The ‘side hustle’ Australians are turning to as living costs rise – and it can earn you up to $300 per person

Australians have discovered a new ‘side job’ that can earn them up to $300 for something as simple as going to the pub or travelling on the bus.

As Australians continue to struggle with the low cost of living, side jobs are becoming increasingly popular. For example, some sell firewood online, while others iron other people’s laundry for an extra $400 a week.

Mystery shopping is a method used by market research agencies and organizations to compare their sales, service and work performance with those of their competitors.

‘Imagine a side job that not only earns you money but also treats you to amazing experiences. That’s the magic of mystery shopping,’ Louise Heffernan, owner of Mystery Management, told FEMAIL.

‘In today’s economy, people are extremely excited about the hospitality side of our business.

‘We carry out mystery shopping at over 300 pubs and upmarket restaurants along the east coast.’

The position consists of people who anonymously shop in stores or eat somewhere and write reports about their experiences.

For each task a certain amount is paid. The salary is usually between $20 and $300 depending on the nature of the work.

Louise Heffernan, owner of Mystery Management, revealed that mystery shopping involves people anonymously shopping in stores or eating at locations and writing about their experiences

As companies struggle to understand how the average consumer views their service, mystery shopping is a great way to gauge how a company compares to its competitors.

Companies struggle with the question of how the average consumer experiences their service. Mystery shopping is a great way to measure how a company performs compared to its competitors.

Ms Heffernan provided further insight into the role.

‘Imagine this: You enjoy a delicious meal and we pay the bill. Plus, you get paid to write a report about your experience, covering customer service, food quality, and cleanliness.’

She claimed it was a “really fun job” that people came back for – and that Mystery Management’s administration team also regularly come into contact with the sector.

Ms Heffernan said mystery shopping is now much more than just seeing if a restaurant will serve you without checking your ID.

“We also do mystery shopping at U-turn Fashion (thrift stores), which is a big hit with Generation Z, who get paid to ‘thrift shop,’” she said.

‘We service supermarkets, bakeries, liquor stores and chemists – and even all the ferries on Sydney Harbour, along with buses and trams.

‘You can actually get paid to eat, shop and travel!’