Make Money Side Hustles

Pumpkin Spice Pundit: Get Paid $1,000 to Taste and Rate Trader Joe’s Fall Foods

FinanceBuzz wants to pay a Pumpkin Spice Pundit to taste and rate all of the seasonal fall foods at Trader Joe's.

By Maya Siman

Edited by Tracy Odell

Updated Dec. 17, 2024

Update: Submissions for our Pumpkin Pundit side hustle are now closed. We'll reach out directly to our new hire via email. Here are some other legit money-making side hustles to consider.

At FinanceBuzz, we love a good side hustle, and this one combines some of our favorite things: autumn, food, and Trader Joe’s.

Warning: You must love pumpkin to apply for this side gig.

We're looking for someone to taste and evaluate all the fall-inspired Pumpkin Palooza foods at Trader Joe's. From breakfast classics like pumpkin waffles and cinnamon rolls to autumn-inspired drinks like pumpkin-spiced ginger brew, we’ll ask you to taste and rate 20+ pumpkin-flavored foods and use your market research to help shoppers decide which foods to budget for and which to skip.

If selected as our Pumpkin Spice Pundit, we'll pay you $1,000 for your work and cover the costs of your fall feast with a $500 Trader Joe's gift card.

Why we want to pay you to taste test

Groceries are an essential part of everyone’s budget — and usually a good chunk of the monthly spending too. It’s disappointing when you branch out, buy a new food to try, and it ends up being a let down.

Here at FinanceBuzz, we want shoppers to get the best finds while spending less on groceries. Our Pumpkin Spice Pundit will help provide valuable recommendations and grocery shopping hacks for everyone to use!

Why Trader Joe’s? There are so many Trader Joe’s fan favorites available year round, but their limited-time fall selections get shoppers really excited whenever they hit shelves. While some Trader Joe’s shopping hacks help you save money at the supermarket chain, we realize there’s no easier way to save on groceries than skipping items that just aren’t worth it.

This side hustle is not affiliated with or endorsed by Trader Joe's. We're just big fans of their products.

What you’ll get

If selected, you’ll get paid $1,000 for completing our taste test. Additionally, you’ll get a Trader Joe's gift card worth $500 to fund your fall food shopping spree!

The assignment

You must live near a Trader Joe’s where you can shop in person. Using your gift card, you’ll purchase one of each of the available seasonal fall foods to taste test. We'll ask you to:

Photograph each item.
Rate the food on several criteria, like how difficult it was to make, how tasty it is, and more.
Write a brief description of your experience.

We’ll share your expertise on FinanceBuzz so shoppers can budget for the best snacks.

How to apply

If you’re already hungry thinking about Pumpkin Palooza 2024 and think you’re the perfect fit for this role, fill out the form below and tell us a bit more about yourself.

Applications are due by September 10, 2024 at 11:59 ET. The chosen candidate will be selected by September 13 and contacted via email. The candidate will have until October 6 to eat their way through the Trader Joe’s fall foods and submit their ratings.

Applicants must be based in the United States and at least 18 years of age. We will also update this page to announce our newest team member, and share the final results.

Other ways to make more money

Add to your income. There are plenty of legitimate ways to make extra money that can supplement what you’re already making.
Earn rewards while grocery shopping. Whether it’s for pumpkin-flavored foods or your weekly shopping list, using the right credit card for groceries can earn you cash back or rewards on your grocery transactions.
Take advantage of the weekend. Take on a weekend side job so you have another way to earn money.
Make your money work for you. Learn how to invest money to help build your wealth and set yourself up for financial success.