Now more than ever, millions of people are in need of quick cash to pay for emergencies, cover their bills, or even buy food. While that is pretty bleak, there are also now more ways to make quick money than ever before.
With that in mind, here are nine ways to get money fast — most without leaving your house:
Ask Your Boss for a Salary Advance
Do you have a job but need to cover an unexpected bill this month? Make life easier by asking your boss for a raise or salary advance to cover the bill. You don’t need to ask for the whole two weeks or a month ahead of time, but you can ask them to take what you need ASAP and give it to you with your current check. But be prepared to explain why you need it!
Use ‘Get Paid To’ Sites
There’s a long list of sites that cater to people who need extra cash and need it ASAP.
You don’t need a special skill or a long list of friends for referrals. There are companies who will pay you just to hang out online. Some of the most reputable companies include:
- Wonder
- Swagbucks
- User Testing
- Smart Panel
- Inbox Dollars
- mobileXpression
You won’t earn thousands, but these sites are a great way to keep money trickling into your account. And in most cases, you don’t need to do anything more than use your phone or computer as normal!
Take Surveys Online
Online surveys are a classic way to make a few extra bucks.
Some of the websites listed above offer surveys and these are great options. A few other survey websites for money making include:
- Prize Rebel
- Vindale Research
- MySurvey
- Opinion Outpost
- Global Test Market
Set up an account and get surveying. The sites are free to use!
Negotiate Your Rent
Does your landlord consider you to be a good tenant? Then try negotiating your rent. Finding a new tenant is expensive, and good tenants can be hard to find, so ask your landlord for a rent decrease in exchange for good behavior. While it’s not a guaranteed way to make money, it can be a safe way to create wiggle room in your budget and help you avoid going into debt.
Sell Items on Facebook Marketplace, eBay or OfferUp
If you have stuff lying around your house that you don’t need or even use, consider selling it quickly to get some extra money. Sites like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and eBay make it easy to offload items in exchange for cash.
Go Freelance
Do you have a skill that’s in demand? Consider offering up your freelance services to earn money now and over the next few months. You don’t need a marketing budget to start a freelance gig. Create profiles on popular freelance platforms, and you’ll find that work comes to you. Some of the best platforms include:
- Upwork
- Fiverr
- TaskRabbit
There’s no shortage of work on these sites in pretty much any field that you can freelance in. So why not give it a go? And if you’re worried about going freelance or don’t fit into some of the more in-demand skills, then consider joining the gig economy instead. PostMates, InstaCart, and UberEats are easy ways to make extra money when you’re not already at work.
Find a Payday Loan
If you need $500 or more and you need it today, then you might be tempted to consider looking at payday loans online because they’re faster than the typical personal loan; in fact, you can usually get your money within 24 hours. However, payday loans come with extremely high interest rates. So it’s important that it only be used a last resort.
Get a Credit Card Cash Advance
If you have some space on your credit card you might be able to take out a cash advance from your card. Most credit cards come with two limits: the credit and the cash limit. Cash advances allow you to transfer money into your checking account or even take it out at an ATM. However, you need to remember that cash advances usually come with punitive fees — and the annual percentage rate (APR) is likely much higher than your typical interest rate; as a result, like payday loans, they’re not a very smart way to borrow.
Extend Your Credit Limit
Banks have the discretion to do temporarily or even permanently extend your credit limit to give you more spending power. So, if you make regular, on-time payments and you’re a good customer, give your provider a call. Asking never hurts!
Need Money? You’ve Got Options
The average American can’t cover a $400 emergency, so if you find yourself in a place where you need money now, you’re not alone. The good news is that there are simple ways to earn money, and most don’t require you to spend anything but your time to get it. The key is in avoiding costly those options that can often leave you worse off than before.
Photo Credit: Tax Credits