Navigating the Bare International Website

Sometimes, websites are intimidating and confusing most especially when there are so many links to click. However, the Bare International Website is very user-friendly even your grandmother can navigate it.

Here's how:

After creating an account and verifying it by clicking the link on the email that was sent to you, you need to log on by accessing the website thru bareinternational.com.

At the top right corner of the website, click on sign in.

A pop up will show asking you to choose being a client and an evaluator.  Click on Evaluator.

Another window will appear with the following url:
https://www.baidata.com/shoppers/LoginShopper.norm.php. Bookmark this on your computer so that you won't have to type it again the next time you go to this website. Key in your email address and password.

You will be directed to the Shop Log page where at the top right corner of the page, alongside the Shop Log tab, you will see the My Profile tab, My Apps tab, Job board tab and Help tab. We will tackle each tabs as we go along this post.

SHOP LOG TAB

The top part of the page is focused on the shopper's profile. You will see a link where you can change your status if ever you don't want to be active for the meantime. You will also see links which you can click to update your profile. You can also use this page to refer some friends and to check your referred friends.

The lower part is dedicated to the shops that are assigned to you. This part is where you will see all the information important for you to complete the assignment. You will also see here your score once your survey has been reported and reviewed.

MY PROFILE TAB

If you remember the page where you put in all your information upon signing up, this is that part. It contains all the information and the privacy policy. You just go here if there are information that you would like to update,

MY APPS TAB

This is the page where you can see the status of the assignments that you have applied to. I've copied the information from the website and it is very important to follow these rules:

IMPORTANT! DO NOT perform any shop unless it has a status of 'Assigned to You!' 
This page lists applications which must be approved before the shop is assigned to you.
ALSO IMPORTANT!Go to your Shop Log to view shops assigned to you directly 
(this page only displays shops that you had to apply for)
STATUS EXPLANATIONS
  * Assigned to you This shop has been assigned to you - view it in your Shop Log.
  * Pending The scheduler has not assigned this shop to a evaluator yet (please do NOT ask the schedulers on the status of pending shops).
  * Closed 
   (not shown) Shops assigned to other evaluators are removed from this page.

JOB BOARD TAB

This page is where you check and apply to available shops that need to be visited.

There's a Classic Job board link there which you can also click if you want to narrow down the shops according to the country, state or a specific zip code.

HELP TAB

If you click this page, you will be directed to another window that will instruct you to check out the FAQs on the main Bare International website.

So there. I'm sure you will be a pro in navigating the website. It takes time, of course but don't you worry. You'll get there. *wink

All pictures are courtesy of Bareinternational.com

Mixing business with pleasure 2 (How to become a successful Mystery Shopper)

Mystery shopping has given me the opportunity to travel to places I've never been before while earning. I actually thought that I finally had found what I was looking for. Every visit has become an adventure. However, one of the facts in life is to have a balance in everything. Yin and Yang, hot and cold, adventures and misadventures.

Although I mentioned that I get to travel while earning, don't expect much on the earning part. You will earn if you're able to plan ahead. Remember lesson number 1. Be prepared. Plan ahead. Have a budget and stick to it.

This is the part where the misadventure but still adventure, I guess, starts.

Of course with Mystery shopping, you don't just visit the stores assigned to you but you have to report them afterwards. Since we're exhausted with Day 1, I was only able to submit my report on just 1 store. I had to rest because I had to wake up for Day 2. Yes. I scheduled them consecutively which leads me to Lesson Number 2. Do not make the same mistake that I did. Do not schedule visits the day after the other most specially if there were a lot of stores assigned to you. Allow a rest day in between for you to be able to complete your report and also to recuperate from the long travel.

So on Day 2, I woke up late. I had to finish my 3 other reports which I did and we still had to go to the bank to get some funds before we could go to the stores. We were able to get moving around lunch.

Our destination? Nueva Ecija.

Nueva Ecija is the largest province and the biggest rice producer of Central Luzon and the Philippines, thus, often referred to as the “Rice Bowl of the Philippines.”

Courtesy: http://lakbaynuevaecija.blogspot.com/p/tourist-spots.html

We still had to go to Cubao to board a bus going to Nueva Ecija. It took us almost 5 hours to go to one of the stores which is in Cabanatuan.

Gen Luna Statue and Marker (Cabanatuan City)

A statue of Philippine hero General Antonio Luna astride a horse stands at the plaza in front of the cathedral on the exact spot where the brave general was assassinated in 1899 in the city that adopted him subsequently.

Courtesy: http://lakbaynuevaecija.blogspot.com/p/tourist-spots.html

We arrived there around 5pm and we got confused because the place where we alighted was still under construction. As it turned out, it was actually SM Cabanatuan, not the Megacenter where we're supposed to be headed. So we still had to get on a tricycle to go there which meant additional expense which lead me to Lesson Number 3. Stick with the address on the assigned store. Tell the bus driver or conductor where exactly you are heading so that they can guide you.

And we still had 3 stores left to do.

After visiting the one in Cabanatuan, we headed to Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

Municipal hall of Talavera, Nueva Ecija

courtesy: youronevoicecanmakeadifference.wordpress.com

It took us almost an hour to arrive to our next destination. It was already dark. We were supposed to be headed to San Jose but noticing how high the fare was, we figured that it would take us a couple of hours to go there so we decided to just go the nearest store in Talavera and just spend the night there. Yes. We had to find a lodge in a place we haven't been to without any shirts or toiletries. So we still had to buy them before finding an inn where we could spend the night. Haaay.

Lesson number 4. Expect the unexpected. Always bring with you an extra shirt, an extra underwear and some toiletries if you're going to some place you haven't been to. Always bring extra cash too.

So we're like, Lugi na. We spent more than what we could earn from this trip and we still had two more stores to visit. I was thankful though because I had my boyfriend with me and realized that if I wasn't with him, I would have gotten in trouble. I was really upset with how things turned out but I didn't have anyone else to blame but myself because I didn't learn from Lesson Number 1.

Our dilemma during that night was how to find an inn that would suit our budget. I was wary to ask the people there because they might lead us to some other place where we would get in trouble so we had to walk and find a person trustworthy enough. We were able to ask a couple who recommended an inn that was actually kind of far from where we were so we still had to board a jeep then alight where we were instructed to do so.

The street where we alighted didn't have any signs so we just walked into a very dark street and saw a lodge. We tried to knocked and called out people but only dogs were responding. I was really losing hope and thought about going home to Manila but my boyfriend saw a person standing near the lodge and asked him the supposed inn where we were heading. The lodge was actually for Masons but there was a nearby inn and that we just had to keep walking until we see it. We finally saw that inn and got checked in. 

Another dilemma was the food. The food there was pricey and I didn't think it would suffice for the both of us. We could have bought food earlier but we didn't do that because we're more concerned on where we're going to spend the night. Since we didn't have any other choice, we ordered their food. The food was, well, it's not impressive but we're hungry so talo-talo na. We could have gotten a more decent food with the same price outside but there were no food stalls nearby.

After eating, we just drank liquor while watching TV even if the TV had a really bad connection. Yes, we were able to buy liquor but not food. Talk about bad decision making which was what made this adventure a misadventure after all. Haaay.

A lot of if onlys. But no one can ever turn back time so we could only learn from these misadventures. Anyway, they were still adventures if you just look on the brighter side of things. We were able to see Nueva Ecija from different sides. We were able to handle each dilemma without quarreling which was a good sign for me since I was able to successfully handle my emotions. We were able to realize that planning is everything and that when you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

The same with life. I kind of concentrated to mystery shopping these past few days for me to have an excuse to travel and to ponder on things that trouble my mind. I realized that I had to apply these lessons to a bigger scheme of things which is life. I have to plan ahead but still be able to expect and embrace the spontaneity of the unexpected. I have to be able to face whatever life throws at me.

So Day 2, for me, was still successful.

Mixing business with pleasure (How to become a successful Mystery Shopper)

Like other jobs and professions, being a Mystery Shopper has its ups and downs. It's not always going to be fun and exciting. It may not deal with more serious business like saving lives or finances but it is still tiring at some point.

Recently, I was assigned to 10 stores (Yes, 10 stores. Wheeew!) from all  over Luzon. I applied to them because I thought the expenses would still be lesser than the amount of payment in total. Or so I thought.

Day 1- Successful day

So my ever supportive boyfriend accompanied me to Valenzuela then Rizal then Manila for the first day. I was able to do 4 stores (Yeeey!) with expenses that would cover the payment for only 2 stores so I still had an income of 2 stores plus we were able to go to places we've never been before.

I know this is quite confusing so I will take the initiative to compute.

Every store I visit- 8 Euros x 4 stores = 32 Euros
Expenses= almost 16 Euros
32 Euros - 16 Euros= 16 Euros (Gain)

I'm sorry if my computation confused you more. I'm not really into Math ever since.

So this day was a successful day. We were able to visit the stores and at the same time, have a date in the Art Capital of the Philippines which is Angono, Rizal.

Courtesy: rclaw.wordpress.com

 We saw a lot of wood carvings and sculptures around the area. We even saw some giant paper mache or the so called "Higante" which actually have a festival every 23rd of November.

Courtesy: www.angono.gov.ph

“Higante” is an endemic cultural icon in Angono first used as symbol of agrarian protest. It was appropriated during fiesta to add fun in the celebration. Today, the local government considers it as a symbol of success and greatness which an Angono individual should strive for.

There were a lot of shrines too which pay tribute to the Katipuneros who fought hard for our freedom. Apparently, Rizal had lots of them which made them earn a sun ray on our flag. That's what actually some history remaining in my ever tumultuous brain.

After some sightseeing, we ate some street foods and boarded an FX bound for Megamall.

Although we were able to still gain some money out of this trip, it could have been better if we were more prepared by having our own lunch because earlier in the trip while we were in Valenzuela, we spent 300 pesos for our lunch. I could have gotten more from this trip if we didn't spend that much just for lunch. So that's Lesson Number 1. Being prepared by planning ahead.

And did we learn from lesson number 1? No.

And that earns a spot on my next post.

And she saved the world again. (My second task as a Mystery Shopper)

I was just done with my second mission yesterday.

I kicked some butts, conversed thru Russian, Spanish and Gibberish (Yes, it's a language. Look it up.), defused a WMD, started World Peace and the list goes on.

Just kidding.

My second gig in being a mystery shopper was a success and I got to purchase a pair of heart-shaped, sterling silver earrings in a jewelry store. I'm not that into jewelries primarily because I don't really have the means to buy things like that but I have a slight fascination with earrings that I actually got three holes on just my left ear so it was really exciting. Though I was thinking about selling these earrings for an extra income, I actually chose a pair that I really liked which wasn't that pricey. Well, just in case no one buys it from me then I would be more than happy to wear them.

The sales associate was a very nice girl who knew everything about the product. I was able to elicit the right questions and she did everything possible to accommodate them. She made me feel at ease even though I was feeling like I didn't belong there. She didn't hesitate, even just for a moment, to connect with me. I just hope that with the positive reviews that I've given her, she would be able to get a raise or a promotion because that's what she truly deserves.

This is just one of the things that really made me look forward to do every assignment. The interaction with different people. The feels. It's part of being human I guess. The ability to communicate with other people who you don't really know personally but you're able to connect with.

So that's about it for this mission. Next mission is a pharmacy visit. Hope this one is better than my first pharmacy visit.

Money, money, money

"I guess there's no escaping the dreadful job for now eh?". I said to myself.

But for others, who have more guts, more glory and anything in between. You actually have other options not to go to work yet earning as much or even more than the regular 9-5-kiss-your-boss'-ass-job.

My search for a perfect job/profession/work has given me various options which will enable people to work inside the confines of their home without worrying for their travel fare or if their babies are being tortured by their yayas. Also, knowing the traffic in urban areas, it's actually a miracle if you're able to reach your workplace without the train breaking down in the middle of its tracks, being mobbed, or anything that will ruin your morning (or evening) commute.

Here are the 10 Home-based Jobs that you can try in no particular order:

1. Blogging- What a great way to start this top10! Haha. Everyone writes. Everyone reviews. It's a free country. All you need is a computer and an internet connection.  Of course you need to have a blog page but it's easy breezy. www.blogger.com is one of those blog-publishing service where you can go to to set up your free blog domain. You can earn here if your blog has ads already and one way to have ads is to have lots of visitors and readers, that is if your blog has a lot of interesting stuff in it.

2. Freelancing- www.odesk.com and www.fiverr.com are just two global online marketplaces where people can offer to do jobs for an employer for a fee. If you have an experience with being a Virtual assistant or a copy writer or even do silly, unimaginable things like sending a prophecy directly from God (check it out on Fiverr, i swear it's there), then this is perfect for you.

3. Online Teaching- Tired of being discriminated, cursed, shouted on, maligned, degraded etc(the list goes on) by your customers over the phone for a call center that's not allowing you to take your break even if it's already more than halfway of your shift yet can't kick the urge to speak with a twang? Then you should try helping students (Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Martian etc) learn to speak the universal language. Here, you get to be paid 100 pesos and up per hour just talking about anything under the sun. And if your lucky, you might be sent to the shooting site of your favorite Koreanovela. You can try applying here http://www.bizmates.ph/apply-now/

 4.Cooking- Who doesn't love a home-cooked meal without the hassle of chopping and popping oil? You don't really have to cook like a chef. If you only know a couple of dishes and you're good at cooking them then sell your dishes just outside your home. Prepare a table outside your home, get them kaserolas and kawalis where the people can see and smell what lies inside them. Just make sure that flies are not around when you're serving or the customers will get an extra, unnecessary meat.

5. Baking- Cupcakes are the in thing nowadays and if you can make them really good then why not sell them. If you're really entrepreneurial, you can actually go to some milk tea or frappe establishments (which proliferated like mushrooms) and sell them your baking goodies. Cupcakes and biscuits go along great with tea or coffee right?

6. Multilevel Marketing/ Networking/ Direct selling- Avon, Natasha, Usana, Royale etc. All of them are offering products which you can sell wherein you will get 20-30% from the total price. You can also recruit other people to sell the products. This is the part where networking sets in. If you have many recruits, their sales will be counted as your sales so even if you don't sell the items, you already have passive income from your down line. Registration ranges from nothing to 30000 and up depending on the company and the products that you will sell. Usually the products are supplements, cosmetics, lotions, apparels,etc

7. Sari-sari store- Why walk some 5 blocks away to buy something when good, old sari-sari store is just around the corner right? From the word sari-sari, you can sell anything you want. For the kids, what's patok and tubong lugaw most especially this coming summer are the nata (1peso only), ice candy, ice pop, ice buko and anything with ice. You can also add tiny toys like pogs (those round, colorful cards), trumpo (top) and other uso stuff you can get from the ever-handy Divisoria.

8. E-loading- Everyone needs to communicate and everyone has a cellphone but not everyone is on postpaid line. Majority are still on prepaid so this type of business comes in handy for people who are on a budget and mind you, the tingi- tingi customers are those whom you will get the most profit because what the e-loaders do is if you're buying load for less than 50 pesos then you will have to add 2 pesos on top and you don't have to sales talk people or do demos, just put a note outside your house and they are the ones approaching you in no time at all.

9. Online selling- You gained weight or you bought a dress which you really liked while you're still on the shop but when you got home, you realized that you don't like it anymore. Well don't fret. Those pre-loved clothes will be loved again by someone else if you sell it online. Just post it on your Facebook or Instagram account, wait for a buyer to contact you, set up an appointment, and voila! You now have an extra space on your closet for your new clothes.

10. Perfumery-  People don't have to spend so much just to smell good. For as low as 50 pesos, they can get dupes of branded colognes and perfumes by buying fragrances made at home. There are a lot of seminars being held for this type of business. Chemworld along Buendia, Makati has a wide variety of fragrances that you can choose from if you don't want to go thru the mixing and everything part. However, you can also create your own fragrances and they're also conducting training and seminars. Here's the website that you can check. http://www.chemworld.ph/

All of these and more can help you get extra cheese with a little effort and patience. Of course, you will not earn overnight and everything will be uncomfortable at first most especially if it wasn't a hobby before you start venturing into it. But the thing is, once you get the hang of it, you'll see the benefits of not following any dress codes and being your own boss. Who knows? You might be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs right? :)