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When bills are due and cash is short, “how to make money in one hour” is a natural search. The honest answer is that one hour can turn things you already own into cash, or land a very small job, but it will not replace a paycheck. This guide covers realistic ways to earn money quickly, how Cash App Borrow works if you are thinking of borrowing instead, what a money order costs, how limits work when you send money abroad (including from the US to Portugal), and the scams that target people in a hurry.

Quick answer: In one hour, your best options are usually selling items you no longer need or doing a small local job for someone you know. Be careful with anything that promises big money fast, because the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that offers of easy, quick money are a common scam pattern. If you need to borrow, read the full cost first.

How to Make Money in One Hour: What Is Realistic?

No legitimate method can guarantee a set amount in sixty minutes, and any website that does should be treated with suspicion. These options can work in a short window, depending on what you own and who you know:

• Sell items you no longer use. Electronics, clothes, tools, furniture or collectibles can be listed on a local marketplace. Meet buyers in a public place and do not accept overpayment (more on that below).
• Offer a small job to people you know. Neighbors, friends and family may pay for tasks like yard work, cleaning, moving help, tech help or pet care.
• Return unused purchases. If you bought something you no longer need and the return window is still open, a refund puts cash back in your pocket.
• Pick up a quick gig. Delivery, rideshare and task platforms offer flexible work, but many need sign-up or verification first, so check whether you can start today.

To earn money beyond a one-off, think about a skill-based side income. Our side hustles for beginners guide explains how to pick one, and the Make Money category has more ideas.

How to Earn Money Without Falling for a Scam

People in a rush are easier to trick. The FTC points to these red flags:

• Large earnings for little effort, such as thousands of dollars a month for minimal work.
• Unsolicited messages on text, WhatsApp or Telegram offering easy online tasks with quick pay.
• Task scams. The FTC describes scammers who pay a small amount at first, then tell you to deposit your own money (often in cryptocurrency) to unlock more tasks or withdraw “earnings.” The earnings are fake and the deposit is lost.
• Reshipping jobs, where you receive packages and send them to another address. The FTC says this is never a real job.
• Any fee to get hired or get paid.

If an offer matches any of these, stop and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Our money questions answered guide has more on spotting fake work-from-home offers.

How Does Borrowing Money From Cash App Work?

Cash App Borrow is a short-term loan feature inside Cash App. According to Cash App’s own Borrow page, as of the date I reviewed it:

• Amounts: Up to $500, and as little as $20. First-time borrowers can unlock up to $400.
• Not everyone qualifies. Access is limited, and limits and eligibility are not guaranteed. Cash App says most people qualify by depositing $300 or more in paychecks each month, or by linking an external account with $500 or more in monthly deposits. You must be 18 or older, the legal owner of the account, and complete identity verification. You cannot borrow with a past-due balance.
• Availability: Borrow is not available in Colorado, Iowa or Oregon.
• Cost: You pay a flat fee, but the page does not state the amount. It is disclosed when you borrow.
• Repayment: You can pay as you receive cash, pay in weekly installments, or pay in full. Any balance still owed on the final due date is automatically taken from your Cash balance or linked account.

Cash App Borrow and Your Credit

Be careful here, because the two Cash App documents I read do not say the same thing. The Borrow page says borrowing does not check your credit score or report to credit bureaus. The Borrow loan agreement I found says the lender may pull your credit reports and may report your account to the bureaus, so late or missed payments could appear on your credit report. The agreement also says a loan that is not paid can lead to overdue interest, repayment taken from your balance or linked card, and being unable to borrow again. Cash App may update these terms, so read the agreement shown in the app before you accept.

What Does a Flat Fee Really Cost?

A small flat fee can look cheap but work out to a high annual percentage rate (APR). Here is a hypothetical example, with invented numbers (not Cash App’s actual fee):

• You borrow $100 and pay a $5 flat fee.
• You repay in 28 days.
• The fee is 5% of the loan over four weeks. Annualized, that is about 65% (5% x 365/28).

For comparison, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) found in its 2024 data spotlight on paycheck advances that an illustrative advance with a $3.18 fee over ten days works out to roughly 109.5% APR. The CFPB said short, small advances can have even higher rates. That study covers paycheck advance products in general, not Cash App specifically.

Before you borrow, ask: what is the fee in dollars, when is the due date, and what happens if I miss it? If you find yourself borrowing every month, a cushion may help more than another advance. Our guide to building an emergency fund and the 50/30/20 budget rule are good places to start.

How Much Is It for a Money Order?

A money order is a prepaid payment you can buy with cash or a debit card and send instead of a check. According to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) money order page:

Money order amount	USPS fee
$0.01 to $500.00	$2.65
$500.01 to $1,000.00	$3.75

A domestic postal money order can be up to $1,000 per order. You buy one at a Post Office with cash or a debit card; credit cards are not accepted. USPS fees can change, so check the USPS page before you buy. Banks, stores and other sellers set their own fees, which I did not verify here.

Watch for money order scams. The CFPB warns that scammers send counterfeit money orders or bad checks for more than the price of something you are selling, then ask you to send back the difference. If you deposit a fake, you may not get any funds, or you may have to repay the money even if you already spent it. The CFPB’s advice is not to send money back to the buyer and to contact your bank and the marketplace. Forwarding money from a stranger can also make you a “money mule.”

What Is the US to Portugal Online Money Transfer Limit Per Transaction?

There is no single limit. The amount you can send depends on the provider, your account verification level, the payment method, the destination country and your transfer history. For example, Remitly’s send-limits page says you can transfer up to 300,000 USD in one transaction from the United States, effective as of August 2026. The same page adds that limits may vary by country and delivery method, can be lower for your account, may change over time, and that more documentation may be requested. That page does not mention Portugal, so I could not confirm a Portugal-specific limit. Other banks and transfer services have different limits, so check your own provider before you send.

Your Rights When Sending Money Abroad

The CFPB says that for a transfer of more than $15 sent through a covered provider:

• The provider must disclose fees, taxes, the exchange rate and the amount expected to be delivered, before and after you pay.
• You can generally cancel within 30 minutes of paying at no cost, unless the money has already been picked up or deposited.
• You have 180 days from the availability date on your receipt to report an error, and the provider must generally investigate within 90 days.

Protections can depend on how you send the money and on the provider, so keep your receipt and contact the company right away if something goes wrong. If it is not resolved, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB.

Checklist: Before You Act on a Fast-Cash Offer

Question	Why it matters
Did they contact me first?	The FTC warns about unsolicited quick-money offers
Do they want a fee or deposit?	Honest employers do not charge you to hire you or pay you
Is the full cost clear in dollars?	Flat fees can hide a high APR
Am I being asked to send money back?	Overpayment scams use fake checks and money orders
Do I know the sending limit and cancellation rules?	They differ by provider

If the pressure to act now is high, slow down. Our personal finance apps roundup covers tools for tracking your spending, and our hard money lending guide explains the FTC’s warning about advance-fee loan scams, where someone asks for a fee before a loan that never arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you really make money in one hour? Often a little, usually by selling something you own or doing a small job. Be wary of any offer that promises a specific amount in an hour. Real income takes longer to build.

Can anyone borrow money from Cash App? No. Cash App says access is limited and not guaranteed, and Borrow is not available in Colorado, Iowa or Oregon. You must meet eligibility requirements such as deposit levels and identity verification.

How much is a money order from the Post Office? USPS lists $2.65 for money orders up to $500 and $3.75 for $500.01 to $1,000, with a maximum of $1,000 per domestic money order. Check usps.com for current fees.

Is there a limit on sending money from the US to Portugal? It depends on your provider and account. One provider, Remitly, lists up to 300,000 USD per transaction from the US as of August 2026, but individual limits may be lower. Ask your own bank or transfer service for your limit.

Conclusion

If you need to make money in one hour, start with what you already have and with people you know, and avoid anything that asks you to pay first or promises big money fast. If you borrow, read the fee and agreement. If you send money, know the provider’s limits and your cancellation rights. And once the emergency has passed, a small cushion can keep you from facing the same squeeze again. A good next step is our guide to building an emergency fund.