Top 27 Best Ways to Make Money When You Need it Now
There is a point in your life where you need cash fast, and you are not eligible for a conventional loan, you need to find other options.
Here are 27 ways to start making money right now.
When It’s a Crisis Situation Overnight!
It may be the case that you need some money to cover an urgent expense, but the banks are closed for the day.
Here are three great options for earning cash when you need it overnight!
Another method for when you need quick cash assistance is an online cash advance.
You can get an online cash advance if you have an active mobile phone number and your credit is good. The rules and restrictions vary by lender, so it is vital to read the fine print.
But for the most part, you can expect to get the money basically instantly.
Finally, there’s a cash advance that’s available to you regardless of bank status and credit. Bad credit loans are specifically designed for those who have been denied loans at traditional banks.
#1: Lower Your Student Loan Payment
You know all those student loan payments you’ve been making? You can make part of that money work for you instead!
You might be able to Get Extra Payment Time For Your Student Loans, which is an option that some student loan servicers offer to reduce your monthly payment. This option allows you to make payments for 120 of your loan term, instead of the required 10 years.
Some other companies like Earnest or Marcus by Goldman Sachs may offer to refinance your student loans, allowing you to pay a lower interest rate over a longer term.
Keep in mind, if you extend your payments past the standard 10-year term, you’ll pay back more in interest than what you initially borrowed.
#2: Make Up To $45 Per Survey – Survey Junkie
Will pay you for your opinion. Surveys are usually super short, and you can max out your daily potential by taking advantage of the numerous short, new surveys they offer. Check it out here.
#3: Get Paid to Grocery Shop
Two words that make many of us cringe: grocery shopping. It’s daunting, boring, and time-consuming. Yet, we still do it every week. And we do it for one and only reason: to conserve money.
For most, shopping for food is the only everyday thing we spend our money on. It’s no wonder, therefore, that we want to save as much as possible on this essential expense.
And guess what? You can (and should) do just that by grocery shopping with rewards credit cards. The problem is there are so many reward credit cards these days that it’s hard to determine which one has the best deals. Fortunately, I’ve done all the tedious research for you so you don’t have to. Here are the details on my favorite rewards credit cards to use when you grocery shop.
#4: Vindale Research
Here’s another chance to make some money online. This is a well-known site that pays you to complete surveys. They pay very promptly and it’s easy to earn a bit of spending money.
#5: Negotiate a bill.
Most companies want to work out a deal if your life was already going down the toilet. Negotiate to pay a lesser amount, pay later, or pay in some manner other than cash. You can use this to pay a bill that you already owe if you think you might be in the hole soon, even for small amounts.
#6: Figure out who owes you money.
#7. Earn a Guaranteed $1,000 with Lyft
Handy is a fantastic service and is growing by leaps and bounds. It’s a great way to make some money using your existing hardware and skills.
Lyft is a unicorn in the world of on-demand services. Lyft is a peer-to-peer ridesharing service similar to Uber and you can make good money driving for them. You set your own hours and they pay you weekly.
If you enjoy interacting with people and like the idea of making some extra cash, becoming a Lyft driver could be a great side hustle.
You can sign up to drive for Lyft and get on the road in a matter of minutes. It’s 100% easy and free.
To sign up to be a Lyft driver, you need to be at least 21 years old, have a valid US driver’s license and have a 4-door vehicle.
Here are a few reasons why Lyft might be perfect for you:
You get to set your own hours and work as much or as little as you want.
You will get paid every week, and you can choose to be paid by direct deposit.
You can use your own car and use any payment method that you want.
You get paid a lot more than you do for most other on-demand services.
#8: Borrow from friends or family.
Borrowing money from friends and family is a great way to make fast cash. The amount you are able to borrow is strictly based on how much you need, as well as who you are borrowing the money from and what the terms of repayment will be. Just be sure to keep lines of communication open, and don’t let your personal situation deteriorate as your debts get bigger.
When borrowing money from friends and family, make sure you:
{1}. Pay on time.
{2}. Stay in touch (but don’t call when they have company over or they are at dinner).
{3}. Pay them back as soon as you are able to. The amount you eventually pay back should exceed the amount that you borrowed.
{4}. ) Credit Cards
{5}. ) Get a Second Job
{6}. ) Invest in Real Estate
{7}. ) Sell Stuff
{8}. ) Take Out a Loan
{9}. ) Rental Income
{10}. ) Borrow from Family and Friends
{11}. ) Unsubscribed Subscriptions
{12}. ) Sell Something You Don’t Use Anymore
{13}. ) Donate Blood
{14}. ) Sell Your Old Tech
{15}. ) Take Online Surveys
{16}. ) Try Crowdfunding
{17}. ) Create Your Own Online Business
{18}. ) Sell Music Online
{19}. ) Sell on Craigslist
#9: Consider a personal loan.
When you’re short on cash, but you have a solid credit score, turning to a lender can be a solution. It’s a good idea to borrow the money directly from a bank or lending institution. If you decide to get a loan, here are two things to keep in mind:
Apply for a personal loan
Apply for a Personal Loan
Keep close tabs on your credit score
You can’t get a loan if your credit score is low. Remember to keep close tabs on your credit score since you don’t want your credit score to drop before you apply for a personal loan.
#10: Sell stuff on Craigslist.
Many people have never heard of Craigslist, but they’re missing out on a great way to earn some cash. Folks from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico have made millions of dollars selling just about anything on the classifieds site.
It’s easy to start posting ads, and all you have to make sure is that your ads clearly state the price you’re asking for. You can even haggle with buyers; many people who advertise on Craigslist are looking for a good deal. You can sell new things or get rid of old ones. And as you start to make sales, Craigslist can quickly become a way to make money and earn extra cash.
#11: Pawn something you really don’t want.
If you’re in need of money and, unfortunately, in need of quick cash, consider pawning something you would prefer to sell for half of what you paid for it. This will give you a quick influx of cash to buy food, do a few smaller repairs around the house, or whatever else you may need to fully enjoy life.
#12: Complete a task through Fiverr.
#13: Scan receipts into ReceiptHog.
This is certainly a simple way to make money.
I have used ReceiptHog on many occasions and was paid for every receipt. What I like about ReceiptHog is that they pay you through PayPal within 24 hours of receipt of your submission and they have excellent customer service.
#14: Babysit some kids.
If your parents don’t have any (many!) little kids, ask parents in your circle. Offering your services to watch someone else’s kids will always come in handy.
Usually, you’ll be expected to keep an eye on them a few nights a month and supervise them while they play. And it’s important to remember that, while toddlers are fun to play with, keeping an eye on them (and getting them to bed) can be exhausting. Be sure you’re 100% willing to take care of them before you try to make yourself known to mommy and daddy. Define your role …. are you a babysitter, a tutor, or a chaperon? Understanding your role ahead of time will help you plan your time accordingly.
#15: Have a garage sale…. .now.
Don’t wait until the next sale, which will probably be never!
Hit the streets to sell your stuff. Your odds are much better once all the people who’ve been planning garage sales themselves finally get around to it. Garage sales are a tried and true way to make money from your stuff.
Your lifetime of purchases could be worth more than you realize. Things like books, electronics, clothes, toys, glassware, dishes and jewelry can find a new home quickly.
#16: Become a street performer.
If you enjoy entertaining people and you can master a variety of fun tricks or skills that people want to see, use them to make money as a street performer. You can always find a crowd on a street corner, regardless of the weather – and in most cases, you’ll be able to do your act comfortably outside. As an added bonus, it can be fun to perform with a partner. Here’s how to get started:
You can make a living as a street performer, but you probably won’t. As a part-time street performer, you shouldn’t expect to earn enough to support yourself with this gig. The more you can get paid, the more you should be willing to travel. Not only will you need to be able to attract crowds, but also to entertain them.
Start small. Practice your act by yourself before taking it on the street. If you screw up, nobody knows; if you do well, you can start building a rep. Start out in free locations, such as street fairs, small gatherings, or outdoor concerts. Getting paid gigs will only come when you’ve perfected your act.
#17: Watch dogs with Rover.com.
Set your own schedule and take care of other peoples’ pets.
#18: Tear your house and car apart to find money.
Do a thorough search of your house, especially the drawers where you keep your paperwork, for bank statements or anything else that shows you have money in your accounts. You might be surprised to discover that you might have hundreds of dollars that you had forgotten about.
#19: Ask your boss for an advance on your check.
If you work a regular gig for an hourly salary – seems like yesterday’s news – you can always ask your boss for an advance on your next paycheck.
Yes, they can say no, but you have no real risk. And if you’re an employee in good standing, there’s a decent chance your boss will give you a few hundred dollars in the hopes that you’ll come back next week and keep bringing in the dough.
#20: Pick up a serving job.
Its not only bar tenders and waiters who can pick up a few hours at a busy bar. Just about any restaurant that’s busy during lunch and dinner time needs folks to help with non-food stuff like clearing tables. You don’t have to wait to be asked, just approach the manager and ask for an application. Tell them you’ll take any time you can get. Check out the “help wanted” section in papers and online postings. And be sure to note any special requirements that an employer might have when you do your application.
#21: Turn in your gift cards for cash.
This is a great way to get free money, and you can do it for free!
Use CardPool to buy and sell your unwanted gift cards at a discount. The website is super intuitive and really easy to use.
They offer free shipping and will pay you cash for your gift cards, but if you want to sell them faster, you can pay a small fee to have them purchase your card directly. Also, you have to wait 14 to 20 days before you get paid.
You might want to check out this option more when the holiday season comes around. The on-demand buying is going to be way higher during that time, because people will want to buy last-minute gift cards for the holidays.
#22: Sell nice clothes for cash.
Take your clothes that don’t fit anymore, don’t look great, or that you bought just for one occasion and sell them in some consignment shops or through eBay or Craigslist for some extra cash. Be sure to include the tags in the clothes so people realize that they can still return the items if they can’t wear them.
#23: Clean houses.
There is a saying “jack of all trades, master of none.” That’s certainly true when it comes to house cleaning. No matter how hard you try, you can’t clean everything in a house the right way.
Having said that, you can still get paid for the cleaning you will be doing. People with busy lives who do not have time to clean the house may want to hire you to do the rigorous part of the job. Budget-wise and availability-wise, this could be perfect for you.
First, take a look at the pictures of the house you will be cleaning. Look for dust bunnies, cobwebs, other visible rubbish, etc. This will help you understand what needs to be done. Make sure you know the price range you should charge for cleaning a certain property.
Next thing you have to do is to get information about the house you’re interested in. If you are being offered a one-time job, look for their number and ask them if they would like to hire you to repeat this in a month. This way, you can charge more for long-time cleaning.
#24: Become a handyman…right now.
Handyman work is one of the easiest ways to make money right now. These jobs are usually small in nature and involve simple tasks, but still earn you money.
Here are some common handyman jobs that you can complete and around right now.
Remodel bathroom. Clean out storage room. Clean up yard. Build furniture. Patch hardwood floors. Make leaky toilet water-tight. Install closet organizer. Apply wallpaper. Paint ceiling.
#25: Use TaskRabbit.
TaskRabbit is an online platform where you can hire skilled contractors and help with odd jobs or small remodels. Prices vary depending on the job and take into account how hard the task will be to execute and how big a mess it might make. TaskRabbit has done a great job of becoming an online middleman for connecting you and a new contractor.
For those of you who arent familiar with the site, you simply sign up as an independent contractor of sorts and use the site to make money by completing tasks.
In addition to posting tasks, you can also filter potential projects based on location or search by keyword.
If you are accepting a task, make sure to discuss payment in advance. I also recommend that you rate the contractors performance after the job is completed, both for your records and to help inform other contractors and customers.
Secure Payment: TaskRabbit is an intuitive platform. However, you should be aware of the potential for it to be a fraudulent place to advertise services, albeit rare. I suggest checking out a previous customers reviews before listing your services. Also, before you load up your car with tools and head over to a customers house, let them pay you in an upfront way.
#26: Cash in all of your credit card points.
If you’re like me, you’ve got multiple store cards and reward cards accumulating dust at home.
If you’re a smart card user, you’ve probably got enough to cover a plane ticket or even get a few days worth of groceries, but if you’re like me you’ve got enough to buy an overpriced sandwich.
It seems like a no brainer, but tons of people don’t take advantage of this one.
#27: Return stuff you don’t want…and get cash!
If you head to your local clothing store, collect the tags off of all brand-new clothing and accessories you own and take them back to that store. I have done this recently with a new pair of Nike Air Max trainers for my son. I’d bought him a pair of Air Max 95s, but he’s a bit too young for them, so he wanted the newer model for his birthday. So I popped over to our local sports store and grabbed the Air Max trainers in a size 9, took off all of the tags and packaging and gave them back to the shop.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t put it there, you’re cheating yourself out of a quarter century of monthly savings.
The more you have savings, the more you can afford to invest in assets that provide higher return. The largest chunks of your monthly savings should be allocated to a tax-advantaged retirement account. As retirement nears, you may want to have more of your savings invested in less risky assets.
Retirement accounts are great because they take a lot of work out of saving for retirement. They also allow for the valuable tax benefit of tax deferred growth. The latter means that you don’t have to pay federal and state taxes on the savings you’re putting into the account. And since you’re likely in a lower income tax bracket now than when you’ll hit retirement age, this is generally a good deal.
If you’re not contributing to a tax advantaged retirement account already, now is the time to start.
About the Author
In a previous life, Alex Ferguson earned his living on the road, for 13 years playing music in popular bands.
He continued to do that until an accident left him incapacitated and unable to play the guitar. At his wife’s suggestion, he attended law school and passed the California bar exam in 2007.
He has since spent his time as a lawyer specializing in criminal defense, family law, and bankruptcy.
Alex lives in Northern California with his wife, daughter, and three dogs … and still plays guitar.
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Realize that you have options. If you need money, then you need to get out there and make it happen. No one is going to try to stop you. No one is even going to make suggestions. When you need money right away, you are on your own. The good news is that you don’t really need to be alone and in fact you don’t even need money to be alone. You can be alone for free.
If you’ve never tried meditation before, now is the perfect opportunity to try. It really doesn’t take much. Besides, it can be incredibly relaxing and enjoyable. Just find a place to sit in a way that is comfortable for you.
So just sit quietly and focus on your breathing. Feel the air move through your nose as you breathe in. Focus on your stomach as your body fills up with air. Now, let the air out through your nose and empty your lungs. Do this gently and slowly.
Don’t pay any attention to what is going on around you. Don’t try to get into a meditative state and don’t think about anything. Just sit quietly, become one with the air that is flowing into your body and flowing out again.