Sometimes you need money fast, and since we all have bills to pay, rent to make, and mouths to feed, finding ways to bring in extra cash is always a welcome option.
While there are many methods of making money that may take days or even weeks to see results, there are also a few ways you can make money in just one hour.
So read on if you need cash in your pocket right away!
How to make money in one hour
Here are some ingenious ways that you can make money in just one hour if you need some extra cash:
1. Return unused items
One of the easiest ways to get cash in an hour or less is to return something you don’t use. This could be an outfit from Amazon that didn’t fit well, a gift from a relative that you don’t like, or anything else along those lines.
If you have the original packaging and receipts, most places will give you cash on the spot or credit to your account. Just make sure to check their return policy before heading out!
2. Complete surveys online
While surveys won’t make you three or four figures in an hour, they’re attractive because they’re simple to do. It’s the perfect activity alongside watching some TV or in between classes.
FYI: Tons of different websites offer paid surveys, but make sure to do your research so you don’t get scammed – or waste your time! My personal favorite one is Survey Junkie as they’re proven to actually pay you (and much better than other sites), with InboxDollars being another great choice.
You can get paid in cash or rewards. Sometimes rewards such as gift cards have higher payouts for the same amount of work, so keep that in mind to make the most of your time.
3. Bring your collectibles to a pawn shop
If you live near a pawn shop, another way to make some quick cash is to bring in your collectibles. This could be anything from video games, pokemon cards, and consoles to jewelry and musical instruments.
Pawn shops will appraise your items and give you a loan if they’re interested. The great thing about a pawn shop loan is that you can choose to repay it and get your item back, or you can let the loan default and keep the cash.
Of course, if you don’t repay the loan, you won’t have your item anymore, so make sure you’re comfortable with that decision before going ahead.
4. Test products
Do you like getting free stuff? If so, you can actually get companies to send you products to review. This involves receiving products in the mail and testing them out, giving your feedback on what you liked and didn’t like.
In most cases, you’ll be able to keep the product after you’re done testing it. So not only do you get free stuff, but you also get to keep it!
Daily Goodie Box is one of the best options out there for doing this. This is because they’ll send you boxes of free samples – and all you have to do in response is to give your honest thoughts on the items you received. These free products include things like household goods, snacks, beauty products, supplements and more.
How can you get boxes of free stuff to test?
Boxes are given away every day that are full of all sorts of free stuff – and most of them are full size, not just tiny sample sizes! Simply sign up with Daily Goodie Box and you’ll be put in the running to be randomly selected for these each day, similar to a lottery.
5. Sell your clothes at a consignment shop
If you have some gently used clothes, taking them to a consignment shop is a great way to make money in an hour or less. The amount of money you’ll make depends on the quality and quantity of clothing, but it’s easy enough to do.
Just be sure to call ahead so you know what kinds of clothes or brands they’re looking for. Once you’re there, they’ll look through your clothes and decide which ones they want to buy from you. You’ll get paid on the spot, and then you’re free to go!
You may also be interested in: Poshmark vs Mercari vs eBay: Where to Make Money Selling Clothes Online?
6. Play games for money
Do you like to play games? If so, you can actually get paid to play them! There are a few different companies that will pay you to play games and rack up points, such as Swagbucks, MyPoints, and InboxDollars.
All you need to do is sign up for free and start playing. You can then redeem your points for cash or prizes and can juggle several different games at once to maximize your earnings.
And keep in mind that many of them only have a minimum age limit of 16 or even 13, meaning it’s a great way to make money as a teen.
7. Cash out your spare change
This one takes a little bit longer than an hour, but it’s still a great way to make some extra cash if you need it. All you have to do is empty out your pockets, purse, or wallet of any spare change you have lying around.
Once you have a decent amount, take it to a Coinstar exchange kiosk and trade it in for cash. You won’t get the full value of your coins because of fees, but it’s an easy way to get rid of them and make a few bucks while you’re at it.
Your bank may also have a coin-counting machine that you can use for free, so be sure to check that out as well.
8. Test websites
One easy and fast way to make some extra cash is by testing websites for money. This usually involves providing feedback on your experience using the site, such as what you liked and didn’t like, or pointing out any errors you may have found.
Respondent is easily the highest paying company I’ve found that provides the chance for you to start testing sites for money. And it even has the extra bonus of listing opportunities for you to give your opinion on all sorts of things, not just the usability of websites.
To give you an idea of what’s on offer, at the time of writing this article, they’re looking for website testers to do a 60 minute test and get paid $100 for it.
Jobs aren’t always available for testing, but it’s a great way to make some extra cash quickly when they are there.
9. Get a freelance job
If you’re on a platform such as UpWork, you can spend an hour applying for freelance jobs. This won’t guarantee that you’ll get a job, but if you’re fast and efficient, you will likely get a yes or two from your outreach.
There are plenty of different types of freelance jobs out there, so you’re bound to find something that’s a good fit for your skills. For example, if you’re a great writer, you could offer your services as a ghostwriter or copywriter.
Or if you have experience working in spreadsheets, look for data entry jobs where you basically get paid to type. The possibilities are endless, so take some time to browse through the job postings and see what’s out there.
10. Join a paid focus group online
Joining paid focus groups online generally involves spending about an hour answering questions on a specific topic, which usually relate either to a certain product or, occasionally, a political issue.
You can often do this online, although they are sometimes conducted in-person or over the phone. But you can make serious money doing this in very little time.
I mentioned Survey Junkie before as being one of the best survey sites out there, but you can also get paid by them to participate in focus groups.
In fact, Survey Junkie pays up to $150 for a one-hour session – and all you have to do is answer some questions!
You’ll be able to see what they offer as soon as you create your profile after signing up with Survey Junkie. While you will have to go through a few pre-qualification questions to be selected, if you are chosen, it’s some of the easiest cash you’ll ever make.
QUICK TIP: Given how popular Survey Junkie’s focus groups are, it’s a good idea to select the option to be notified of these by email so you can grab one as soon as it’s available. As signing up for Survey Junkie is completely free, this lets you keep an eye on what’s available at absolutely no cost to you.
11. Hit the pavement and knock on doors
If you’re willing to put in a little bit of legwork, you can make money in an hour by going door to door. You can sell services such as car washing, and house cleaning, or offer to help with yard work.
You may want to make a quick flier with your service, home address, and contact information to leave with potential customers. This way, they can reach out to you when they’re ready to hire someone.
Remember to be respectful of people’s time and space, and only knock on doors where you think someone may be interested in your services.
12. Watch videos
Another easy way that you can make money in one hour is to get paid to watch videos.
InboxDollars is our pick for the app with the best range of videos to watch combined with the best payout – starting with a free $5 welcome bonus!
All you do is sign up, login and take a look at this list of video offers available. They include clips such as TV shows, celebrity interviews, movie trailers and more.
You’ll have to watch the full playlist they offer but the app tells you how long it is beforehand so you know how long you have to get comfortable.
And with some people making over $200 a month from this app, signing up with InboxDollars could be a great way to kill time while earning some extra cash.
13. Walk dogs
Did you know that the app Wag allows you to meet up with pups on-demand and get paid to walk them? If you love dogs and don’t mind getting some exercise, this is a great way to make money in an hour.
To get started, create an account on the app and start accepting dog-walking requests in your area. Once you’ve completed a few walks, you’ll start to build up a good reputation (and a loyal customer base!)
Walking dogs or maybe starting a doggy daycare at home is a great way to make some extra cash, and it’s also a lot of fun. So, if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make money, this is definitely worth considering.
14. Sell your unwanted gift cards
Gift cards that we don’t use can lock up cash that we could be using elsewhere. For instance, if you have an unused free gift card that you got online, why not sell it and earn some cash? There are a few different ways to do this.
You can list your gift card on a site like Raise. Or if you want to get the most money for your card and have a bit more time, you can sell it on eBay. Just be sure to check the terms and conditions of the card before you list it, as some cards have expiration dates or other restrictions.
15. Get a price-matching refund
If you made a purchase recently and found it for a cheaper price somewhere else within a certain time frame, you may be able to get a price-matching refund. Stores such as Target and Best Buy have price-matching policies that can give you money back if you find a lower price elsewhere.
To get your refund, you can bring in your original receipt and the ad or website showing the lower price, and ask for a price match. Take time beforehand to familiarize yourself with the store’s policy so you know what to expect.
16. Listen to music online
You can listen to music to make money in your spare time and provide feedback on new artists and songs. This is a great way to earn a bit of extra cash, and it’s also fun!
There are a few different companies that offer this opportunity, such as Slice the Pie and Music Xray.
To get started, simply create an account and start listening to new songs. When you provide feedback, you’ll earn a small amount of money for each song that you review.
17. Go mystery shopping
If you sign up for several different mystery shopping companies, you can make good money doing this in your spare time. Many jobs are released onto a list or program for you to freely select when you’re ready to earn, and you can complete most jobs within an hour.
Mystery shopping involves going to a store or restaurant and pretending to be a customer, while secretly recording your experience. You then report back to the company with your feedback.
You can sign up for free with companies like BestMark, Intellishop, and Market Force. Once you’re signed up, you’ll start receiving emails when there are new mystery shopping jobs in your area.
18. Drive for Uber or Lyft
People love rideshare income because it’s easy to make it fast and at any time of day that you want. You can make good money driving for Uber or Lyft, and they even offer immediate payouts for those who need cash in record time.
In order to sign up, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old and have a clean driving record. You’ll also need to pass a background check. Once you’re approved, you can start driving whenever you want!
To make the most money, drive during peak hours and in high-demand areas. You can also sign up for Uber’s driver referral program to earn even more cash.
19. Watch movie previews
Inbox Dollars offers a great opportunity to make some extra money by watching movie previews. All you need to do is sign up for free and start watching short video clips. For each video that you watch, you’ll earn a few points that can be redeemed for cash or prizes.
This is a fun and easy way to earn some extra cash, and you can just have it running on your laptop or phone in the background while you do other things, like watching TV (which can even be a way to double up on your earnings, given that you can also get paid to watch Netflix).
20. Find gigs on ShiftGigs
ShiftGigs is a great app for finding one-time gigs or temp jobs in your area. You can use it to find work in a variety of industries, such as hospitality, retail, and even healthcare.
To get started, simply download the app and create an account. Once you’re signed up, you’ll be able to browse through available gigs in your area and select the ones that interest you. You can then start working and earning money right away!
21. Try day trading
If you’re willing to take a bit more of a risk and have some money you can cope with losing, day trading may be a good option for you. Day trading is when you buy and sell stocks within the same day. This process happens so fast that it’s easy to make (or lose) a lot of money.
While it takes a little bit of time to learn how to day trade, it can be a great way to make money if you’re good at it. Just be sure that you understand the risks before getting started.
22. Cash-out credit card rewards
It’s more than likely that if you’re using a credit card, it’s connected with a rewards program. And if you’re not using a rewards program, you’re missing out on free money!
Most credit cards offer points or cash back for every purchase that you make.
These points can then be redeemed for a variety of different things, such as gift cards, travel, and even cash. You may have points building up that you didn’t even know about, so be sure to check your credit card’s rewards program and cash in.
You can usually cash out for money, but sometimes there are more beneficial redemption options, like travel miles. So if you can, consider redeeming your points for something other than cash.
Related: 15 Legit Ways to Get Cashback at Walmart
23. Transcribe for Rev
Finding a transcription job from home as a side gig is a great way to make some extra money. It can be a little tedious, but it’s not too difficult and it’s a great way to use your skills to make money in one hour online.
Basically, transcription is the process of converting audio or video files into written text. This can then be used for a variety of things, such as creating transcripts for podcasts or videos, creating subtitles, or even just creating written documents from audio files.
If you’re interested in becoming a transcriptionist, and make money as fast as a woman, Rev is a great way to get started. They post jobs that you can select and complete any time you’re available. You can then get paid for your work via PayPal.
Related: 30 Legit Ways to Make Money in Grad School
24. Deliver packages for Amazon Flex
If you have a car, you can sign up for Amazon Flex and start delivering packages. You grab delivery shifts and head straight out to start delivering, so it’s a great way to earn in an hour.
Each Amazon Flex shift is between two and four hours and you get a set amount of packages, so you can make your money in one hour if you’re quick.
Want to earn even more? Once you finish a delivery block, look at the Amazon Flex app and see if there are more available so you can multiply your earnings for the day. Amazon Flex is indeed an amazing way to work for Amazon and make money in one hour.
25. Deliver food
Another great option for making money in an hour or less is to sign up for various delivery apps that are available in most cities. You can also make it as your weekend job to earn extra cash.
You can use apps like Postmates, Uber Eats, Instacart, and many others to deliver food from restaurants or grocery stores to people’s homes.
Focus on just one of these platforms like using Postmates to make $200 a day or try several at once to give yourself the most opportunity to make money.
26. Recycle glass or aluminum cans
If you have an hour and a recycling center nearby, gather up all of your glass or aluminum cans and take them to be recycled. You won’t get rich quickly doing this, but you can make a few bucks while helping the environment.
27. Sell items on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace
Do you have any old things you don’t need, like furniture, electronics, clothes or baseball cards you want to sell? If so, you can sell them online and earn some quick cash.
Two of the most popular places to sell items are Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Both are easy to use and you can get started right away.
Just create a listing for the items you want to sell, add some photos, and set your price. Then just wait for someone to buy it! If you have a good item and quality catchy photos, you may even be able to make a sale within an hour.
28. Donate your plasma
If you’re looking for a way to help others and make some money in the process, consider donating your plasma.
Plasma is a component of your blood that can be used to help people who are sick or injured. It’s often used in emergencies, such as when someone has been in a car accident or has a serious burn injury.
Donating plasma is a pretty simple process and you can usually do it at your local blood bank or hospital. The entire process takes about an hour and you can make around $50 for each donation.
You can do this as frequently as every month, making it a great way to earn some extra cash.
You may also be interested in: 34 Highest Paying Plasma Donation Centers Near Me
29. Sign up for content mills
If you did well on essays and other writing assignments in school, you may be able to make money by signing up for a content mill.
Content mills are companies that hire writers to create content on a variety of topics. This can include everything from articles and blog posts to product descriptions and even legal documents. It is a particularly great online job for college students.
While the pay isn’t always great, there are usually projects available, so it’s easy to make money in 24 hours or less.
One popular content mill is Textbroker, but there are many others available as well.
30. Join Handy
Are you good at fixing things around the house? If so, you can join Handy and start making money by completing odd jobs for people in your area.
Handy is a platform that connects people who need help with various tasks with those who are willing to do them.
You can sign up to be a “tasker” and start completing jobs like furniture assembling, home cleaning, wall hanging, and mounting.
Related: 15 Best Odd Job Apps to Make Extra Cash
31. Cancel any unused subscriptions
People often have subscriptions for things they no longer use, such as magazines, gym memberships, and online streaming services. If you have any of these unused subscriptions, cancel them to reclaim your money in less than an hour. You can make money in minutes for free, which makes this one of the easiest options on the list.
If you don’t want to cancel any of your subscriptions, consider downgrading to a cheaper version or switching to a similar service that costs less. You can always upgrade once more later on if you miss having all of the bells and whistles when paying full price.
32. Sell upcycled furniture
Do you want to learn how to get 500 dollars in an hour if you need it now? If you have any old solid wood furniture that you don’t need and can fix it up, sell it!
There are plenty of people out there who are willing to pay good money for gently used furniture that is refinished, especially if it’s an antique. In fact, you may even be able to earn more than $500 if you have a particularly nice piece.
Check out this article: Ultimate Guide to Flipping Furniture for Beginners
33. Use Amazon Turk
Amazon Turk is a platform that allows businesses to outsource certain tasks to workers. These tasks are usually simple and only take a few minutes to complete.
However, the pay is usually very low, only a few cents per task. So it’s important to learn how to work as quickly and accurately as possible if you want to make any decent money. Jobs are almost always available, so you can make fast money online at almost any time of the day.
