Personal Shopper

Although it doesn’t require running, blocking or tackling, shopping for some folks is a sport. After all, finding a bargain is like scoring, while credit card debt is the equivalent of a foul ball.

If you love shopping — and want all the glory, but none of the guts — you should consider being a Personal Shopper.

A Personal Shopper is paid to find, select and purchase items — including clothing, for instance, collectibles and furniture — for people who either are too busy, too important or too inexperienced to do their own shopping.

In other words: As a Personal Shopper, you’re paid to spend other people’s money.

While you’re often a freelancer, you frequently work for high-end retailers and image consultancies, which pay you to assess clients’ needs, then hunt for the products that will best suit them. Typically, that involves face-to-face meetings during which you’ll ask clients about their budget, tastes and lifestyle, followed by a period of intense field research that involves visiting websites, stores and showrooms in order to find the best, highest-quality products.

If your clients trust you, you may be asked to make purchases sight unseen. Just as often, however, you’ll take clients with you to make final selections once you’ve done the initial legwork of studying and sourcing. In the case of clothes, especially, you also may play the role of Fashion Stylist, helping clients not only fill their closets, but also learn how to wear what’s in them.

Regardless: If you love spending, this is your chance to finally shop until you drop!