Home Sites & Apps That Pay You 20 Legit Ways to Make Money in 1 Hour or Less
July 25, 2023
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Jessica is a writer for SideHustles.com. Her side hustles include freelance academic writing and editing, which she's done for 10+ years, as well as math and EFL tutoring, both on online platforms and in person.
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NoneMaybe you’ve found yourself saddled with emergency expenses, or perhaps you’re simply looking to boost your savings ASAP. Either way, we can help.
From odd jobs to unusual measures like selling your hair, there are all kinds of strategies that can get extra cash in your pocket in no time. We’ll tell you exactly how you can make up to $100 (or even more) in 1 hour or less.
Here are some of the most valuable items you can sell to make money within an hour
Selling stuff is probably one of the most obvious ways to make a fast buck. You can do a spontaneous garage sale, visit a local pawn shop, or source buyers on your own. Here are a few ideas of things to sell to get you started.
If you have clothing items that you don’t wear anymore or that no longer fit you, you can sell them to people who are craving a wardrobe change.
Search for thrift stores and consignment shops in your area. These companies will either buy your apparel from you on the spot or sell your clothing items on your behalf in exchange for a percentage of the sale.
If you’re willing to wait a few days to get paid, you can also sell your clothes through platforms below:
One couple claims that they made $50–$100 per hour reselling clothing, earning an average of $28 per item sold. Ultimately, though, your earnings depend on how valuable your clothes are. Rare or designer clothing will always sell for more.
Bear in mind that if you’re selling your clothes through a third-party platform or app, they’ll likely take a good chunk of your sales (for example, Poshmark takes 20%).
If you have books you’ve already read and no longer need, you can take them to local used bookstores or community book sales and exchange them for money.
Selling your books online is also an option if you plan on taking the payment yourself (instead of going through a third-party seller with a time-consuming payment process), although you’d have to get very lucky to find a buyer within 1 hour.
Most used books only sell for a few dollars. However, your book may be worth more in some cases—for example, if it’s a limited edition print, a collectible, or it’s been signed by the author.
Most of us have old smartphones, tablets, laptops, or other electronic devices lying around. This is another type of item you can sell to make quick money. Like the case with selling anything else, your quickest option is finding someone who will pay you cash in person in exchange for your electronics.
If you live near one of the following stores, you can take advantage of their tech trade-in program to get paid on the spot:
The only catch is that you’ll get compensated with a gift card rather than actual cash that you’d be able to use elsewhere.
Although you can also sell tech gadgets on dedicated websites like Decluttr, BackMarket, or BuyBackWorld, these websites usually require at least 1 day to process payments, meaning they’re not realistic options for getting money in 1 hour.
For items that are in “like new” or pristine condition, you may be able to earn around 50% of the original retail price. However, most items will sell for much less, depending on their condition.
Watches and jewelry are popular pawn shop items because of their high value. Check your attic or drawers to see if you have any valuable pieces lying around and exchange them for some quick money.
Pawn shops don’t offer fair prices, so understand that you’ll be making a sacrifice by prioritizing speed. If you have more than 1 hour, consider getting an appraiser to give you official proof of how much your items are worth and then listing the pieces online on reputable sites.
According to WP Diamonds, you can expect to receive 20%–50% of the original purchase price when selling diamond or designer jewelry. 1
Metal may not seem valuable to you, but there are plenty of people and businesses willing to pay good money for it. You can sell copper, aluminum, brass, steel, or iron.
Scrap metal yards and recycling centers purchase various types of metal and offer payment based on the weight and type of metal you bring in. They may be willing to buy the following items:
It’s likely you’ll have at least one of the above items lying around, so this is a money-making strategy that almost anyone can try.
According to reports online, scrap metal is worth about $0.03–$2.40 per pound. 2
Even though niche markets exist for the other types of items listed above, you can sell just about anything to make money fast. Take a look around your home for ideas. You may find any of these items, which you can sell for a decent profit:
You can list your goods on general websites like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Craigslist to find immediate buyers. However, for some items, it might make more sense to take them in person to an antique store, consignment shop, thrift store, vintage store, or other type of secondhand store.
This depends on what you sell. Bear in mind that some platforms will also charge you fees to list items or take a commission on any sales you make.
Renting out your belongings is less permanent than selling them, and you can get money just as quickly
If selling your possessions for extra cash is too much of a commitment for you, then don’t worry. Plenty of people feel just as wary about making big purchases, and renting out certain high-demand items to them can be a win-win for you both.
Got a bicycle in your garage that you hardly ever use? Try renting it out to a tourist or cycling buff who’s in need of a temporary set of wheels. You can post an ad online and hope for a response within the next hour, or you can take your bike to a main tourist spot and try to attract renters there.
You can also use a bike rental platform like Spinlister, although it’s unclear how long it’ll take for them to process your payment once you find a renter.
Using Spinlister rental prices as a reference, you could charge anywhere from $1 to $250 per day for bike rentals in San Francisco. 3 However, the exact amount you’ll be able to make depends on the type of bike you’re renting out and where you’re located.
If you know someone who’s always asking to borrow your car, then you can try to work out a quick deal with them. You could ask them to give you some money in the next hour in exchange for the freedom to use your car on a certain day or according to a mutually agreed-upon schedule.
You can expect to earn around $20–$25 per day by renting out your car. Some vehicles (like motorcycles and electric cars) can go for even higher rates.
Working with your hands can be a great way to get physical cash in your pocket ASAP
Going out in person to make money can be the quickest way to get extra cash. Here are a few ideas that could land you income within 1 hour.
Busking is a classic money-making scheme among artists and musicians, and it’s also one of the speediest options out there. In theory, you could make money within minutes by taking your talent to the streets.
This is a good option if you have some kind of special skill and enjoy entertaining others. Even if you’re not talented, you can still earn a few coins from generous people passing by.
When you think of busking, the first thing that springs to mind is probably playing a musical instrument. However, you can also try these other types of performances:
Choose a location with high foot traffic, such as popular tourist spots, parks, shopping centers, or busy street corners. Depending on the location you’ve chosen, you may need a permit for busking, so it’s worth checking your local regulations first.
According to ZipRecruiter, street performers can make around $22 per hour. 4
If you love animals, walking a friend’s or neighbor’s dog can be a nice way to make some extra cash doing something you enjoy. Odds are, you’ll be able to get cash on the spot, making this a feasible option for getting money in 1 hour.
Alternatively, you can offer pet-sitting services and ask for an upfront payment or down payment. This might be harder to pull off in an hour though, unless you know someone who’s planning a vacation.
Although you can also find these kinds of job opportunities through platforms like Rover, Wag!, and PetSitter.com that connect pet owners with pet sitters and dog walkers, these kinds of platforms have their own payment gateways that take longer than 1 hour to process payments.
According to Thumbtack, pet sitting prices range from $20–$30 for daytime sitting to $50–$200 for overnight pet sitting. 5
If you like working outdoors, you can offer yard maintenance services to your neighbors for some instant cash. This could involve the following tasks:
Just make sure that you have the proper tools and equipment and that you consider the season, climate, and property type to ensure you’re offering useful services.
For example, if it’s autumn and your neighbor has a tree on their property, it’s a good time to offer to rake their leaves or clean their gutters. If it’s snowy where you live, you’d be best off sticking with snow shoveling.
Yard work services listed on TaskRabbit (a labor marketplace) start at around $30 per hour, which can serve as an indicator of standard rates for yard work. 6 However, the exact amount you’ll be able to charge depends on factors like where you live, the time of year, and what services you’re offering.
Craigslist is an online classifieds platform where people can buy, sell, or trade various items and services. The site has a “gigs” section where you can find short-term, temporary, or freelance work. If you’re lucky, you may be able to find a quick job close by that you can get paid for within the hour.
Here are typical advertisements you may come across:
The amount you can make through Craigslist gigs depends on the type of work you’re doing, but the pay rate should be listed in the ad.
Many gig apps can get you instant cash—as long as you’re already signed up
If you’re tech-savvy and have a smartphone at hand, then you can easily make money within an hour with several app-based gigs.
The only catch is that you need to already have one of these apps. If you’re not already registered, it could take days or even weeks to get your account approved so you can start earning money.
Uber is a popular ride-sharing company that connects passengers with drivers through the Uber mobile app. Passengers can request rides, track the location of your car, and make payments.
As an Uber driver, you’ll be able to cash out with Uber’s Instant Pay option up to five times per day or opt to have your earnings automatically deposited within seconds onto you Uber Pro Card, which is a debit card attached to your Uber account. 7
If you’re already registered, simply open start up the app and accept a ride. If you’re not signed up yet, start by checking out Uber’s driver requirements to find out whether you’re eligible.
Another rideshare driving option is Lyft, although their fastest payout option takes a few hours or days, meaning they’re not a good choice for earning money in just 1 hour. 8
Depending on factors like your location and the time of day, you can make anywhere from $7 to $38 per hour as an Uber driver. 9
Another way to make money fast is to deliver food and grocery items. Assuming you’re already signed up as a delivery person with one of these apps, all you need to do is accept a nearby job.
Here are a few food and grocery delivery apps that offer instant payouts:
You’ll have to pick up orders, check that they’re correct, and transport them to the specified destination. You can make these deliveries by car, by scooter, by bicycle, or on foot (depending on which app you’re using).
If you’re not signed up yet, check each company’s requirements for delivery personnel before getting started.
How much you can make from food and grocery deliveries depends on the app you’re using and how many deliveries you can make in an hour. For example, DoorDash offers a base rate of $2–$10 per delivery (plus tips), and Uber Eats drivers earn around $8–$28 per hour. 10 11
If you’re signed up as a delivery driver with Roadie, you can get paid within minutes to deliver packages by choosing their Instant Pay option.
All you need to do is open your app, accept a nearby job, complete the delivery process, and choose the “Cash Out Now” option under your “Gig History.” You’ll need to pay a $1.99 processing fee, but you should receive your payment within minutes.
Roadie claims that delivery drivers earn an average of $13 per trip for local deliveries, and reports from employees suggest standard pay rates in the range of $10–$52 per hour. 12 13
If you’re struggling to make money in an hour, these shortcuts may be the solution you need
These options don’t technically involve “making” money, but they can win you a quick cash injection if you’re all out of other options.
If you recently splurged on a large purchase, you can return the item you bought to get money fast. Normally, you’ll need a receipt to do this, although it’s possible to return items without a receipt in certain cases.
It’s worth noting that each retailer has its own return policy. They may impose restrictions on the types of items you can return, how long you have to make a return, what condition the item needs to be in, and how the money is refunded to you.
The amount you can get by returning a purchase depends on the value of the item you purchased and can range from a few cents to hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Asking your boss for a pay advance isn’t guaranteed to work, but it’s worth a try if you’re really desperate. Explain your situation to them, and see if they can accommodate you.
If they agree, remember to be prepared for a smaller paycheck next month. It’s important to budget carefully so you don’t end up stuck in the same financial situation during your next payment period.
The amount you’ll be able to get from a salary advance depends on your employer, but it’s highly unlikely to be more than 1 month’s salary. You’re more likely to be offered half a month’s salary, although it could be more or less.
If you’re all out of other options and you’re really desperate for money right now, taking out a loan is one surefire way to put cash in your wallet. Here are the main types of loans you can get in 1 hour:
The amount you can get from short-term loans depends on the lender, but they’re usually relatively small since they’re higher risk. For example, payday loans generally amount to $500 or less, whereas the average pawnshop loan is $150. 14 15
Thinking outside the box is sometimes the best way to make money ASAP
If none of the other ideas we’ve mentioned so far work for you, then try one of these more unusual methods for making money in just 1 hour.
If you’re already planning a haircut, one strange way to profit from your glow up is to sell your hair. Reach out to local salons in your area to see if they’d be willing to purchase your locks or try posting ads on online marketplaces.
Another option for selling your hair is listing it on any of these websites, although it’ll take you more than 1 hour to find a buyer and get paid:
You can easily make more than $100 selling your hair, but it really depends on your hair thickness and color and how many inches you plan on cutting off. For a realistic estimate of how much your hair is worth, try using HairSellon’s hair price calculator.
Due to ethical concerns, selling or “donating” plasma is a controversial way of making money fast. Nevertheless, it’s remained a popular solution for people experiencing financial emergencies since plasma donation centers often offer payment on the spot.
If you’re close by a donation center that hasn’t got a long line of people waiting, then you may be able to get paid for your plasma within 1 hour.
Check out these reputable centers for donating plasma:
Before going this route, make sure you fully understand the implications, including what your plasma will be used for. It’s also worth reading up on the controversies of plasma donation.
You can expect to be paid around $40–$60 per appointment for donating plasma, although some centers offer a welcome bonus that could get you a higher rate (like $100) on your first appointment. 16
These strategies take more than an hour, but they still get you fast cash
At the end of the day, making money in under an hour is an incredibly difficult feat, and it’s not always possible. If you have even just a little more time to spare, consider a few other quick money-making methods that can get you cash within a few hours or days:
Plenty of these options offer a realistic way to make quick money online or from home, which is great if you’re looking for easy gigs with minimal commitment.
Ultimately, though, the more time you have, the more money you’ll be able to earn. While you may not be able to rake in substantial earnings in the next hour, these quick money-making ideas can help you get the urgent cash you need.
