What This Site Is (And Isn’t)
HonestHustles is where I log real tests of apps, sites, and ideas that claim to help you make money. Some are decent. Some are a complete waste of time. The goal is to separate “looks good in a TikTok” from “actually works when you have a job, a family, and a limited attention span.”
This is not a “quit your job in 30 days” kind of place. It’s about realistic side income:
- Small wins that can add up over months, not minutes.
- How long things actually take and how annoying they are.
- What’s worth keeping in your rotation, and what to skip.
How I Test Things
Every app, site, or idea I write about is something I’ve either used myself, or I’m up front that I’m still testing it. When possible, I include:
- Time spent vs. money earned (or saved).
- What it feels like to use in real life (bugs, frustrations, limits).
- Who it actually suits — not “everyone.”
Affiliate Links & Honesty
Some links on this site are affiliate links. That means if you sign up or buy something through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The rules for that are simple:
- I don’t promise results I haven’t seen myself.
- I don’t call something “good” if it’s garbage.
- If something changes or gets worse, I’ll say so.
If a tool is bad, it’s bad — even if it has an affiliate program.
Who’s Behind HonestHustles?
I’m Kirk — a maintenance manager, dad, 3D printing nerd, and the guy behind the tests here. By day I keep industrial equipment running. By night I tinker with printers, side hustles, and ways to squeeze a bit more money out of the same 24 hours.
I built this site because most “make money online” content is either:
- So hyped up it might as well be fiction, or
- So vague you can’t tell what actually happened.
HonestHustles is meant to be the opposite of that — numbers where possible, real timelines, and a clear picture of what you’re actually signing up for.
How to Use This Site
- Start with the Earn page to see different ways I’ve tried.
- Browse the Reviews for deeper dives on specific tools.
- Check the “What I Don’t Like” sections just as closely as the “What I Like.”
If something helps you even a little — saves you a few hours, avoids a bad app, or gives you a realistic idea to try — then the site is doing its job.