that's a structural economic cost for me, too. OAITW r.2.0 20 hrs ago #59
Cheers, friend! Grim Chieftain 20 hrs ago #60
We're doing okay so far MustLoveBeagles Yesterday #42
Expenses are up... but flat WarGamer Yesterday #43
If it weren't for my few credit cards, we'd be out on the street by now. slightlv Yesterday #44
I'm terrified... Scully Yesterday #45
Every time I do something on-line I feel like a mark perdita9 Yesterday #46
Doing without a lot of day-to-day stuff -- have cut back on driving, eating, allegorical oracle Yesterday #47
I'm retired for about 10 years now, and doing okay, probably because GoodRaisin 23 hrs ago #50
By the skin of my teeth... buzzycrumbhunger 23 hrs ago #51
Retired for 12 years and still doing OK with income Progressive dog 23 hrs ago #52
I am very "lucky" usedtobedemgurl 22 hrs ago #54
I've heard of that, even seen online ads nilram 15 hrs ago #76
I have been doing it for nearly 40 years. usedtobedemgurl 7 hrs ago #82
Thanks! nilram 4 hrs ago #92
I can't complain, I have been retired for 16 years. I am fortunate to have one doc03 22 hrs ago #55
I'm retired (10 years) and fortunate to get by on Golden Raisin 22 hrs ago #57
I'm Okay but I do see prices increasing LogDog75 19 hrs ago #61
This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles 18 hrs ago #68
This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles 18 hrs ago #69
Look at you using new vocabulary! choie 19 hrs ago #62
Vocabulary? LuckyCharms 19 hrs ago #64
"Groceries." Iggo 2 hrs ago #93
I'm likely doing better financially than most AZProgressive 19 hrs ago #65
Ihave Spectrum and recently bundled cable, cellphone, and internet LogDog75 19 hrs ago #66
Mom and I sold our house, so better than it has been in a long time mvd 19 hrs ago #67
We're doing fine but I save less per month than I use to Tree Lady 16 hrs ago #72
Trying to shed additional costs. haele 15 hrs ago #74
We're Doing Fine DET 14 hrs ago #77
I had to go back to work part time back when Biden was president Kaleva 7 hrs ago #84
I can absorb most but I am starting to feel a crimp. And I am adjusting. boston bean 7 hrs ago #89
You can likely lower your Spectrum bill... VTderry 6 hrs ago #90
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