How to Make Money in One Hour: 9 Ideas to Try

If you need cash in the next hour, your fastest options are selling something you own to a local buyer or doing a quick paid task for someone nearby. Most apps and gig platforms take days to get you set up or paid.

Here are nine ideas to find money fast.

1. Sell your gently used clothes to a secondhand store

There are plenty of places to sell clothes online, but it takes time and patience to create a listing and complete the transaction. The fastest way to make money from what you don’t wear anymore is to deal with a thrift store, in person. Try selling your stuff to a small-business shop near you, or to a store with a nationwide presence like Uptown Cheapskate. The company says it’ll pay cash in around 30 minutes if it likes what you’re offering.

Got growing kids? Try the Once Upon A Child chain if there’s a store near you. Here, you can get paid cash on the spot for clothes, shoes, toys and even furniture.

Cash in an hour? Likely, if a store is nearby and buying what you have.

2. Sell sought-after gear to a pawnshop

Did your music career stall before it ever started? A local pawnshop may purchase your musical instrument, jewelry, electronic device or a range of other gear directly. Alternatively, you can take a pawnshop loan, where the shop lends you money — about $150 on average, according to the National Pawnbrokers Association — and holds your item as collateral until you can pay it back.

Pawning an item, as it’s known, comes with fees. Selling it outright is the way to make money on short order, with no strings attached.

Cash in an hour? Likely, if you have an item the shop wants to buy.

3. Sell gold or other precious metals

You probably have a local jeweler or coin shop nearby that will give you cash for gold and other precious metals. Offloading old jewelry can be a quick way to make good money, depending on how many ounces you have. However, making a hasty sale could leave precious money on the table. Before accepting a low offer on a potentially valuable heirloom, it'd be wise to find a professional appraiser, though this may add upfront costs and take longer than an hour.

Cash in an hour? Possible, if you have a nearby buyer — but shopping around may get you a better price.

4. Sell your spare change

Technically, this isn't making money, but who wants to lug around a 10-pound jar of coins or pay for gas with quarters? A coin kiosk is a fast and easy way to trade your nickels and dimes for dollar bills, but it's not free. Popular option Coinstar charges a service fee up to 15.9% and a $0.99 transaction fee to get cash. If you’re OK with that, it’s a legit way to get some spending money in an hour. Choosing an eGift card from Coinstar is a fee-free way to cash in your coins. Alternatively, your bank may turn your rolled coins into cash at no charge.

Cash in an hour? Very likely, if you have access to a coin kiosk or bank that accepts coins.

5. Sell unwanted goods on online marketplaces

If you have unwanted items — think furniture, electronics or toys — online marketplaces can be a viable venue to offload them for quick cash. Price your product right and you just may make a same-day sale. Sites where you can list your goods include Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor.

Cash in an hour? Possible, but only if you find a local buyer quickly.

6. Walk a dog or feed a pet while your neighbor is away

Do you have a way with animals? If so, tell your pet-owning neighbors and friends you’d be happy to help out. Walk a dog or feed a cat and scoop its litter box when the owner can’t, and charge a fee per visit. Tell your client you’d prefer to be paid after each visit, and offer to accept Venmo, Cash App or Zelle to make it easier for them to pay up. Apps like Rover and Wag can help you find clients if word of mouth takes more than an hour.

Cash in an hour? Only if you already have a client lined up.

7. Babysit a kid for a great hourly rate

Parents need nights out, and a reliable sitter can give moms and dads precious peace of mind while they hit the town. Babysitting is a classic way for a responsible person to make a quick buck. How much you can earn varies, but according to child care site UrbanSitter, the national average to watch one child is around $26 an hour. Earn a trustworthy reputation and you’ll be booking sitter gigs left and right. Plus, you can expect parents to settle up on the spot.

Cash in an hour? Only if you have a babysitting gig booked.

8. Offer tutoring

If babysitting isn’t your thing, tutoring might be. The average pay rate for tutoring varies from $25 to $80 per hour depending on the age of the student and the material. Teaching higher education subjects will typically net you more per hour than elementary subjects that are less complex.

Cash in an hour? Only if you have a student scheduled and can get paid right after the session.

9. Whip your neighbor's yard into shape

If you’re up for it and have the right gear, you can get paid to sweat it out in the yard. Scan your neighborhood for houses with a yard in need, and swing by to make your pitch, with lawnmower, rake or garden shovel in tow. A lawn care pro charges between $49 and $203 per yard for mowing service, depending on the size, according to Angi.com. As a nonprofessional, you should probably expect less.

Cash in an hour? Possible, if you find a neighbor who needs help right away and you already have the equipment needed.

Other popular ways to make money in one hour usually come with a catch

Earn cash back with rewards apps (in time)

What's the catch with cash-back apps? You usually have to spend money to make money. Apps like Ibotta and Rakuten reward shoppers with cash back for buying stuff from affiliated partner stores. With Rakuten, what you earn can show up in the app quickly, but the company only sends payments out every three months, and you need a minimum balance of more than $5 to cash out. No one-hour payday here.

There are game apps that pay money, but you might have to play for hours before you get a payout. And P.S., the payout might be skimpy.

Drive for Uber or Lyft

Rideshare services are a good way to earn extra cash, but you need to have a few important things in order to become an Uber driver or Lyft driver. Requirements include a valid U.S. driver’s license, an eligible four-door vehicle and a background check. So, if you’re just starting the process, that first payday could take a minute, figuratively speaking. But once you’re set up, you can get paid instantly when you use each company’s debit card account.

Keep your options open

If you’re hoping to transition your fast-cash work into longer-term income, there are lots of opportunities to consider. Making steady money takes time (read: more than one hour) and effort, but the growing gig economy has produced more flexible work options than ever.