Look, we get it. You need cash, and you need it now. Not next month. Not after some elaborate business plan. Right now.

Maybe your emergency fund needs a boost. Maybe you're trying to pay down debt faster. Or maybe you just want to see if you can actually turn an hour of your time into real money. According to a 2025 Schroders survey, nearly half of retirees say their expenses are higher than expected. Translation? Extra cash isn't a luxury—it's necessary.

The good news? You don't need to start a full business or invest thousands to make money quickly. You just need to know where to look and be willing to take action. Here's how to put money in your pocket in an hour or less.

Can You Actually Make Money in One Hour?

Yes. Full stop.

You won't get rich in 60 minutes, but you can absolutely generate $20 to $100+ depending on what you're willing to do. The key is choosing opportunities that pay quickly and don't require massive upfront investment or training.

Think about it this way: most people are sitting on money they don't even realize they have. Unused gift cards. Credit card rewards collecting dust. Old electronics in a drawer. These aren't "side hustles" in the traditional sense, they're quick wins that convert existing assets into cash.

Then there are gigs that pay for your time right now. Taking surveys. Testing apps. Running errands for people in your area. None of these will replace your job, but they'll put gas in your tank or groceries in your fridge.

Turn Your Junk Into Cash

Before you look for new ways to make money, check what you already own. You're probably sitting on stuff that other people will pay for.

Sell unwanted gift cards

Americans are sitting on billions in unused gift cards. Boomers alone have an average of $227 in unused gift card value, according to a 2024 Bankrate survey. If you're not going to use it, sell it.

Marketplaces like CardCash, GiftCash, and Gift Card Outlets will buy your gift cards at a discount. You typically get 70-92% of the card's value, depending on the retailer. A $100 Amazon gift card might net you $85-90 in cash. Not bad for something collecting dust in your wallet.

Some platforms also let you trade unwanted cards for ones you'll actually use, sometimes at a higher value than your original card.

Trade in old electronics

That old iPhone in your drawer? Worth money. Retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, Costco, and Amazon run trade-in programs that give you store credit or gift cards for used devices.

How much? It depends on the condition and model. Walmart has offered up to $288 for a used iPhone 14. Best Buy was offering $30 for used Bose headphones. Costco was offering up to $450 for a Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Here's the move: don't just check one place. Shop around. One retailer might offer $50 more than another for the same device.

Cash in credit card rewards

One in four rewards cardholders have unused credit card rewards. That's free money you're leaving on the table.

Check your credit card accounts right now. You might have hundreds of dollars in points, miles, or cash back ready to redeem. Many cardholders with unused cash-back rewards have $100 or more sitting there.

Just read the fine print, some rewards expire if you don't use them.

Get Paid for Your Time (Right Now)

If you don't have stuff to sell, you can trade your time for money. These gigs pay quickly and don't require special skills.

Take paid surveys

Survey sites like Survey Junkie, Respondent, and User Interviews pay you to share your opinions. You won't get rich, but you can make $10-60 per hour depending on the survey.

Survey Junkie is reliable but pays less, maybe $5-10 per hour. Respondent and User Interviews pay $50-150 per hour, but they're pickier about who they accept. If you have specific industry experience, you'll find better opportunities.

Sign up for multiple platforms. Complete your profile fully so you match with higher-paying surveys. Check daily for new opportunities.

Do small tasks in your area

TaskRabbit, Instacart, and similar apps let you make money doing simple tasks. Stand in line for someone at a concert. Deliver groceries. Assemble furniture. Help someone hang a TV.

The catch? You need to be available when someone posts a task. But if you can hop on opportunities quickly, you can make decent money fast.

Mystery shop

Companies like BestMark, Market Force, and IntelliShop pay you to visit stores, restaurants, or hotels and report on the experience. You might evaluate customer service, check product displays, or test how staff handles specific situations.

Most mystery shopping gigs pay $5-25, plus reimbursement for whatever you bought. You won't make a fortune, but if you're already running errands, why not get paid for it?

Warning: watch out for scams. Legit mystery shopping companies never ask you to cash checks or send money upfront.

Use Your Skills to Make Quick Money

Got a specific skill? Use it to make cash in under an hour.

Test websites and apps

Companies pay people to test their websites and apps and provide feedback. UserTesting, Userlytics, and uTest connect you with these opportunities.

You might spend 15-30 minutes clicking through a website, recording your screen, and talking through your experience. Companies use this feedback to fix bugs and improve user experience.

Pay ranges from $20-40 per hour depending on the platform and test length.

Transcribe audio

If you type fast, you can transcribe audio files for companies like Rev, TranscribeMe, or GoTranscript. They pay per audio minute, not per hour worked.

Rates vary. Speechpad pays $0.25-$1 per audio minute. Rev pays $0.30-$1.10 per minute. GoTranscript pays up to $1.75 per minute. Legal transcription pays more—$15-40 per audio hour from TranscribeMe.

The faster and more accurate you type, the more you make. Specialize in legal or medical transcription if you want higher rates.

Get paid to game

Platforms like Mistplay, PlaytestCloud, and InboxDollars pay you to play mobile games and provide feedback. Developers use this to improve gameplay and fix issues.

Pay is modest—around $9 for a 15-minute test on PlaytestCloud. But if you're already playing games, you might as well get paid for it. Some platforms offer sign-up bonuses and rewards for consecutive days played.

Small Actions That Add Up

These aren't technically "making money," but they put cash back in your pocket.

Scan your receipts

Apps like Fetch, Ibotta, and CoinOut give you cash or gift cards for scanning receipts from participating retailers. Just snap a photo of your receipt after shopping.

How much? Regular users save maybe $200 per year. Not life-changing, but it's money you're leaving on the table if you don't scan.

Here's the trick: you can often scan the same receipt on multiple apps. One receipt might earn rewards on three different platforms.

What You Need to Know Before You Start

Making money in an hour is possible, but don't fall for scams or waste time on low-value opportunities.

Watch out for scams

If an opportunity asks you to pay money upfront, it's probably a scam. Same goes for "opportunities" that require you to cash checks or send money to strangers.

Stick to established platforms. Read reviews. If something feels off, it probably is.

Your information has value

Some of these opportunities require you to share personal information—email, phone number, address, age. Read privacy policies before signing up. Know what you're trading for that $10 survey.

Time is money

A $5 survey that takes an hour isn't worth it. Focus on opportunities that pay at least $15-20 per hour of actual work. Otherwise, you're better off looking for higher-value opportunities.

Start Making Money Today

You don't need a business plan or thousands in startup capital to make money. You just need to take action.

Start by checking what you already have. Unused gift cards? Sell them. Old phone? Trade it in. Credit card rewards? Redeem them. That's money you already earned, just sitting there.

Then look at quick gigs that match your skills and schedule. If you can type fast, transcribe audio. If you're already shopping, scan receipts and mystery shop. If you're comfortable with apps, test websites.

The point isn't to replace your income. It's to prove to yourself that you can generate cash quickly when you need it. And once you see that it works? You can scale up.

Stop waiting for the perfect opportunity. Start with what you can do right now.

Ready to build something bigger than quick cash? Visit Unsexy Businessmen to learn how to turn small wins into real business opportunities. We'll show you how to save time, save money, and get to work building something of your own.