Over the last five years or so, one survey after another has suggested that a large percentage of people don’t have enough money in the bank to cover an unexpected $500 emergency. Far too many people are living paycheck-to-paycheck these days and paying the price for it.
Are you one of them? If so, you might not know what to do when you find yourself saying “I need money now!” to pay for something like a car repair or a medical bill.
You might not think you have a ton of options when you need money fast. The truth is that you can get money now in a variety of ways as long as you know where to look for it.
If you’re in desperate need of fast cash, here are some of the most effective ways to get your hands on it in a hurry.
See If Family Members or Friends Can Give You a Loan
Generally speaking, accepting a loan from a family member or friend is almost never a good idea. If you find yourself in a position where you’re unable to pay back the loan in a reasonable amount of time, it could destroy your relationship with them.
As they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. If you’re in a real bind and need cash fast, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to those around you to see if they could potentially float you a loan.
Some tips in case you decide to go this route:
- Borrow the exact amount of money that you need and not a penny more
- Put a repayment plan into place for the loan right away (and stick to it!)
- Avoid spending money on anything else until you’ve repaid your family member or friend
Unless you have a history of borrowing money from others and not paying them back, you should be able to find at least one person in your life willing to take a chance on you. Just make sure you do right by them so that they don’t regret giving you a loan later.
Take Out a Personal Loan Online
If you don’t know anyone who has enough money to give you a loan, you might think you’re out of luck. There are other ways to get loans quickly when you need cash in an instant, however.
You can apply for personal loans online. There are also lots of online payday loans that are available to people these days.
It usually only takes a few minutes at most to fill out applications for these types of loans. It wouldn’t hurt to try and get your hands on a personal loan or payday loan when you need money fast.
Sell Some of the Stuff You Have Hanging Around Your House
The average person has somewhere in the neighborhood of 300,000 things stuffed inside their house. It creates a clutter problem in many homes.
It has also, however, given many people an opportunity to sell some of their stuff when they need cash fast. Look around in your house and try to find things that might be worth some money.
You can sell everything from TVs and laptops to clothing and housewares online for cash. Nowadays, it’s simple enough to sell them on sites like Craigslist and Facebook in a matter of just a few hours to get the money you need.
Sign Up to Be a Ridesharing Driver
The ridesharing industry took a little bit of a hit during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s beginning to pick up steam again in many cities, which is something you can use to your advantage when you need fast cash.
As long as you have a car that’s in decent shape, you can drive for a company like Uber or Lyft and generate hundreds of dollars in just a few days if you’re able to attract enough attention.
It might take you a week or so to get approved as an Uber or Lyft driver. Once you’re in, it could be a very lucrative venture for you. You might even want to continue driving for a ridesharing company long after you’ve made the money you need.
Offer to Walk Dogs for Those in Your Neighborhood
Are there a lot of people in your neighborhood with dogs? Chances are, they could use a hand with walking their dog every now and then.
You should consider hanging up flyers in your neighborhood advertising your dog walking services. You could pull in quite a bit of money over the course of just a few days by walking dogs around your neighborhood.
You’ll get some exercise yourself when you’re out walking dogs. You’ll also beef up your bank account in the process.
Rent Out One of the Rooms in Your House
If you have extra space in your home that you’re not using right now, you could probably use it to generate extra income when you need cash fast. By clearing out one of the rooms in your home and renting it out, you can make a nice chunk of change every time someone rents it.
Who knows? You might even find someone who wants to rent it long-term, which will give you a nice steady stream of passive income. It’ll put you into a position where you won’t ever have to worry about running short on money again.
Stop Saying “I Need Money Now” and Find a Way to Get It
Did you just get hit with a car repair or medical bill that you weren’t expecting? If so, you’re likely walking around saying “I need money now” and wondering how you’re going to get it.
As you can see, there are so many ways to go about doing it. Put one or more of these ideas to the test the next time you need cash fast to get the money you need in no time at all. Read the rest of our blog to find more tips on making money.