Do you need cash and need it quickly? If so, here is a list of legit ways to make money fast. You might not realize it, but you’ve got several options for getting money quickly right at your fingertips.
Whether it’s by using apps that help you make money or by using your skills, here are some ideas. Check out these ideas for making money fast and see if any of them might fit in with your schedule and lifestyle.
Earn Cash by Using Your Car
There are several ways you can make money fast using your car. These options can work well no matter where you live.
1. Deliver Restaurant Meals
In this day and age more and more people are wanting restaurant meals delivered to their home. Companies like DoorDash and Postmates hire drivers to go and pick up restaurant meals from local restaurants and deliver them to clients.
You get paid for each delivery and clients often give drivers tips as well. Pay varies depending on where you live, distance to delivery, and other factors.
Potential Earnings: $15-$25 per hour
2. Deliver Groceries
Not interested in delivering hot meals? How about delivering groceries? If you work with Instacart, you’ll use your car to shop for customers and deliver the groceries to their homes or businesses.
You pay for the groceries using your Instacart credit card, so you don’t have to worry about dealing with cash via the customer. Instacart will tell you before you take a job what they will pay you for your work.
You choose which hours you want to be available for work.
Bonus: Instacart drivers often earn tips too.
Potential earnings: $14 to $16 per hour or more
3. Deliver People via Rideshare Driving
Do you want to earn money with your car but don’t want to work with food? How about becoming a rideshare driver with Lyft or Uber?
Both of these companies let you choose the jobs you take when you sign up to work as an independent contractor. You bring people from point A to point B during whatever hours you’re available to work.
And you’ll know what your base pay will be before you take the job (and you can earn tips too).
Note: Rideshare drivers tend to earn more money when they take night, weekend, and overnight shifts.
Potential earnings: $15 an hour or more
Get Money Fast by Using Your Skills
Not interested in driving for extra cash? Check out these legit ways to earn some quick cash by using your skills.
4. Take Stock Photos
Are you good at photography? If you are, and you’ve got a good phone camera or DSLR camera, you might be able to earn some cash by taking stock photos.
Sites like Shutterstock sell the rights to photos to companies and bloggers who need photos for brochures and websites. If you upload a photo and someone buys the right to use it, you’ll earn a commission.
Note that the photos that sell the best often depict people doing normal, everyday things. For instance, photos that show people at work, at play, or at the doctor’s office tend to sell well.
Potential earnings: Varies based on how many photos you sell
5. Do Handyman Work
Are you good at handyman work and other tasks? Sites such as TaskRabbit hire people to help others with handyman tasks. For example, as a Tasker with TaskRabbit, you might be asked to help assemble furniture, help someone move, or fix a leaking faucet.
As a tasker, you get to set your own rates and choose the types of jobs you offer or take. And many taskers get tips on top of their regular rates. It’s like running your own business only you have access to TaskRabbit’s wide database of potential clients.
Potential earnings: Unlimited; You set your rates and how much work you take on
6. Do Data Entry or Transcription Work
If you’re a fast and accurate typist, you can make money fast by working in data entry or transcription. Both data entry specialists and transcriptionists enter data into a computer program.
You’ll get the information you enter via audio recordings or via other documents. These jobs typically pay by the audio minute or by the word. Companies like GMR Transcription can hook you up with transcription or similar work.
Often you can choose the jobs you take based on the length of time involved and/or pay. Speed and accuracy are key to being successful at this side hustle.
Potential earnings: Up to $250 per month or more depending on the company you work with and your skills
7. Start a Landscaping Business
Do you like working outside? If you do, and you’re not afraid of a hard day’s work, you can start your own business doing landscaping. You can do basic landscaping such as mowing lawns or shoveling/plowing snow.
Or you can perform more intricate services such as trimming hedges or redesigning lawns. You choose what types of work you do and how much you work.
Potential earnings: $15 to $20 per hour or more based on what you do and the rates you set
8. Do Graphic Design Work
You don’t have to have a degree in Graphic Design to make money doing light graphic design work. For instance, you could make t-shirt designs and upload them to Redbubble or CafePress.
When people buy a t-shirt, mug, or other item with your design on it, you earn a commission. Or, you could do freelance work designing website or company logos.
Other ideas include selling printables on sites like Etsy or doing gig graphic design jobs on sites such as Upwork or Fiverr.
Potential earnings: $15 per hour or more
Get Cash by Helping Others
How about getting cash quickly by helping others? These ideas can be gratifying both financially and emotionally.
9. Teach an Online Course
Do you have a skill or talent you could share with others? If so, you could create a course on a site like Teachable and sell it to the public.
You can teach almost anything on sites like Teachable. Here are some ideas:
- Teach students how to play an instrument
- Show people how to manage their finances
- Have a course on basic handyperson skills
- Teach a resume’ writing course
The possibilities are endless, and if you build a course in a coveted skillset and advertise your course correctly, the earning potential is virtually limitless. This is because you get to choose how much each course will sell for.
Potential earnings: Varies based on the price of the course and how many you sell
10. Tutor Students in English
Students around the world are searching for tutors to teach them English as a second language. You can earn extra cash by tutoring these students–even if you don’t know any other languages besides English!
Companies such as VIPKid will pay you to teach ready-made lessons to students in China. TutorMe is another company that hires tutors to teach English as a second language. With both companies the lessons are roughly 25 minutes long, and you get to choose the hours you work.
And since you’re teaching students in other countries, the peak teaching hours are often outside of traditional U.S. working hours. That means this could be a great side hustle job for you.
Qualifications vary on each site; see sites for details.
Potential earnings: $14 per hour or more
11. Care for People
Are you good at caring for kids and/or adults? If so, have you thought about signing up to work as a caregiver on Care.com? Care.com helps people create profiles for those looking for caregivers.
Clients will search through vetted caregiver profiles and hire out for nanny work, babysitting, or eldercare work. As a caregiver, you determine the days and hours you work as well as the age range of people you care for.
You can choose long or short-term jobs, caring for infants, toddlers, school age children, the elderly, and other demographics. In addition, you set your own rate for the type of care you provide.
Potential earnings: $10-$20 per hour or more
12. Care for Pets
Not interested in caring for people? How about caring for pets? You can sign up to be a pet caregiver on Care.com. Or you can try Rover. Rover specializes in helping people provide varying kinds of care for their pets.
When you create a profile on Rover, you can make money by providing services such as:
- Short-term care for pets
- Long-term care for pets
- Doggy day care
- Pet grooming
- Dog walking
And more. You can even find work house-sitting for people and caring for their pets while they’re away. You set your own rates, and then you pay Rover a commission (typically 20%) when you get a booking.
Potential earnings: Varies based on the rates you set and how many bookings you get
Make Money in Your Spare Time
Maybe you’re looking for a way to earn money fast without the commitment of a job or business. You do have options, although you won’t get rich off of them. Here are some ideas.
13. Take Surveys
There are dozens of survey sites that will pay you just for sharing your opinion. Market research firms such as Survey Junkie and LifePoints gather consumer opinions in order to help companies provide better products and services.
As a member, you’ll earn points for every survey you take. Some surveys are longer and some are shorter, and you can decide whether or not you want to participate in any given survey.
As your points balance grows, you can cash out your points for PayPal cash, Visa gift cards, or popular retailer gift cards.
The great thing about taking surveys to earn money is that you can earn money in as little as 15 minutes during your spare time. That means this can be a great option for earning cash while you’re chilling on the couch or waiting for an appointment.
Potential earnings: A few dollars each day depending on the site and the surveys you take
14. Use GPT Sites
GPT (get -paid-to) sites are sites that will pay you for completing a variety of activities. As with surveys, you won’t get rich by using GPT sites. However, you can earn a few extra dollars in your spare time.
Sites such as Swagbucks and InboxDollars will pay you in points when you complete activities such as:
- Browsing the net
- Taking surveys
- Playing games
- Shopping online
And other activities. Each activity you complete earns you a certain number of points. Once you reach the designated number of points each site has for cashing out, you can turn your points into money.
You can choose to receive PayPal cash for your points, or you can choose to get gift cards from popular retailers. Again, you won’t get rich using GPT sites. However, you can sign up for multiple GPT sites to maximize your earnings.
Potential earnings: A few dollars a day depending on the sites you use
15. Use Money Saving Shopping Apps
Another option for earning money in your spare time is to use shopping apps. Shopping apps can earn you money by paying you cash back when you shop using the app online or in-store.
Now, the key to success with this method of making money fast is to only buy what you would normally buy anyway. If you’re going to buy extra stuff just for the purpose of earning cash back, you’re defeating the purpose.
But if you’re committed to stick with purchasing only stuff you’d buy anyway, then apps such as Rakuten and iBotta can be a great way to earn money quickly.
Rakuten pays you in cash when you shop online by accessing stores through the Rakuten portal. Each store has a designated cash back amount you can get when shopping through Rakuten.
ibotta helps you earn cash back when shopping at local stores. You start by browsing your favorite stores on the ibotta app, looking for deals on stuff you need to buy. When you buy the items, ibotta will give you cash back after you scan your receipt.
It only takes a few minutes each time you shop to find cash back deals when using these types of sites.
Potential earnings: $50 a month or more depending on how you use the sites
Now let’s talk about how you can get cash quickly by selling your stuff.
Get Money by Selling Your Stuff
If you’re like most people, you’ve got stuff you no longer use lying around your house. Why not sell that stuff and get your hands on some fast cash? Here are some websites and apps you can use to do that.
16. Sell Your Electronics, Movies, and Music
Decluttr is a site that will buy your electronics and other items on the spot. It’s super easy to use Decluttr too. Just enter the description or ISBN numbers on everything you want to sell into Decluttr’s search bar.
Decluttr will give you an immediate buy price. If you like the price, just tell them you want to go ahead with the sale. They’ll email you a free shipping label.
You’ll box up your stuff, send it in and wait for Decluttr to assess it. Once they assess it they’ll pay you within 24 hours via Direct Deposit or PayPal.
Note that Decluttr won’t pay you as much for your items as you’d get selling them on a site like eBay or Craigslist. However, it’s a fast and easy way to get rid of your stuff and get paid in the process.
Potential earnings: Varies based on what you have to sell
17. Sell Your Fine Jewelry
Worthy is an app that will help you sell your fine jewelry pieces, and it’s easy to use. You start by describing your jewelry piece to Worthy fine jewelry experts.
If it’s a piece they’re interested in helping you sell, they’ll send you a free shipping kit. Once the jewelry arrives at Worthy, they’ll have lab experts grade it.
Then they’ll clean and polish it, getting it ready for professional photos. You’ll work with Worthy to set a reserve selling price. The piece will go up on auction, and when it sells you’ll get the sales price minus Worthy’s commission.
Commission rates with Worthy range between 10% and 22%. When your item sells, Worthy will pay you via bank transfer or PayPal–whichever method you choose.
Potential earnings: Varies based on what you have to sell
18. Sell Your Unwanted Stuff
There are several local selling apps that can help you sell your stuff and make some quick cash too. One of our favorites is OfferUp.
OfferUp works a lot like Craigslist, but there are some added features that make it really nice. First, you can use the app to create a listing in as little as 30 seconds.
Second, buyers and sellers have to create profiles to use the site. All communication goes through the app in instant messaging fashion. In addition, users are encouraged to leave reviews for people they’ve bought and sold to on the app.
All of these additional features provide an added level of security for users. This means you know at least a little bit about people you’re negotiating with, you can see a photo and read ratings others have left.
And if you happen to get a buyer that you need to ship to, OfferUp helps you with that process.
Potential earnings: Varies based on what you have to sell
After you’re done earning money by selling your stuff, why not try earning money by using the stuff you have left?
Using Your Stuff to Make Money Quickly
There are a few sites that offer ways to earn money quickly by using the stuff you already have. Try these ideas on for size.
19. Rent Out a Room in Your House
Do you have a spare room in your house? Or do you often leave your house empty while traveling for work or pleasure?
Renting out a room (or your whole house) on Airbnb can be a great way to earn some fast cash. Tens of thousands of travelers use Airbnb every year when traveling for business or pleasure.
Airbnb rooms are often cheaper than hotel rooms, and they have more of a home-like feel. Depending on what city you live in, you can rent a room in your house out for $70 or more each night!
All you have to do is provide a clean, cozy room with a bed for traveling clients. You’ll post your available room on Airbnb, clients book the room, and Airbnb handles all of the financials.
They’ll take a commission on each booking and you get the rest of the cash.
Potential earnings: $70 a day or more
20. Rent Out Your Car
Turo works kind of like Airbnb, except for that you’re renting out your car instead of a room in your house. This can be a great side hustle for those who don’t use their cars every day.
You start by posting information about your car on the Turo website. You can set your rental price or let Turo help you choose a price. People book days and times to use the car.
Turo handles all of the financials and you get 60% to 85% of the earnings, depending on varying factors. Oh, Turo handles insuring your car against damage and liability claims too.
Potential earnings: Turo says users earn an average of $706 per month; your earnings will vary
21. Rent Out Your Storage Space
StoreAtMyHouse is like the Airbnb of storage. You advertise space in your garage, basement, or other space, and people can rent it to store their stuff. People store stuff in your space and pay you money to do it.
Because your rates are less than traditional storage units, people want to rent from you. And you make money using empty space in your home, garage, shed, driveway, or yard.
You set the terms for renters, such as price, insurance, security, etc. StoreAtMyHouse doesn’t charge any fees for you to list your property. However, if you pay them 15% each month, they’ll handle billing and payment for you.
And if you want, you can pay them a one-time fee of $35 and they’ll put your property on their “featured” list. Sounds like a win-win to me.
Summary
As you can see, there are dozens of legit ways to make money fast. Your job is to assess your skills and abilities to see which of these ways will work best for you.
And the cool thing is that you’re not limited to just one way to get money in a short period of time. You can combine a variety of these options to maximize your earnings and pay off debt or do whatever else you want to do with the money you’ve earned.
Laurie is personal finance writer and a licensed Realtor. Her goal in blogging is to help others find their way to financial freedom, and to a simpler, more peaceful life.