You’re in a pinch. You’ve done everything you know to do, but you’re painfully behind on your bills with no relief in sight. You keep thinking to yourself, “I need money now,” but you have no idea where to get started, and your checking account is empty.
Yes, people are talking about how they make an income online, but many of the options they share need months to implement. And the truth is, you need more income pretty much yesterday.
If this is you, you’re definitely not alone. We’ve all been there. The key thing to remember is that you can earn fast if you need money right now.
It’s simply figuring out how. Ready? Let’s jump right in!
How to earn more if you are thinking, “I need money now!”
We’ve all felt that “I need money right now” pressure. You might need funds to cover basic expenses like utilities or a car payment, or something extra that’s come up. So here are some quick and easy ways to get some extra income when you need money now!
1. Flip or sell items to earn cash
If someone tells you that you need to spend money to make money, it isn’t always true. Sites such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace let users list items for sale at no upfront cost. All you need is a phone and an internet connection.
If you need money right now, the best way to get started is to look through your house for any items you can sell online. Or you can buy things for a less expensive price and resell them for more money (flipping).
How to sell items
In this age of decluttering, who wants to hold on to excess baggage when there’s the option to offload AND make an income while you’re doing it? It’s also a great thing to do on your days off from your full-time job.
Take a good look at the inventory in your home – going room by room. Items that could do well include books, furniture, electronics, jewelry, or unique one-of-a-kind vintage items.
How to flip items
If you have any items of value around your house that you can clean up/paint/ etc., you can flip them. Then you can use the income to pay bills and also buy more inventory to flip. Sell the items online or to your friends and neighbors.
2. Sign up to run errands on Task Rabbit
Task Rabbit took the gig economy by storm, and it’s a smart option if you need money now. You’ll be surprised at just how many people need an extra hand to help them manage their day-to-day tasks in exchange for cash.
Tasks range from running errands for the elderly, going on grocery shopping runs for the busy entrepreneur, cleaning, and escorting a patient to and from surgery – the list is endless.
Getting started with TaskRabbit
To sign up, you will be charged a non-refundable registration fee which is currently $25. Once you sign up, you will create a mini-blurb about your services and block out your available windows on the app. That way, you can easily be matched with tasks that align with your skills and availability.
To be successful on this app, complete a profile that really showcases your skills, dependability, and experience with similar tasks.
3. Drive for Uber / Lyft
If you own a car, love driving, and love meeting new people, a rideshare gig may be the perfect fit for you. Services such as Uber and Lyft let drivers clock in and out according to their own chosen schedules.
Aside from the monetary benefit, which can be quite lucrative, especially during surge pricing (higher pricing during peak traffic hours), driving others around also comes with many added benefits. For instance, being your own boss and having freedom from the 9 to 5 corporate structure.
4. Work odd jobs
If you’re thinking, “I need money right now to put food on the table”, working odd jobs is an equally viable option. While it may entail more hands-on work, it could make the difference between being short on cash for another month and being able to meet your financial obligations.
Types of jobs
Jobs in this category include working at a car wash and pet sitting (try Rover to connect with dog owners). Other side gig options are laundry services, cleaning homes, running grocery errands, cooking, cutting someone’s grass, or raking their backyard. The list is endless, and the opportunities are readily available.
5. Sign up to do childcare
It can be expensive to raise kids, and one significant cost parents have to figure out is daycare. Some parents are fortunate to have family in the area that can help with this, but most, especially in big cities, need to hire help with this task.
That’s where you come in. Babysit or become a childcare provider, and you can spend your day minding the children while the parents are away at work. Look for childcare opportunities on care.com.
6. Do surveys
While this certainly won’t make you wealthy and can take up a good amount of time, participating in online surveys has been known to rake in extra dollars for participants.
There are literally hundreds of survey sites offering these services. However, not all are made equal and proper diligence needs to go into exploring your options.
A good option to consider is Swagbucks. Another one is Survey Junkie, which gives you points for surveys that you can convert into cash.
7. Rent out part of your home on Airbnb
Realistically, most people use a fraction of their homes on a day-to-day basis, unless it’s a tiny apartment. That’s a lot of potential to earn extra income with Airbnb if you need cash fast!
In fact, the income potential from renting your additional room out via Airbnb is likely higher than what you make from sharing the space with a roommate.
Airbnb concerns
What one person would pay in rent for the month could be made in several days on Airbnb. It may be rather intimidating to invite a complete stranger into your home. However, the truth is that the number of incidents that occur through the platform is minimal.
Additionally, Airbnb has checks and balances in place to protect you as the landlord. For instance, giving you the option to request that the guest provides Airbnb with a copy of their identification documents.
Check the laws in your area before you start. Airbnb offers some guidelines around what regulations you can expect for your city.
How to start the process
Beyond the regulations and your initial diligence process, the next step will be to put out a well-optimized listing. Imagine yourself as a complete stranger to a new city who is looking for somewhere to stay.
Remember, most people you will host will know next to nothing about your area. So the quality of your listing will either make or break your chances of success.
Make sure to provide lots of great quality information about the unit, the neighborhood, transport, and distance to major attractions, and take high-quality photos.
8. Get a roommate
Although renting part of your home as an Airbnb will make you more of an income, you may want to consider a roommate as a simpler option. With a roommate, you can charge rent and possibly split the bills to reduce your living costs.
Of course, before you go this route, be sure to ask your landlord if you’re allowed to have a roommate. Find a roommate by using your network of friends and family.
You can also list an ad somewhere, like on Facebook Marketplace. A roommate is an excellent option if you need money now!
9. Negotiate your bill with a payment plan
Businesses would likely much rather secure a subscriber over the long term instead of losing the customer because he or she failed to make a payment.
If you are struggling to pay a specific bill, call up representatives from the company, let them know your situation, and demonstrate your desire and commitment to paying your dues. It’s possible the specialists will help you with alternative payment arrangements.
10. Pawn some items
To get some extra cash, look for items around your home that you might be able to pawn as collateral for a loan. When you pawn something you’ll get a loan and they’ll hold onto the item for you. It can be a temporary solution to the “I need money right now” problem.
But be sure to pay it back in time. It’s usually a short period like 30 days, though this depends on the shop.
11. Make use of gift cards
Maybe your ATM withdrawals have become very limited. You don’t want to resort to a credit card cash advance or a home equity loan, so look through your wallet for unused gift cards.
You can use them to pay for necessary expenses like groceries for the time being. It could be the difference between making ends meet and not having enough.
12. Have a garage sale
A garage sale won’t make you rich, but if you have a lot of extra stuff and need money now to pay for unexpected expenses, it could be just what you need. Plan to sell anything you can, and advertise on Facebook and social media, plus good old-fashioned signs outside.
Pick a Saturday or Sunday and set up outside. Remember to have change, and mark the prices for the items. You could make several hundred bucks or more.
13. Ask for overtime at work
One of the easiest ways to remedy your “I need money now” situation is to ask if you can work overtime. Sometimes we spend hours and hours trying to figure out the best way to make additional funds when the opportunity is staring us in the face.
Advantages to overtime
If your job offers the opportunity to work extra shifts, you’re in a great position to earn more cash quickly. Some additional benefits of working overtime include the fact that you incur no additional costs to get to and from work.
You may also require no additional training, and you automatically contribute more to your retirement nest egg through your existing payment arrangements. Talk to your employer if you haven’t explored the opportunity yet.
14. Return unnecessary purchases
In this day of online shopping, it is not uncommon to buy something you think you love only to try it at home and realize that you actually don’t need it. Online shopping is notoriously the cause of a ton of overspending.
Many people stop here and accumulate heaps of unwanted items because of the hassle of processing a return. If you need cash today to pay bills, check the return policy on items you bought. Many stores have generous return policies you can benefit from.
15. Ask friends or family for help if you need cash quickly (with a plan to pay them back)
Your immediate support system can be a good go-to source for help in those moments when your finances are not lining up well. However, you should approach this option with caution.
Borrowing any amount of cash from close ties and failing to pay it back can lead to a breakdown in relationships. Understandably, life happens, and sometimes there is no other option than to go down this route.
If you do borrow from friends or family as your lender, clearly articulate a realistic repayment term for when you can get the money back to them. Then do everything in your power to stick to your repayment schedule or pay it off faster.
16. Consider taking out a loan (that you can afford to pay back)
If you’ve tried all the above and none of the options seems feasible for you, then you may have to explore the option of taking out a loan or increasing your credit limit with a new credit card. However, approach with caution.
Tips for taking out loans
If banks or credit unions offer you a $10,000 personal loan and you only need $500, be careful not to fall for the temptation of getting a big windfall. At the end of the day, you will have to pay back the loan amount – with interest.
Set realistic expectations and carefully review all the loan terms before committing to the loan. Also, be sure to build your repayments into your budget, setting a goal to pay off your debt as soon as you can.
Do your best to avoid payday loans though. Even getting a loan at a pawn shop may be a cheaper option than a payday loan.
You may be able to check with your employer about a salary advance if you really need cash fast. Whatever you do, what out for a high-interest rate when considering loans, and remember that borrowers should consider only borrowing the minimum they need, not a ton of extra.
17. Sell plasma and save a life
It might sound crazy, but selling your plasma is a quick way to make money. According to DonatingPlasma.org, “Plasma is the clear, straw-colored liquid portion of blood that remains after red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and other cellular components are removed.” Donating helps people with multiple diseases and injuries.
There are many donation centers where you can donate plasma and get paid well. An option like this can help you make a lump sum of cash fast when you really need it.
18. Spend less and save more
If you’re living paycheck to paycheck this may not be an option. But if you find that you need more cash but not all of your paycheck is going towards paying bills, you may have more cash than you realize. There’s a pretty easy way to find out if you can spend less and save the difference.
Subtract your net take-home pay monthly from your monthly bills. If you come up with a positive amount, that’s good news! You have some funds to spare. And you can start saving this in case you need it, and also look for ways you can spend less.
You can spend less by cutting out anything that is non-essential such as ordering pizza, shopping online, or even those extra 5 bucks spent on coffee. It’s not a forever thing, but spending less and saving, for now, can really help you out later.
19. Sell tech items you don’t need
If you have an old phone that you no longer use, a laptop, or some other device, this can be one of your best options to make money today. It’s a great short-term solution when you need cash, and using a site like Decluttr is the perfect place to start.
You can also make a good amount of money. For example, if you have a newer model iPhone to sell, you could make hundreds or even over $1000 from it!
How to avoid being in a place where you find yourself saying, “I need money now!”
It could be time to think about your financial habits and make some changes.
Here are a few ways to stop being broke or quit finding yourself in desperate need of money!
Set up an emergency fund
Emergency funds exist for unexpected moments. When you face unexpected circumstances beyond your immediate control, having cash can be the difference between taking on additional debt and comfortably cruising through a tough patch in life.
An emergency fund is essentially a savings account exclusively dedicated to helping you through life’s emergency expenses.
An emergency could be medical bills, car repairs, or job loss. The size of the fund largely depends on your lifestyle choices, though many choose somewhere between three months and a year’s worth of expenses.
Get in the habit of building a sinking fund
If you have large one-time expenses coming up, the best way to prepare is by putting a sinking fund in place. Sinking funds are essentially extra cash you set aside for a specific one-time purpose. It can include setting aside part of your pay for a new couch, paying for a wedding, or buying a new car.
Sinking funds can be an excellent way to ensure that your budget remains balanced throughout the year without looking for additional income or taking on debt. Planning ahead by setting up a sinking fund is the best way to avoid the “I need money right now” scenario!
Establish multiple streams of income
Income diversification can take place in so many ways – the choice is yours. Trade time for income by doing work such as house or pet sitting. Invest in the stock market and grow your income through asset appreciation.
Focus on passive streams of income such as peer-to-peer lending. Invest in real estate by buying properties that will bring in rental income. You could even start a side hustle.
As you can see, there are a ton of options, and anyone at any income level can start earning more.
Try these tips if you need money now!
Like anything worth doing, earning an income requires some hard work and commitment. Just because you might be in a bind now doesn’t mean it has to be permanent. Use these tips if you need funds quickly, and be sure to start saving up for emergencies.
By financially preparing for unexpected events, you will prevent yourself from being in the “I need money now” loop! In addition, find other ways to save money fast like money-making apps and learning how to budget better.
