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If you are broke and desperately in need of money, welcome to the club, you’re not alone. We’ve all been in a tight jam and desperately needed money to get ourselves out. It’s part of life.
Sometimes it’s an unexpected expense or a recurring bill for which you now have no money.
Because we’ve experienced this problem also, we’ve got some insights on what to do when you need money fast. We would like to share those insights with you. We’ve compiled a list of 30 tips on how to raise money to get yourself out of a rut.
1. Get A Personal Loan
Taking out a loan is perhaps one of the best and fastest ways to get money when you need it urgently.
Depending on your credit score and how much money you need, you may find lenders willing to give you a loan in under 24 hours.
Other lenders may take up to three business days or more to approve your loan.
Below are some reputable financial services companies that will gladly give you a loan if you qualify.
WholesomeWallet Rating | WholesomeWallet Rating | WholesomeWallet Rating? |
Interest Rate | Interest Rate | Interest Rate |
Borrow Up To | Borrow Up To | Borrow Up To |
Best For | Best For | Best For |
2. Get A Side Gig Making Deliveries
If you want to make money as your own boss, and work at your own convenience, being a delivery driver for any of the below food and grocery delivery companies may be the way to go.
Drivers with these delivery companies make up to $22 an hour. That’s $880 for a 40-hour workweek.
While it is true you that signing up with a delivery company isn’t going to make you an instant buck, you can be assured of a direct deposit to your account within a week or two.
If you have an expense coming up and you need to raise money, consider signing to deliver for one of these companies.
How To Get Started: | How To Get Started: | How To Get Started: |
Pros: | Pros: | Pros: |
Make up to $20/hr | Make up to $22/hr | Make up to $25/hr |
3. Get Paid To Take Surveys
Taking surveys is a good way to make money during your leisure. All you have to do is answer simple questions about things you like and don’t like, how you feel about products or services you may have used, and about your habits.
While money from taking surveys is not going to pay off your mortgage or car note, it can certainly pay gas, lunch, or a Netflix subscription.
Here are three of the reputable survey companies, some even paying you to sign up. They are:
Best Survey Websites
- Prize Rebel
- Swagbucks ( $10) for signing up
- Survey Junkie
- Inbox Dollars
5. Get A Cash Advance Or A Salary Advance
Getting a cash advance is a great way to get money when you need it. You don’t even need a credit card to get a cash advance. Some banks would give you cash advance based on your checking account and debit card.
Several banks and apps that will give you cash advance when you need it. Some of them are:
- MoneyLion
- Brigit (get up to $250)
- Cash Advance
- Borrow Money
- Possible Finance (get up to $500 instantly)
6. Sell Unused Gift Cards
Do you have gift cards that you’re not going to use? Why not can them in and get some money in your pocket?
There are several places online where you can sell your unused gift cards — some of the major ones.
Places To Sell Your Gift Cards
7. Sell Your Clothes
Did you know that you can make hundreds of dollars by selling the clothes in your closet that you hardly use?
Let’s face it; you do have some items in your closet that you haven’t worn in years. Maybe it’s shoes, belts, hats, or clothes. Rather than let it sit in your closet, why now get rid of it on the following platforms?
Places To Sell Your Used and Unused Clothes
8. Have A Garage Sale
Do you have your garage and home cluttered with items you’re not going to use? A garage sale is a great way to get rid of them. Not only will you clean up your home and your life, but you will also raise some money.
It is not uncommon to raise $700 or more from garage sales.
Organize your sale and market on social media, on signposts, handbills, and to your friends and family. An excellent turn-out to the sale can translate to more money in your pocket.
9. Sell Plasma
Did you know that you make a quick $250 by selling plasma? Well, let me tell you all about it.
Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. It is responsible for regulating and stabilizing your blood pressure.
Anybody between the ages of 18 – 69 is eligible to donate plasma. You can get paid anywhere between $20 – $50 depending on the amount of plasma you give.
Donating plasma is good because you get to help society while at the same time making some money.
Here are some resources to consider if you are interested in selling or donating plasma:
10. Consider Babysitting
Do you have some free time on your hands? Rather than sitting around watching Netflix or twiddling your thumbs, why not make some money babysitting?
Babysitters earn as much as $25 an hour. If you put in 8 hours, that’s $200 in your pocket.
Here are some of the best babysitting websites you can join.
Best Babysitting Websites
11. Become A Dog Walker On Wag
Do you like dogs? Well, you can cash in on your passion by becoming a dog walker on the side. It is a great way to raise money when you need it. You don’t have to be a full-time dog walker, do it when you need to make ends meet.
There are many good dog walking apps out there. All you have to do is join one or two of those apps. You can accept and decline jobs base on your schedule and availability.
Below are some dog walking apps.
Best Dog Walking Apps
12. Get A Payday Loan
When I need money urgently, getting a payday loan is one of my least favorite things to do. That’s because most payday loans tend to be loan sharks, and they prey on the vulnerable.
However, if there’s absolutely no other option, then you got to do what you go to do.
Getting a payday loan should be the last option, especially if you’re not sure how to repay. That’s because payday loans can turn into nightmares.
However, if you are sure about how to repay, then, by all means, go ahead and get the loan. After all, you don’t have anywhere else to get the money.
13. Borrow Money From Friends And Family
You will be surprised how your financial situation could be solved simply by placing a phone call to a friend or family.
One of the keys to successfully borrowing money from your friends and family is developing the habit of paying back.
Nobody, including your friends and family, wants to lend money to someone who is not going to pay them back. But if you develop the habit of paying your debts, you should have no problem getting small loans from your friends and family.
14. Use Your Credit Card
Sometimes, there’s no way to get money from anywhere, and you are constrained to use your credit card. There’s nothing wrong with using your credit card to take care of urgent expenses. However, you need to replenish the money before the credit card company reports to the credit bureau. Failing to do so may affect your credit score negatively.
You can also use your credit card to get a cash advance. A cash advance is when you use your credit card to withdraw money from an ATM as you would with a debit card.
15. Sign Up With TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit, according to Wikipedia, is a mobile marketplace that matches freelance labor with local demand. It allows people to find immediate help with everyday tasks like plumbing, cleaning, delivery, moving, and handyman work.
If you have a special skill, you can find someone to pay you for those skills on Taskrabbit.
If for any reason you’re not comfortable using Taskrabbit, there are other apps just like it that you can use.
Apps Like TaskRabbit
- Takl
- Thumbtack
- Shiftgig
16. Try Day Labor – Craigslist
Just like on TaskRabbit, you can also offer services on Craigslist. All you have to do is get on Craigslist and look under the”Gig” section. There you will find creative work, day laborer work, writing jobs, and even housekeeping jobs.
Depending on your preference and skills, you can get a job that will pay you cash.
If I need money urgently, that will be one of the first places I’ll look.
17. Find Off The Books Jobs
Off the books, under the table jobs are a great way to raise money when you desperately need it. These jobs pay cash, and that’s good. The problem is, they aren’t formal, and it is difficult to know where to get them.
Also, doing under the table jobs will preclude you from getting social security credits. To qualify for social security, you should have at least 40 credits, which will take about ten years of work on the books.
Hopefully, getting an under-the-table job will be a temporary thing.
Places To Find Off The Books Jobs
- Craigslist (gig section)
- TaskRabbit
18. Drive For Uber and Lyft
Sign up to drive for Uber and Lyft. Notice, I did not say Uber “or” Lyft. You should sign up for both services because when you have the time to drive, you will have a lot of customers from both apps.
When you drive for only one of the apps, there will be times when you wouldn’t have a customer. You will have to either drive around or keep your car parked until a customer books you. That won’t be the case if you are using both apps.
Here are the links to sign up for both apps.
- Uber
- Lyft
19. Do Freelance Work
According to Forbes, over 57 million American participates in the gig economy. The gig economy is a subsection of the labor market that is characterized by freelance and contract work.
If you need money urgently, why not consider getting in the gig economy? You can freelance on any of the freelancing websites on the internet.
Best Freelancing Websites (Sign Up and Start Making Money)
If you don’t have a particular right now, you can provide voice-overs. There are people online looking for voice-overs in your particular accent. If you can talk, you can make money on Fiverr.
20. Do Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the act of referring customers to businesses and getting a percentage on the sale. It is one of the most common ways to make money online.
There are many affiliate programs out there with zero barriers to entry. Most people start with the Amazon affiliate program. But you can also become an affiliate for the services you already use.
For example, Lyft and Uber have referral programs. You can start making money by referring your friends and family to the service.
You can also use your social media friends and contacts to sell affiliate products or share affiliate links.
21. Write Articles And Get Paid
Are you good at writing? If you are, that’s good for you because I’m not a good writer. Writing is not easy; however, with constant practice, you can improve your skills and make money from it.
There are companies and blogs online that are willing you pay you very well to write. Some will pay as much as $250 per article.
Places That Pay You To Write
22. Rent Your Space On Airbnb
Do you have a spare room in your home? Why not do an occasional rental? Using Airbnb as opposed to regular lease will allow you the flexibility to rent your space out on your time and schedule.
Regular rentals leases are relatively long, and you are compelled to deal with the tenant until their lease is over.
You can rent your room out only on weekends or when you’re on vacation. With Airbnb, the choice is totally up to you.
Sign up for Airbnb right here.
23. Drop-Ship Online
Drop-shipping is sometimes called retail arbitrage. It is a situation where you find something cheap on one website and sell it for a profit on another website.
With drop shipping, you don’t have to see or touch the item physically. All you have to do is list it on your website or your eBay page. When someone buys it, you go to the site where it is cheaper, buy it and have it shipped to your customer as a gift.
You are sending it as a gift because you don’t want your customer to see how much you paid for the item.
One way to be successful at doing this is getting a browser extension that will find inexpensive items all over the internet. The extensions will also find coupons, deals, and promotions.
Best Extensions For Online Shopping
24. Consider Doing Odd Jobs
Have you heard about the website called Angie’s List? It is a great place to list your services.
You don’t have to be certified to find work on Angie’s List. You can do odd jobs like helping people to move, providing janitorial services, cleaning homes, construction work, and many similar jobs.
If you need money urgently or need to make ends meet, Angie’s List is a great place to look.
25. Deliver Groceries
Do you like shopping? Well, you can get paid to do it. With apps like Instacart and Shipt, you can make money buying and delivering groceries to people.
Don’t worry, you’re not going to spend your money buying the groceries. The Instacart or Shipt customer will pay for all the groceries, and all you have to do is buy and deliver it. You’re something like a personal shopper, except you shop for groceries.
This gig pays between $7 and $20 an hour. All you have to do is sign up and start shopping.
Best Grocery Delivery Apps
26. Rent Your Car Out
I know you’ve heard about services like Airbnb that allows you to rent a room in your house. But have you heard about services that let you rent your car out?
Turo is an app that lets you rent your car out and make money doing so. You can sign up for Turo, get your car inspected and start earning money.
If you want to know more about Turo, read our review right here.
Related: Turo Car Rental: Is Turo Car Rental Sketchy
27. Check Piggy Banks And Clothes Pockets
You will be surprised by how easily we forget money in our pockets, wallets, books, and nightstand drawers.
If you need cash and there’s no way out, consider checking your clothes and all over your home for spare change. You may be surprised by what you find.
28. Take Advantage Sign Up Bonuses
Do you get promotional offers that promise sign-up bonuses? Why not take advantage of them. Some banks offer up to $500 sign-up bonus and it is a good idea to take the offer if you get it.
Even though the offer money is not a recurring income, it is still worth it.
29. Make Money On Social Media
Did you know that it is possible to make tons of money on social media? You can start a YouTube channel or an Instagram page, grow your following and monetize your content.
There are people making thousands of dollars on social media and you can do the same.
Even though this is not a quick fix for your immediate financial situation, over time, it can become a solid side gig. In fact, the earning potential is so huge on social media, if you do it right, I can become a full-time income.
30. Become A Virtual Assistant
Are you good at research, data entry, or proofreading? You can become a virtual assistant and make some money.
Clik here to view.
Sign up with websites like Fiverr and Upwork, and start earning money with your skills.
According to available data, you can earn up to $35 an hour doing this, especially on Upwork.
1. Make Money By Pawning Your Stuff
Pawning your stuff to raise money is not the most comfortable choice, but it is practical. It is one of the most common ways people get money when they have an urgent need. It is an age-old practice that’s still very popular today.
Most people without savings, and facing an immediate expense of $200 to $400 will consider pawning their belongings to raise the needed funds.
There’s nothing wrong with pawning your belongings to raise money. It is perfectly okay, especially if you are going to use the money for something important.
For example, if your love-one needs to be bailed out of jail and you don’t have the money, pawning your valuables to raise the money would be a reasonable thing to do. Not only will you raise the cash quickly, but you will also help someone you love.
You only need to conduct a simple Google search for pawn shops and you will come up with a plethora of options.
The post I Need Money Now: 30 Ways to Earn Cash When You’re In Desperate Need appeared first on WholesomeWallet - Get Better With Money.