So you’ve got a financial emergency and no money in sight? If you find yourself googling I need money now, you’re probably wondering how to get out of this predicament.
Well, you can go for the obvious and ask your friends and family members for help, or you can get creative and find other ways to make money.
We’ve made a list of all the things you can try to get your hands on that cash ASAP.
I Need Money Fast
If it’s really important to get your money today and for free, we have a couple of quick solutions for you:
1. Cash in Credit Card Points
The best way to get money instantly is to cash in your credit card points. Your rewards will depend on the type of rewards card you use. There are three types of rewards cards:
- Cash back cards — will give you a percentage of cash back on every purchase. For example, CapitalOne’s Savor Rewards card gives you 4% cash back on spending money at restaurants.
- Points-earning cards — will earn points for every dollar you spend. For example, the Citi Premier® Card gives you three points per dollar spent at restaurants and supermarkets.
- Miles-earning cards — will get you a certain number of miles for every dollar you spend. For example, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card gives you five miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars.
How to get instant cash by using your points? The process will vary depending on the issuer, but generally, you’ll need to log into your account and go to the “redeem rewards” page. From there, you’ll be able to select how you want to use your points.
In general, each point and mile is worth 1 cent.
2. Return Recent Purchases
If you need to get money right now, try to return recent purchases. If you bought something from a store, see if they have a policy to give a full refund within a certain number of days after the purchase was made.
For example, Target has a 90-day return policy for most items, while Amazon offers a 30-day refund policy.
3. Pawn Something
If you want to make money today, you can pawn something. To pawn something means to put it up as collateral for a loan.
You can pawn anything, from jewelry to instruments. Pawn shops will give you 25%–60% of the resale value of your item. For example, if you pawn a gold necklace worth $1,000, you may receive anything from $250 to $600 in loans.
However, you will need to pay back the loan plus interest (between 5% and 25%) within a certain period. If you can’t repay the loan, the pawn shop will keep your item and sell it to someone else.
4. Exchange Gift Cards for Cash
If you’re looking for easy ways to make money fast, one option is to exchange your unwanted gift cards for cash.
You can use a few different websites to do this, such as CardCash and GiftCash. They will give you up to 92% of the card’s value.
Some of the highest-rated gift cards are Amazon Gift Cards ($15, $25, $50, and $100 denominations), Apple Gift Cards ($25, $50, $100 denominations), and Sephora Gift Cards ($10–$500 denominations).
5. Sell Your Unused Internet
Did you know that you could make quick cash by selling your internet? There are a few websites that allow you to do this, such as:
- Honeygain ($18–$184 per month),
- IPRoyal ($6–$132 per month),
- Peer2profit ($8.33 per month on average), and
- PacketStream ($0.10 for every GB shared).
I Need Money Desperately and It’s a Big Sum
You might be hit by an unexpected financial crisis, and you need a larger amount of money. If you’re willing to pay it back later, an emergency loan is the most obvious choice.
Let’s explore your options:
6. Advance Paycheck
If you have a job, you can borrow money instantly by asking your employer to give you a paycheck in advance.
Many employers are willing to give an advance on their paycheck, as it is in their best interest to keep their employees happy and productive.
In addition, you can take advantage of different financial advisory apps that provide instant cash advances (up to $250) and the opportunity to receive your wage two days early.
7. Payday Loan
Payday loans are short-term loans you usually pay off with your next paycheck. They are a great option if you need emergency cash immediately.
Apart from the swiftness, another advantage is that the lender will typically perform only a soft credit check, so this loan is ideal for those with a bad credit score. The downside is the extremely high-interest rate.
8. Installment loan
If you need to get some money right this second, you should opt for installment loans. With an installment loan, you can borrow up to $5,000 within one business day without damaging your credit score.
Like payday loans, they also come with high-interest rates. The difference with this loan is that the loan term is longer (usually 24 months), so it may end up more expensive than other types of quick loans.
I Need Money That I Don’t Have to Pay Back
You don’t have a steady income, so loans are out of the question. We hear you, and we’ve got a couple of ideas in store for you, too:
9. Flip Freebies From Craigslist
Flipping freebies from Craigslist is a creative way to get fast cash. You can find anything from furniture to clothes to electronics on Craigslist. And sometimes people are willing to give these items away for free.
All you have to do is pick up the item and then sell it for a profit. However, to get the best price, make the item look presentable. For example, if you’re selling a piece of furniture, dust it off and take a clear photo.
Oh, and don’t forget to check your garage or basement for things you can sell or flip, like old bikes or snowboards. As the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
10. Hold a Yard Sale
To get started, gather up all the items you want to sell and price them accordingly. Here are some pricing ideas:
- Clothes: $3–$5 (more if they still have a price tag)
- Shoes: $3–$7
- Books: $1–$2 (for hardcover) and 25–50 cents (for paperback)
- Toys and games: $1–$3 per item
- Furniture: $10–$30 for low-quality furniture; high-quality pieces should stay below one-third of their initial price.
Alternatively, you could sell your books on one of the online bookselling places.
11. Rent Out a Room/Become a Driver
If you need money fast and you own an asset, like an apartment or a car, you can put them to good use.
Rent out a room or your entire home on Airbnb. Airbnb hosts from the US typically make $9,000 per year or $750 per month.
On the other hand, if you have a car, you can sign up to be a driver for Uber or Doordash. You can make up to $25.00 per hour driving for DoorDash and between $8.55 and $11.77 per hour driving for Uber.
12. Get Government Assistance
There is a way to get money, even if you’re unemployed, by applying for government assistance.
For example, you can apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI). This program provides temporary financial assistance to people who lost their jobs due to no fault of their own.
The amount of money you receive from UI depends on your state. For instance, if you live in New Jersey, you can get up to $713 per week.
13. Find Unclaimed Money
Unclaimed money refers to any funds owed to you from a company, government office, or other sources that you have not been able to collect.
Unclaimed money can come in the form of cash, security deposits, checks, money orders, or safe deposits.
To find unclaimed money, you need to contact your state’s unclaimed property office.
Conclusion
So, how to make money fast today? Try one of the tips above. While some options may take a little longer than others, they are all relatively easy ways to land you some cash quickly.
However, if you need money immediately, your best bet is to ask for a paycheck advance from your employer or return your recent purchases.
FAQs
How to get money without a job?
If you don’t have a job but you need cash ASAP, there are a few options you can try. You can cash in your credit card points, return recent purchases, exchange gift cards for cash, rent out a room, sell your unused internet, or flip free stuff from Craigslist.
You can also apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI).
Who can give me money right now?
If you need money urgently, your best bet is to approach someone who you think is likely to have some extra cash on hand. This could be a friend, family member, boss, or local business owner.
You can also take out a loan from a financial institution. However, this should only be done as a last resort, as you will likely have to pay back the loan plus interest.
So if your current financial situation is summed up in I need money now, try one of these options instead.
