Are you in a position where you need to make some quick cash? Sometimes things happen that we didn’t see coming and we need a way to earn some money in a hurry.
Maybe your car suddenly broke down and needs an expensive repair. Perhaps you received an unexpected medical bill in the mail for something you thought your insurance covered. Or maybe you were just laid off from work and need to come up with some money to cover the rent.
When life throws a curveball in your direction, it can be easy to fall into despair at the thought of having to come up with some fast cash to cover your expenses. Thankfully though, there are some things you can do to earn extra money when the need arises.
The following are some of the best savvy things you can do when you need some quick cash.
1. Sell Stuff You Are No Longer Using
Do you have a closet full of stuff you are no longer using that is just taking up space? Maybe you have a wall of boxes filled with old stuff stacked in a corner in your basement. If so, you may be able to sell those things to get some quick cash out of them.
It’s never been easier to sell used items. It’s no longer necessary to have a yard sale and hope that people stop by and buy all of your stuff. You can now list your products for sale online for free and potentially reach thousands of shoppers.
There are now many great options for listing used items for sale online such as Craigslist as well as a plethora of Craigslist alternatives. Additionally, many communities now have Facebook groups for buying and selling that you can join.
If you do list used items online, be sure to take pictures of the items in good lighting. Also, be sure to write detailed product descriptions so that people will have a good understanding of the item, its condition, and any other relevant information.
When you sell items, be sure to always meet buyers in a safe place in your community. Also, be sure to tell someone where you are going when you leave and an approximate time when you will be returning.
2. Flip Used Items on eBay
This is one of my favorite ways to earn quick cash, and it’s not as hard to do as you may think.
The idea is simple – you source used items that people are selling in your community and then flip them for a profit on eBay. By listing items on eBay, you can reach a nationwide audience and your products could potentially be seen by thousands of interested buyers.
Where do you find products to flip?
There are many places where you can shop for used items including flea markets, thrift stores, auctions, yard sales, and other places. Many flippers also shop for products right from their homes. Thanks to the internet, you can shop for items in your community through Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and other online marketplaces for buying and selling.
When you source products to flip, you want to look for things that are selling for below their market value. You can easily see what items are selling for by looking them up on eBay and other places using your smartphone.
3. Clean Homes and Offices
Another way that you may be able to earn some quick cash is to offer to clean homes and offices for people. This is something you may be able to do in your spare time of the evenings and weekends.
Residential and commercial cleaning is tough work, but it usually pays well. Many people prefer to hire someone to clean their homes for them so they can rest after working long hours at their jobs. The last thing they may want to do on their days off is sweep, vacuum, dust, and scrub toilets.
In addition to cleaning homes, there may also be some businesses in your community that are looking for someone to clean their offices, showrooms, warehouses, and other commercial spaces.
In addition to being a way to earn money fast, cleaning homes and offices is also an affordable business venture to start. It’s possible, in fact, to start a cleaning business in your spare time and slowly ramp up your operations as you take on more clients.
4. Deliver Food
Ordering takeout is very common. Many people prefer to have someone else do the cooking for them after working all day long. Coming home from work to spend the next two hours cooking and cleaning isn’t very appealing.
While some restaurants do deliver, not all do. That’s where food delivery apps like DoorDash comes in.
DoorDash is an app that connects those who want to have food delivered with people who are willing to do the job. The service is currently offered in over 4,000 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
The DoorDash concept is very similar to Uber insofar as it requires you to have a smartphone with the DoorDash app installed. It’s is a very flexible way to earn money that lets you choose your own hours and know exactly how much you’ll make before you accept an order.
To get started delivering food for DoorDash, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a car, scooter, or bicycle
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Have a social security number (United States only)
- Agree to a background check
Signing up for DoorDash is a very simple four-step process:
- Submit an application
- Choose your driver orientation
- Complete the signup
- Install the app and start working
DoorDash represents a great opportunity to earn some quick cash. It’s also a great way to earn some extra money if you have a goal that you are saving up for. This is an opportunity that you can continue doing well into the future.
While DoorDash is one of the best food delivery options, it isn’t the only one. Check out these other best delivery apps and see if they might work for you.
5. Do Odd Jobs
If you need to earn some quick cash, a great way to get the revenue stream flowing is to do odd jobs for people in your town or city. Many people need various things done in and around their homes but don’t have the time to do them. Others may prefer to hire someone to do these things for them so they can enjoy their days off from work.
A few odd jobs you may be able to do to earn some quick cash include:
- Mowing Lawns
- Landscaping
- Washing Windows
- Staining and Sealing Decks
- Pressure Washing Walkways
- Cleaning and Organizing Garages
- Running Errands
To get the word out that you are willing to do odd jobs, you could advertise in Craigslist or a local publication. Craigslist actually has a section called “Gigs” dedicated to people looking for odd jobs done. You could also post about your services in a local Facebook group. You should also sign up for TaskRabbit, a site which lets you offer hundreds of services to people in your area.
6. Become an Amazon Flex Delivery Partner
Amazon is now the largest retailer in the world, and there’s currently no sign of it slowing down. To help the company deliver the tens of thousands of packages it sends out from its warehouses every single day, the company has partnered with independent contractors to get the job done.
If you have a driver’s license, a vehicle you can fit some packages in, and some spare time, you may be able to partner with the company to deliver packages in your community. According to the Amazon Flex website, contractors earn $18-$25 per hour on average.
7. Freelance on Upwork
Another way to earn some extra money fast is to offer your services as a freelancer on Upwork, a site that connects freelancers with those looking for people to do work for them.
There are many different services that you can offer on Upwork. Just a few include:
- Freelance Writing
- Graphic Design
- Website Design
- Editing and Proofreading
- Translating
- Transcription
- Data Entry
- Video Editing
How much you can earn as a freelancer on Upwork varies quite a bit. There are some who are just looking for the most affordable freelancers they can find. There are some good-paying gigs on the platform – but it does take some work to find them.
8. Tutor Kids
If you have some specialized knowledge in a subject or a skill of some kind, you may be able to earn some quick cash by tutoring kids in your neighborhood. Maybe you’re good at math or grammar, or perhaps you play a musical instrument. There are many subjects that people need help with.
In addition to tutoring kids, you may also be able to tutor college students. You don’t necessarily have to be an expert to tutor someone, you just need to know the subject reasonably well and be able to effectively communicate and demonstrate how to do things.
Plus, there are a plethora of online tutoring and teaching jobs available now as well that may help you earn some extra income.
9. Teach Classes on Something You Know
Another way you may be able to earn some extra money is to teach a class of some kind in your community. Many community centers, for example, offer classes on various subjects. Similar to tutoring, you don’t have to be an expert in a subject to teach it. You just have to know more than the people you are teaching.
This is a great way to earn money from a hobby. Just a few things you may be able to teach include:
- Gardening
- Dancing
- Photography
- Drawing and Painting
- Crafting
- Woodworking
- Cooking
- Magic
- Singing
- Acting
Another possibility to consider is to become a certified CPR instructor through the American Heart Association or the Red Cross and teach CPR. CPR is taught at many community colleges, community centers, and other places. Many companies even require their employees to be CPR certified.
As a CPR instructor, you may be able to charge $35-$50 per person. If you have a group of 20 people, for example, that would come to $700 – $1,000. Not bad for a day’s work.
It’s important to point out that as a CPR instructor, you will have to obtain CPR mannequins and other equipment – there is an upfront cost to getting started.
10. Rent Out Your Car
Another way that you may be able to earn some quick cash is to rent out your car if you aren’t using it on certain days of the week. If your car is sitting idle, you may as well make some money with it.
Renting your car is now very easy thanks to apps that connect people who need to rent a car with those who have one to rent. The process is very easy, and it’s very similar to renting a home through Airbnb.
There are several online options you can use to rent out your car. They include:
Each platform operates a little differently, so be sure to check each one out and read the fine print before choosing one.
How much can you make renting your vehicle?
It depends. It’s kind of like asking “how long is a piece of string?” How much you earn by renting your vehicle will depend on which platform you select, how many days a week you are willing to rent your vehicle, the type of vehicle you own, the current demand, whether you live in a city or rural area, and other things.
11. House or Pet Sit
You’ve probably been asked to house or pet sit for someone, but did you know you can actually make a nice side income from it?
You can now use house sitting jobs as a way to frugally travel or to make a few extra bucks with services like Home Exchange or House Sitter. The majority of these platforms charge a yearly fee to join, but the upside is that they vet the users and thus are relatively safe.
If house sitting isn’t for you but you love pets, another option to make some quick cash is to pet sit. Rover, for example, offers a plethora of pet service jobs including pet sitting in your home, pet check-ins, and walking.
12. Use Apps
Yet another great way to get some quick cash is to use download and use apps on your phone.
There are a ton of apps out there that can earn you some fast cash, whether it’s playing games using Mistplay, taking surveys with Survey Junkie, or being rewarded for shopping you’re already doing.
While these apps won’t make you rich, regular use can add up and allow you to get that quick cash you need. Check out our list of the best apps to make money fast and get started today.
13. Earn Cash Back
Many personal finance pundits will tell you to never use credit cards. While it is important to be cautious and careful when using credit cards, they can also provide you some nice perks.
There are many different types of credit cards, but cash back credit cards are the best for getting quick cash. Here’s how it works.
Many cash back cards will offer you a sign-up bonus for spending a certain amount within the first couple months. As long as you can meet the spending requirement with your everyday expenses, you’ll be earning some quick cash for spending money you were already planning/needing to spend.
Many cards offer $200 – $500 sign-up bonuses, making them very lucrative. Plus, once you’ve earning the sign-up bonus you can continue to earn cash back just for putting your everyday expenses on the card.
Getting cash for spending cash, yes please!
How To Earn Quick Cash – Final Thoughts
Did you realize there were so many ways to earn extra money fast? If you are in a position where you need to generate revenue in a hurry, you do have options.
Something to consider is to combine some of the strategies on this list to earn even more. Who says you have to do just one?
You could, for example, clean homes and offices and flip used things on eBay. Another possibility is to freelance on Upwork and tutor kids in your neighborhood. There are many possibilities. It depends a lot on how much free time you have and how much extra money you need to earn.
If you have the initiative and you aren’t afraid of a little hard work, it’s definitely possible to earn some quick cash when the need arises.
