Sometimes, we just need some extra money. Emergencies happen or maybe you just need some extra cash for the holidays.
Unfortunately, over half of U.S. adults have less than $1,000 in their savings, according to a 2018 survey. Even worse, 32% of people have no savings at all. The lack of an emergency fund can make it difficult when unexpected expenses pop up.
Luckily, there are ways to make money fast. If you need $1,000 or more quick, here are some ways to get started.
Side Hustles vs. Passive Income vs. Quick Cash
There are several types of income that can help you reach your financial goals, depending on what you need. This can range from earning some quick money to more consistent income.
Side Hustle: When you need a consistent stream of income, you should have a go-to side hustle. Side hustles let you earn some extra money, often on a steadier basis.
Here is the Ultimate List of Side Hustles and here is how I earned my first $100 online.
Passive Income: Passive income is a way to make money without putting in any extra effort once it is set up. This is a good way to generate consistent money but can take a while to set up.
Here are Passive Income Ideas to Earn While You Sleep.
Quick Cash: This is when you need a few hundred to a thousand dollars fast. In this case, you don’t have time to set up an elaborate system to make money.
This article will go through a few ways to make some quick cash to cover expenses whenever you need them.
How quick? Some ways may only take a few hours while other may take up to a week.
Now, let’s get started with some fast money-making ideas!
Flip Domain Names
Buying and selling domain names can be an easy way to make money. The challenge is making sure someone is interested in buying your domain in order to sell it quickly.
To get started, do some research into companies or people that may need a website. Then, do a search on a domain registrar to see if there is a suitable .COM domain available. You can also check the listed value of the domain to get an idea of what it might be worth at auction.
If it is, you can register the domain for around $15 per year. Approach your target company to see if they would be interested in buying the domain for a few hundred dollars. If you find the right buyer, you could flip a domain for thousands of dollars.
One tip when flipping domains is to register domains that multiple people may be interested in. That way, if the first person isn’t interested in buying it, there are other people who you can sell to.
Freelance Writing
If you are a decent writer, you can get paid to write articles. Blogs, companies, and influencers are just a few types of people who need fresh content and are willing to pay writers.
Sign up for a freelance website like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr to offer your services. If you have a few samples of your best work, you can build a following of people looking for good articles.
The best writers can charge several hundred dollars for a 500 word article. Even a decent writer can charge between $1 and $10 per 100 words. Finding longer writing opportunities can help you earn more money for a little more effort.
Walk Dogs for Cash
If you love dogs, you can make some serious cash by taking care of them. Sign up for Rover and get paid to play with dogs when neighbors need a pet sitter.
With over 50% of Americans owning a dog, there are probably a few in your neighborhood. Dog owners will need sitters when they go away on vacations or if they leave for the night. Depending on how many dogs they have, you could earn $50 to $100 per night watching their dogs.
Besides pet sitting, dog walking is another good way to make some extra money. For busy families that are at work and school all day, their dog may get neglected at home. Help them get some exercise and entertainment by walking their dogs on your lunch break.
Sign up for Rover to get started with dog walking.
Unclaimed Money From the Government
You might not realize that the government is holding money that is rightfully yours. Unclaimed money is when the government holds money that belongs to you but has not been paid out for whatever reason.
In some cases, it can be pensions from former employees that went out of business or ended their plan. It can also include unpaid wages, tax refunds, FHA-insurance refunds, money from banking and investments.
In most cases, there is a unique situation that causes money to be tied up or forgotten for a period of time. For example, money invested in a CD, or Certificate of Deposit, may become unclaimed if it lies dormant for too long.
There are several lists provided by state and federal governments that can help you search for unclaimed money. It doesn’t hurt to take a quick look for both you and your family members to see if you can claim your money.
Sell Your Extra Stuff
You probably have some extra stuff around your house that you don’t really need. To make some quick cash, try selling anything you don’t actively use or need.
I realized a few years ago that I was never using my weight bench. I still exercise regularly but just wasn’t using a traditional bench press setup. So, I decided to list it on Craigslist and was able to sell it for $300.
There are plenty of different places to sell items, such as on Facebook tag sale pages, Craigslist, or eBay. Just take a few pictures and create a simple description to catch people’s attention.
One tip is to try to sell locally so that you can avoid the hassle and cost of shipping. Especially for larger objects, you can find a local buyer to come pick it up in exchange for cash.
Sell Local Services to Help Others
If you need to make some extra money, you can sell your skills as a service. Start with your neighbors to see if they need help with anything. Perhaps they need assistance with landscaping, snow removal, or painting their house.
A great way to earn extra cash is with power washing other people’s houses and driveways. You’ll need to invest in a power washer to get started, but you can find them for under $200.
Then, approach people who have mildew on the side of their house or who have dirty driveways and sidewalks. You could even power wash a small section for free to show them difference. Depending on the size of the job, you can charge at least several hundred dollars to clean their house.
Selling your services should start with identifying what skills you have and how to market them to other people. For some people, it could be doing physical labor, while others are able to work as a handyman, tutor, or babysitter.
Create a Simple Product
While some products can take years to develop, focus on building something that you can sell quickly. This works well for creative people who are like to make art or other crafts.
If you know how to knit or sew, you could create clothing to sell to your friends and neighbors. Other options include woodworking, metalworking, or making jewelry.
Besides physical objects, you can also create digital products to sell. Building and flipping websites are a great way to make some extra cash. Graphic designers can make logos, flyers, ads, or wedding invitations. Selling worksheets, cheat sheets, or spreadsheets can make money quickly if you solve a problem for people.
Cut Your Expenses
While not exactly making money, you can make an extra $1,000 if you can avoid some of your existing expenses. This can be going on a spending fast so that you don’t spend any money on anything besides essentials.
Look for the easy opportunities first, like cutting out entertainment and eating out. Other ideas could be biking instead of driving, getting a roommate to share rent, or cut back on your cable bill.
Any money that you save will go straight back into your pocket and is just as good as making more money.
Closing Thoughts
Making money quickly can be a challenge at times, but is possible with the right mindset. Use your skills to create a product or service that other people will pay for.
There are also opportunities to find part-time jobs that can help to supplement your income on a more consistent basis.
One of the best ways to avoid needing to make money fast is to have a healthy emergency fund. Try to proactively build your savings to be able to deal with unexpected expenses.
