
Everyone goes through financial difficulties once in a while, and no matter how hard you try to spend less, the grim reality is that you still need some form of income. You may need money to pay the rent, to plan a birthday party, or to pay your bills. Regardless of the reason, there are also times when you may need to make a quick buck.
The good news is that you can always earn some money from one day to another. You simply have to know where to look for work. There are numerous examples of people who got fired and after a few weeks figured out how to support themselves by blogging or freelancing.
This having been said, as long as you keep an open mind and understand that you can always learn a new skill which will help you earn money, there’s nothing stopping you. It is also important to not fall for any of the “get rich quick” scams that you may find on the internet, and try to look for valid sources of information that propose realistic ways of earning money.
Below you will find a list of almost 50 ways through which you can earn money fast. Some of them are self-explanatory, while others may require you to learn new things. However, all of them are realistic ways of making money in a short period of time.
- Start a blog: You can always start a blog and use it as a platform to sell digital goods. You only need to invest time, as most platforms allow you to create one for free, and once it kicks off, you will also be able to monetize it through the use of ads. A blog will essentially help you earn money both in the long run, as well as in the short term;
- You can sell your kids’ old things and clothes: As your kids grow, you can sell the clothes that no longer fit them. While you won’t be able to sell them for the same price that you bought them for, the ones that are in good condition will still be worth a pretty penny;
- Sell things around the house that you no longer use: You can organize a yard sale and get rid of everything that you no longer use. This will not only make you money, but it will also help you get rid of things that clutter your home;
- Sell DVDs and books that you never watch or read, through eBay or a similar service.
- Recycle your old devices: Look up Amazon’s trade-in program, through which you can send your old phone or other devices such as gaming consoles, laptops, and tablets to be recycled. You will receive Amazon gift cards in return, which you can then use to buy new products;
- Sell all the clothes that no longer fit you;
- Start doing paid surveys: There are several platforms which offer users the ability to do paid surveys. Most of these work on the same principle. The user receives a few surveys every week or month, and upon completion is awarded a certain number of points which can then be transformed into money or gift cards;
- Sell photos: There are several websites which you can use in order to sell your photos. Just upload them and the platforms will do the rest;
- Sell handmade objects: If you like DIY, then you will be pleased to know that you can sell your crafts for quite a few bucks. The materials that go into making these objects are not extremely expensive, and you can get a reasonable amount of money for your creations, as long as you find the right place to sell them;
- Sell your collectibles: Desperate times call for desperate measures. While you may like the things that you have collected for years, someone will definitely be willing to pay a pretty penny for them. Sell your cards, action figures, or anything else that could be classified as a collectible item;
- Sell your couponing stock: If you use coupons, then it is likely that you have many things that you do not immediately need;
- Sell the contents of your storage unit: Sell the items in order to earn money, but also to stop paying the storage fees;
- Babysit: If you have friends with small children, then you can ask them if they need a babysitter. This will enable you to earn some extra money, and you will also be in an environment that you are familiar with;
- Mow lawns: There are many people who are too busy to take care of their yards, and who would gladly pay others to do it for them;
- Walk the neighbors’ dogs;
- Work by cleaning peoples houses;
- Work as a freelancer: There are several online freelancing platforms that you can use in order to sell your skills;
- Tutor kids in school;
- Resell domain names or create and sell websites;
- Work as a writer: There are many publications that will pay you for articles that you write. Just be careful to read the submission fees for each of them;
- Wash cars;
- Get paid for helping others move in or move out: You can earn about $25 per hour by simply carrying furniture and boxes;
- Work as a virtual assistant: Virtual assistants are practically online secretaries. You will have to surf the internet in order to find whatever information your employer needs, make appointments, track expenses, and send emails;
- Be someone’s workout buddy: There are individuals who need a little support in order to make a habit out of exercising, and some of them are willing to pay for that support;
- Shovel snow;
- Become a tester: You can earn money by testing websites before they are released. You do not need to learn a programming language in order to do this; however, it does help;
- Return things that you’ve bought in the past and have never used;
- Sell the outdoor furniture or kids toys that your family no longer needs;
- Sell any shoes or purses that you don’t use;
- Bake cookies and sell them around the neighborhood;
- Work as a taxi driver for your friends or deliver groceries to those who cannot leave their homes;
- Sell any musical instruments that you no longer use;
- Recycle scrap metal: Look for anything made of metal that you no longer use and cannot sell. You can recycle those objects and be paid for it;
- Recycle plastic and glass: Recycle all the empty bottles that you find, in order to make some extra cash;
- Sell the Christmas items that you no longer use, or don’t like;
- Sell sporting equipment to Play It Again Sports;
- Auction off any artwork that you have in your home, on eBay;
- Pick up free things offered on Craigslist and then sell them to others;
- Sell the gifts that you don’t like;
- Teach a class: If you’re good at something that others would be interested in learning, then gather a few individuals who are interested, and teach a class on that subject;
- Create an online course on Udemy;
- Become a ghostwriter: If you like to write, then you can always go online and find someone who needs a book written, or a paper finished. You will be paid to write in their name;
- Sell any formal dresses or Halloween costumes that you don’t plan on ever wearing again;
- Refurbish furniture: Ask your friends if they have any furniture that they want to get rid of, and take it off their hands. You can then apply another coat of lacquer, polish it and then sell it;
- Rent a room in your home;