30 Ways to Make Money Fast (Online & Offline!)

Learning how to make money fast can save you in a pinch, whether you have an unexpected bill due soon or you simply want some extra spending money. Whatever the reason, you have more options than ever before.

1. Online surveys

Taking online surveys is one of the easiest ways to make money fast, and you can literally make an extra $5 or more by the end of the week. That’s not a ton of cash, but it’s something! The added benefit is that you can take surveys from anywhere — sitting on your sofa, laying in bed, while waiting in the carpool line, and more.

Survey sites pay for your feedback because they’re collecting valuable market research data that’s used to help companies make better products and more effective marketing campaigns.

Ready to get started? Here are our top two survey recommendations (signing up for both means more opportunities!):

• Branded Surveys: Make $1-$3 per survey, and Branded Surveys pays in points that convert to cash, gift cards, or bank transfers.
• Survey Junkie: You can get paid $1-$3 per survey on average, and Survey Junkie also pays in points that convert to cash.

2. Deliver food for DoorDash

If you have a reliable vehicle and want to make money fast, you should highly consider becoming a DoorDash driver. They make $15-$25/hour, and DoorDash has a Fast Pay option so you don’t have to wait an entire week to get paid.

Fun fact: DoorDash currently controls almost 60% of the U.S. food delivery market share. That’s more than GrubHub, Uber Eats, and Postmates combined!

As far as fast ways to make money, this option is really flexible because you can choose the hours you drive and schedule them in advance or on the day you want to drive. There is a short application process, and it can take around a week to be approved to start driving. Learn more in our full DoorDash driver review.

DoorDash Disclaimer: Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.

3. Grocery shop with Instacart

On-demand grocery delivery services have blown up in recent years. It’s convenient for customers, but it’s a flexible way to make fast money — that’s what you are here for.

The most popular services are Instacart and Shipt. Shoppers earn $10-$20/hour and keep 100% of their tips. The delivery apps show your estimated earnings before you accept each order, and they also give you directions to and from the store and your customers’ homes.

Shipt and Instacart have similar driver requirements to DoorDash, but you’ll also be able to lift 40 to 50 pounds or more. Both services pay weekly, but Instacart offers Instant Cashout to get paid on the day you make deliveries. Learn more: Instacart Shopper Review and Shipt Shopper Review.

4. Ibotta

Whether you shop online or in-store, you might as well earn money back on your purchase, right? Ibotta is an app that gives you cash back for shopping like you normally do. The most common cash back option is to earn a percentage back on your total purchase, and sometimes there are offers you can claim in the app for more cash back. Ibotta processes payments within 48 hours of earning your cashback and pays you via PayPal or Venmo.

The Ibotta app has partnered with 300 major nationwide retailers, like Target, Home Depot, REI, Domino’s Pizza, Glossier, Gamestop, and many more. You earn cash back when you visit and shop at one of its partners' websites through the Ibotta app. Or, you can shop in-store and upload your receipt. Learn more in our full Ibotta review.

5. Run Facebook and Instagram ads

Running Facebook and Instagram ads for small businesses is simply online advertising on two of the largest social media platforms in the world. Because of the massive reach these platforms have, Facebook and Instagram continue to be the best online platforms for small businesses to increase their traffic and visibility. 

With each client, you can make around $1,000-$2,000 per month with just a few hours of work each week. And because it only takes a few hours a week to keep your client's ads running, this is an excellent side hustle.

Surprisingly, a background in marketing or advertising isn’t necessary. These are skills you can learn! 

If you want to learn more, we highly recommend checking out the Facebook Side Hustle Course. Over 5,000 students have already enrolled in this comprehensive course that teaches you how to:

• Set up a Facebook ads system
• Find clients who can benefit from your services
• Exactly what to say to get them to say “yes!” and hire you

Join the Facebook Side Hustle Course

6. Sell stuff from around your house

If you want to make money really fast, like in the next 24 hours, this is it! Free platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor make it possible to quickly list something and find a local buyer who will show up at your door with cash. It doesn’t get much faster than that!

You can literally start walking around your house looking for things to sell. You can sell clothes you haven’t worn in years, a dining set that’s been sitting in your basement, baby gear, craft supplies, and so much more.

If you have used electronics — think video game consoles, tablets, old cellphones, DVD players, etc. — you should check out Decluttr. They’ll give you an instant valuation, a prepaid shipping label, and payments are deposited in 24 hours of receiving your item.

7. Walk dogs or pet sit 

Pet sitting or dog walking is a fun way to make money fast if you like animals — okay, liking animals is a must for this one. The amount you can expect to make varies based on where you live. Dog walkers can make between $15-$25 per walk, and pet sitters make $25-$75 per overnight stay.

You can leverage social media to get the word out to friends and family who are looking for help with their pets, or you can create a profile and list your services on Rover.

There’s a one-time fee of $35 to get started, and Rover connects pet owners with dog walkers and pet sitters in their area. You set your rates, choose your availability, and even list what kind of animal you are willing to work with. Learn more in our full Rover review.

8. Negotiate for a raise

Getting a raise is probably the fastest way to make extra money, and it’s something with very long-term benefits, like increased base pay over time, career advancement, and long-term income.

According to a Marketplace-Edison Research Poll, 37% of men and 36% of women have asked for a raise. Men received the raise they asked for 82% of the time, while women got their raise 74% of the time. Wage gap aside, that suggests you have a better chance of getting a raise than you might expect.

Here are some tips to successfully negotiate a raise:

• Do your research: Find out what others in your field are earning to get a sense of what’s a realistic ask.
• Find the right time: Make sure your company is doing well financially, where’s your current standing with them, have you recently received a raise, etc. Some of the best times to ask for a raise are after you’ve completed a big project, a few months before an annual review, or after new responsibility has been added to your plate.
• Practice your pitch: Write down what you’re asking for and why you deserve it, then practice saying it out loud before you go to your boss.

The worst thing that can happen is that your boss says “no.” That doesn’t mean you’re fired, but you can take that as an opportunity to look at your job performance or even start job hunting elsewhere.

9. Rent out your car

Renting out your car is like Airbnb, but for your car, and it’s an excellent way to make money fast if you want a somewhat passive side hustle you can do from home,

If you’re interested in learning more, we highly recommend Hyrecar. You set your listing price and when your vehicle is available. The renters are all prescreened, and HyreCar offers insurance coverage if something happens to your car while it’s being rented. 

HyreCar says the average person makes $700 a month on their platform! Learn more in our full HyreCar review.

10. Make money proofreading

Proofreaders are responsible for finding and correcting grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, and misspellings. This is a great way to make money from home if you’re one of those people who quickly spots errors in menus, magazines, and books, and more.

There’s a lot of work out there for anyone who wants to learn how to become a proofreader. You can work for bloggers, content writers, online business owners, professionals, academics, authors, and more. Learn more in our article Make Money Proofreading.

11. Become a virtual assistant

Virtual assistants (or VAs) are a huge help to business owners, and you can make an extra $500-$1,000 a month. VAs do a lot of the behind-the-scenes work that it takes to keep a business running, like:

• Inbox management
• Social media management
• Billing and invoicing
• Scheduling
• Customer service
• Data entry

This is a great way to make money fast and from home if you have previous experience in administrative support, human resources, project management, executive assistance, or customer service. Our article How to Become a Virtual Assistant has tons more information.

12. Drive for Uber

Uber drivers make $10-$20/hour depending on the area and time of day. You’ll need to have a newer model car, clean driving record, and consent to a criminal background check.

If you’re a social person, this can be a solid way to make extra money. There are a lot of Uber drivers who truly enjoy meeting new people. Learn more about what to expect in Is Driving for Uber Worth It?

13. Rent out unused space

Do you have a nearly empty garage? Have an empty closet? What about a spare bedroom? An extra long driveway? If you have empty space and want to make money fast,  Neighbor is a platform where you can list your empty space and rent it out to people in your community. 

Think of Neighbor as an alternative to traditional storage spaces. 

How much you can make depends on the type of space and your location, and our Neighbor review explains how much you can make with different types of storage space, fees, and more.

14. Open a new checking or savings account

This is one many people don’t think of, but banks regularly run promotions to attract new customers. And you can easily make $100-$500 fast by opening a new checking account.

Offers constantly change — and they do expire — but here’s a current offer you can explore to make to make $1000 fast:

• SoFi: Open a new Sofi checking account and receive a $50 to $300 cash bonus. Customers are required to set up direct deposit when opening the account, and the size of the bonus depends on the amount of qualifying direct deposits received in the first 30 days.

Not ready to switch bank accounts? You can check with your current bank to see if there are any promotions when you open a separate account with them.

15. Make money when you buy gas

The rising cost of gas might be one of the reasons you want to make money fast, and the Upside app will pay you up to $0.25 per gallon of gas.

Here’s how it works:

• Download the free Upside app.
• Look at the map to find offers near you — offers show how much you can make back at each gas station.
• Fill up your tank like normal.
• Check in while filling up or upload your receipt afterwards.
• Cash out once you have $15 there is no fee to cash out.

Our web developer recently started using Upside, he immediately made $6.07 back on a $67.21 tank of gas!

16. Start freelancing

Freelancing is an excellent way to make money fast because you’re leveraging existing skills, like graphic design, writing, web development, and so on.

There are dozens of freelance services you can offer, and freelancing is a fast-growing industry with more and more big companies hiring freelancers. Plus, small business owners have been using freelancers for years because it’s more cost-effective for them than hiring a full-time employee. 

Pay for freelancers varies by skill and services, but it’s safe to say that you can quickly start making $1,000+ per month.

Here are several freelance career paths if you’re interested in learning more:

• Writer: Freelance writers may work for bloggers, magazines, news sites, write web copy, ghostwrite, and more. Learn more in our guide How to Become a Freelance Writer.
• Graphic design: If you’re artistic and good with a computer, graphic design is a growing field. You can design flyers, logos, invitations, posters, web graphics, Etsy printables, and much more.
• Bookkeeper: It’s similar to accounting but doesn’t require a degree. Bookkeepers help manage payroll, handle invoicing, and generally track a business’s finances. 
• Web developer: This is a high-income career field that doesn’t require a college degree, and many web developers these days get their start in months-long boot camps.

Platforms like FlexJobs, Upwork, and Fiverr are places to either list your services or find companies hiring freelancers. You can also create a website and share it within your network — this route may take more time, but it’s something you can do while finding work elsewhere.

17. Find a part-time job

Side hustles get most of the spotlight these days, but don’t knock the possibility of a good part-time job when you want to make money fast. The food service industry is especially in need of workers, and chains like Papa John’s, Olive Garden, and Chipotle have even begun raising wages and offering signing bonuses to meet recruitment goals.

While a part-time food service job might not be your dream, it can be a short-term solution. Take it from a reader in our M$M Facebook group: 

18. Start tutoring

BookNook is an online tutoring platform that’s actively looking for tutors to help K-8 students develop their reading and math skills. You can make $15-$22/hour and set your own hours.

You need to be a U.S. citizen and meet at least one of the following requirements:

• 3+ years teaching or tutoring or
• 1 year teaching or tutoring and at least a bachelor’s degree or
• 1 year teaching or tutoring and current enrollment in a teaching credential program

This is an excellent way to make money fast if you’re a teacher looking for a side hustle. Besides the flexibility, another bonus is that BookNook handles all of the lesson planning for you!

Another option is to list your tutoring services on NextDoor, Facebook, or connect with local schools to see if they have any leads.

19. Make extra money watching videos

Swagbucks is an app with many ways to make money fast — earning cashback for shopping online, taking surveys, searching the web, and more — but they also pay you for watching videos online.

You’re not going to make a ton of money watching videos, but it’s easy, easy money. Read Best Ways to Get Paid to Watch Movies for even more ideas.

20. Become a babysitter or nanny

Babysitting is a solid way to make money fast if you love working with kids. You can watch kids in your house, go over to a family’s house, or become a nanny. Word-of-mouth is a good way to get started, but you can find even more families if you list your services on Care.com. This platform lets you list your service, explain your experience and more.

While it’s not required, being CPR certified will make you a more attractive candidate. You may also be able to increase your rates.

Make money fast babysitting

21. House cleaning

While it’s not the sexiest option on this list, cleaning houses pays surprisingly well if you work for yourself. House cleaners can make $20-$50/hour working for themselves, and you can share your name with friends and family or list your services on Care.com — the same platform for finding babysitting gigs!

As you begin to build trust with your clients, you’ll find them sharing your name with their contacts and growing your business from there. Read our article House Cleaning Jobs (Where to Find the Best Jobs) to learn more.

22. Make money fast with odd jobs

Doing one-off jobs is honestly one of the fastest ways to make money. Sure, you can find gigs on TaskRabbit, but it can take days to get approved and start finding jobs.

If you want to make money fast, here are the three quickest ways to find cash-paying odd jobs in your area:

• Craigslist: Start at the “Gigs” section. Your local Craigslist may have listings for things like unloading a truck, installing drywall, someone who wants drone footage taken, and more. 
• NextDoor: There are usually people in your area who are looking for help with all kinds of small jobs, like mowing grass, staining a deck, moving help, house sitting, running errands, building IKEA furniture, and more.
• Your network: Reach out to anyone you know — social media is good for this — and let them know you’re looking for a little work. Listing out some of the services you’re capable of doing can give people a sense of what they can ask about.

23. Refinance your debts

Refinancing is when you take out a new loan to pay off an existing loan. The goal is to get a new loan with better terms, especially a lower interest rate. This is one of the best ways to make money fast because it can significantly lower your monthly payments. There’s the potential to put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket every month.

Interest rates are starting to go up, but it’s still worth seeing if you can find a lower rate. You’ll need a good to excellent credit score to qualify for the best terms.

You can refinance your mortgage or student loans. Refinancing student loans is generally better if you have private student loan debt or high interest rates on your federal loans, and we highly recommend Credible to help you find the best rates. Plus, Credible only runs a soft credit inquiry when looking for rates, so it’s not going to affect your credit.

24. Get a balance transfer credit card

Credit card debt takes a lot out of you. There’s the emotional toll of carrying that debt with you, and it’s just plain expensive. Balance transfer cards can be a good way to take control of your finances and start destroying your credit card debt. 

Balance transfer cards come with 0% interest rates for 12-18 months, and the interest rate will jump up after the promotional period is over. You can make the most of these cards if you’re able to pay the card off during the 0% interest rate period. 

Opening a balance transfer card can put extra money back in your pocket because you’re saving money on interest charges. Once your credit card debt is paid off, you’re saving even more money each month.

25. Open a rewards credit card

If you know you’re good with credit cards — as in you pay off the balance every month  — rewards credit cards can come with a sweet bonus if you’re able to meet the spending requirement. The bonus can be anywhere from $100-$300, and there are also cards that pay travel rewards. These cards are points you can use for free or discounted airfare or hotel stays.

26. Sell your stuff to a pawn shop

If you need fast ways to make money now, selling to a pawn shop will put cash in your pocket today. The most high-value items are jewelry, electronics, and weapons, but you can sell almost anything to a pawn shop. 

Pawn shops aren’t going to pay you the full value of your items, but it’s fast money. If you’re able to take your time, you’ll make more selling your stuff on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Make sure you follow their seller’s guidelines for what you can and can’t sell.

27. Collect and sell scrap metal

If you have a truck or trailer, you can drive around your city collecting scrap metal. You can find this stuff on large trash day, in dumpsters, behind buildings, and so on. You can check the prices online to find which metals are most valuable, so you can know what to look for. You’ll also need to search for scrap yards and recycling centers in your area to sell what you collect.

28. Wrap your car

This might sound a little extreme to some people, but you can make pretty good money having your car professionally wrapped with advertisements.

Carvertise is a marketing company that pays high mileage drivers to wrap their cars in ad decals. They pay around $100/month, and each ad campaign lasts a few months. 

You’ll need a newer model vehicle with a factory paint job and to drive at least 30 miles a day to be considered. Carvertise hires professionals to wrap your car and take the decals off at the end of the ad campaign.

$100 a month isn’t a ton of extra money, but it’s passive because you’re not actively trading time for money. This gives you the chance to make some money while actively pursuing other ways to make money fast.

29. Get paid to do yard work

Mowing lawns, weeding, trimming bushes, raking, planting, etc. — you can make money fast by going around your neighborhood doing that kind of yard work. You can go door-to-door, hand out flyers, advertise your services on NextDoor, or use your social media contacts.

It’s not uncommon to make $20/hour or more doing yard work.

30. Home maintenance

Speaking of jobs that people don’t like doing… add snow shoveling, cleaning gutters, power washing sidewalks, etc. You can make $50/hour or more getting paid to help people around their homes. Again, you can advertise on social media platforms, neighborhood groups, or simply knock on doors.

The final word on quick ways to make money

We know what it’s like to be in a spot where you need money now. It can be extremely anxiety-inducing. 

Fortunately, there are legitimate options if you need money fast. Selling things is probably always going to be one of the fastest ways to make money. If you’re interested in finding something that has greater long-term potential, we recommend delivering food, starting a blog, or freelancing.

Side hustles like those can help you pay down debt and save for emergencies so you don’t find yourself in a tight situation like this again.

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