Hey I havent commented for ages on here and a few years ago I was a lot more active on a lot of areas. One area I have always kept up with is mystery shopping. It wont make you enough to live on, although if you manage it correctly and you are happy to do pretty much any of the shops, I would say you could make a decent amount.
I have dipped in an out depending on my personal circumstances and work load. It serves the following for me.
1. a savings plan - may seem strange but the expenses I claim for and then get back are great to know I have coming so can plan my finances around them.
2. a nice (at times) if extra income dropping, some months I have made £200-£300 others £50 but it all helps.
3. Free meals, free shopping etc. I like doing clothes and shoe shops as I have been able to get some things I would not really buy and they are free. supermarket ones are great to get a few weekly shops done and paid for.
4. I tend to do schedule shops when I am due to visit areas, towns etc, so it is a benefit whilst I am there. Or I schedule a load in the same area, so it again means the day is beneficial.
5. Not for everyone, but I do them to get me out of my comfort zone and drive me on. As I can at times get bogged down with normal life and doing something maybe I am a little uncomfortable doing helps me to then tackle other things. Dont get me wrong the actual shops are not uncomfortable but sometimes the thought of doing them makes me apprehensive. The shops once done are normally straight forward and actually fun.
Overall I think you get out of it what you out it. Yes some I keep doing and the rewards are not great if anything once you purchase the items, but breakfast for free when I am heading to work i cant complain about