I’ve been a product tester for many years, giving feedback on new products for cash and/or getting to keep the products as payment.
It’s a nice way to earn a little extra money on the side and get some new toys around the house. It’s also cool to learn about new products before they are released into the marketplace.

I usually test four or more different products per month. Most people don’t realize that big brands value their input and are willing to pay for their time and feedback. The questions can sometimes be a bit long and boring (sometimes they are repeated with different wording), but being the first on the block with a new product is so cool.

It’s actually pretty easy to become a product tester. There are tons of third parties on the Internet that are looking for people to participate. Just search for “Product Tester” and you’ll find plenty of companies. I’ve joined three different consumer research companies this way.