Buying a new digital camera is not work for the faint of heart. The standard display case at an electronics store or large-scale retailer is filled with more choices that you can process in a sitting. Rather than making an impulsive decision, take some time and choose your new digital camera carefully by researching its quality and determining exactly what you need before setting out to buy.

Research

Before you leave for the store, take a few minutes online to be sure you understand what sets one camera apart from another. What is the meaning of optical zoom and what are mega pixels? Take a glance at reviews and ratings to be sure you know the best brands to buy and which to avoid.

Make a List

Make a list of things you need your camera to do. Are you planning to shoot nature photography or just a few snapshots of the pets and kids? Will you be emailing your pictures and uploading them to a photo sharing website or will you be printing from home? Do you plan on modifying your photos for artistic reasons or preparing large prints? What features do you need from your camera to accomplish these goals? (more…)

Mystery shopping is a dream job for many. The benefits are easy to see – you get paid to shop and most of your purchases are free. The downfalls, however, are a bit harder to find in the clever dialog on websites urging you to sign-up. In truth, mystery shopping is a great gig if you can get your foot in the door. But even then, it’s a better hobby than career.

Mystery Shopping

A mystery shopper is an individual paid to visit a store and who must answer a very detailed questionnaire about her experience. She doesn’t get to share her actual opinions very often, however. Instead she answers pages of questions such as “How long did it take before you were greeted?” The shopper is often compensated for a small purchase so that she can experience the full shopping spectrum of the establishment.

The mystery shoppers we envy are those that are invited to partake in resorts, cruises and airline travel so that they can analyze the experience. Even the shoppers invited to spend time in fine restaurants and who are allowed to buy trinkets in designer stores are worthy of envy from those eager to begin their own mystery shopping career. Unfortunately, like professional sports or acting, only a few get the glory – the rest have to find part-time jobs to support the habit. (more…)