# Quiz: What's the Best Way to Make Money?
NerdWallet released an interactive quiz designed to match people with realistic side hustle opportunities based on their skills, schedules, and preferences. The tool skips the trendy-but-impractical schemes that circulate on social media and focuses on legitimate income paths that actually work for ordinary people.
The quiz asks users about their available time, existing skills, upfront capital, and comfort level with different work types. Based on those answers, it recommends specific side hustles with real earning potential. The tool steers clear of viral but unrealistic options like selling feet pictures or plasma donations, which generate minimal income for most people and come with downsides.
Common side hustles the quiz might recommend include freelance writing, virtual assisting, pet sitting through platforms like Rover, tutoring, proofreading, transcription work, delivery driving for DoorDash or Instacart, and selling items online through eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Each option has different income ranges, time commitments, and startup requirements.
The appeal of side hustles has grown for several reasons. People need extra money to cover rising expenses, save for specific goals, or build emergency funds. Remote work platforms and gig economy apps have made it easier to find flexible, short-term work. A side hustle can also serve as a testing ground for a future business idea without the risk of full-time commitment.
Success with any side hustle depends on matching your actual lifestyle to the opportunity. Someone with weekends free might drive for a rideshare app. Someone with writing skills could pitch articles to websites or work as a ghostwriter. A parent home during the day could offer tutoring or online teaching through platforms like VIPKid or Tutor.com. Dog lovers might walk pets through Wag or Rover.
Income potential varies widely. Freelance writing might generate $25 to $100 per article depending on publication. Dog walking typically pays $10 to $20 per walk. Virtual assisting can range from $15 to $50 per hour. Driving for DoorDash or Uber averages $15 to $25 per hour after expenses, though earnings depend on location and hours worked.
The tax implications matter too. Side hustle income counts as self-employment income and requires tax filing. You'll owe quarterly estimated taxes if you earn over $400 annually. Keeping careful records of expenses, mileage, and income simplifies tax season and lets you claim deductions that reduce your tax bill.
Before choosing a side hustle, calculate the real hourly rate after expenses and taxes. A delivery driving gig that pays $20 per hour shrinks significantly after vehicle wear and tear. A freelance project that takes 20 hours of work at $500 comes out to $25 per hour, which may or may not justify the effort.
The NerdWallet quiz removes guesswork from finding a side hustle that fits your life. It helps users avoid wasting time on schemes with minimal payoff and instead identifies opportunities they can actually sustain.