{"id":79815,"date":"2023-10-11T10:15:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T10:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/posterboyedit.com\/?p=79815"},"modified":"2023-10-11T10:15:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T10:15:17","slug":"i-was-richer-than-ever-on-maternity-leave-thanks-to-my-secret-job-i-made-5k-extra-all-i-did-was-sit-in-traffic-jams-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/posterboyedit.com\/beauty-and-fashion\/i-was-richer-than-ever-on-maternity-leave-thanks-to-my-secret-job-i-made-5k-extra-all-i-did-was-sit-in-traffic-jams-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"I was richer than ever on maternity leave thanks to my secret job – I made \u00a35K extra, all I did was sit in traffic jams | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

WAITING for the temporary traffic lights to turn green Nat Coote flicks on her car's dashboard camera and starts recording her journey.<\/p>\n

Drivers beep their horns in frustration at the delay caused by the ongoing roadworks in Leicester.<\/p>\n


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But instead of being frazzled the mum-of-two can\u2019t help but smile, knowing that being stuck in traffic lights is earning her cash.<\/p>\n

Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Nat, 38, explains: \u201cI get paid to mystery shop roadworks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I have to do is drive past, record it on my dashcam, fill in the form and I get paid.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMy friends are shocked when I tell them I get paid \u00a320 to be in a traffic jam.<\/p>\n

read more on money<\/h2>\n

<\/picture>TURN OF FRASE <\/span><\/p>\n

Major department store could disappear from shopping centres forever<\/h3>\n

<\/picture>TOP RIDE <\/span><\/p>\n

I've made \u00a350k with my car side hustle – I bought TWO new motors with extra cash<\/h3>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve made around \u00a35,500 over the past year by mystery shopping on maternity leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI love being a \u2018007 super mummy snooper, the cash and freebies I earned has been a lifesaver.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt helped pay the mortgage, save for holidays.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI have earned cash by buying lottery tickets and shopping in outlets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Most read in Fabulous<\/h2>\n

<\/picture>MYSTIC MEG <\/span><\/p>\n

Your name can rise to the top of any pile<\/h3>\n

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<\/picture>SHOUTING MATCH <\/span><\/p>\n

Neighbours called cops for me shouting at my child, yelling won\u2019t hurt them<\/h3>\n

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<\/picture>GO BRALESS <\/span><\/p>\n

I’m a 36G – I found a waist-snatching bodysuit and I don’t need to wear a bra<\/h3>\n

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<\/picture>CHECKING OUT <\/span><\/p>\n

Primark employee reveals six annoying things customers always do<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have gone undercover with the kids to check out children\u2019s nurseries, and busted rude staff at a soft play centre.<\/p>\n

\u201cI nab mystery shopping assignments so I can earn while doing the weekly shop in Lidl, Asda or Aldi.<\/p>\n

FABULOUS VEGAS: JOIN TO CLAIM \u00a3100 BONUS<\/strong> PLUS 50 FREE SPINS<\/p>\n

\u201cI get free nights out, restaurant\u00a0lunches, free fuel when I \u2018buy on the sly\u2019 \u2019 providing research data for some of Britain's top mystery shopping agencies.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Natalie, her part-time money-maker means that she can be totally flexible when it comes to her childcare and day to day tasks can even earn her money.<\/p>\n

\u201cPopping to the shops for milk and bread can sometimes earn me money,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI only do jobs I can fit around my schedule, I\u2019ve been able to earn extra \u2018cost of living cash\u2019 by taking the kids to the park or simply pushing my trolley in the supermarket.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), approximately 50,000 mystery shopping trips are undertaken every month in the UK.<\/p>\n

Esomar Global Market Research estimates the mystery shopping sector in Britain has a turnover of \u00a36.6 billion and leads Europe.<\/p>\n

In Britain, Market Force, Ipsos, Tern, Serve Legal, Grass Roots, Redwigwam and ESA Retail are among the most popular mystery shopping companies taking on undercover shoppers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite people unboxing and reviewing items on social media it\u2019s super snooper mums like Nat who are have the real secret shopping power.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe aren't doing paid \u2018collabs\u2019, what I report on is my real life experience so you can trust it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Married marketing manager, Nat, who is mum to a seven and two-year-old, only started mystery shopping in March 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was on maternity leave and needed a side hustle to help pay the bills but one that I could work around the kids' schedules,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

Nat spent three weeks researching mystery shopping and\u00a0signed up to four different companies online.<\/p>\n

She says: \u201cI wanted to sign up with companies that did mystery shopping on national and local levels.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt meant I could mystery shop locally but gave me the option to make money if I was away.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a daunting process because the websites have videos you can watch and information about the does and don'ts of mystery shopping.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nat learnt quickly to read the mystery shopping brief and follow it exactly as well as checking the available jobs daily is critical.<\/p>\n

Mystery shopping has been a lifeline, I\u2019m not sure how I would have made it through my maternity without it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to log onto the apps or website and be quick to get the best or easiest mystery shopping gigs,\u201d Nat says.<\/p>\n

\u201cOvernight stays in hotels, mystery shopping restaurants and mystery shopping holidays are some of the best jobs to get and go quickly when they are posted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nat says it\u2019s important to follow the instructions to the letter or else you won\u2019t be paid or have any money spent reimbursed.<\/p>\n

Secret shopping jobs typically include:<\/h3>\n