If you get into a money crunch – or just want to make some extra cash to put toward a goal – where do you turn first? There are lots of ways to make money online, but not all of them are fast.
So, we wanted to put together ways to get money either right away or within a couple of days. Because sometimes you can’t wait to get money flowing into your account.
Here are ideas to get you started.
Want to Make Money Fast? Try These 9 Actions to Improve Your Cash Flow Today
We’ll rank them in order of speed, with immediate options at the top, and ways that take a couple of days at most toward the bottom. And many of these don’t require you to have special skills – just bring yourself and start making money!
1. Donate your plasma
This one is tried and true. Not only do you get paid right away, but you also get to do good for your community. Donating plasma isn’t as hard on your body as donating blood because the red blood cells are replaced as you go. The downside is donating plasma can take some time, but usually only a couple of hours at most.
You can make an extra $40 to $70+ in a day and can donate up to a few days per week. You can stand to make up to a couple of hundred extra dollars per week. That can be enough to bail you out of a jam, or you could contribute toward your savings goals while helping others at the same time.
2. Baby sit or pet sit
If you’ve ever raised children or pets, consider watching them for your friends and neighbors. Folks are always going out for the evening or heading out of town for a few days. You can offer to watch their kids and charge by the hour, or charge per day to watch dogs and other pets. Do a little research to see what normal hourly and daily rates are where you live.
The good part about this is you get paid the same day, and usually with cash or instant transfer. And if you don’t want to keep pets at your home, you can offer to stay at the pet owner’s place while they’re away.
Ask around to see if your network knows anyone looking for a sitter. You can start right away and get paid as soon as you start.
3. Sell old clothes to a secondhand shop
If it’s been a while since you cleaned out your closet, you might be storing potential dollars! Many secondhand, consignment, and vintage stores will offer cash on the spot for clothing you no longer wear, especially if you have designer or unique items.
I personally did this before a move and ended up getting a few hundred dollars for lugging old clothes across town. I was happy to be rid of them and used the cash I earned to put toward moving expenses.
4. Sell books, music, games, and movies to a local bookstore
Here’s another quick win. If you have media lying around your house – anything from books and textbooks, CDs, DVDs, video games, and more – chances are your local used book shop will be happy to pay you for them.
I’ve taken boxes of books to local bookstores and walked out with cash. I made sure to keep books or movies I knew I’d read or reference again and got rid of everything else. Not only did I end up with more space but was able to use the cash for an unexpected expense that had popped up.
5. Do yard work
There’s always a need for yard work. Folks want to keep up their home, but not everyone enjoys taking care of the yard, which includes things like mowing, raking, and shoveling snow. If you have a yard, chances are you already have some of the tools you need. And the added benefit is getting exercise and staying active outside.
You could get business cards printed or pass out flyers. Or you could go knocking door to door and offer your services, especially if you see a yard full of leaves or overgrown grass in spring or summer.
You might be surprised at the response. And again, you’ll get paid as soon as the job is done.
6. Download the Earnin app to access $100
- Link: Download Earnin
Earnin is an app that allows you to advance up to $100 from your upcoming paycheck when you need extra cash. It’s not a lot but could be just the thing that prevents you from overdrafting or paying extra fees.
You can use the app if you have:
- Over 50% of your checking sent via direct deposit to a checking account
- A set pay schedule (like monthly, weekly, or bi-weekly)
- A fixed work location OR an online timekeeping system
Earnin app doesn’t charge fees on the cash they advance, and you’ll repay out of your next check. As you use the app more, the maximum you can advance increases up to $500, and is based on your repayment history.
You can also earn rewards and set up automatic cash outs in the app when you link your existing checking account. So this app can definitely help you monitor your cash flow and be a big help when you need it.
7. Sell items on the LetGo app
- Link: Download LetGo
If you have anything around you’re not using, you can sell it locally on the LetGo app. It’s easy to list your items, and you can sell anything from housewares to furniture to clothes – and anything else you have lying around!
LetGo has 20 million monthly active users, so chances are there are people in your area scoping out what you’ll list for sale. It might take a day or two to sell your items, but you get paid right away. Plus, you get more space and all the benefits of decluttering.
If you have lots of stuff to get rid of, this is a quick way to profit!
8. Have a yard or garage sale
This one’s a classic! Round up things you aren’t using, set up a few tables in front of your house, and stick up a sign to attract people driving by. Everyone loves a garage sale, especially on a nice weekend day. You can even post about it online to give folks a heads up and describe a few of the items you want to part with.
You could easily make a hundred dollars or more. Even better, you can partner with a neighbor or two and turn it into a fun day-long event. Plus, you get paid immediately – and you can use the opportunity to do some deep cleaning around the house.
9. Get a catering or banquet server job
You’d be amazed at how fast you can start working as a caterer or banquet server. Not only do you not need any experience, but many companies have so many events that you can pick and choose which ones you want to work.
It isn’t hard, though it does require you to stand for long periods of time – so bring comfy shoes! All you have to do is look presentable and bring out set dishes or offer snacks to guests. Many of these gigs pay well above minimum wage, and you can work as much or as little as you want. And the onboarding is fast. In many instances, you can sign-up and begin working as soon as the same day.
I’ve done this a time or two for extra cash, and always gotten paid quickly. And the work is simple. This can be tough to juggle if you already have a full-time job, but if you can swing it, adding a shift to your day can earn you enough to cover any immediate bills.
Make money fast bottom line
Easy ways to make money fast:
- Donate plasma
- Baby sit or pet sit
- Sell clothing to a secondhand shop
- Sell old books, music, games, and media to a used bookstore
- Do lawn work in your community
- Download the Earnin app and advance up to $100 of your next paycheck
- Sell unused items on the LetGo app
- Have a garage sale
- Consider a catering or banquet server gig
This is not an exhaustive list, but it’s a great place to start because you can start earning money as soon as TODAY. And at most, you’ll only have to wait a day or two to get paid. Be sure to check out the side income helper on Thinkflow to see 90+ other ways to make cash.
That can help kick start your savings or provide you with enough funds to get yourself out of an unexpected situation. We hope this list gives you a place to start!
And remember, you can get money as fast as today if you’re in a state that Echo Credit serves. Check here to see if you’re eligible.