Closeup of beautiful woman with a cup of coffee

You don’t have to rely solely on your 9 to 5 job to make money. We’re here to tell you you can earn extra cash within an hour.

Earn in Your Spare Time

Hands holding money and laptop
Image Credit: Mrz producer via Shutterstock.

Our suggestions aren’t a get-rich-quick scheme, so don’t get too excited. However, you can do these small side hustles in an hour, in your spare time, or on weekends. Moreover, you’re only a few minutes away from learning some of the most straightforward ideas to make money in one hour. Ready to earn more income? Keep your options open – here’s 14 legitimate ideas to try.

Sell Your Stuff

Young woman sitting on the couch working on a laptop with boxes all around
Image Credit: Chaay_Tee via Shutterstock.

Clearing clutter is good, but throwing out your items may waste money. Someone may find your pre-loved items valuable, so try to make money from them! You may be surprised at how easy it is to sell almost anything you own. 

1. Sell or Pawn Your Gold

Person pawning gold pieces and getting paid
Image Credit: Miriam Doerr Martin F via Shutterstock.

Let us start with the highest-value items. Do you have gold jewelry you don’t wear? You may have other items made of gold, like coins or bars. With the price of gold touching multi-year highs, you can likely sell your items for a handsome profit. 

You can sell your gold and other precious metals online as well. The process is easy, but it will take longer to get paid. 

  • Find a reputable online gold purchaser.
  • Enter the details of your items and your contact information.
  • The purchaser will send you an insured kit to ship your items.
  • You will get an offer based on the appraisal of your items.
  • You can choose to accept or reject the offer.

2. Resell Pre-Loved or Unused Items

Woman photographing clothing to resell
Image Credit: Stock-Asso via Shutterstock.

Make money by selling your pre-loved items. For example, you can sell new books, games, clothes, shoes, accessories, or furniture, to name a few. 

You can hold a garage sale or market your items on online marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, Decluttr, or Facebook Marketplace. First, look at other listings to find out what others sell items of similar brand, quality, and condition. Then, price your items just below market price to make money faster. 

3. Sell, Trade-In or Recycle Old Gadgets

Man holding a box of old electronics
Image Credit: Veja via Shutterstock.

Sell your old phones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices for fast cash. Your old gadgets may fetch a great price if you’ve cared for them. However, make sure to delete personal details and files before selling them. 

The easiest way to sell electronics is through sites like Facebook Marketplace, GreenBuyback, Craigslist, or BuyBackWorld. In addition, you can ask for instant payment on delivery via cash, Venmo, or PayPal. 

You can also profit by trading in old devices at repair stores or retailers for a discount on a new one. Then, once you have the new device, sell that for a higher price than you paid. 

Recycle Your Electronics

Man dropping broken cell phones into a recycling bin
Image Credit: Yekatseryna Netuk via Shutterstock.

Recycling is another option for getting rid of old or broken electronics. Use ecoATM to earn cash from your devices. They have over 4,000 kiosks in the U.S. that you can find at grocery stores, malls, and other establishments. 

Once they’ve assessed your phone, they will offer you a fair price, and you can instantly get paid. 

4. Sell Your Hair

Rack holding hair pieces for sale
Image Credit: Mdbildes via Shutterstock.

Do you have long locks that you want to cut off? Or do you always get compliments on your silky hair? Then consider selling your hair to generate income. Healthy, untreated hair around 10 inches long is in high demand to create wigs and extensions. 

How To Sell Hair

Woman talking to a customer in a wig shop
Image Credit: BearFotos via Shutterstock.
  • Your hair should not be bleached, dyed, permed, curled, or straightened. 
  • It’s also vital that your hair is not damaged due to the excessive use of hair dryers, hot irons, or any other heated tools for your hair. 

To get paid quickly, visit your local wig shops or hair stylists and ask if they purchase hair. You can also sell your hair on beauty websites like HairSellon and OnlineHairAffair. 

5. Sell Your Gift Cards

Wall of assorted gift cards in a store
Image Credit: TY Lim via Shutterstock.

Face it; you will never use that wine basket gift card your aunt got you. You don’t even drink wine! Similarly, most of us have unwanted or unused gift cards cluttering drawers and wallets. So resell them online to get some value back. 

  • Visit a site like CardCash or GiftCash.
  • Enter your card’s details to create your listing. You can also trade your gift card for another shop card you like instead of selling it.
  • Card cash will pay you up to 92% of a card’s value. You can transfer the card’s value online, resulting in fast payouts. 

Provide a Service

Man sitting at a laptop with headphones on
Image Credit: Fizkes via Shutterstock.

Do you like helping others while earning money? People are always willing to pay for a valuable service – try these side jobs to make money in one hour. 

Pet Sitting

Woman holding a cat
Image Credit: Josep Suria via Shutterstock.

Turn your love of animals into a profitable side hustle. Start earning while walking or taking care of pets for busy owners. To find paid pet-sitting opportunities, ask your friends, neighbors, or relatives if they need help pet-sitting or walking their pets. You can also register on websites like Rover and Wag to connect with more pet owners around your area. 

As a pet sitter, your duties may include the following: 

  • Feeding animals
  • Walking dogs
  • Grooming and bathing 
  • Changing litter boxes

7. Babysitting

Young woman playing blocks with young boy
Image Credit: Fizkes via Shutterstock.

Help provide peace of mind to busy parents and get paid for caring for children. It is not for everyone, though. Babysitters are usually in their early to mid-teens and are not paid much more than minimum wage. You must be responsible, skilled in handling children, and patient if you want to try this work. 

A good character reference may help you land a job as a babysitter. Start by taking care of the kids of people you know. Then, you can use them as references if you want to continue this gig. 

8. Become a Rideshare Driver

Female rideshare driver driving a man in her car holding a phone
Image Credit: Antoniodiaz via Shutterstock.

Ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft are consistently in need of drivers. Car owners with free time can do this to earn extra cash. According to Salary.com, an Uber driver in the U.S. can make up to $18 per hour. The average driver makes around $15 per hour. You can make more money if you live around major cities like New York or LA. 

9. Try Mystery Shopping

Woman trying to hide herself as a mystery shopper in a store
Image Credit: Nicoleta Ionescu via Shutterstock.

Shopping is usually associated with spending money, but you can sign up as a mystery shopper to earn money. Apps like Field Agent and Gig Walk will pay you to become a mystery shopper in your local area.

As a mystery shopper, you will pose as an ordinary customer and visit retail stores to: 

  • Evaluate the customer service 
  • Determine the quality of products
  • Check the pricing 
  • Ensure the store is conforming to corporate policies 

You may need to take pictures or videos and file reports regularly. Mystery shopping is one of our top choices for how to make money in one hour.

10. Do Yard Work

Man mowing a lawn
Image Credit: Nicole Baird via Shutterstock.

Do you have the skills to whip someone’s lawn into shape? Grab your lawn mower or rake and ask if you can clean your neighbors’ yards for hourly pay. Tasks may include lawn mowing, trimming hedges, or preparing flower beds. Yard labor can be physically demanding. Therefore, be prepared before applying for this position.

11. Shop for Groceries

Grocery pickup coolers in a store
Image Credit: The Toidi via Shutterstock.

Grocery shopping is another job you can do to earn extra money in an hour. Instacart is a grocery delivery platform that lets you shop for other people’s groceries. 

To become a grocery shopper, you must have good eyes for spotting fresh produce and good products. Take note that you must be at least 18 years old and have access to a vehicle to be recruited for this position.

12. Start a Delivery Service

Woman signing for a delivery from a delivery man
Image Credit: Monkey Business Images via Shutterstock.

Deliver meals, groceries, prescription medications, dry cleaning, and other supplies. DoorDash says their ‘dashers’ make around $25 per hour, including tips. Additional delivery services you can try are UberEats, GoPuff, and Postmates. You can cash out daily with both UberEats and DoorDash. You can also keep 100% of the tips, which can add up quickly. 

13. Become a Handyman

Man installing a shower head
Image Credit: New Africa via Shutterstock.

If you are good with tools and like to do repairs around the house, turn that talent into a money-making venture. You can find jobs near you on Craigslist, TaskRabbit, or HomeStars. 

Sign up for anything you are good at, such as: 

  • Painting 
  • Plumbing tasks – fixing leaks, replacing faucets, de-clogging drains 
  • Drywall repairs
  • Fixture and appliance installations
  • Basic carpentry 

There is always a demand for these jobs. Start with people you know to build up references and experience. 

14. Try Online Freelancing 

Man on mountain photographing nature
Image Credit: Jirasak JP via Shutterstock.

Freelance work is an excellent way to make money from home. If you are an expert in writing, graphic design, social media marketing, photography, translating, or any other digital skills, you can make money in your free time. Become a freelance writer, graphic designer, or social media manager. Use your digital marketing skills to make money in your free time. 

How To Find Freelance Gigs

Woman being productive at work
Image Credit: Diego_cervo via Deposit Photos.

Create an account and look for gigs that match your skills on websites like Upwork and Freelancer. On Fiverr, you can create your gig, set your prices, and let your target audience find you. You can also go to Reddit and browse r/ForHire or r/slavelabour threads for microtasks. Landing a gig may take some time, but you can complete some jobs quickly and get paid hourly. 

You can also ask friends, family, or local business owners who need help with online work or your skills to hire you. Their testimonials about your service can be helpful when you start searching for more clients. 

Which Ones Are You Going To Try?

Woman sitting on the floor of her laundry room holding a piggy bank and cash
Image Credit: Krakenimages.com via Shutterstock.

If you have limited time and are looking to earn some cash, there are many ideas for making money in one hour. You can offer digital services online, sell your valuables or used items, deliver items, drive for rideshare services or provide services in your local area. 

It is easier than you think. You can even combine a few money-making ideas above to maximize your earnings. The only question is, which ones are you going to try today?

Creative Ways To Make Money: 16 Ideas To Try

Young woman looking excited with cash falling from the sky
Image Credit: Roman Samborskyi via Shutterstock.

We’ve compiled a list of the best ways to make money – from starting your own business to selling online to becoming a digital nomad. We even have ideas for those who want to stay put and earn extra. Creative Ways To Make Money: 16 Ideas To Try

11 Closed Captioning Jobs To Make Money Online in 2024

Woman listening to Podcasts
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Many opportunities are available online if you want to pursue a career in closed captioning. Many agencies and OTT platforms often hire freelance closed captioners to work remotely, so it’s possible to earn a good living from home doing this type of work. 11 Closed Captioning Jobs To Make Money in 2024

💸 Take Back Control of Your Finances in 2024 💸
Get Instant Access to our free mini course
5 DAYS TO A BETTER BUDGET

Similar Posts