{"id":5311,"date":"2025-01-29T20:50:09","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T21:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.autotradethemasters.com\/?p=5311"},"modified":"2025-05-15T12:47:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T12:47:38","slug":"26-legit-ways-to-make-extra-money-in-under-5-hours-a-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.autotradethemasters.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/29\/26-legit-ways-to-make-extra-money-in-under-5-hours-a-week\/","title":{"rendered":"26 Legit Ways to Make Extra Money in UNDER 5 Hours a Week"},"content":{"rendered":"
We\u2019ve rounded up legit ways to make extra money with little effort.<\/em><\/p>\n For as little as 5 hours a week or less, these 26 tips for how to make extra money will help you add to your savings accounts (or fund extra expenses) with ease! From simply sharing your opinion to selling handcrafted items or driving safely while commuting, there\u2019s something to suit everyone\u2019s schedule and skill level.<\/p>\n Give us all the fur babies! With apps like Wag<\/a>, you can easily become a dog walker in no time and make a little side cash while spending some quality time with cute pups! Win, win\u2026or should I say\u2026Woof! Woof!<\/em> \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n \u201cI started dog walking recently and have 4 regular clients. I started by posting in our neighborhood Facebook group asking if anyone needed a dog walker or sitter and I got responses right away. I\u2019m making $450 a month and working just 3 hours and 20 minutes a week! It\u2019s easy money, I get exercise and plenty of dog love! The flexible schedule is great for me and I love the extra money!\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Sarah, Hip2Save Reader<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n There\u2019s a huge buyer\u2019s market for handmade goods these days. Discover something you love to make and start selling it on Etsy or in a local community group.<\/p>\n Seasoned pros on Etsy shared how they got started<\/a> and became successful.<\/p>\n As another idea, check to see when your next local craft show is and make a bunch of goods to set up and sell! You could do anything from sourdough, festive candles, crochet accessories, and more! If you need more ideas, we have a whole page full of DIY ideas<\/a> that you can check out. If anything, they could inspire you to get started on some gorgeous money-making projects.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been sewing scrunchies and also other items on my Cricut<\/a>. I love making them and it\u2019s great extra cash.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>\u2013 Becky, Hip2Save Reader<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI started making Elf on the Shelf kits for Christmas. I create 30 ideas with supplies. People love them!\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>\u2013 Jenifer, Hip2Save Reader\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n While you may have to work your way up to become an instructor, Emily from our team has proven that it\u2019s possible and not very difficult to do at all! In fact, she started as a student and realized she could teach barre, and get paid for it, all while still enjoying class.<\/p>\n Check out these best free workout apps<\/a> to start your fitness journey without spending a dime.<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to a barre class for several months and was so in love with it, that I asked the owner if she was hiring new instructors. After about a year, she asked me to join their team of instructors! Even though I had no formal fitness training prior, I completed an online course & video submission to become barre certified (an expense the owner paid for). I make anywhere from $300-$400 per month and I get to take other classes at the studio outside of my own for free<\/b>, so I\u2019m saving a ton on my fitness expenses and making a good chunk of change in the process!\u201d\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 Emily, Hip Sidekick<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Hip Tip:\u00a0<\/strong>Speaking of working out,\u00a0these workout accountability app<\/a> options pay you to work out!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Being a private tutor could be the perfect side gig if you have a knack for educating others and sharing your knowledge. From math sessions to piano lessons, there\u2019s a demand for all types of after-school helpers. Either call your local schools or share yourself in local groups to get started!<\/p>\n \u201cMy husband teaches piano on the side. When we were getting out of debt, he also worked extra events as a teacher to make more.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Jenna, Hip2Save reader\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI tutor and offer \u2018Homework Hour\u2019 for busy parents at a local library. The hourly fee adds up nicely and takes up a little of my day! Parents enjoy not having to fight over homework each evening as kids complete everything during the session.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Cindy, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Drive your car and be your own boss! If you enjoy driving around or maybe you need to get to know your new city, then Uber<\/a> could be a great part-time (or even full-time) gig for you! However, there are a few conditions to consider, such as owning a car that\u2019s 10 years or newer, it must pass an Uber inspection, and among a few other things, you have to have a driver\u2019s license in good standing.<\/p>\n \u201cI like that I can do some driving and get paid when I have extra time on the weekends. It\u2019s not huge money but the flexibility is great and gives me some extra cash to pay for the extras my teenagers always seem to want or need. I do Uber and Lyft and flip back and forth depending on who has passengers available first. Plus, it\u2019s always interesting, last week a man got in my car with fishing poles as long as my car and a bucket of live fish. LOL!\u201d\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 Angela, Hip Sidekick<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n One thing many people love more than a yummy baked good is not having to make it in the first place! If you\u2019re handy in the kitchen and love crafting up confections, try your hand at making baked goods for others for profit.<\/p>\n Check out all of our Hip-tested desserts<\/a> to get started on baking up some money-making treats!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cI sell my baked goods to family and friends \u2013 my pumpkin rolls are my top seller! I become especially busy during the holidays, which is great for gift funds.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Debbie, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI learned to make custom sugar cookies and sell them. I started to practice by making them for my baby showers and kids\u2019 birthdays. Over time, I\u2019ve been slowly building up a little cash business!\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Nichole, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n With social media at its peak, the options for taking photos are endless. Consider family sessions, senior portraits, helping small businesses build their brand, and more! You can also sell some stock images on Shutterstock<\/a> for extra cash!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re intrigued, but don\u2019t know where to get started, invest in a new camera and ask some local photographers to let you shadow them or do a one-on-one session to learn your way around your new camera.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I first had kids, I became really passionate about photography. I wanted great photos of my kids as they grew, so I purchased a starter camera and talked to a local photographer that I became friends with. She shared her expertise with me and I practiced a ton with my own family! From posting my pictures on my own social media, people started asking me to take photos of them. I have photographed everything from a floral workshop, families, and large company products, and before I knew it, I was making hundreds of extra dollars a month! It was great extra cash with the flexibility to work when I could and I was still able to still stay at home with my kids.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 Sara, Hip Sidekick<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n People are busy and the last thing they want to do is think about what food to make for dinner. Whether they\u2019re on their own or have a whole family to feed, they may pay for their meals to be ready to make!<\/p>\n \u201cI love prepping food! I do all the chopping, cutting, marinating, etc., and assemble people\u2019s meals for the week or the special occasion that calls for a \u2018home-cooked\u2019 meal. I shop for ingredients while I do my own family\u2019s grocery shopping. I prep for families, friends, work clients, and one-off orders.<\/em><\/p>\n All of my meals can also be frozen and cooked when needed which I heavily market since these kinds of meals are ideal for all types of situations \u2013 new babies, unexpected passings, late-night sports practices, etc. Meal prepping is nothing too lucrative and it\u2019s not making us millions, but I love cooking and it\u2019s that stress reliever for me when things are crazy at work.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Nicole, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n With apps like OnMyWay<\/a>, you can get paid to simply drive safely! For every mile you drive and don\u2019t text or use your phone, you\u2019ll get paid. It\u2019s really that simple. As a bonus, you\u2019ll get immediate rewards just for signing up<\/a>! It takes just a few minutes to enter your information and start earning.<\/p>\n The payout is unconventional; you will earn $0.05 for every mile you drive without texting and driving. The majority of prizes are things like a \u201cfree\u201d meal at a fast food restaurant. It\u2019s important to note that in order to get the item, you first buy it, record a video of you with the item they\u2019re offering give a shoutout to the app, and upload it on their link and on a social media platform. They will then Venmo you the money you spent. For some, it may not be worth the effort, but if you\u2019re often driving, love sharing with others, and getting free food, this could be perfect for you.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a high demand for donating blood, and if you\u2019re a good candidate then you can earn cash for donating up to the limit they allow. Plasma donations<\/strong> can range from $30-$100 depending on the center, location, and promotions. Frequent donors can earn $300\u2013$700 per month if they donate the maximum (usually twice a week). Platelet donations<\/strong>\u00a0can vary, but some centers offer $50\u2013$100 per donation, depending on demand.<\/p>\n For blood donations, consider looking into Red Cross Blood Services<\/a>, America\u2019s Blood Centers<\/a>, or checking local hospital websites. For plasma donations, consider finding locations through Donating Plasma<\/a>, CSL Plasma<\/a>, BioLife Plasma<\/a>, Octapharma Plasma<\/a>, or using Google to search near you.<\/p>\n \u201cI donate plasma twice a week. Each time takes just about an hour and I take home between $70-$90 a week.\u201d<\/em>\u2013 Ashley, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n DoorDash<\/a>, Uber Eats<\/a>, Grubhub<\/a>\u2026the list goes on! As mentioned by Ramsey Solutions, becoming a food delivery driver<\/a> is an easy and great way to make extra money, especially because you pick your own hours.<\/p>\n With apps like Care.com<\/a>, babysitting is totally booming, and long are the days you\u2019ll pocket a 20 bill for an entire Saturday night. According to a national study<\/a>, in 2024, the average in the US for just one child was $25\/hour. If you\u2019re looking for a sitter in 2025, you can expect to pay anywhere from $16 to $28 per hour<\/strong> depending on your location.<\/p>\n While you could do it for just a few hours a week, that hourly amount could be enough for some people to be able to quit their day job.<\/p>\n \u201cI babysit and sell crocheted items. People pay way more for babysitting than the hours I spend making something, so I love the time with kids and the extra spending money.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Shawna, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you meet all the requirements to become a paid grocery shopper, you can score a job paying you between $13-$22 per hour with Shipt<\/a> or Instacart<\/a>! You can work part-time or full-time or any time you want since you get to set your own hours. Earnings tend to depend on order size, time, and effort required.\u00a0 Plus, you\u2019ll get paid every week in addition to banking 100% of your tips.<\/p>\n \u201cI shopped and delivered groceries for Shipt while I was waiting for my teaching license to transfer states. Great job and you really learn your way around a new town!\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Keisha, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you have a local teaching hospital or university, check and see if they offer the ability to participate in a paid research study. While some may take more time than 5 hours, the payoff can be worth the time invested! As a tip, you could also sign up for ResearchMatch.org<\/a> to see what\u2019s available to you as a volunteer.<\/p>\n Before participating, ensure that each opportunity aligns with your preferences and schedule. Always review the terms and conditions of each platform to understand the nature of the tasks and the compensation offered.<\/p>\n \u201cI love being a research study participant. It generally pays at least $25 per visit of each study. I even once made $1,000 for completing a long-term one!\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Keila, Hip2Save reader\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI participate in research studies whenever I can! I\u2019ve made as much as $3,500 on them over the course of 2-3 months before!\u201d <\/em>\u201c\u2013 Rebecca, Hip2Save reader\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Yes, you can even get paid by the hour to eat some food. The food and beverage industry offers many opportunities to get paid. McCormick<\/a> is just one example of ways to get paid to test foods. To find out where you can taste test food near you, Google \u201cfood tasting in my area\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI taste test new food products! I get called for about 3-6 jobs per month usually. I get paid between $30-$50 each time and I am usually done in about 15-20 minutes. The longer jobs pay a little more but take up to 30-40 minutes. It\u2019s fun and very flexible so I can do it only when I want to!<\/em><\/p>\n Just some tips, once you register, make sure to fill out the screeners to see if you qualify. If they email you a screener, fill it out fast because the groups fill up quickly! If you have an account, log into your profile often to see what new groups are available. Be honest with your answers. (However, if you\u2019re really picky and say that you don\u2019t eat cheese or seafood or 28 other foods, chances are you won\u2019t ever qualify!) They will then schedule you for a specific day and time if you do qualify.<\/em><\/p>\n I see retirees, moms, business professionals, and all kinds of people there when I am there. Sometimes kids are allowed to use these ways to make extra money too if they are over age 13. It\u2019s really easy and fun and it\u2019s a great way to make some fun money for the holidays or vacations, etc.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Karen, Hip2Save reader\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Know any local lawyers or law firms? You can consider giving them a call and offering your presence whenever they need a witness for some documents. While not all firms are likely to use just anyone, it certainly doesn\u2019t hurt to ask. This could be an easy way to make extra money!<\/p>\n \u201cI work with a local lawyer who does estate planning. I go in for 30 minutes sign my name a bunch of times as a witness and get 25 bucks. I do this about once a week, sometimes twice!\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Ashley, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n People are busy and cleaning their homes is one thing many people outsource. Whether they\u2019re elderly, have busy schedules with kids, or work all the time, ask some friends and family if you can clean their home for them. After a couple of visits, chances are they\u2019ll be telling their friends about your services!<\/p>\n Read our post about how to declutter your home<\/a> if you need a jumpstart for your own space before starting our other ways to make extra money.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cI like to clean houses for people I know. I usually just do one house per week for some extra cash, and it\u2019s good, easy money!\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Bridget, Hip2Save reader\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Consider freelancing if you have some experience in marketing or design. This is a contract-based service you can offer to others by utilizing your talents in design, copywriting, brand development, project management, etc. As far as a career choice, it\u2019s definitely possible too. Try finding clients through Facebook groups or online services like Fiverr<\/a> or Upwork<\/a>, or start by reaching out to friends who you think could benefit from your skills.<\/p>\n Not into marketing? No worries, there are even remote, freelance options for personal assistants, scheduling, and more! While this does take some gumption and creative selling of your services, once you get started, it\u2019s easy to get referrals and meet other clients through current ones!<\/p>\n \u201cOne easy way that I\u2019ve made extra money on the side is freelancing. I wanted a way to make extra money with low start-up costs and this only required that I purchase an email address and create an easy website. I have even had the opportunity to help ghost-write books! The internet offers so many options, so get creative and really tap into what you\u2019re good at! On average I was bringing in an extra $500-$1500 a month while staying home with my kids!\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Tiffany, Hip2Save reader\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s better to just let go of the clothes you no longer wear in your closet. Therefore, it\u2019s time to go into that closet and clean out everything you don\u2019t want! There are countless apps you can sell your clothes, shoes, and accessories. Check out our post explaining how to sell clothes\u00a0<\/a>online<\/a> along with the best places to sell them.<\/p>\n Just like you can rent your home out on Airbnb<\/a>, you can actually rent out your car on sites like Turo<\/a> or Getaround<\/a>. This could come in handy, especially if you live in an area where you can rely on public transit or don\u2019t drive that often. CNBC reports<\/a> one worker rented out his car out to two-three times a week and generated around $3,500 a month!<\/p>\n Some websites will either give you gift cards or money in your PayPal account to take surveys! Survey Junkie<\/a> is a legit way to earn small side earnings. If you\u2019re okay with spending time answering surveys for a few extra dollars, it can be worth it. Head over to our full post all about surveys for money with Survey Junkie<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cSo worth the download!! This app is great! The surveys are kind of long for what you get, but hey \u2013 money is money! This is the EASIEST side hustle you can do. I can make $150-$175 extra a month just by answering a few simple questions! You\u2019d be silly not to try it out for at least a week.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Joseph, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cReally great service that works! I like the fact that if midway through a survey I end up not being able to participate, they still reward a few points, which I haven\u2019t seen other survey websites do.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Tyler, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAwesome payouts! I am unemployed and waiting on disability. This app has given me the freedom to purchase things I otherwise wouldn\u2019t be able to. Thank you for this app.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Elizabeth, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Apps like Fetch<\/a> and Ibotta<\/a> will allow you to upload receipts from ANY store or restaurant (or enter your eReceipts using the handy receipt scanner), earn points, and then redeem them for gift cards to your favorite stores! These are some of the best ways to make extra money just for shopping you\u2019re already doing!<\/p>\n \u201cA fun aspect about Fetch Rewards is that they have rewards programs inside the program! So far I\u2019ve seen PepsiCo and Huggies, but there may be more.<\/em><\/p>\n Once you join the Huggies program, you receive exclusive offers for bonus points on Huggies products, and once you spend certain amounts you earn even more rewards. Sometimes these offers stack too, when I first signed up, I got 5,000 points for spending $50, 5,000 points for buying specific Huggies diapers, and 1,000 points for buying Huggies wipes!<\/em><\/p>\n I purchased the $50 on one receipt and received ALL the offers. They are also offering new daily points when you scan a receipt. It spins a cute little wheel and gives you the chance to earn extra points. So far I\u2019ve only won small amounts but every little bit adds up!\u201d\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 Chelsey, Hip2Save reader<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n When a company is first launching, they need feedback on what is and isn\u2019t working. This is where user experience testers come into play! It will vary based on the company, but your primary purpose is to let companies know if their websites are user-friendly. Ramsey Solutions shared<\/a> how to get your feet wet with user experience testing, but you can also look on sites like TryMata.com<\/a> and UserTesting.com<\/a>. This is a great way to score some extra pocket money!<\/p>\n Local realtors may need your help and an extra smiling face to nail down a sale at their next open house. You could consider reaching out to some nearby companies or small home builders to see if they need an extra person to be at an open house and greet guests as they come in. If you get really good and know your way around a house, chances are they may use you for future home sales!<\/p>\n \u201cI work open houses on Saturdays and Sundays for a local home builder. It\u2019s only 3 hours per day but it\u2019s super easy and fun!\u201d\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 Shanna, Hip2Save reader\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Wrapify<\/a> is one of the best ways to make extra money by simply driving your car as you normally would while displaying ads on it. The process is straightforward\u2014sign up, get your car wrapped, and start earning based on the miles you drive. Earnings can vary depending on location and campaign availability. While it\u2019s an essentially effortless passive income stream, not all drivers qualify, and you\u2019ll need to keep your car\u2019s wrap clean and maintained for the best results.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n1. Do some dog walking or pet sitting.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n2. Get crafty and sell your handmade goods.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n3. Become a fitness instructor.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n4. Tutor some students.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n5<\/strong>. Start driving for Uber.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n6. Sell some yummy baked goods.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n7. Take photos of people.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n8. Cook or meal prep for people.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n9. Use apps to your advantage.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n10. Donate your plasma.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n11. <\/strong>Be a food delivery person.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n12. Get a babysitting gig.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n13. Shop for Shipt.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n14. Participate in a research study.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n15. Taste test some food.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n16. Sign your name as a witness.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n17. Do some house cleaning.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n18. Score some freelancing gigs.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n19. Clean out your closet and sell your clothes.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n20. Rent your car out.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n21. Fill out some surveys.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n22. Take pictures of your receipts.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n23. User experience testers are always needed.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n24. <\/strong>Assist realtors with their open houses.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n25. Get your car wrapped with an ad.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n26. Join a focus group.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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