The baby boomer population in the US – people born between 1946 and 1964 – began turning 65 in 2011. Every day for the next 15 years, around 10,000 more will reach that age, which means that by 2050, the population that is 65 or older is projected to be 83.7 million. Seems whoever tagged this generation as boomers knew what they were talking about.

Reaching retirement age means something much different than it did just 20 or 30 years ago. In fact, many 65-year-olds these days choose to keep working. And whether you’re still working full-time or a senior with some time to spare, there are plenty of mystery shopping opportunities that are fun and put some extra cash in your pocket. In fact, there are many reasons why seniors looking for extra income are perfect mystery shoppers.

Flexible Hours

One of the perks of retirement is that your time is your own. Whether you want to watch the sunrise every morning, lounge around in your PJs until high noon, or stay up all night binging on Netflix, the decision is all up to you. Mystery shops have flexible time frames, so you can easily fit assignments into your personal schedule whether you’re still on the job, working part-time or have all day and night to shop. Mystery shopping is one of the best jobs after retirement because of the flexible time frames.

Seasoned Shoppers

Shoppers must be observant, objective and dependable. Good communication skills, both verbal and written, are another must. Seniors often have these skills in abundance. Add in sharp attention to detail and a reasonable, impartial expectation of good customer service and seniors are some of the most experienced and reliable shoppers available.

Extra Income

It’s always good to have additional income sources available. Since you choose your own assignments when mystery shopping, it’s up to you how much you can make. If you happen to receive Social Security benefits as a senior in retirement, you can still mystery shop without a reduction in your SS check. Contact the Social Security Administration online or by phone to find out how much extra income you’re allowed to earn each month based on the amount of your SS benefit check.

Socialization

Mystery shopping is a great way to get out and about and mingle. You can treat a friend to a meal or cocktails and appetizers if you shop a restaurant client, ranging from breakfast tacos to sandwich shops to steakhouse locations. Shop a liquor store and pick up a nice bottle of wine, a six-pack of beer or your favorite distilled liquor at little or no cost and surprise your dinner host. You can even mystery shop a hotel for a freebie getaway or spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon undercover visiting charity thrift shops with a bargain-lover friend.

Any senior can enjoy the benefits of mystery shopping, it’s a great way to stay connected to the community and earn some extra income at the same time. And mystery shopping needs seniors. They’ve got a wealth of knowledge that the industry truly values. So get out there and get shopping! Sign up today.

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