Fueling My Shoe Addiction
I’ve decided I’m going to retire from business ownership. There is no reason to sweat over tax deadlines, employee issues, late deliveries and self employed grief. Why do that when I can get paid to eat ice cream?
I’m not sure why, but in the past 3 weeks I have been called for about 6 focus groups and qualified for 4 of them. Each one lasting anywhere between 1 to 2 hours and paying $50 to $100 dollars in cash. I’ve given my opnions on a new face cream from Lancome. (No, I would not buy it.) Watched credit card commercials and given my buying habits on tires. But the best one is to come.
I will be sampling what is known as “filler” ice cream. Translation: Ice cream loaded with candy, cookies, cake, fudge and other indulgences. Is there a better panel to be on? (Aside from test driving high end shoes?)
Every single time I do one of these panels there is inevitably ONE character who acts like the authority on the authority on the product du jour. One person who talks over everyone else and analyzes each minute detail. On the face cream panel, there was one woman in her 60′s with very long processed blonde hair and preteen jeans on with a bedazzled shirt. Make sure you noted my point on her age. 60′s. And she was the authority on face cream. Hope in a jar?
I’m not sure the company got their money’s worth on me. I couldn’t over talk her.
Anyway, these panels really are such great ways to earn a little extra money. I used to do quite a bit of them when my son was an infant and I was a SAHM looking for some shoe addiction funding. If you google “focus groups” followed by your state, quiet a few options come up. The one I found that seems to be national is Greenbook.Org
Happy shoe shopping!
@orangepeelings on twitter.
said:
This sounds intriguing…I’d be happy to sample ice cream. I’ve had a lot of practice there. I’m what you could call an “expert”…
.-= Dawn´s last blog ..Writer’s Workshop…Dear Santa =-.
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Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : December 4th, 2009 at 9:55 AM
I jumped at that survey! My alternative was a face cream one.
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@GrammieMommy on twitter.
said:
Thanks for the comment you left on my blog. I came to yours looking to read your latest entry and I see the ice cream on top of ice cream. My nemesis. If you ever get the call on Ben & Jerry’s will you please give me a heads up! I will be your friend forever ??
.-= GM´s last blog ..Oh Christmas Tree =-.
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Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : December 8th, 2009 at 11:08 AM
I promise I iwll give you a heads up on that!
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some ladies in our playgroup do focus groups and i’ve been meaning to look into it. (thanks for the link!)
being on an ice cream panel is like the job from heaven. me and ice cream go waaaay back!
.-= tiffany´s last blog ..Ho, Ho, Ho =-.
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Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : December 8th, 2009 at 11:14 AM
My son is begging to come with me tomorrow
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love the ice cream picture. you really have a talent nancy. every detail. i am going to look into focus groups here. it never occurred to me.
but do you have to be able to focus? i am very un-practiced in completing a thought, sentence or task with my 2 little interrupters. best interruptions ever but….
i want to do a focus group for sleep related items, beds, pjs, sleep aids…
great info
i will now go to bed with the image of the 60 year old skank in my head. nice
.-= magda´s last blog ..Justin Bieber =-.
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Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : December 8th, 2009 at 11:20 AM
I can focus for about half an hour and then my mind starts to drift. I’m hoping though that Ice Cream can keep me focused longer than that thought!
Sorry about the skank image though.
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@lalabh on twitter.
said:
FUN!!! Great idea to do that for some extra $$ and to satisfy your sweet tooth!
I got to show model for Donna Karan/DKNY a couple of times, that was big fun too! (Got to keep a coupla cute pairs!)
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..I’m not really a psycho-mom … =-.
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Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : December 8th, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Oooh, I’d love something like that. Unfortunately, I am a klutz though
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That picture of the ice cream has got me craving some now. It’s been a long time since I had any. I hardly ever eat it. Too bad it’s nearly midnight. I can’t go to the store. Or maybe that’s a good thing.
.-= Niki´s last blog ..Love =-.
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WOW! I am totally googling focus groups now. I love to hear myself talk and I love to eat ice cream. Must do. LOL.
.-= existentialwaitress´s last blog ..Dare to be different. =-.
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Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : December 8th, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Hope you found some good ones! They are fun to do and the cash afterwards makes it even more fun!
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That is so cool!! I’m doing that RIGHT NOW!
.-= Lee the Hot Flash Queen´s last blog ..No Hover Zone =-.
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Totally going to check that out! How fun.
.-= shannon´s last blog ..A Girl’s Gotta Dream =-.
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Great tip. I’ve always been on the wrong end of focus groups and would find them much more interesting if I were getting the envelope at the end.
.-= DG at Diaryofamadbathroom´s last blog ..And They Called it Puppy Love =-.
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I used to do those quite a bit when I lived in the Chicago burbs. Now I’m in stupid little town and there’s nothing around here at all.
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get paid to eat ice cream..? count me in!
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Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : December 8th, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Awesome, huh??? I’ll fill you in on the flavors! The panel is tomorrow
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@Pickletalks on twitter.
said:
Thanks for the info. I need some way to pay for my blogging and Twitter habits.
.-= corrie´s last blog ..More Table Talk =-.
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@thinkspin on twitter.
said:
Thanks, Nancy.
I’ve already signed up. I can really use the extra income since I’m out of work.
Hope to become an ice cream taster, too.
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..WTF Friday: When pigs fly from jet-propelled flatulence. =-.
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@38traci on twitter.
said:
Somebody PLEASE pay me to eat ice cream Is that what heaven is like? Is there somebody who would pay me to get pedicures??? While being paid to eat chocolate and paid to drink red wine? Now that, adies and gentleme, is HEAVEN.
I always love your posts.
.-= Traci´s last blog ..Day Ninety – Seven or Well, you’ll see… =-.
[Reply]
Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : December 8th, 2009 at 11:52 AM
A pedicure panel? A massage panel? That IS heaven!!!!
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@pennypinchingma on twitter.
said:
OMG I’m hungry now!
I’m happily following you from MBC.
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@goodgirlgonered on twitter.
said:
Love it! I get e-mails from one here, but never seem to *match* their requirements. I did do one once when I was pregnant, but they had over-filled their slots so I got paid and sent home. And then I went to the mall.
.-= Andrea´s last blog ..Number 44: Bound South =-.
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Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : December 8th, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Nothing wrong with getting paid to do nothing and shopping with the salary for it. THAT is a dream job!
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Now, that’s an idea! Plus, I’m sure the blog fodder is endless…
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Oh my goodness! You make money from this stuff? Hello… that sounds awesome! And that ice cream panel you get to be part of? YUMMY! You’ll have to write a post about it, okay?
.-= Loukia´s last blog ..Happy Friday! =-.
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Some things I’d be happy to sample:
chocolate – the darker the better
Dog food: they eat me out of house and home
French pastries – really a favorite of mine
Vacuum cleaners – it goes back to the dog thing again:)
Kristin
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YUM-MEEEEEEE! Great gig!
you are going to have to “hook a sista” up with this survey dealio…..hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm????
.-= *~Michelle~*´s last blog .."I’ve been bamboozled" =-.
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Sampling ice cream would be my dream job! As long as there were a guantee that it wouldn’t go to my hips, that is!
.-= Jane´s last blog ..An Early Christmas Present For All My Scrooge Friends Out There =-.
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@hrtsmakefamily on twitter.
said:
This sounds totally awesome. Paid to sample ice cream. I am so going to check this out. Thanks
.-= Tami @ Hearts Make Families´s last blog ..Walmart.com – I am Furious =-.
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If I could lose this stupid job, I’d be all over that.
.-= kys´s last blog ..Thank You Very Much =-.
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I used to do a lot of these as well but I think you can get burnt out after a while. Then again, now that I haven’t done it for a few years I’m thinking maybe it’s time to get back into it!
.-= Charlene´s last blog ..10 Tips for Surviving a High School Reunion =-.
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Sounds like fun. In my younger days (long, long ago) I used to run these. It would be fun to be on the other end of one now.
.-= Zen Mom´s last blog ..What a Long, Strange Trip Indeed =-.
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Time is key with doing these, and whem I am not at work I am taxi mom…
.-= susan´s last blog ..A dog, his pillow, and awards, oh my! =-.
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@submom on twitter.
said:
When I stayed home with the kids, I signed up with a marketing research company to do exactly this. I got maybe one call every two weeks, spent half an hour each time on the phone with someone trying to “evaluate” whether I was right for the product. It’s like an audition! I never got the part though. LOL. You are lucky to get paid for eating ice cream!
.-= submom´s last blog ..“We have nothing to fear from love and commitment” =-.
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@2ToddlersandMe on twitter.
said:
I’ve done two focus groups before and wish I could find more by me. They are really fun and I agree there is always the expert panelist to keep things interesting.
.-= 2 Toddlers and Me´s last blog ..Site of the Day – CoolMom.com and Daphne Brogdon Interview =-.
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My sister does these all the time and loves them. I am thinking it sounds like a good idea!
.-= sara@ domestically challenged´s last blog ..Stuffed Animal Heaven =-.
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@mommywords on twitter.
said:
I am so googling this too and even better I actually feel like a good mom! 100% honest my first thought was that I could buy Miles the big Nelissa and Doug castle like Sophie’s that he would love! That does not often com before shoes you know!
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I LOVE doing these surveys. There’s nothing like getting paid for your opinion. The last one I did was for a cereal with almonds and cranberries, and now I buy it every once in a while. It’s delish.
.-= Joe´s last blog ..Baby Talk =-.
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I love doing focus groups, especially when you show up and they have more people than they need and they let you go, but still pay you. Sweet!
.-= Unknown Mami´s last blog ..Sundays In My City =-.
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Yum! I could totally eat ice cream for money. I think I could be a professional at that. My stepmom works for Kraft and is always telling me about the focus groups they do and what the people say about their products. Funny to hear about the other side. Well, have an awesome week! I always enjoy stopping by your blog. organicmotherhoodwithcoolwhip.com
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You may have just opened up a whole new world for me…this blogging business isn’t bringing in any million dollar book deals for me, so focus groups? I think I could swing it. And maybe even be the know it all!
Just wanted to tell you my blog has moved and I do hope you’ll follow me over! I love seeing your little hand/heart avatar
http://moxiefab.blogspot.com
.-= Mox´s last blog ..Coming Clean =-.
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There are no focus groups around here that I can find, which is a bummer because I could totally use some extra cash right about now. How can anyone beat getting paid to eat ice cream!? Maybe I’m just looking in the wrong places…
-Jen
.-= NathanRising´s last blog ..The Laughing Baby =-.
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