Need Extra Cash? 22 Ways to Make Money Fast

1. Sell your stuff

Average pay: $100 to $2,000 per month

Requirements: A PayPal or bank account if you’re selling online

“The absolute fastest way to make money is going to be to sell something you own,” Pérez says. “That is the most in-your-control way to make money ASAP.” The pro says to use Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, local community boards, your own social network and any other place you can. You’ll be amazed how saying “I have this car/bookshelf/air conditioner, and I am trying to sell it” can put fast cash in your pocket, according to Pérez.

So jump into spring cleaning any time of year! Websites like Poshmark and ThredUp can earn you serious cash for unused items gathering dust in your home. (Some users report earnings approaching $2,000!) Additionally, brick-and-mortar consignment shops and used bookstores will pay you cold, hard cash for gently used or new clothing, accessories and books.

2. Give local tours

Average pay: $21.44 per hour, plus tips

Requirements: Must apply and pass a background check

If you live in or near a popular city or tourist destination, you have a lucrative opportunity right outside your front door. Many tourists are happy to pay for someone to show them around the area and provide interesting knowledge and local flavor. Independent tour guides hosting through Airbnb charge upwards of $20 per person per hour (or more). Why can’t that be you?

To get started, apply to be a guide with a tour-booking platform like Tours by Locals, or sign up to host an experience through Airbnb. And don’t be afraid to think big when creating your customized tour. Whether it involves exploring a haunted hotel or biking up a mountain, the more creative and exciting your experience sounds, the more bookings you’ll score—and the more money you’ll earn.

3. Get handy

Average pay: $18 per hour

Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age or older and pass a background check

“People will pay for labor to get done that they don’t want to do,” Pérez says. “So things like house cleaning, lawn maintenance and handyman projects are great places to find extra work.”

Sites like TaskRabbit connect you with locals who need tasks or errands performed in exchange for payment. You can promote yourself with flyers, online forums and on social media, but Pérez says “this kind of work can also thrive with word of mouth and local knowledge.”

“When you get your first client, offer them a future discount if they can refer you to three people,” she suggests. After you register your account and TaskRabbit approves your profile, you’ll pay a $25 fee and can start accepting jobs. You will be paid immediately through direct deposit after each task.

4. Trade in old electronics

Average pay: Varies depending on the item and condition

Requirements: A PayPal or bank account if you’re selling online

Your outdated clothes and unwanted books aren’t the only sneaky moneymakers hiding in your home. Smartphones, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, iPods and even fitness trackers can fetch top dollar from online buyback services like Gazelle and BuyBackWorld.

Selling your old gadgets online is easy: Just fill out information about the item, including its condition, and the site will give you a quoted price. Once you accept the price and send the item through the mail, you will receive payment in your bank or PayPal account.

You can also list old electronics for local pickup on eBay, Facebook Marketplace and other online selling platforms. Nearby buyers will offer you cash in exchange for the items. Just beware of common Facebook Marketplace scams before posting your wares.

5. Sell plasma

Average pay: $100 per donation

Requirements: Must be 18 years of age or older, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, pass a medical exam, complete a medical screening and not have gotten a tattoo or piercing within the last four months

Donating plasma is a safe way to earn money quickly, Brady says. “You can earn up to $100 each time you donate plasma, and you usually receive payment within a few hours to a day.”

Plasma makes up 55% of your blood and helps regulate blood pressure, delivers electrolytes to muscles and maintains pH balance, according to GoodRx. They note that plasma is sometimes used to make medicine for severe liver disease, autoimmune conditions and bleeding disorders.

So not only are you making money, you’re helping people! You can find a list of donation centers on the Department of Health and Human Services website.

6. Sign up for online gig work

Average pay: $19.05 per hour

Requirements: Varies by site and job

Looking for quick ways to earn money? Make fast cash by completing small online tasks on sites like Amazon Mechanical Turk (aka MTurk) or Clickworker. Jobs can include completing surveys, recording or transcribing audio, updating social media accounts, labeling images, organizing data and more. ZipRecruiter says that the average Amazon MTurk worker makes almost $20 an hour and is paid instantly.

“You can also find short-term work on places like Upwork or Fiverr,” adds Pérez.

7. Make food and grocery deliveries

Average pay: $18 per hour, but varies based on location, demand and tips

Requirements: Must be at least 21 years of age or older, pass a background check and have dependable transportation, such as a car, bike or scooter

If you’ve been searching for how to make money fast, it’s high time you cash in on the booming food delivery service economy. By delivering groceries and takeout for apps such as Instacart, Uber Eats, Postmates, DoorDash or Amazon Flex, you can get paid per delivery and even earn tips. Setting up an account is easy, but prepare to wait a few days for the company to process and approve your background check.

If you need the money you’ve earned right away, consider each service’s payment schedule. DoorDash will transfer payments daily or instantly for a fee. Uber Eats also pays its drivers daily, while Instacart delivers payments weekly. Amazon Flex pays twice a week.

8. Sell unused gift cards

Average pay: Varies, depending on the gift card value and store

Requirements: A bank or PayPal account

With resale sites like CardCash, you can turn those unwanted gift cards into cash. Simply enter the store name and amount on your gift card to find out how much it’s worth. While you may not recoup the full value of the card, earning even a fraction of the value is better than letting it gather dust in a drawer.

CardCash will pay you via check, direct deposit or PayPal once you enter the card’s number and pin. You can also try selling your gift cards on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or eBay to earn a little more of the card’s true value—and get quick cash too.

9. Post photos for a profit

Average pay: Up to $10,000 per month

Requirements: Must own the necessary rights to the images you sell

Creative types, take note. Amateurs and professionals alike can post and sell their photos as prints, T-shirts, phone cases and more online at Fine Art America. Assuming you already have some original photos on hand, it takes only a few hours to create a profile and upload your images to the site. Once the purchases start rolling in, Fine Art America will transfer payments to you on the 15th of each month, after the 30-day return window for the purchase expires.

10. Rent out your room (or even your couch!)

Average pay: More than $13,800 per year

Requirements: Must be 18 years of age or older and obey any rules on renting your property as issued by your local government, landlord, homeowners association or co-op board

If you’re hunting for quick ways to earn money, look no further than your own home. Thanks to sites like Airbnb and Vrbo, you can cash in on your spare bedroom by renting it out to vacationers who pass through your city. Create a listing and start accepting reservations the same day. All you need are solid furnishings, great photos to show off your space and permission from your landlord or city.

11. Turn your hobby into a business

Average pay: $45,000 per year

Requirements: Must be 13 years of age or older and own the rights to the merchandise sold in your shop

Are you a crafter or artist? “There’s also online entrepreneurship,” says Pérez, and that can take many paths—and be plenty lucrative. “For example, you can write a book and upload it to Amazon and sell it for $5. That would make you an author and an online entrepreneur.”

If you have an eye for design, create homemade crafts to sell on Etsy. The site features wares ranging from clothing and jewelry to home decor and toys, all sold by vendors and crafters around the world. If you frequent garage sales, thrift stores or flea markets, you can buy knick-knacks on the cheap, spruce them up and sell them again on Etsy for a profit.

Once you have the merchandise to sell, opening your Etsy shop is easy: Simply post photos and descriptions on the site to get started. It can be a fun (and rewarding!) option if you’re looking to make money fast.

12. Test websites and apps

Average pay: Rates vary, depending on the test type

Requirements: Must be 18 years of age or older and have a PayPal account as well as a mobile or desktop device with a microphone

Techies with a little extra time on their hands can get paid to visit websites and apps, complete sets of tasks and share their experiences via UserTesting. To become a UserTesting contributor, take 15 to 20 minutes to fill out a form confirming your device meets the system requirements and share basic information, like your name, postal code and PayPal email address. Once you receive an acceptance notice, you can start testing sites and apps—and making money!—right away.

13. Teach your talent

Average pay: Rates vary

Requirements: Some educational requirements may apply; may need to be enrolled in or have at least a bachelor’s degree from a four-year university

Even without a whiteboard and desk, tutoring is still an easy way to make money. Becoming a tutor requires little more than a space and a willing student, if you have the skills. You could offer music lessons to young musicians, provide test prep for college hopefuls or tutor local students in school subjects in which you have expertise.

Launch your tutoring career and start earning money by creating a profile on Tutor.com or advertising your services at local schools and community centers. Start booking students and you can get paid in cash after each tutoring session.

14. Clean clothes

Average pay: $20 per bag, plus a $3 service fee and tips

Requirements: Must have laundry equipment (like a washer and dryer), a reliable vehicle to pick up and drop off deliveries and a smartphone with internet access to download and use the app

Good news, laundry lovers! With LaundryCare, you can earn quick money to pick up, wash, iron, fold and deliver laundry for clients in your area. Simply apply and create a profile on the service’s mobile app, then start receiving and scheduling orders and accepting payments right away. At $20 per bag, plus a service fee and tips, you can earn hundreds of dollars by doing a week’s worth of laundry.

Bonus: You’ll get paid through the app and can cash out payments any day of the week at your convenience.

15. Place an ad sticker on your car

Average pay: $50 to $400 per month

Requirements: Must drive a car and have a valid driver’s license and car insurance

Wrap your car in ad material, and you could earn up to $400 per month via Free Car Media. After submitting a few bits of information, including your vehicle type, where you live and your daily commute length and time, the service will pair you with an advertiser who will pay you to slap a sticker on your car and continue about your daily routine.

An advertisement on your rear window typically pays $50 or more per month, while wrapping your entire vehicle can net you up to $400 a month. Just keep in mind that keeping stickers on your car can kill its resale value, so don’t forget to remove them before putting your vehicle on the market.

16. Walk or care for local pets

Average pay: $23.50 per hour

Requirements: Must pass a background check

Believe it or not, dog walking is one of the best-paid side hustles in the United States: You can an average of $23.50 per hour, or $48,880 a year, according to ZipRecruiter. Pet owners hire walkers and sitters through sites like Rover, and all it takes is creating a profile and passing a background check. Want to know how to make money fast while avoiding extra fees and paperwork? Offer to walk or watch your neighbors’ pups while they are at work or out of town.

17. Start a snow-removal service

Average pay: Up to $123 per hour, varies by location

Requirements: None

Do you have a snow blower and a few hours to spare? The next major snowstorm in your area could be a fast way to make cash. Word has it that you can make big bucks by offering to remove snow from neighbors’ driveways and sidewalks in the winter. According to HomeAdvisor, the going rate for sidewalk snow removal is $50 to $123 per hour—as long as you’re willing to bundle up and knock on a few doors.

18. Install Christmas lights

Average pay: $1.25 to $3 per linear foot of lights

Requirements: Might need installation gear, such as ladders and light clips

Putting up Christmas lights for neighbors, family members and friends is another easy way to get money fast during the holiday season. According to price-comparison site Thumbtack, most installers charge $1.25 to $3 per linear foot of lights, plus double that price for lights on a second story. Wrapping outdoor trees with lights can cost $60 to $1,200 each, depending on the tree’s size. And don’t forget about the removal fees, which cost about half the installation fee. All these services can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per season in cold, hard cash.

19. Rent out your car

Average pay: Varies based on demand and location

Requirements: Must be at least 21 years of age or older, have a valid driver’s license and own a car that meets maintenance and safety requirements

That car sitting idle in your garage or on the street is an untapped resource for fast cash. Sure, you could trade in your car, but you could potentially earn even more by renting it out. Services like Turo and Avail connect you with people who will pay to rent and drive your car for a few hours or days.

It takes only about 30 minutes to set up an account, and you can start renting your car as soon as your account is reviewed and approved. Depending on the service, you can get paid on a schedule or right after the rental period ends.

20. Seek social media stardom

Average pay: About $1,500 per year

Requirements: Social media accounts, potentially editing software and lighting

Move over, influencers. “TikTok pays for views once you have 1,000 followers,” Pérez says. The more views you have, the more money you earn. Once you pass that initial threshold, you could earn big bucks. “So a video with 2 million views can result in a payout from TikTok.”

“Social media also functions as a shopping platform now, so you can do things like share affiliate links on Instagram stories or join TikTok shop to sell to your audience,” Pérez adds.” You’re not actually storing or mailing these items; you are directing your audience to a shopping website that handles that, and you get a percentage of their purchase.”

Going viral doesn’t have to be complicated—some people get millions of views just from sharing a creative joke, juicy anecdote or something they see out in the world.

21. Save while shopping

Average savings: Varies by store

Requirements: Internet browser installations

“You can use cashback browser installations like Rakuten or Swagbucks to earn money when you shop online,” says Pérez. Of course, if you need extra cash fast, spending money probably isn’t the smartest choice. But if you’re in a good spot financially and just looking to bring in a little extra income, this could be the way to go.

22. Adjust your spending habits

Average savings: About $1,500 per year

Requirements: None

Let’s face it: Your frappuccino addiction is burning a hole in your wallet. A penny saved is a penny earned, right? So nix an expensive habit and watch the savings roll in. Avoid eating out for a week. Stop buying things you don’t need for a full month. Or give up smoking entirely. (Bonus: That last one will help you save on health care too.)

Red flags to watch out for

We get it. You need cash fast. But being pinched for cash is something scammers take advantage of, so it’s important to watch your back. “The old adage, ‘If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,’ always applies when trying to earn fast money,” cautions Pérez.

So, how do you stay safe while trying to make a quick buck? Here are pro-verified tips.

• Check out the company: Before you sign on with a gig company, always verify they actually exist. “If you got an email with an offer for work or some sort of program, visit the website independent of the email links,” Pérez says. “Make sure it has a registered LLC and check reviews with the BBB or even just on Facebook.”
• Use caution with your bank info: Never give out your financial information on an unsecure network, even Gmail. “Any company asking for your bank information to pay you should be using a secure third-party platform, not just asking you to email your bank account number to them,” Pérez says.
• Be skeptical: Most legitimate companies will email or call you, or reach out via a job platform like LinkedIn, so ignore random texts offering money. Also, avoid people who say they want to pay you in gift cards, Pérez says.
• Watch out for poor grammar: Misspelled words and syntax errors in their communication, requests for money or personal information upfront, and high pay for little work are major red flags.
• Slow down: “When you’re in a hurry, you will skip the fine print, overlook red flags and trade small, quick wins for huge, long-term losses,” Brady says.

Brady’s bottom line? “Don’t let yourself be seduced by offers that are too good to be true. If you’re in a rush, it’s always better to step away for a few hours or even a few days to learn more about a potential employer before making a decision.”

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

• Sarah Brady, financial writer and former credit counselor; interviewed, August 2025
• Kara Pérez, founder of Bravely Go and author of Money for Change: Reduce Waste, Build Wealth, and Build a Better Future for All; interviewed, August 2025
• ZipRecruiter: “Salaries”
• Thumbtack: “Holiday light installation costs”
• HomeAdvisor: “How Much Is the Cost of Snow Removal?”
• GoodRx: “How Much Do You Get Paid to Donate Plasma?”
• HHS: “Give plasma”