I don’t know about you, but I’ve been in a position where I needed money NOW. Whether that be because I had an unexpected medical bill, a job layoff, or because the economy took a downturn and money was tight, the need for quick cash is not a unique problem that only a few have faced.
I venture to guess you’ve been there too. And you may need fast cash right now and be wondering what you can do besides a personal loan to get money right now.
If you need money now to pay for your utilities, rent, any expenses, or even mortgage, this article will give you ideas on how to get some extra cash fast.
In this article, I go over many ways you can make money fast for an unexpected expense without getting a payday loan, emergency loan, or any short-term loan.
How to Make Cash Fast
There are some great ways to make money fast, some even the same day or the next business day, depending on what you’re selling or doing to make quick money! In this article, I’m breaking down the options for making money fast.
Some Ways to Get Cash Fast Include:
- Lowering bills and consolidating credit cards
- Selling your used goods
- Selling a service
- Driving for ride-share or food delivery services
- Renting items for cash
- And more!
I know it can be overwhelming when you are in a pinch, but we’ve got your back with these ideas. I’m sure you’ll find at least one that will be a great option to help you make ends meet.
1. Lowering Your Bills
Before we get into how you can make money fast, I want to share how you can lower some bills or even consolidate your credit cards.
There are six options below on how to lower monthly bills!
Lower Your Rent
Did you know you can approach your landlord to lower your monthly rent? You sure can! Ramit Sethi was interviewed for CNBC about how to lower your monthly bills, and this is what he had to say about lowering your rent:
To increase your chances, offer the landlord something in exchange, Sethi says, like signing an extended lease, giving up a parking space, or keeping the apartment smoke and pet free, even if it is allowed.
According to Sethi, if you walk into the meeting with your landlord with a new rent number in mind and ready to negotiate, you’ll have a better chance of walking out with a new lowered rental fee.
Just because you signed a lease at a certain monthly number doesn’t mean you have to stay at that rate. Don’t be afraid to approach your landlord – just walk in prepared and ready to discuss a new monthly rental fee. You may be surprised and leave the meeting having signed new lease paperwork!
Bring Down Your Cell Phone Bill
My husband and I switched cell phone providers, and we got a great deal on the new phones and the monthly bill for cell service.
What if you don’t want to move providers or if you’re still in the middle of paying off a phone and really can’t afford to do so? What are your options, then?
According to Sethi, you should call your phone provider and ask to speak to the customer retention department. He said not to worry that your phone plan will get canceled. He said your account won’t ever get canceled unless you decide to cancel it.
Lower Your Cable and Internet Bills
I don’t know about you, but I could stand to drop one or two streaming services in order to save money every month. Look into which streaming services you spend the most time on and cut out the rest. You’d be surprised how much you might spend each month just to have multiple streaming options.
But did you know that you don’t have to stop there?
Consider bundling your cable and internet services with the same provider. You may be able to save even more if you drop to a lower speed with the same provider.
Ditch or Lower Your Gym Membership
Much like cell phone companies, gyms want to keep you locked in. You can negotiate your monthly costs in similar ways as you did with your cell phone.
Do some research on what your gym is offering new members, call around to some other gyms and get their specials, and come prepared to your current gym with the information you uncovered with your research.
Or, maybe cancel your gym membership altogether. YouTube has tons of great workout content and routines you can do from home for free.
Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rate
Sometimes you can lower your APR with your credit card company. APR stands for annual percentage rate and is the interest the credit card company charges you to spend borrowed money.
If you’re willing to spend some time on the phone with the credit card company and do a bit of research on how to negotiate a lower APR, your credit card company may just listen!
Consolidate Your Credit Card Debt
If you have multiple credit cards with debt on them, you may want to look into consolidating that debt into one credit card with a low-interest rate.
According to Forbes,
You can consolidate credit card debt using several methods, but among the most popular are personal loans, debt consolidation programs, and, perhaps easiest and often cheapest, 0{6c4f10cab50a46b63425e915a3b32a252b20e15cfb3b21d076e7c5437b6ee37b} introductory APR offers from balance transfer credit cards.
They go on to say, “Do be aware that your interest rate is likely determined by the term of the loan and your credit score.”
If you have high-interest rates on current cards and want competitive interest rates, consolidating may be a great option.
2. Selling Goods
This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make money fast, and I’m willing to bet you have items around your home that you could sell online for some quick cash.
If you need ideas of unwanted items you could sell, let’s break down some options below.
- Shoes
- Clothes
- Jewelry
- Cameras
- Gaming consoles
- A tablet or phone in good working condition
- Furniture
- Books
- DVDs
- CDs
- Bikes
- Coin collections
- Musical instruments
- and much more!
Just look around your home and get creative. Decide what you can part with, what is in good condition, and what other people would like to purchase, and boom, quick cash!
Where to Sell Goods
If you’ve decided this sounds like a good way to get cash now but aren’t sure what to do next, let’s look into places to sell your goods. Here is an overview of places to sell stuff online and in person for quick cash.
eBay
I venture to guess eBay has popped into your mind when thinking of places to sell your used items. And that’s for a good reason; many people still use eBay to buy and sell. It’s a great site to get started selling.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is a hugely popular way to sell items locally. This will help cut costs or hassle in mailing items you sell. Typically, with FB Marketplace, buyers come to you to make their purchase, but sometimes you can meet at a neutral place, so they aren’t coming to your home.
Amazon
If you have used books, CDs, DVDs, sports and outdoor items, and even used (good condition) toys, you can sell them on Amazon. Although maybe not the first site you’d think of for selling used goods, it could be a good option.
Craigslist
I’m sure you’ve likely heard of Craigslist as it was one of the original websites to buy and sell goods and services online and has a huge audience. Furniture and electronics do well on the site, as do smaller items such as clothing, bikes, and sports equipment. Even cars are sold on the platform! Read our article all about how to make money on Craigslist.
Poshmark
If you have gently used clothes, shoes, jewelry, handbags, swimwear, children’s clothing, and more, then you could look into Poshmark as an option for selling.
Etsy
Etsy is a great option for selling vintage items. Etsy is a massive marketplace for handmade, unique, and even vintage items and could open up a large audience to your items for sale.
Garage Sales
If you’re considering selling locally, I’m sure this thought popped up as an option – and with good reason! Garage sales are tried and true ways to make money selling used items found around your home. And depending on your location and how much traffic drives by your home, it could be a great way to sell items quickly.
Consignment Shops
These shops will sell your items for you and give you a portion of the sale price. They typically specialize in specific items, such as clothing, furniture, or electronics.
Flea Markets
Flea markets are markets where you sell a wide range of used and new items at discounted prices. This is a great way to sell your used items on weekends or holidays to people searching for a bargain.
3. Selling a Service
Next to selling used goods, selling a service is also a great way to make quick money from your laptop. But what kind of services and where can you advertise your services is the question, right? Let’s look into that below!
What kind of services can you offer?
- Writing
- Virtual assistance
- Graphic design
- Social media management
- Web design
- Social media graphic designer
- Email management
- Copywriting
- YouTube editor
- Voice-over artist
- Photography
- Data entry
- Transcription
- Podcast editor
- and more!
Where to Sell Your Services Online
Fiverr
Fiverr is an online marketplace where freelancers offer their services to clients worldwide. Fiverr offers a wide range of services across various categories, including writing, graphic design, programming, video editing, and more.
Clients can browse the services offered by freelancers (you!) and hire them at affordable prices. Although you’ll typically earn less on this site than you would with your own website, it isn’t just a $5 per gig site anymore. Some freelancers offer their services at reasonable rates, and you can do that too.
Upwork
Upwork is an online freelance platform that connects businesses and individuals with freelancers from around the world. Upwork offers various services across different categories, including writing, web development, graphic design, marketing, and more.
Businesses of all sizes can post job listings, browse through freelancer profiles, and hire them for their projects. Freelancers can also showcase their skills and experience, apply to job listings, and build their portfolios.
How Does Upwork Differ From Fiverr?
Fiverr is a marketplace where freelancers create their service listings, and businesses come to them for their expertise.
On Upwork, listings are created by businesses seeking to hire freelancers for work. You can search through available gigs and apply for whichever jobs interest you.
PeoplePerHour
PeoplePerHour is a worldwide platform that connects freelancers with people looking to hire. You’ll apply to become a freelancer on the site, and then you’ll create a profile, search for projects, and even list your skills and gigs to those looking to hire.
Contena
Contena is a site for freelance writers looking for writing gigs. You’ll need to apply to join this site as a writer. Once accepted, Contena gives you access to a job board, email job alerts, access to a database of company profiles, and more.
TextBroker
Like Contena, TextBroker allows freelancer writers to connect with companies needing writers. Once you’ve been accepted into their site, you’ll be able to browse writing assignments and apply to write the content for the company. Check out our article about freelance writing jobs for beginners.
4. Make Cash with Your Car
I’m willing to bet you’ve heard of how people can make money driving their vehicles. It’s a growing industry and one I don’t foresee going out of business anytime soon! If anything, it may continue to grow. This lets you jump in on the craze and make quick cash!
Some of the ways you can use your car for cash include:
- Driving people to and from where they need to go
- Delivering food to customers’ homes
- Delivering groceries to people’s homes
- Rent out your car when you aren’t using it
Driving People Around
Think of yourself as the modern-day cabby! Sign up via Lyft or Uber; the apps will connect you to customers needing a ride. You will need a valid driver’s license, must be 21 years of age or older, and pass a background check.
Before beginning, you’ll need to pass some training, and your vehicle must pass inspection. If you’re driving for Lyft or Uber, you’ll be paid weekly via a direct deposit.
Deliver Food
Delivering food to customers’ homes is becoming more popular nowadays, especially for those who don’t have reliable transportation to pick up their meals or people who want it delivered to their door. You can work for companies like Uber Eats or DoorDash if you are interested in this way to make fast cash. The fee you’re paid for each delivery can vary, depending on factors such as distance traveled and time of day.
Delivering groceries to people’s homes has quickly become a very popular service, especially for people who either can’t grocery shop due to lack of a vehicle or poor health or just flat-out hate grocery shopping.
You’ll need to pass a background check to work for Instacart. Once passed, you’ll be able to log into the site and choose shopping jobs. You’ll shop for the groceries and then deliver them to the customer’s door. You’ll be paid weekly via direct deposit.
Rent Out Your Car for Cash
Getaround is a car-sharing service that allows you to rent out your vehicle to those who need transportation. As a car renter with Getaround, you will be required to provide some basic information about your car, such as its make and model, and upload some photos.
Once approved, you’ll list your car on the platform and then set a price for the rental. You’ll have the option to approve or decline rental requests from potential renters. When someone rents your car, they’ll be able to unlock it and access the keys through the Getaround app. You’ll receive payment for each rental through direct deposit.
5. Rent Items for Money
Aren’t you just so excited by all the ways you can make money fast? In addition to selling goods, a service, or using your car to make money, there’s also renting your items for cash! In addition to renting out your car, did you know you can rent out your home, your land, and even more?
Let’s dive in!
Renting Your Land
Did you know that campers like to rent land? It has a name: Garden Camping. The appeal is to be close to amenities such as water, electricity, and bathrooms. So, renting your backyard will be just as good as if you have land out in the woods somewhere. I recommend checking out Home Camper if you’re interested in doing this!
Renting Your Home
I’m sure you’ve heard of Airbnb by now. If not, essentially, it’s a site that allows you to rent out your home, or just a private room, to people who are vacationing. This is ideal for customers who don’t want to stay in a hotel on vacation or need something bigger than one hotel room. And if you have the ability to rent out either a room or your entire home, it could be an excellent way to make money!
Rent Out Your Boat
If you are a boat owner and don’t want to let your boat go to waste sitting at a dock while being unused by you, why not rent it out? Check out BoatSetter and start renting your boat asap!
Rent Your Swimming Pool
Yep! You can even rent your swimming pool! Check out the site Swimply to start renting your pool. You can choose your hourly price, and Swimply even provides insurance for any potential damage.
Rent Your RV
If you own an RV and don’t live in it full-time, there is surely a lot of downtimes in which you could be renting it out! Check out RVShare or Rvezy to start renting out your RV when you aren’t using it.
Check out this article on how to rent for money for even more great ideas about what you can rent out for quick cash.
Wrapping it Up: Make Money Fast
I think we can all relate to needing cash quickly. Times get tough, bills pop up, people are laid off, and then you’re put in a place of hurry up and make money fast! It can happen to any of us at any point in our lives.
When and if this ever happens, I hope you’ll refer back to this page and be inspired and encouraged to try one of these four options for making money fast and the options for lowering monthly bills.
And, as you have seen, there are so many great ways to make money fast, and who knows, it might turn into a forever business for you!
