The Best Ways to Make Extra Cash Fast (Easy Side Hustles)

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Earn extra spending money quickly with these tips and tricks

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Sell stuff online.

2 Deliver food.

3 Sign up as a rideshare driver.

4 Walk dogs in the neighborhood.

5 Participate in online surveys.

6 Offer to babysit.

7 Tutor those who need help.

8 Earn cash back.

9 Get paid to research.

10 Watch videos.

11 Test websites and software.

12 Look for spare change.

13 Find unclaimed money.

14 Rent out your parking space.

15 Sell old gift cards.

16 Sell gold.

17 Rent out your equipment.

18 Sell homemade items.

19 Look for local jobs.

20 Donate plasma.

21 Do yard work in the neighborhood.

22 Start a tech support service.

23 Referee a local sports game.

24 Offer to clean houses.

25 Become a freelance writer.

26 Become a social media manager.

27 Work as a virtual assistant.

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Co-authored by Andrew Lokenauth and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: May 19, 2025 Fact Checked

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So, you want to make some quick cash. We get it! Sometimes, you need a little spending money but don’t want to work an extra shift or do any hard labor. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to earn money quickly without working too hard. We spoke with finance executive Andrew Lokenauth to bring you the best advice for earning money with a quick side hustle or task, so keep reading to learn how you can rack up the dough.

How to Make Money in One Hour

1. Sell old items online.
2. Join a ridesharing service.
3. Walk dogs.
4. Take online surveys.
5. Offer to tutor a classmate.
6. Do yard work.

Steps

1

Sell stuff online.

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1. 
   Get rid of your unwanted belongings for extra cash. Have a pile of clothes you’ve been meaning to donate? Got a piece of movie memorabilia that doesn’t tickle your fancy anymore? Sell it! As Lokenauth says, putting your unwanted items online (clothes, textbooks, etc.) can help you earn money without having to put in any work. Here are some of our favorite sites and apps to sell from:

   • Facebook Marketplace
   • OfferUp
   • eBay
   • Poshmark
   • depop
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2

Deliver food.

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1. 
   Sign up for Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Instacart to earn money. These food delivery services are all the rage in bustling cities. Plus, Lokenauth notes that they can be done with any mode of transportation, even a bike! You can set your own hours and deliver or shop for people’s food, all while earning a commission and tips.

   • On average, DoorDashers make between $15 and $25 per hour, but that doesn’t include expenses not covered by the service, such as gas.

3

Sign up as a rideshare driver.

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1. 
   Drive for Uber or Lyft to earn you quick cash. Lokenauth says that, if you own your own car, becoming a driver for a driving service could help bring in some cash. Plus, you can set your own schedule. You can work only on the weekends or a few hours daily to bring in some extra cash.

   • On average, Uber Drivers make around $18.75 per hour, but this can vary depending on your location, expenses, and tips.
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4

Walk dogs in the neighborhood.

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1. 
   Take advantage of the dogs that need walking near you. If you love animals and don’t mind some exercise, becoming a dog walker may be your perfect side gig! Ask around the neighborhood to see if any neighbors would be interested in paying you to walk their dogs.

   • Use apps like Rover and Wag to make your dog walking service more credible and reach more people.
   • Aim to charge between $20 and $30 per 30-minute walk.

5

Participate in online surveys.

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1. 
   Answer questions to make a quick buck. Online platforms like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Branded Surveys give users the opportunity to make cash by filling out surveys. Simply click the links above, create an account, and start taking surveys!

   • The surveys typically ask questions about what you’re watching on TV and what products you use. Your answers are then used to help companies reach their target demographics.
   • Keep in mind that some survey websites offer cash while others compensate with digital rewards and gift cards.
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6

Offer to babysit.

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1. 
   Watch over kids for a few hours to make some money. Do you love kids? Have a friend or family member with kids who needs a break? Well, swoop in and be their savior! Babysitting is a classic and easy way to make some extra money while helping someone out. Ask around to see if anyone needs help watching their kids, or sign up for services like Care.com to make your service more official.

   • Babysitters typically charge around $15 and $20 per hour, depending on location, experience level, and the number of children.
   • Remember, babysitting is a big responsibility. Being attentive to the kids is important, so treat the job as you would any other.

7

Tutor those who need help.

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1. 
   Teach or help others with their homework to earn quick money. Do you know a different language? Are you a whiz at math? If so, tutoring may be an easy way for you to make money! Advertise your skills at local schools or learning centers.

   • Try signing up for online tutoring services, like TutorMe and Tutor.com, to reach more people.
   • One-on-one tutoring can cost between $15 and $75 per hour, depending on your skill level and location.
   • If you’re still in school, ask your friends and classmates if they need any help.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Andrew Lokenauth

   Financial Literacy Expert

   Andrew Lokenauth is a Finance Expert who has over 15 years of experience working on Wall St. and in Tech & Start-ups. Andrew helps management teams translate their financials into actionable business decisions. He has held positions at Goldman Sachs, Citi, and JPMorgan Asset Management. He is the founder of Fluent in Finance, a firm that provides resources to help others learn to build wealth, understand the importance of investing, create a healthy budget, strategize debt pay-off, develop a retirement roadmap, and create a personalized investing plan. His insights have been quoted in Forbes, TIME, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Yahoo Finance, BankRate, and U.S. News. Andrew has a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (BBA), Accounting and Finance from Pace University.

   

   Andrew Lokenauth
   Financial Literacy Expert

   Teaching a foreign language to someone overseas is a great way to earn money. There are websites where you can do this that don’t require a college degree. Plus, they even give you lessons on the best tutoring practices. Go to Google and type in “being an English tutor to [country of your choice]” to find one.
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8

Earn cash back.

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1. 
   Shop until you drop to earn extra spending money. If you’re an avid shopper, platforms like Rakuten, Ibotta, and Fetch Rewards can help you get extra cash almost instantly. Simply shop through these apps or websites or upload your receipts to the platforms. You’ll be earning rewards (and cash) in no time!

   • Shop smart by checking the platforms before hitting the stores. This way, you’ll know which companies and stores offer the best rewards.

9

Get paid to research.

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1. 
   Research certain topics to earn quick and easy cash. Qmee.com will pay you to search for specific topics on Google, Bing, Yahoo, Amazon, and eBay. All you have to do is sign up for the service, search what’s requested, and record your search results.

   • Each result has a cash reward attached to it.
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10

Watch videos.

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1. 
   Get paid to watch new advertisements. Platforms like Swagbucks and InboxPounds will pay you to sit back and watch commercials and other videos. In other words, they’ll pay you to help their video go viral. Just sign up for the service, click on some videos, and watch the cash and rewards stack up!

11

Test websites and software.

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1. 
   Be a guinea pig for new companies and startups. Certain platforms will pay you to check the functionality of a website or service. All you have to do is use the service and give a report! Find websites and softwares to test with UserTesting, Trymata, and Testbirds.

   • Payments are usually sent through PayPal or given as reward points through these services.
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12

Look for spare change.

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1. 
   See if you have any loose change around. Sometimes, finding money can be as easy as lifting a few sofa cushions! Do a quick check around your place to see if you can find any loose change or dollar bills laying around. Look in jacket pockets, between and under seat cushions, and in old piggy banks.

   • While this may not make you rich, it can certainly help if you’re in a pinch for a couple of bucks.

13

Find unclaimed money.

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1. 
   Seek unclaimed money from the government if you’re in a crunch. You may have money waiting for you out there without even knowing it. Go to MissingMoney.com to see if you have any unclaimed assets in your name.

   • You can also find missing money through your state. Simply search “find missing money in my area” online.
   • This type of service is made possible through the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) and the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD).
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14

Rent out your parking space.

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1. 
   Put unused parking spaces up for rent for quick money. Have a premium spot in a garage or apartment complex that you don’t use often? Rent it out for set amounts of time to get money without lifting a finger. Use apps like Parklet and JustPark.

   • Rent out the space during peak seasons when your spot is a prime location. For example, a front spot near a stadium would be a high commodity during football season.

15

Sell old gift cards.

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1. 
   Put unwanted gift cards up for sale for easy cash. Have old and unwanted gift cards taking up space in your wallet? If so, selling them on sites like CardCash and Gameflip can put cash in your hand. Just list the gift card on the site as directed and wait for it to be purchased.

   • These websites let you exchange, buy, or sell gift cards, so you may be able to get another gift card you’d actually use for the same value.
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16

Sell gold.

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1. 
   Part ways with old gold jewelry for a quick paycheck. Have some old jewelry pieces laying around? If so, use them to your advantage! Selling gold pieces is an excellent way to make big bucks fast without doing any added work. Simply bring the piece(s) to a jeweler or pawn shop and see how much they’re worth.

   • The selling price for gold is around $1,958 an ounce.
   • Do a lot of research before you sell to avoid getting scammed.
   • Similarly, you can also do this with diamonds and any other type of jewel.

17

Rent out your equipment.

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1. 
   Lend others your tools to make passive money. Have a lot of tools or equipment collecting dust in your shed or garage? Put it to good use by letting others use it! List your equipment on platforms like Fat Llama and ShareGrid, and let people rent it for a decent buck.

   • You can rent out anything! Bicycle gear, lawnmowers, kitchen appliances, decorations, photography equipment, and more.
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18

Sell homemade items.

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1. 
   Start a crafting side hustle for some extra money. Lokenauth notes that some of the best side hustles for those with spare time can be done through Etsy and Shopify. Simply think about what you’re good at making. Maybe that’s crocheted stuffed animals, wooden frames, or friendship bracelets. No matter the good, there’s a community out there that’ll likely buy it.

   • Keep in mind that this side hustle doesn’t make money instantly. It takes time to market and get your product out there to start accumulating sales. So, remember to be patient.

19

Look for local jobs.

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1. 
   See if there are small tasks to complete in your area. TaskRabbit is an online platform that lists thousands of jobs for any type of task. Someone might need help hanging a picture frame, building a crib, or painting a room. The tasks usually take a few hours or a day, and you’ll be compensated for a job well done.

   • Sometimes, you can find tasks on TaskRabbit that don’t involve physical labor, such as walking or picking up someone’s groceries.
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20

Donate plasma.

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1. 
   Help someone while also earning cash. If you’re not afraid of needles and are in good health, donating blood or plasma may be a great way to earn big bucks quickly. Simply search “where to donate plasma near me” to find a donation center in your area, or find a location using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services search engine.

   • Donating plasma is slightly different from donating blood. When you donate plasma, only a portion of your blood cells are collected, and the rest is returned to you.
   • Double-check that where you go offers financial compensation for your blood or plasma.

21

Do yard work in the neighborhood.

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1. 
   Mow lawns and pull weeds for quick cash. Stick with a classic way of earning quick money if you’re handy in the yard and aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty. Just ask some neighbors if they’d like their lawn mowed or garden weeded for a small price.

   • Plan your yard work service around the seasons. For example, if it’s snowing, offer a shoveling service.
   • Most lawn services charge between $30 and $65 per hour to mow a lawn.
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22

Start a tech support service.

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1. 
   Use your technological skills to your advantage. If you’re great with computers and cell phones, try offering to fix people’s tech for a small sum. Offer to hook up a friend’s printer for $15 or set up a bluetooth speaker system for $20.

   • Expand your services by becoming a tech freelancer and signing up for platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.

23

Referee a local sports game.

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1. 
   Become a referee or official for steady extra cash. If you’re a sports lover, reffing a local game is a great way for you to make money in a few hours! Schools and camp programs are always looking for extra eyes on the court or field, so don’t be afraid to ask around to see if there’s a job available for you.

   • Find ref jobs in your area by searching “[preferred sport] reffing jobs near me” online.
   • Some schools and programs may require you to take a test or have experience in the sport you’d like to ref for.
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24

Offer to clean houses.

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1. 
   Scrub a few floors and vacuum for easy money. If you’re not afraid of some grime, cleaning houses may be the side gig for you! Ask your neighbors or family members if they’d like to hire you to clean their house or do their laundry. Or, sign up for an online cleaning service (like Care.com) to get hired by anyone in town.

   • House cleaners typically charge $25 to $80 per hour to clean a house professionally.

25

Become a freelance writer.

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1. 
   Put your writing skills to the test to make spending money. Have you always had a talent for writing? Well, then becoming a freelancer could be beneficial for you! Writers are always needed, and websites and apps like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer can help you connect to clients and get a quick job. Work on your own schedule and make money fast.

   • Focus on your skill set when it comes to freelancing. For instance, if you love writing songs, advertise that specialty.
   • Each freelancing job comes with its own pay. Similarly, your experience level also plays a big part in how much you can charge.
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26

Become a social media manager.

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1. 
   Use your social media knowledge to get paid. These days, everyone is looking for ways to up their social media game and get more followers. If you have a knack for all things social, start freelancing as a social media manager to earn money on your own terms and schedule.

   • Advertise yourself on freelancing platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.
   • What is a social media manager? A social media manager creates and curates content for a client, plans posts, interacts with the client’s audience, and devises a key strategy to uplift the client’s brand.

27

Work as a virtual assistant.

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1. 
   Set time out of your schedule to help others with theirs. Nowadays, everything starts online. So, why not take advantage? Many professionals, companies, and content creators are looking for organized individuals to help them arrange their schedules, manage emails, and do data entry. You could make your own schedule and make money all from home.

   • Market your services on websites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer to attract an available client.
   • Virtual assistants typically make around $26.20 per hour, but this can vary on location and experience.
   • What is a virtual assistant? A virtual assistant performs a range of tasks to make a client’s job or life easier. These tasks include monitoring emails, answering phone calls, bookkeeping, managing schedules, and handling travel arrangements.
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