Does Shopping Always Have to Cost Money? Not with Mystery Shopping It Doesn't.

Listen, I get retail therapy. I don't endorse it because money is tight around around here, but I get it. A little escapism from the daily grind is needed every now and then, even if it's window shopping.

There are a few ways to combine going shopping AND getting paid. There are companies out there that pay people to mystery shop their brands, stores, movie theaters even hotels to get a better understanding of what's happening.

In retail stores it's pretty straight forward. Brands want to know if their products are being displayed correctly. Often the end cap at a grocery or big box retail store is expensive real estate and if brands are paying the big money to the big chains, they want to know their money is being well spent.

Or if there is a big holiday or event coming up like the Super Bowl, a potato chip company wants to make sure their big flashy display was put up correctly and is getting the traction, and space they paid for.

And did you know where a brand falls on the shelf can be bought and paid for? Eye level for most items is huge, sometimes a little lower if the product is intended for a little kid shopping with a parent.

So brands will contract with mystery shopping companies to get everyday shoppers to go in and make sure everything is where it is supposed to be. Brands aren't the only ones doing it - the stores have their own set of super secret spies checking on their own stores to make sure managers are following directives set by upper management.

Mystery shopping isn't just retail and groceries - movie distributors and theaters do it too. All those trailers and now unfortunately ads that run before your feature film, there are people being paid to check they are running. Also, how is the popcorn - fresh? Bathrooms clean? All of that is being watched and recorded.

Same goes for hotels and resorts. Were you warmly greeted upon entering and checking in? How was the breakfast buffet? Are the sheets and towels nice and clean?

Doing this type of mystery shopping is not all fun and games. These companies expect you to pay meticulous attention to the smallest details and report on what you witnessed, experienced and saw during your trip, stay, movie, shopping spree.

Typically payment is arranged via reimbursement of funds spent - which is actually OK if you get points or cash back on your credit cards.

Here are a few companies that will pay you to do everything I listed above. Some of these though you gotta pay your dues. A fancy hotel stay or trip isn't going to be your first option. You start with shopping and grow from there.