When you need quick cash, you need it now! Unfortunately, you may not be sure where to turn when you’re in need of a few dollars or a few thousands. We can help! We’ve created this guide to help you:
- Get quick cash when you need it most
- Wiggle your way out of financial crises – safely
- Solve your money problems in a way that won’t impact your credit
Need quick cash now? Let’s get started!
Borrow Money to Get Quick Cash
Sometimes when you need quick cash, it’s best to just borrow it. However, you can do this in a safe way or in a way that’s harmful to your financial health and your credit score. Here are examples of ways you can borrow money – you can decide which is right for you!
1. Borrow from your friends
Your friends have your back, right? Well they’re probably going to be willing to loan you a bit of money when you need quick cash. Whether it’s to pay off a parking ticket or to buy your lady an engagement ring, your friends will be willing to chip in to make sure you’re happy.
Don’t ask broke friends for money! Be sure you’re borrowing from a buddy who actually has the cash to spare. And be sure you pay it back! No one wants a friendship to end because of a few bucks. Come up with a payment plan that works for everyone, and stick to it!
- Your friends don’t want to see you broke – when you need quick cash you can ask your buddies for a loan
- Be sure you ask friends who are financially secure – don’t make your buddies broke, too!
- Always pay your friends back in a time frame that works for both of you
2. Take out an SMS loan
SMS loans are just what they sound like – they’re loans you apply for via text. There are also payday loans in some parts of the world, which are applied for online or in a retail location. There’s something you need to know about these loans, though: they’re expensive!
The typical payday or SMS loan is borrowed at 400% interest! That makes them okay for short term borrowing when you need quick cash, but these loans are definitely not a good option when you need a long term repayment plan.
Use SMS loans at your own risk – these people will take advantage of you! But if you’re in desperate need to some quick cash, check to see if SMS or payday loans are available in your area.
- SMS loans are short term loans for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars
- These loans are risky with insanely high interest rates
- If you need quick cash and have no other options, consider an SMS loan – but pay it back on time!
3. Ask your bank
If your credit is okay, feel free to go into your local bank and ask for a loan for some quick cash. In some cases, you may not even need good credit. Some banks offer payday loan-like products that have much lower interest than SMS loans through other lenders.
For the best luck, visit the bank you have an existing relationship with. They’re more likely to deposit your funds in a hurry, rather than waiting a few days or weeks to get your money. That, of course, is to your benefit when you’re in need of money right away. It also makes repayment of your loan super easy – just transfer the money from your checking account into your loan account.
- If you have good credit, you can ask your bank to spot you some quick cash
- Some banks have products for those with less-than-perfect credit
- Borrowing from your own local bank will be convenient and make repayment easy
4. Get a pawn shop loan
One of the best options for those of you who need quick cash but have bad credit is a pawn shop loan. Pawn shops are brilliant places that accept just about anything as collateral. You can bring in jewelry, electronics, musical instruments or even your car title.
In exchange, the pawn shop will loan you money and hold your item. You’ll have around a month or so to pay back your loan with a bit of interest – usually about 10% or so – and get your item back! It’s a win-win!
Keep in mind that if you don’t pay it back, the pawn shop will put your item out for sale. So if you really don’t want to lose grandma’s pearls, be sure you get your money to the pawn shop on time!
- Pawn shops are a great option to get quick cash if you have bad credit
- You can bring in jewelry, electronics or even your car to get a loan
- Be sure you pay your loan back on time, or else the pawn shop will sell your item
Sell Items in Your Home
Speaking of selling items, there are things you can sell to get quick cash that you can actually get more money for if you don’t bring them to a pawn shop. Pawnbrokers are great people and will pay you a fair amount for your item, but if you don’t want your things back, just sell them outright. Here are a few examples.
5. Electronics
Your electronics cost you a lot! But if you’ve recently upgraded to the latest iPhone or retired your old Xbox, you can make some quick cash by selling the electronics you don’t use anymore. You won’t make as much as you spent on them, but you can unload your stuff pretty quickly and easily!
Choose an online marketplace for the best results. You could hold a yard sale, but often people visit yard sales looking to spend just a few bucks. Instead, choose Facebook Marketplace, Ebay or another online tool to list your electronics. You’ll get more money that way.
- You paid a lot for your electronics – when you upgrade you can sell your old ones for quick cash
- You’re not going to earn as much as you paid, but electronics sell quickly!
- Choose to sell online rather than yard sales – you’ll get more that way
6. Clothing
Parents, you know all about this one. If you have little ones, you may have noticed that they’re now really big! So what do you do with all those old clothes? You sell them for quick cash, of course! Not just kids, though. If you have styles you prefer not to wear anymore, take them to a consignment sale or sell them at a yard sale.
There are apps online that allow you to sell clothes, too. Depending on where you live you may have access to:
- Poshmark (US)
- Vinted (UK)
- ThredUp (US)
- Gumtree (Australia)
- Kijiji (Canada)
Again, that varies by country, so just do a Google search to see what’s available to you. Consignment stores are quick and easy, but you’ll earn more when you sell your clothes online.
- No matter where you live, there’s likely a site or app that allows you to sell your clothes online
- You’ll make more selling clothes online than you will at a consignment store
- Kids’ clothes are especially popular – those babies grow fast and their clothes are barely worn
7. Sell your car and go cheaper
Maybe you need a car, maybe you don’t. But no matter how you look at it, it’s probably possible for you to sell your car for quick cash. If you don’t need a vehicle, great! Just pocket the cash and pay your bills. If you do need transportation, you can use the profits from the sale of your car to buy a new-to-you, cheaper vehicle.
Remember that your insurance and taxes will come into play, too! You’ll pay more each month on insurance on a sports car than you will a sedan or a wagon. So when you switch cars, do your research and figure out what’s going to save you the most money in the long run.
- When you need quick cash, you can sell your car
- If you need a vehicle, you can use the proceeds from your vehicle sale to “downgrade” your vehicle
- Factor in insurance and taxes, too, because that will save you money long-term
8. Anything!
Folks, there’s a market for just about everything out there. Whether you’re trying to get rid of your old bike, your refrigerator, your potted plants or your goldfish, it’s pretty easy to find a buyer out there. You can post locally or online (we’ll talk more about that later) and get buyers within a few minutes in some cases.
When you post or list your items for sale, pay attention to the terms of the payment. If you’re selling locally, no worries. You’ll have quick cash on hand right away. If you’re selling online, though, there may be a bit of a waiting period before you get your cash.
Some examples of items around your home you can sell include:
- Furniture
- Appliances
- Homemade food items (check local regulations)
- Dishes you don’t use anymore
- The accidental puppies your dog had
- The accidental kittens your cat had
- Knick knacks
- books
- Literally anything
You get it – if you own it and don’t want it, you can sell it. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so why don’t you make some quick cash by selling your unwanted items?
Make Quick Cash Online
We’ve already talked about a few ways you can sell online – you can offload your electronics, your books and even your car whether you prefer a local or an online platform. Let’s now look at the internet as a way to make some quick cash. There are a few ways you can get real money today when you sell online.
9. Fill out surveys
It’s probably the most boring thing in the world to do, but if you need to make money online today, consider answering survey questions. Now, most of the survey sites out there will offer you very little. You’ll get paid in points, then you have to accumulate millions of points before you cash out.
But! There are sites out there that do pay you instantly or the same day. You can cash out with as little as a few cents in your account, and your money is transferred to you instantly through the survey provider’s payment portal of choice.
Do a little research to see what’s available in your area, and sign up to take surveys. Some platforms are better than others, so see what other people are saying. Don’t forget – there are survey apps as well!
- You really can make quick cash by filling our surveys online
- Do your research before you waste your time with survey sites that take forever to pay
- Survey “work” isn’t fun, but the money does add up after a while
10. Do microtasks
What is a microtask, you ask? Well, it’s a tiny job. These jobs pay anywhere from .01 to .05 (sometimes more) when you complete them, but they’re typically pretty easy to do, and they’re quick to complete. Amazon’s mTurk is one of the most popular, international microtask platforms. There are others, though. Google to see what’s available in your area.
So what will you be doing when you complete microtasks? Well – it varies. You could be transcribing, or you could be inputting info you see on receipts into a form. You could be solving Captchas or you could be writing short essays.
Some microtasks are certainly more fun than others, but the quick cash you’ll receive makes it worth it. Some sites like mTurk pay out very quickly, while others may take some time. Be sure you check out the terms of the platform if you’re in a hurry to get money!
- Microtasks are tiny jobs that you perform for money
- You can be paid a penny per task or more – it depends on the job
- What you’ll be doing will vary and some microtask jobs are more fun than others
11. Sell on Facebook
We’ve already touched on this, but you can sell pretty much anything on Facebook. Whether you’re renting out a room in your home or selling your services as a gardener, Facebook Marketplace is the place to list when you need quick cash.
There are almost two and a half billion active Facebook users. Most of those people are online every day. They want what you’re selling! Go on to the Marketplace and list it, and you’ll see that you’ll get almost instant responses to your ad.
If you need quick cash, don’t overlook Facebook as an avenue! You’ll be surprised at the cash you can earn, super fast. Who knows – you might even end up selling your old Playstation to your bff!
- Facebook should be overlooked as a venue to get quick cash
- There are billions of active Facebook users and they’re looking for what you’re selling
- People respond quickly on Facebook, so it’s one of the best ways to get money in a hurry
12. Online trading places, auctions and marketplaces
There’s really no way you can go wrong with selling your stuff online for quick cash. If you have a bike, a car, an Android device or a book, you can post it online and there’s a good chance someone will buy it.
Look at online trading posts, marketplaces and auction sites and determine which ones best suit your needs. When you need to make quick cash, there may be options that are better for you than others. Sometimes the best option is for you to sell locally and in-person. That means cash in hand for you today. But if you’re looking to make a few more bucks on your sale, online auctions and marketplaces are definitely the way to go.
- You’ll typically make more selling your stuff online than you will in person
- Local marketplaces are available to you if you need cash faster – try Facebook or search for venues that are close to you for quicker sales
- You can sell pretty much anything online, from books to bikes, so get to posting!
You Need Quick Cash … TODAY!
Throughout this guide, we’ve done out best to make sure we’ve listed the best options for you to get quick cash today. None of that “earn a million points, get three dollars” nonsense. The options we’ve chosen will have you with cash in hand within the day, or at most a few days.
There are, however a few options we haven’t looked at, as they don’t really fit into any one particular category. Let’s look at those options now.
13. Ask for a salary advance
If you’re in a pinch and need quick cash, you can ask your boss for an advance on your salary. If you’ve had a long term and positive relationship with your employer, this is a great option! After all, she controls your paycheck – it’s simple to just deduct your loan from your next paycheck. You’ll get the cash you need today and she’ll have the assurance that you’ll pay it back.
Your boss is likely to lend you the cash you need, because her business depends on your well-being. For instance, if you need money for gas, she’ll lend you money because without that gas you can’t get to work. If you need the money for clothes, she’ll help because you need to look your best when you’re at work.
No matter how much you borrow from your boss, be sure you have a plan to repay her. She can take it from your paycheck, but it’s always better if you can pay the money back ahead of time. It will strengthen your relationship and will definitely keep workplace tensions at bay.
- If you have a good relationship with your boss, you can ask for a salary advance
- Be sure you pay her back – you don’t want to damage your reputation or make work tense
- She can deduct your loan from your paycheck, but it’s best to pay her back ahead of time
14. Do some overtime
When you’re not in a huge hurry and your quick cash can wait a few weeks, you can always ask for overtime work. In most places, you’ll be paid time and a half. So it you’re paid $15 per hour normally, when you work overtime your hourly rate will be $22.50. You’ll see the payment on your next paycheck and that time really adds up!
In some places you may actually be eligible for double time or double time and a half. As you can imagine, that adds up, too! You’ll be paid at least your hourly rate and while you may be tired at the end of the week, you’ll have a little extra in your checkbook to show for it.
- Working overtime means, in most places, that you’ll be paid a higher hourly rate than normal
- It’s tiring, but you’ll get a little extra quick cash to pay your bills
- Some places pay employees even more than overtime rates for working on a holiday – be sure to ask your boss
15. Get a super quick job
If you’ve got a skill, and interest or just a desperate need for some quick cash, consider getting a quick job to help you pay your bills. You can do all manner of things, from raking leaves to washing cars. Here are a few examples:
- Walk dogs
- Wash windows
- Clean houses
- Babysit
- Grocery shop for someone
- Repair someone’s computer
No matter what your skill is, you can put it to work and earn some quick cash. The best way to get hired is usually by posting your service on an online marketplace like Craigslist or Facebook. Then, be sure you respond right away when people get in touch with you!
16. Pick up and sell cans
Is it recycling day in your neighborhood? You’re in luck. You can actually pick up cans and recycle them yourself by bringing them to a scrap metal place. Most of these places pay by the pound, so get as many as you can! Gather them all up in a bag (be sure you ask your neighbors first) and bring them on in.
You don’t have to collect cans from others’ bins, though. If you want to help clean up the earth a little, just walk down pretty much any street and pick up the cans that people have tossed onto the ground. You’ll earn quick cash and help clean up the planet, so it’s a win-win for everyone!
- Scrap metal places will take cans to recycle and pay you for them
- You’ll usually get paid by the pound, so be sure to get as many as you can
- You can collect cans from your neighbors or you can clean up the roadside
17. Sell your sperm
If you’re a man, you can make quick cash selling your sperm. It’s actually really easy to do. You’ll need to go to a sperm bank and register with them. A health screening will be required, and you’ll have to meet certain requirements physically and mentally. Then, it’s a piece of cake.
You can earn quite a bit of money selling sperm, as some banks will let you come back multiple times per month. Plus, most men who participate in the process say it’s not a horrible experience and is only minimally embarrassing to some.
- You can sell your sperm to infertile couples by visiting a sperm bank
- You’ll need to meet certain requirements for health and mental health
- Many banks allow you to come back several times each month for even more quick cash
18. Clean
You can make quick cash when you offer to clean for others. We mentioned it earlier, but it’s worth going into more detail. We love this idea because it can actually become a regular thing and a part of your normal monthly income.
You can clean homes or you can clean offices. You can even offer to clean churches after their service. It’s up to you to get your name out there, though. Post a sign at the post office or put an ad in the newspaper. Of course, you’re going to want to advertise online, too!
- We love the idea of getting quick cash for cleaning because it can become a regular gig
- You can clean homes, churches or businesses
- Be sure you advertise yourself both locally and online
19. Shop for people
If you have an eye for bargains, you can be a personal shopper. When you’re hired to shop other people it can be for anything from garden supplies to groceries or from furniture to clothing. That’s entirely up to you! If you’ve got an eye for fashion, do clothes. Rather use coupons like a boss? Grocery shopping is the way to go.
You can charge a percentage or a flat fee when you shop for other people. Just make sure you get the money upfront so that you can access quick cash right away – and so you don’t get stiffed on a $6,000 couch! Personal shopping can be really fun, so we recommend you give this one a try.
- You can earn money by doing other people’s shopping for them
- You can shop for groceries, clothes or anything else as a personal shopper
- Be sure you get the money upfront from your customers!
20. Perform on the street
If it’s allowed in your area, you can perform on the street for some quick cash. Bring your saxophone, your guitar or your mime paint and earn a few bucks entertaining other people. You don’t need to be super skilled, either! You can earn money simply reciting poetry or painting kids’ faces.
Before you perform any type of street art, make sure you check with local officials. In many cases, it’s going to be necessary for you to get a permit before you can collect money. Don’t get yourself into legal trouble – check out the rules before you start breakdancing on the street corner!
- You can make quick cash performing or creating art on the street
- From a musical instrument to painting kids’ faces, the sky’s the limit as to what you can do!
- Be sure you check with local officials to ensure there’s no permit required
Conclusion
You can make quick cash without resorting to weird measures. Just by using the skills you have, the items you own and the brain in your head, you can come up with quite a bit of money in a hurry. Use your imagination and check local regulations. Then, get to work and make quick cash today!
