Sometimes, you just can’t wait to get money.
You might be thinking to yourself, “I need money desperately, what can I do?“
These aren’t situations where you would just like to have a little more money to go see a movie or pickup dinner. These are the situations where you need the money, and you need to consider a variety of options to make it happen.
Whatever the circumstances may be, coming up with a plan is an important first step. By considering your options and deciding on a path – or a few different paths – to pursue, you can work toward solving this problem in short order.
In this guide, I'm going to outline various options you can consider if you need money desperately including ways to make money, save money, or even borrow money. Let's get started!
41 Ways to Get Money Urgently if You Need Money Desperately
I have assembled a long list of options for how you can attempt to get money quickly. Of course, not all of these options will be right for you, for one reason or another. Review the list and pick out the options that seem to fit best given your situation. Some of them might even be free! Whether you have student loans to pay or an upcoming credit card payment, use these methods to get the emergency cash you need.
Take Surveys Online to Make Money
If you're in desperate need of money, one of the fastest ways to make money is by taking surveys online. While taking surveys does not pay extremely large amounts, you can slowly build your income helping you get the money you desperately need.
There are many different survey websites to help you make money. Some of my favorites include:
- Opinion Outpost – earn up to $25 per survey
- SuveyJunkie – Earn up to $150 with paid focus groups
- RewardSurvey – get $30 instantly
- Inbox Dollars – get $5 free
- Swagbucks – get $5 free
- Pinecone Research – earn cash taking surveys
In addition to taking surveys to make money online, many of these sites allow you to profit in other ways like watching videos or when you play games. The cash outs for many of these platforms are low, allowing you to get quicker access to your money.
Need another reason to get started? Most sites will offer a sign up bonus completely free.
If you need money urgently, using some of these top paying surveys is an easy option.
Get Free Referral Bonuses
Another super easy way to make money instantly is by registering with sites that offer referral bonuses.
Once you register for these sites, ask your friends and family to sign up through your link to make money fast.
Some of my favorites include:
With these sites you can earn cash and have it deposited directly into a PayPal account or redeem your cash for a gift card.
The amount of money you can make with referral offers is virtually limitless. Depending on your financial situation, this can be an excellent way to start making money.
Become a Food Delivery Driver
Home deliveries have never been more popular. With more and more people shopping online every year, it only makes sense that delivery drivers are in demand.
Breaking into this job market will be easier in some places than others but consider all options when looking around. You could get a job for an existing company, or you could pick up contract work while delivering in a vehicle that you own or rent.
With Doordash you can make over $25 per hour delivering food. Sign up below!
Making money buying and delivering food is a super simple way to get money urgently.
Earn Cash Back Shopping
Want to earn free money?
Download the Ibotta app to earn money when you shop online and in store. It's super easy to use. When online shopping, you can use the links within the app or on a desktop computer using the free browser extension.
Need another reason to get started? When you register with the link below, you'll get $20 of free money!
Ibotta is a great way to get extra cash if you're needing money desperately.
Work as a Grocery Delivery Driver
Just as food delivery drivers have become mainstream, the ideology of having groceries delivered directly to your doorstep has exploded. This provides many with a great opportunity to make money when time allows.
Just like with ride-hailing or food delivery, you can choose the hours you work.
It's possible to make over $20 per hour delivering groceries which is a great job for those who prefer to work alone.
Pet Sitting to Make Extra Money
Pet sitting can be a fun way to earn extra money in your free time.
By using platforms like Rover you can earn cash staying at home watching over dogs.
If you need emergency money, pet sitting can be a great option.
Related: How to Make 5 Dollars Fast
Trim Your Spending to Save Money
You can save money fast when you cancel subscriptions that are no longer used.
I recommend using the Trim app to cut unused subscriptions and have your bills negotiated for you.
While this isn't necessarily a way to make money, saving money is just as important.
Invest Your Spare Change
With Acorns, you can invest automatically and grow your money. Acorns will round up your purchases and invest it for you. For example, if you buy a $2.47 coffee, Acorns will increase the cost to $3 and invest the remainder.
Make Money Playing Games
If you need money urgently, playing games with apps like Swagbucks can be an easy way to get extra money.
While you won't get rich when you play games, it's an easy way to get quick money.
Sell Things Around the House
As soon as you realize that you need money in short order, look around your home to see what you might be able to sell.
Thanks to modern technology, it’s never been easier to sell things to other people. Simply find items that you no longer have a need for, take a couple of pictures, and post them to any of a number of classified ad websites and apps.
While you might be tempted to focus on more expensive items, cheaper things will be easier to sell quickly since they aren’t as much of a commitment for the buyer.
Related: How To Make $1,000 Fast (Ways to Make Money in 2021)
Sell Clothes on Poshmark
If you have a large closet, there's a good chance you have clothes that haven't been worn in some time. Consider selling these pieces of clothing on reselling websites like Poshmark or Mercari to get money today.
It usually takes less than a few days to sell your items, perfect if you need money urgently.
Related Post: How to Make Money on Poshmark
Sign Up as a Rideshare Driver
Do you own a car? If so, you might qualify to work as a rideshare driver. This is a great way to monetize something you already own – a vehicle – and make money quickly without any additional training (assuming you hold a valid driver’s license).
This is a particularly strong idea if you live in or near a big city, but there may be some market for your services in more rural areas, as well. You can sign up with rideshare websites like Uber or Lyft to get started.
Related Post: Tips for Uber Drivers to Make More Money
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👉 OpinionOutpost - Earn up to $25 per survey!
👉 Survey Junkie - Make $150 for select focus groups you complete!
👉 Swagbucks - Get a $5 bonus instantly!
👉 InboxDollars - Get a $5 bonus when you register today!
👉 Pinecone Research - Earn fast money taking surveys
👉 Survey Voices - Make money taking online surveys
Freelance to Earn Money Fast
Freelancing is huge in the modern world. More and more people are putting their skills to use as freelance workers rather than taking full-time employment with a single company. Even if you already have a job and you are just looking to supplement your income, you can pursue freelancing. Of course, if your freelancing gigs take off and you are successful, you might decide at some point to take this venture full-time. The key is picking a skill that you already possess, and something that people are willing to pay for.
From graphic design and writing to coding, accounting, and more – the list just goes on and on.
Freelancing can be a great way to expedite your journey to financial freedom to earn some extra cash.
Related Post: How to Make Money Programming
Sign Up for Bank Account Offers
This is an option that is easy to overlook. If you aren’t entirely happy with your current bank, or simply would be willing to switch if given a reward, look around for bank account offers. You might qualify for a bonus that will be dependent on meeting a minimum deposit. For example, you could get a $100 bonus if you open an account and deposit at least $500 (details will vary by offer).
Signing up for bank account offers can be a terrific way to get free money from your financial institution just by signing up and completing a few small requirements.
There are many types of checking accounts that come with offers. You'll want to ensure your checking account doesn't have any account maintenance fees before registering.
Sign Up for Credit Card Offers
Similar to bank account offers, you could get a bonus for signing up for a new credit card. The key to utilizing this plan is that you need to qualify for the new card in the first place. If you don’t have good credit, you might not be able to take advantage of this approach.
If you have poor credit, you might not get approved for a new credit card so you'll want to check your credit score before applying.
Some credit cards will also offer balance transfer or cash advance offers when you sign up.
If you need emergency cash, registering for a new credit card can be a simple way to get money urgently if your credit score is in good condition.
Related: Earn Free PayPal Money Instantly
Cash Out Credit Card Rewards
You might already have a bit of cash waiting for you on a current credit card, just waiting to be redeemed. If you use a card that comes with rewards, and you haven’t cashed in those rewards in a while, check out your account and see if any cash is available. Often, you can use these cash rewards to get a check or as a credit on your account.
Sell Old Electronics if You Need Money Desperately
Electronics are a particularly easy item to sell since they are so popular in the market and new products are so expensive. If you recently upgraded one of your electronics devices, you might have an old one lying around that someone else would be willing to purchase.
Some possibilities include an old cell phone, a laptop or desktop computer, or a TV. Of course, if you are selling anything that held personal information, be sure to properly reset the device to remove any data you wouldn’t want to fall into the wrong hands.
If you need money today, selling old electronics is a great choice to land some extra cash.
Donate Plasma to Make Money Fast
Another option to grab some quick cash is to donate your own plasma. Not only can this result in a nice little boost for your wallet, but you will be doing something that can help out someone else, as well. Look around for locations in your area and contact them directly for details.
The amount of money you can make donating plasma varies, but some people can make over $200 per month by donating a few times per month. Give it a try today!
Related: Ways to Make $50 a Day
Advertise on Your Car
Another way to monetize your vehicle – other than being a rideshare driver – is to place advertising directly on your car or truck.
Local businesses may be willing to pay you a nice fee for the right to put an ad on your car, especially if you log a lot of miles locally each week. Of course, most businesses will only want to advertise on a vehicle that is reasonably new and in decent condition.
The amount of money you can get paid depends on your location and the number of miles you drive, but some sources have earned well over $200 per month advertising on their car.
Related Post: Get Paid to Advertise
Complete Yard Work for Neighbors
If you know how to perform basic yard work tasks, you could make some quick money doing that work for others in your neighborhood. This will work best if you already own lawn equipment, but you might even be able to find work using equipment that is owned by homeowners who either don’t want to do the work or don’t have time.
To get started, you might want to put some flyers out around the neighborhood, or just go door to door to make yourself available. Word of mouth is a great way to grow this kind of side business, so doing a great job for your first couple of customers can go a long way.
If you're in desperate need of money to pay for medical bills, a rent payment, or any other circumstance, doing yard work is a perfect option.
Dog Walking for Emergency Cash
Dog walking can be a great way to temporarily boost your income and come up with some extra money when you need it most.
While you won't get rich dog walking, it is an easy and fun side hustle perfect for introverts looking to make some extra cash.
Depending on where you live, it's possible to make over $20 per hour dog walking which is an excellent way to pad your emergency fund or make your next loan payments.
Rent Out a Part of Your Home to Get Money Urgently
As a homeowner, it’s likely that your home is the most valuable asset you have. Why not put that asset to work for you by renting part of it out for a monthly fee?
This works best if you have a separate space in your home that is divided from the main living area, but it can even work with just a spare bedroom, in the right situation. Be sure to check with local zoning restrictions to make sure you are allowed to do this on your property.
If you're in the green from local restrictions, renting out a part of your home can be an excellent way to earn money on an asset you already own. No work required!
Flip Furniture to Get Money
We’ve already mentioned how easy it is in the modern world to sell things online. You can leverage this to your advantage by purchasing run-down furniture, fixing it up, and selling it for a profit.
You’ll need a couple of things to make this work – some money to get started, and a space to store the furniture while you work on it. This is a labor-intensive way to make some quick money, but it could work out nicely as you develop your skills.
Flipping furniture is a great option for those looking for some extra emergency cash each month.
When getting started, take a look at places like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or thrift shops to find furniture for cheap. You can check out my guide to flipping furniture here!
Related: How to Make Money While You Sleep
Take Out a Small Loan
Maybe the best way to get some money quickly is just to ask for it. If you have decent credit and an existing relationship with a bank, consider asking the bank for a small personal loan to get you through this tough time.
This isn’t a strategy you can use over and over again, but it might work out nicely as a one-time event if you need money desperately.
If you have bad credit, you may want to reconsider a personal loan. Because your credit score will affect how much interest you pay, this could end up costing you hundreds of dollars in interest alone.
If you're still looking to borrow money, but don't want to take out a personal loan, you could also consider a cash advance on your credit card. A cash advance will typically have a high-interest rate so you'll need to be extremely careful and have a plan to pay back your money fast to avoid unnecessary interest costs.
What about payday loans?
Similar to cash advances, payday loans typically have extremely high-interest rates so they should be used with caution. On the bright side, you CAN use a payday loan to get money right that second as a short term solution. If you're looking to use a payday loan to get money, it's important to have a plan to pay back your money as fast as possible to avoid interest.
Where Can You Get a Loan or Borrow Money?
In the 21st century, borrowing money can be a breeze. With many online and retail options, you can get money right away.
A few options include a local bank, financial institution, or credit union. Each will have some pros and cons. For example, using a local bank might be the easiest method to get money but many people may need to have an existing relationship with the institution before being approved.
Depending on your credit score, you might be capable of getting money instantly or if you have bad credit you might have to wait for the institution to validate your income.
Sell Unused Gift Cards for Cash
There's a good chance that you can find free money just by browsing through your wallet. Many times, you can find unused gift cards that can be sold for cash to make money.
If you need money today, selling these gift cards can be the perfect way to get money fast.
There are several places you can sell unused gift cards including:
The only downside of selling gift cards for cash is that you're likely to receive less than the true value of your gift card. Many services will charge a small fee to convert your card into cash. You can expect to lose around 10 to 20% of your gift card's value when you sell it.
Rent Out Your Vehicle to Make Money
As with many other things, you can now rent out your vehicle when you aren’t using it. There are companies that specialize in facilitating this kind of rental agreement, so you won’t have to do the legwork on the deal. You will, however, need to own your vehicle and qualify for one of the rental programs.
Become a Virtual Assistant
Working as a virtual assistant is a good way to get started in the world of online employment. Virtual assistants can handle a wide range of tasks for another individual or business, so look for listings that line up nicely with your existing skills and experiences.
Related: To Ways to Make 20 Dollars Fast
Sell Gift Cards for Cash
Do you have gift cards sitting around the house that you probably won’t ever use? You might be able to sell some of those for cash. There are websites that will offer to purchase your gift cards for slightly less than the value of the card, or you could attempt to sell the card privately. Be sure to confirm the value of the card before any sale so you know exactly what you are offering.
Pawn Items
This is a more traditional approach to selling things you own in order to get some quick cash. Rather than turning to the web for help, find a local pawn shop and see what they will offer for some of your things. The nice thing about working with a pawn shop is that you don’t have to look for a private buyer to arrange a deal. Pawnshops are in the business of buying and selling, so this should be an easy transaction if you have something of value to offer.
Related Post: What Can I Pawn for $500?
Start a Small Business or Side Hustle
This is an appealing idea for many reasons, but it might not bring in the cash as quickly as you need, depending on your circumstances. A ‘side hustle’ is simply something you do on the side of your regular job, such as some freelance work or a business that sells a product or service.
With the possibilities that are opened up by the internet, you could become a retailer specializing in a niche product or sell a service that you fulfill digitally. The possibilities are endless here, just make sure what you pursue matches up with your interests and abilities.
Starting a business will allow you to become your own boss and make as much money as you want.
For example, if you're needing money desperately you might start a power washing business.
Borrow Money from Friends or Family
If possible, one of the easiest ways to fulfill your need for short-term cash is to ask family or friends for help.
Just like with getting a loan from the bank, this is an idea that will probably work better the first time around than it will if you do it over and over again.
Remember, this would be a big favor, so ask politely and don’t expect anything – if they are able to help you out, that’s a bonus.
Friends and family can be a great choice to get cash without getting pummeled by the interest that a personal loan or cash advance might incur. After all, what's better than free money?
Related: Best Ways to Make $400 Fast
Scalp Tickets to Sporting Events or Concerts
When a popular sporting event or concert comes to town, aftermarket tickets can be a hot item. If the event is sold out, or if all of the good seats are gone, people may be willing to pay a premium to get in. Of course, in order to make money on this demand, you have to be in possession of some tickets.
One option here is to sell tickets you already have – for instance, if you are a season ticket holder for the local team, you could sell off tickets for some games to make quick cash. Another option is to buy tickets when they first come out and then attempt to resell them later as the event approaches. Unfortunately, that method requires some planning and may not help if you need cash immediately.
Negotiate Debts to Lower Expenses
One way to improve your financial situation is to make more money. Another option is to spend less and negotiating down some of your debts could help toward this end. Look at the money you have to spend each month on debts and see if any of those accounts can be renegotiated to help improve your current situation.
If you can save money each month this will help you in the long term on your financial journey.
Have a Garage or Yard Sale
Yet another way to sell things that you own is to have a garage sale. This is an easy option because you can do it right out in front of your house, and anything that doesn’t sell can simply be put back inside.
To make this more successful, look around your neighborhood to see if there is a scheduled day where other people will also be having a sale. With at least a few sales in the area on the same day, there are likely to be more potential buyers around.
Having a garage sale can be an easy way to get cash in one short weekend if you need money desperately.
Get a Part-Time Job to Make Money Fast
Sometimes, the best way to make more money is simply to get another job. Looking for part-time work tends to be easier than finding full-time employment since the competition is not as fierce. Ideally, you will be able to find a part-time job with a schedule that fits nicely into your current work obligations.
If you're looking for a reliable way to make extra money, picking up a part time job might be your best option.
Find Unclaimed Money
There's a possibility that you could have money that has been unclaimed.
If you need money desperately, ensuring you don't have free money that you haven't claimed should be at the top of your task list.
It takes less than 5 minutes to check when you use UnclaimedMoneySearch so stop what you're doing to see if you have some free money floating around.
Make Extra Money Selling Crafts
Another way to become your own boss and earn money on the side is selling crafts on sites like Etsy or eBay.
There are hundreds of potential crafts you make make and sell for a profit, some of which can be done with very little upfront costs.
If you need money desperately, selling crafts can be a fun way to earn money online.
Related: Best Things to Sell on Etsy
Get Paid to Advertise for Companies
If you need money urgently, you might consider one of the several ways you can make money advertising for companies. By promoting brands on social media or using affiliate links, you can easily build your income fast. Advertising for companies is one of the best ways to get money without a significant amount of work upfront.
Related Post: Get Paid to Advertise
Complete Odd Jobs
If you desperately need money, you might opt to complete odd jobs that can be found through local classifieds like Craigslist. Typically these jobs do not pay extremely well, but they might give you the money you need in a short time.
Jobs like moving furniture, picking up dry cleaning, or completing grocery shopping can all be ways to make the money you need.
Start a Blog to Make Money Online
Starting a blog is not one of the fastest ways to get money, but it can be a great method to get paid for your writing. You'll need to dedicate some time to learn about how online businesses work and how you will make money with your blog.
For many bloggers, they will rely on display advertising and affiliate marketing to grow their passive income streams and start making money today.
Related Post: How to Start a Blog
What to Do if You’re Desperate for Money
The first step when you are desperate for money is not to panic. It isn’t going to help anything if you get emotional about the situation, so do your best to calm down and think rationally about the situation. What are your options and which of those options is most likely to pay off?
Another important point here is to get started on something right away. It’s one thing to sit around and think about money making ideas – it’s something else entirely to actually get started. You aren’t going to make any progress just by making lists of ways you could potentially make money. If time is of the essence and you need to make money as soon as possible, the best thing you can do is get started.
There is a possibility that the first idea you try doesn’t end up working out. For example, if you decide to sell some things from around the house, you might find that there isn’t much of a market for what you have available. If you started quickly, there may still be time to pivot to another approach. It’s likely that there will be some trial and error involved before you find a winning formula.
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What To Avoid When You're Desperate for Money
Depending on how much money you need, there are certain things you might want to avoid if you are struggling financially and need money urgently.
Short Term Loans
Getting a short term loan is certainly a method to get cash in a few minutes, but it's not the best idea if you're struggling financially and need to pay an unexpected expense.
While you can get cash quickly, the interest charges on many personal loans can be extraordinary.
If you need money desperately, try to find another method to get extra cash.
Gambling
If you're thinking to yourself “I need money desperately”, you might be tempted to gamble to get some extra money.
Unfortunately, this is a terrible method and a sure way to lose money in just a few minutes.
Tips to Avoid Needing Money Urgently
Below are a few tips that might help you avoid the situation you're currently in.
Budget Your Money
Budgeting can be a great way to take back control of your money and get back on track with your finances.
You don't need a financial advisor to get started, either. While you'll occasionally experience unexpected emergencies like medical expenses or a major car repair, budgeting is still a great way to manage your money.
The only way to follow a successful budget is by starting. Taking the first step is essential on your journey.
Save Money as Much as Possible
You don't need to be a personal finance expert to understand the importance of saving money.
If you have a job that pays you via direct deposit, you might consider automatically transferring some of your earnings into a savings account immediately so you are not tempted to spend it.
Consolidate Debts
If you have high interest debts, you'll want to try to consolidate them into one debt with a lower interest rate.
Talk with your credit card company to see what options they might have.
If you cannot manage your debts, consider talking to someone who is experienced with credit counseling to help you.
Final Thoughts if You Need Money Desperately
If you find yourself in a situation where you need money desperately, we hope some of the ideas in this article help you get started. Making money can be a challenge, to be sure, but it isn’t impossible.
Take a moment to think about what assets you have – both things you own and skills you possess – and then put those assets to work to bring in some money and turn things around.
Between selling items around your home, freelancing, or using your vehicle to make money, there are plenty of ways to make money if you desperately need it.
Have you ever been in a situation saying to yourself “I need money desperately!!”? Comment what you did to get the money you needed below!
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