Blog

Short, plain pieces about picking work, avoiding scams and knowing what a gig really costs you. Every post links to the gig pages it talks about.

• What DoorDash Says About Dasher Pay

  Oct 28, 2026

  DoorDash explains how Dasher pay is built and prints a few dollar amounts. On the pages we read, it prints no national total for what Dashers earn. Checked Oct 28.

• Which Side Gigs Charge a Fee to Join?

  Oct 21, 2026

  Among the platforms on this site, we found no sign-up fee on the pages we read. Several say joining is free. But some keep a cut of your pay. Some charge to cash out. Some send you to a state office for a paid license. Checked Oct 21.

• Who Takes the Tax Out of Your Side Gig Pay?

  Oct 18, 2026

  Some gigs pay you as an employee. Most call you a contractor. We list who says what, and who is silent. Checked Oct 18.

• How Old Must You Be for Each Side Gig?

  Oct 14, 2026

  Each gig sets its own youngest age. We list what each page says, from poll work at 16 to senior programs at 55. Read Oct 10-19.

• Respondent Pay: Where Its Own Pages Differ

  Oct 11, 2026

  Respondent's own pages disagree on fees, payout speed and payout method. We print them side by side and do not pick one. Checked Oct 11, 2026.

• Which Side Gigs Run a Background Check?

  Oct 7, 2026

  Some gigs and schools run a background check on you. We list which ones say so, who pays, and how a photo ID check differs. First checked Oct 7, 2026. Most pages re-read Oct 18.

• Mechanical Turk Closed: What to Try

  Oct 4, 2026

  Amazon says Mechanical Turk closed for good on September 30, 2026. October 30, 2026 has passed. Here is what Amazon's page still says, plus three places to try next. We checked Amazon's page on Oct 31.

• What to Do When a Gig Has a Waitlist

  Sep 30, 2026

  A gig says it is not taking new people. Here is what a waitlist means, how companies handle theirs, and what to do while you wait. Checked Oct 27.

• Side Gig Money: Gross Is Not Take-Home

  Sep 23, 2026

  The money you collect from a side gig is not all yours to keep. No one takes tax out for you. Here are the IRS rules, rates, forms, and due dates.

• 4 Side Gigs to Line Up Before Winter

  Sep 20, 2026

  Four side gigs with dates to know this fall. Election Day is November 3, 2026. Each gig page covers pay and lists its own sources and its dates.

• What It Costs to Start a Trade Side Gig

  Sep 16, 2026

  Eight side gigs you can start on your own, ranked by the price of one starting tool. Plus the permits, insurance, and tax rules we found for each.

• What a 1099-K Actually Reports

  Sep 13, 2026

  A 1099-K is a tax form. It counts money paid to you by a payment app or card. Here is who sends one, the federal line, and what the total means.

• Scams That Look Like Side Gigs, and How to Tell

  Sep 9, 2026

  Some job offers are scams wearing a side-gig costume. Here is the one test that catches most of them, six common patterns, and how a real gig looks different.

• How to Pick a Side Gig That Fits You

  Sep 2, 2026

  Most side gig lists rank work by what it pays. That is the wrong first question. Start with what you have, then look at pay. Here is the order that saves you time.

• Correction: Gig Sites Do Print Pay Figures

  Sep 2, 2026

  We said 12 of 19 gig sites print no pay figure. We were wrong. Here is the corrected list of all 19, and why a printed number is not always useful.

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