Marcus Marion, CMA™ If you’re like most employed people, you’ve occasionally encountered situations where you needed money on short notice, but your paycheck was still a couple of days away. In such circumstances, your first instinct may be to secure a short-term loan or seek a salary advance.
But what if these options do not permit themselves? Or worse yet, what if the present emergency requires more funds than your credit or salary advance limit?
Well, in that case, your best bet would be to explore alternative fast money strategies. The good news is that multiple quick cash techniques are at your disposal. You only need to know where to look.
If you’ve ever wondered, ‘I need money now, where do I get it,’ this article is for you.
We’ve prepared a rundown of the ten best ways to secure quick cash to address unforeseen financial emergencies. These emergency cash tips may also be useful when seeking ways to broaden your income stream.
1. Sell Unique Crafts on Etsy
Etsy is a reliable platform for people looking to sell their crafts online. What makes listing your crafts on this website one of the best financial rescue methods is that there are millions of potential buyers. The platform had over 95 million active buyers as of 2022.
Etsy also provides a quick way to make money on phone. You only need to download the Etsy app, which is compatible with Android and iPhone devices.
However, remember that not everything goes on the Etsy marketplace. Among the most in-demand products on the website include home décor items, stickers, costumes, notebooks and journals, jewelry, and graphic or digital designs.
It’s also worth noting that Etsy charges 6.5% of total order amounts. However, that’s a competitive rate considering the monumental exposure your unique crafts can have on this website.
If you prefer to list your unique crafts on other websites, there are many alternatives you can explore. Noteworthy mentions include Zazzle, Threadless, and CafePress.
2. Sell Undelivered Gifts or Unused Gift Cards
Undelivered gifts may not immediately appear valuable to the giftee. That’s because the present was meant for someone else.
But what if the intended recipient is no longer keen on collecting their reward?
Well, it won’t hurt to trade it for a few quick bucks.
It’s great to know that many websites are committed to providing rapid cash solutions by buying unwrapped gifts. Most are online auction sites like Amazon and eBay.
Besides actual gifts, you could also consider trading your gift cards for (most of) their monetary value. A 2022 survey by CreditCards.com suggests that 47% of American households have at least one unused gift card.
Why leave your gift cards gathering dust when you could exchange their value for real cash?
3. Trade In Old Electronics to Amazon
Selling electronics is one of the most lucrative ways how to make money on Amazon. But unknown to many traders, Amazon accepts both new and old appliances.
The company maintains an electronics trade-in and recycling program as part of its mission to reduce environmental pollution.
Amazon accepts trade-ins for electronics (televisions, woofers, computers, and smartphones). You only need to ensure your items are still in a usable condition.
The ecommerce giant may also accept irreparably broken appliances in its recycling program in exchange for a fraction of the product’s market value.
The fact that you need no experience to sell old electronics on Amazon makes it an easy way on how to make money online for beginners.
Besides Amazon, many other companies let you dispose of your used appliances for some financial benefit. Examples include Decluttr, Trademore, Gazelle, ItsWorthMore, etc.
4. Offer Your Expertise Online For a Fee
This is one of the quick cash techniques that need you to be an expert in a relevant field. Depending on your specialty, you could rake in hundreds of dollars in a few hours.
Now, there are numerous services you can offer on the internet. Popular ones include short-term gigs like writing, transcription, translation, graphic design, and app development.
There are also long-term engagements like blogging and vlogging.
Vlogging (video-based blogging) has become increasingly popular due to the rising demand for video marketing.
However, you could also explore other ways how to make money on YouTube without making videos. These include selling your merchandise or promoting third-party brands through your channel.
5. Donate Sperm Or Eggs?
Many people find the idea of donating blood quite agreeable. You’ve probably responded to blood donation drives several times in your life.
Why not do yourself one better by donating your sperm or eggs, too?
As gross as it may sound, donating sperm or eggs is one of the legit quick money hacks. It’s also a way to spread your genes without taking direct responsibility for your offspring (pun intended).
More importantly, donating sperm or eggs comes with huge financial benefits. Sperms cost $30 to $200 per donation, while egg donations fetch between $5,000 and $10,000.
Sperm/egg donation is ideal if you’re looking for practical ways how to make money in one hour. In fact, each process only takes a couple of minutes.
However, you’ll need to be a legal adult and preferably under 35 years old to qualify for a sperm/egg donation.
6. Help Others With Everyday Tasks
Unfortunately, many people struggle with simple tasks like changing bulbs and mounting a new television.
However, knowing you could get immediate financial relief by chipping in to help with these minor projects is reassuring.
Websites like TaskRabbit dedicate themselves to linking taskers with potential customers.
Simply sign up for an account and describe your services. You can then sit back and wait for clients to come along.
Common tasks you can help with include housecleaning, laundry, TV mounting, and bulb changing.
If you’re looking for practical ways how to make money fast as a woman, then this is an option to explore. That’s because many everyday tasks constitute simple household chores.
7. House/Pet Sit
House and pet sitting are among the most commonly overlooked quick cash interventions. But that doesn’t make them any less effective.
Minding someone’s house or pet is incredibly profitable if working for clients who travel frequently or follow erratic work schedules.
Registering on a relevant website is the first step in taking advantage of these instant money solutions. TrustedHouseSitters and MindMyHouse are excellent places to begin if looking for house-sitting gigs, whereas Rover is a top platform for passionate pet sitters.
There’s also the option of pitching your services using traditional marketing methods, such as word-of-mouth referrals and flyers.
Payments will vary depending on the gig duration and scope of work involved. The two jobs also attract decent tips, making them all the more worth exploring.
8. Take Surveys on Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie usually features among the secret websites to make money. While the platform is reasonably popular among online freelancers, its secrecy lies in the various ways you can earn money.
The most straightforward method to earn instant cash from Survey Junkie is by filling out online surveys. Most surveys on the website are straightforward to complete as they require no research or technical know-how.
You can take surveys by completing a series of questions on certain products. And while most polls require individual answers, you could also participate as a focus group member.
Note that Survey Junkie isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme despite the website providing easy-to-fill surveys.
However, you can earn as much as $10 daily if your stars align perfectly.
9. Play Games for Cash
Picture the thrill of playing your favorite online games and imagine that certain websites offer rewards in addition to having all the fun.
Playing online games is a top recommendation if you’re looking for smart tips on how to make money online as a teen. That’s primarily because the online gaming community appeals most to the younger generations.
Besides, no technical skills are required. All it takes to mint some cash is an internet-enabled device (laptop or smartphone) and stable Wi-Fi.
Another reason to recommend this quick cash technique to teens is limitless potential earnings. Payouts mainly depend on the number of plays and length per game.
There are several websites to access paid gaming opportunities, too. Examples include Cash Giraffe, Flash Rewards, Mistplay, Gamehag, Gamekit, etc.
10. Put Ads on Your Car
You’ve probably come across cars wrapped in branded stickers and wondered if the automobile owners were associated with the companies behind the advertisement.
Well, in most cases, the vehicle owner has no direct relationship with the brand behind the sticker. Instead, they’re simply offering their cars as a marketing platform in exchange for some promotion fees.
Companies like Carvertise, Nickelytics, and Wrapify always look for automobile owners to partner with.
The partnership typically involves renting out a space on your car’s exterior to display a sticker, decal, or wrap.
Payments can easily hit hundreds of dollars per month, which makes this option one of the most reliable instant finance boosters. The longer the ad stays on your car, the higher the payout.
Wrap Up
Getting quick cash on short notice can be challenging, especially during dire financial emergencies.
But by implementing the above tips, you can obtain money instantly (or at least within a few hours) and navigate harsh economic times.
