I am a retired college professor in western Illinois and I have been mystery shopping for various companies for six months now. I don't make a lot because I live in a small town and I mostly have to travel at least 50 miles to do assignments and they don't pay that much. But it does help supplement my income. I have not seen any companies that pay as much as $200 for an assignment; those are scams. I'm a widow and live alone with my three cats. I have three grown sons, a granddaughter and a great grandson. I also have a step daughter and step grandson that I'm close to. My mother and my aunt live in this area and I help take care of them. I also have a father and a brother who live in AZ. I love to shop, read, go to movies, go to flea markets and yard sales, walk, knit and crochet, and spend time on my yard and flowers.