Households in the United States and much of the rest of the world are feeling the financial squeeze, with rising costs of living pushing many to dip into their savings just to stay afloat.
Nevertheless, whether you’re grappling with inflation or simply need extra money to cover a surprise expense, there are better options to consider as opposed to draining your emergency fund. The following guide explores 20 ways to make more money in just one hour (even less than an hour, in some cases) and keep your savings account intact.
Everyone Can Use a Bit of Extra Money
Everybody has unique incentives for wanting to earn cash fast. Some may be coping with financial stress, whereas others may be looking to save more for retirement. Therefore, before you learn how to make money in one hour, it’s important to figure out your “why.”
Defining your financial goals will help you stay motivated when taking on odd jobs outside of your comfort zone, especially considering the fact that you’ll likely need to complete a few back-to-back side gigs to reach your short-term financial goals.
How to Make Money in One Hour: Traditional Quick Money Methods
Sometimes, it’s best to stick with what you know. Here are a few traditional approaches that pay cash for a job well done, some of which you might have even heard of before:
Online Surveys and Paid Survey Opportunities
Participating in online surveys is a tried-and-true way to earn a little money quickly. Platforms like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie pay users to answer questions about a range of topics. While you won’t make a fortune, you can earn up to $3 per survey. And you can easily complete a handful while simply relaxing on the couch.
You can get started with a quick Google search for something like “Online surveys quick cash.” Skim through some of the results on the first page. If you are going to try a platform other than the two we’ve mentioned, though, make sure to research the site to ensure its legitimacy. You don’t want to waste any time doing things for free or, worse, for a price.
Selling Your Unneeded Items
Facebook Marketplace is a great platform for selling any unused items you have lying around. Clothing, electronics, and even small household goods can fetch decent prices in just an hour. All you need to do is ensure you take quality photos and provide accurate descriptions.
When planning your meet-ups, choose a well-lit, public location. You can meet in the parking lot of your local police precinct or fire station, for instance, or a busy retail store or gas station.
If you are nervous about the idea of selling items to strangers, head down to the pawn shop. While they may not give you as much as someone on Facebook Marketplace, pawn shops pay cash and can save you the time spent waiting for a buyer.
Food Delivery and Delivering Packages
Joining a food delivery service like DoorDash or UberEats allows you to make cash fast by dropping off meals within your area. You can also deliver packages for companies like Amazon Flex. If you’re already on the road or have some time to spare, these gigs are great side hustles because there are no minimum requirements, and they can help you bring in up to $25 per hour.
Dog-Walking Gigs and Pet-Sitting
If you love animals, consider signing up for dog-walking gigs and pet-sitting opportunities on sites like Rover. They’re a fun way to stay active while making money fast, especially if you like dogs. And like most gig work, these opportunities allow you to set your availability, meaning you can work as often or as little as you’d like.
Personal Care/Child Care
If you are passionate about helping those in need and have great interpersonal skills, consider signing up for odd jobs on a platform like Care.com. They often involve babysitting or caring for elderly or disabled adults. Naturally, you can also contact friends and family to see if they would like your help.
Many of these gigs are short-term — you’ll only have to work for an hour or two while the person’s primary caregiver runs an errand — but you can make up to $35 an hour. And even then, there may be long-term and live-in care positions available that include weekly pay and free room and board.
Unique and Creative Ways to Make Money Fast
Here are some more creative ways to make money ASAP:
Monetizing Unused Gift Cards
One fast-money technique you may not be aware of is the fact that you can sell unwanted gift cards. Indeed, platforms like CardCash let you sell unused gift cards for up to 85% of their current balance. They’ll give you cash instantly via PayPal, ACH, or several other methods.
Virtual Assistance for Time-Sensitive Tasks
Busy professionals are frequently hiring short-term virtual assistants to handle time-sensitive tasks like managing emails. Some projects may pay by the hour and require you to devote several hours at a time. Others pay by the task, which means you could make some quick cash if you are efficient. Often, you can find these kinds of gigs on freelancing platforms like Fiverr.
Express Data Entry Services
Data entry is another quick and straightforward way to make money in an hour. Some companies need urgent help with inputting information into spreadsheets or databases. You can sign up for platforms like Microworkers and find short-term gigs that pay upon completion.
Rapid Social Media Content Creation
If you’re social media savvy, offer your skills to small businesses or individuals who need fast turnarounds on content. You may be tasked with creating Instagram posts, editing TikTok videos, or designing graphics. You can find quick gigs like these on freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.
Flash Freelance Writing
Freelance writing gigs can be a quick way to make cash. You can find one-off projects that pay upon completion. Your pay will vary based on the length and complexity of the content.
Keep in mind, however, that most clients expect 100% human-generated content. If you use Chat GPT 4o or any other AI content generator, you might not get paid and could even get a negative reputation on the writing platform where you found the job.
Tech-Savvy Methods for Quick Cash
If you’ve got some niche tech skills, you may want to give one of these strategies a shot to make some fast money:
Microtask Platforms for Specialized Skills
Microtask platforms allow you to complete short projects like transcribing audio clips or categorizing data. Each task only pays a few dollars, but you can complete several projects in an hour to maximize your earnings.
Beta Testing Apps and Online Games
If you enjoy testing new apps or playing online games, some companies will pay you for your feedback. Sign up on a test site to explore beta testing opportunities for apps, websites, and games. Your rate of pay will vary depending on the depth of feedback the developer requires.
Instant Transcription Services
If you’re a speedy typist, transcription work could be a lucrative option. You’ll usually have to take a typing test to demonstrate that you can type fast enough and with enough accuracy to qualify for projects. If you pass, you could gain access to dozens of projects.
Leveraging Personal Assets
Sometimes, the fastest way to make money is by leveraging what you already own. Here are a few tips for using your existing assets to make passive income:
Rent Out Equipment and Tools
If you own specialized tools or equipment, you can rent them out. Fat Llama lets you rent out all sorts of odd items, including high-end cameras, bounce houses, and kayaks, among many others. Your earnings will vary depending on the items you rent and the length of time the customer needs them.
Rent Your Car
If you’ve got an extra vehicle, or if you simply live in an area with lots of public transportation and don’t need your car for a few days, consider renting it out. Daily rental rates on a platform like Turo range from about $30 for basic sedans to upward of $100 for high-end vehicles. Before you know it, you could make a few hundred dollars and offset your monthly car payment.
Flip Thrift Store Finds
If you enjoy bargain hunting, a quick flip of items from thrift stores can be a great way to earn money in an hour. Look for valuable clothing, electronics, or antiques that you can sell for a profit on platforms like eBay or Poshmark. You can turn an investment of just a few bucks into a major profit.
Monetize Unused Internet Bandwidth
If you have a strong internet connection, you can monetize your unused bandwidth through platforms like Honeygain. You’ll share your extra bandwidth and get paid per GB at a rate of about $0.20. While you won’t earn enough to cash out in one hour, it’s a quick setup that can generate steady money over time.
Methods That May Take Longer but Offer Higher Profits
If you are open to spending more than an hour on a project and want to earn higher profits, give the following techniques a go:
Freelance Writing for Personal Finance Blogs
Long-term freelance writing gigs can provide recurring income. Personal finance is a popular niche that you may be able to break into if you’ve got an accounting background or can offer a unique perspective.
Social Media Management
Managing social media accounts for businesses can be a lucrative gig if you hone the right skills. It will take a while to build a portfolio that showcases the value you provide to clients, but once you establish yourself, you could start earning the big bucks.
Flipping Items From Garage Sales
Much like thrift stores, garage sales are great places to find items that can be resold at a higher price. Search for rare or obscure items that collectors may discover valuable, buy those items at a great price, and resell them for a decent profit. Then, just rinse and repeat.
Putting It All in Context
No matter the form they take, side hustles are very common, with about one-third of American adults reporting having one in 2024. However, it’s important to remember that not all methods offer long-term stability or benefits. You need to find something that aligns with your interests and big-picture financial goals.
Pros and Cons of Making Money in One Hour
Finding a bit of work on the side can be a great idea if you have the time.
Making cash fast, aside from being fun and rewarding, can also help you do the following:
- Get back on a budget
- Free up money for long-term investments
- Get out of debt
However, there are some drawbacks as well, namely:
- Low hourly rates
- Inconsistent work
- An abundance of “too good to be true” side gigs
Regarding that last point, you need to be cautious of any quick cash strategies that seem deceptive. Some bad investments to watch out for include multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes, investing to receive necessary information, and crypto scams. Generally, anyone reaching out to you to make a bunch of money quickly is probably a scammer.
Most of the platforms we outlined are free to sign up for, though some will charge you a small administrative fee or percentage of your earnings after you complete a job. The point, though, is that none of them require any upfront costs. That’s the biggest difference between a legitimate earning opportunity and a scam.
Should You Just Get a Regular Job?
If you’ve already got a good job and need extra money, find out whether your employer offers overtime opportunities. You’ll earn one and a half times your normal pay and reap those benefits as soon as your next paycheck.
However, if overtime isn’t an option or if you need flexible work opportunities and fast cash, a side gig is for you. You can earn money on your terms and work as little as you’d like.
Experiment and Find Your Niche
Any of these strategies can help you salvage your budget and cover your monthly expenses. However, it’s important not to rely solely on quick fixes when you find yourself in a money crunch. After you’ve earned some extra cash, reevaluate your personal finance situation and build a budget that will help you break the earn-and-burn debt cycle.