This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for more details.
You’ve got yourself in a bind and you’re struggling to make ends meet. You’re behind on bills and looking for ways to make money fast. Or maybe, you just want to make some fast cash for the holidays. It’s totally doable.But how? How on Earth can I make extra money in such a short amount of time on top of my already hectic work schedule?You are not the only one that feels this way, mama. In fact 43% of Americans struggle to make ends meet. Many rely on credit cards, personal loans, and payday loans to get by. But this tactic is not going to fix the underlying problem. In fact, adding to loans and credit is just going to allow your debt hole to become even bigger.Truth is, there are MANY ways to make money fast, but you’ll have to get creative.I’ll get you started with a very lengthy and comprehensive list of ways to make money fast.This post may contain affiliate links in which I may earn a commission. Please see our full disclosure page for details.
1. Have a yard sale
This is probably the most common thing to do when you are short on cash. Go through all of your belongings and sell everything that doesn’t fit you, you no longer use, or can spare to be without. Dave Ramsey always says, “Sell so much that the kids think they are next”. I’m not that extreme and you don’t have to be either but it’s the mentality that will get you there.2. Sell your plasma
By selling plasma, you can expect to make a few hundred dollars per month. But, not everyone gets to sell plasma. They do have restrictions, such as weight, medical history, no active infections, etc. Many centers allow you to donate 2x per week, which could put $200-400 in your pocket at the end of the month.3. Offer to baby sit
The going rate for babysitters in my area is about $10/hr. This could be some quick cash if you don’t mind a few rugrats.
4. Take up dog walking
If watching kids is not your thing, maybe 4-legged children could be? I’ve seen this go well in big cities with lots of nearby parks.5. Become a tutor in an area of your expertise
Are you good at math? Teach some high school kids in your spare time. Good at chemistry? Literature? Tutor is an online tutoring site that employs tutors of all kids of subjects, even higher education.6. Sell your photos to stock photography sites
Are you good at taking photos? Or styling images? Sell your photos to stock photography sites like iStock, Dreamstime, and Shutterstock.7. Try out mystery shopping
Like shopping? Give mystery shopping a try. You won’t get rich doing this, but it can put some nice spare change in your wallet when you are in a bind.8. Be a mobile notary
This one might take a little longer to get up and running and in Arizona, it does require a $5,000 bond and a total application fee up to $245. Notaries in Arizona can charge up to $10 per transaction. You could make that money back in a year.9. Flip free items for profit
There are tons of goldmines on Craiglist, Ebay, and Facebook Marketplace offering things for free. Snag them up, make it look nice and flip it for a profit. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right?10. Flip cheap items for profit
On a different avenue, you can flip cheap items for sale. Places like Goodwill, Yardsales, and Swap Meets (Flea Markets) are good starting points to find cheap items to flip for profit.11. Start a blog
This one won’t happen overnight, or even in a month for most people. I hesitate to put this on the list but if you have the drive and the will, you can make it happen.12. Become a virtual assisstant
Are you good at social media? Do you understand the algorithms and how each platforms works? A lot of businesses are looking for people just like you to run their social media presence for them.13. Manage Facebook marketing for a local business
Similarly, businesses are looking for people to run ads for their business through Facebook. Here’s a beginners guide to get you started on how to run ads on Facebook. Now, you just have to find a business who needs the job done.
14. Try out VIPKID
VIPKID is an online job opportunity to teach kids in other countries the English language. You’ll need to have a bachelors degree and have experience in working with kids. You can expect to make anywhere from $14-22/hr doing this in your spare time.15. Become a mother’s helper
Many mom’s these days are completely overwhelmed. Or maybe they have recently had an injury or illness preventing them from doing the things they normally do day to day. Are you willing to do someone’s laundry or run someone’s errands? Then put an add in your local paper or Facebook and see if you can offer your services to a mother in need.16. Master Amazon dropshipping
Amazon dropshipping is when you sell a product(s) without having to carry inventory. You make the sale on Amazon by writing an awesome description at an unbeatable price, then alert the company of the sale and allow them to fulfill the order.17. Become a social media influencer
Instagram has become a place where everyday people who have a good sense of fashion and a great iPhone can make money by influencing others to do the same. Many influencers work with brands that pay them to promote their products on Instagram.Heartbeat is a great program to get started for beginners. I’ve made $80 so far by just posting pictures! There is a definite opportunity for more than that.18. Create holiday bundles
Put together small bundles of items for Easter, Summer, Christmas, or even birthdays.19. Sell your hair
Okay so, I didn’t realize that this was a thing. In fact, you could make some good money here. I saw some “virgin” hair go for $650!! If you’ve got long untreated hair and need some money, this might be of consideration.20. Clean houses
If you are down for some dirty work and don’t mind cleaning, then you could make some good cash. In my area, a nice cleaning goes for about $150 which takes about 4 hours or so for professional service. If you are performing the service as a solo-preneur, then you might stand to make about half of that. You can name your price.21. Complete surveys
Surveys can be a way to earn some coffee change and more if you are dedicated. Sites like SwagBucks and InboxDollars will not only pay you for surveys but will pay you for tasks like surfing the web, watching T.V. on your phone, downloading apps and more. It takes time to get to know the system and the best payouts occur when you score bonuses and refer to other people.22. Find your old phones to sell
Start gathering your old phones, working or not, there are sites that will pay you for them.Here’s a few to get started: Gazelle, NextWorth, and ItsWorthMoreKeep in mind that much older phones won’t be getting as much money on online sites because they typically only buy phones to refurbish them for resell. You may be better off selling your phone on Craigslist, Ebay, or your local Facebook Marketplace.23. Dumpster dive for scrap metal
Did you know that Brass metal is going for $1.55/lb and Copper Tubing is going for $2.10/lb right now in my area? I was giving away a non-working deep freezer and this man had about 3 others loaded up on his trailer. I never knew that he was scrapping them for metal until I wrote this post!
24. Sell gently used clothes
Sometimes, it feels so good to let go of old and outdated clothes. If you want extra cash, think about selling them. There is a huge wave of people buying used these days and you can definitely score some cold hard moolah.Read: 12 of the Best Places to Sell Your Used Clothes for Cash25. Watch videos for money
Swagbucks has a cool part of their program where you can watch videos for points. Once you rack up a certain amount of points, you can redeem them for gift cards. You can choose which genre you would like to watch like Celeb, News, Entertainment, ect.26. Earn money with Inbox Dollars
I know I’ve mentioned Inbox Dollars before and it is with good reason. When I first started with Inbox dollars, I was off to a great start after I completed my profile. Then it died down because I limited myself to paid email and surveys for pennies. I racked up a whopping $17 in 3 months. But, I recently discovered that there are massive amounts of opportunity to make a good amount of cash by utilizing all of what ID has to offer. I plan to do a review of Inbox Dollars in the future once I test out my theory. If you’d like to join, here is my referral link.27. Do someone’s meal pickup for them
Ever heard of UberEats? It’s a service where members can order food and have someone else deliver it to them. And, it works at places that don’t normally deliver. How cool is that?28. Flip a blog
Just like flipping items, flipping blogs can be fun if you are tech savvy and love to build websites.29. Detail a car
Cleaning cars isn’t the most creative way to make money, but if you do a good job, people will start recommending you. You’ll be able to name your price and turn your side hustle into a business in no time. Or just make a few hundred dollars if that’s all you want.30. Change someone’s oil
YouTube is a great resource for learning all sorts of trades. Remember that story of the single mom who built her own house based off of YouTube videos? Changing a car’s oil isn’t rocket science, and if you charge just under the going rate, it can be easy money.31. Good at painting? Offer mural paintings for custom homes
I have seen murals go for $100 or more. If you’ve got the skill, and you love it, why not make some money out of it?32. Sell old textbooks
I had a ton of nursing textbooks laying around the house that I never looked at after I graduated. There was no need keep them as online textbooks and access to current journals and research allowed me to stay up to date in my practice, so I sold my books to Chegg and got a nice paycheck in the end.BookFinder allows you to type in the ISBN of the book you are looking to sell and will give you a list of merchants and bookstores who are looking for the book. You get to chose the price.
33. Bake custom cakes
Custom cakes are making waves in the party niche. Not only are elaborate cakes for weddings, they are now being made for children’s birthdays, bachelorette parties, and even going away parties. A simple one tier round cake typically starts in the $60 range, though many people are going bigger with the cakes these days. It could be a lucrative way to make money fast if you love baking.34. Get crafty and design #momlife shirts, tees
Ever see those tees with the perfect saying that totally describes you? You could be the one designing those tees. Go to Blank Apparel to purchase your wholesale items, then use either a print press or iron-ons made with your Cricut to make your design, then sell sell sell.35. Become a freelance writer
Many businesses are looking for people to write content for them to upkeep their sites. You can submit your writing to places like ScaryMommy, Raising Arizona Kids (for Arizona residents only), and even Cosmopolitan!36. Offer your truck to help someone move
Not everyone owns a truck, and not everyone can afford a moving truck. Meet them in the middle by helping them save money while making money yourself.37. Sell old DVD or CDs
If you’ve got ANY limited edition or “vault” Disney movies, you could make a killing by hanging on to them and selling when the market is hot. The most bang for your buck will be to sell on sites like Craigslist, Ebay, and the Facebook Marketplace. Even apps like LetGo and DeCluttr are worth selling on.38. Sell unwanted gift cards
Do you have any gift cards that you know you will never use? Consider selling them to Raise or CardPool.39. Become an online health coach
Health coaches are on the rise. As health and clean eating becomes more “in your face”, many people will begin to understand the importance but lack the motivation and determination to get started after years of bad habits. You can be the one to help them in that transition through coaching and educating.40. Design a course to teach people a trade
Do you like to teach? I mean, check out this Beginner’s Photography Course going for $12.99. If you have a deep knowledge in something, then you can share it with the world and people will pay for it.41. Buy a chicken and sell excess eggs
Home-raised eggs go for about $4-$5 per dozen in my area. It doesn’t seem like a whole lot of cash at once, but every penny can add up.42. Do “gigs” on Fiverr
Fiverr is a freelancing site on a budget. They offer thousands of tasks like proofreading, resume writing, graphic designing, logo creation services and video editing to professionals looking to outsource tasks within their budget. Take a look around and if there is anything that jumps out at you like “hey, I can do that too!”, then join and start selling mama!43. Repair computers or phones if you are tech savvy
If you know the ins and outs of cell phones and computers, then this might be a way to make money fast for you. I took my old laptop that wouldn’t start due to a virus and a local guy fixed it up within a day for $50.
44. Sell used toilet paper rolls on Ebay
Toilet paper rolls are pretty common among crafters and teachers. If you price it right and at the right time, you could score some quick cash.45. Join an MLM
Multilevel Marketing can work really well for some people. Companies like Avon, Mary Kay, Arbonne, DoTerra, Young Living, Thirty One, and It Works are MLM companies. This means that not only can you sell direct products but you get promoted and make more money by recruiting other people. You’ll make money fast on their sales and their recruits. You are making money on multiple levels. If you have an outgoing personality, and love to network, you can do really well with MLM.46. Coupon to resell
Use coupons to get free stuff or close to free, then resell them for a profit. Generally, you would sell at half the retail value so it would only be worth it if you bought it for 75% off or more.47. Be a fetish enabler
So…. this one is a super weird way to make money but some people will pay big bucks for a foot picture.48. Sell extra breastmilk
Are you an over-producer? Did you know that you can sell your breast milk? Only the Breast is an online classified website for breast milk exchanges. Breast milk can typically sell for $1-$2.5 per ounce. Sell at your own risk.49. Test out websites
When new websites are made, companies bring in testers to check links, navigation, ease of use, shopping experiences, ect. UserTesting pays their testers $10 for each test (which can take about 20 minutes).50. Manage a small business email list
Small businesses can get overwhelmed pretty quickly but they don’t have the budget to hire professionals to manage their emails. Instead, they hire everyday people with minimal experience to manage their spam mail, make quick responses, and filter emails.51. Become an affiliate marketer
Affiliate marketing means believing in a company’s product, telling your friends and family about the product and in return, you make a percentage of the profit if your friend or family makes a purchase. All those makeup tutorials with coupon codes and links? Yup, they get a piece of that. You can too when you learn how to promote to the right people.52. Develop a successful YouTube channel and run ads on it
YouTube and video is becoming really big in the marketing world. Create a channel that people will love. Once you gain a certain amount of subscribers, you’ll be able to show ads on them. If people click on the ads, you’ll get a small token (e’hem money) of appreciation.53. Peer-to-peer lending
P2P lending is a somewhat newer concept. Basically you lend someone money with interest. Many lending platforms require you to have at least $1000, but you can choose from time frames that you will allow the loan to be paid back. UpStart and Prosper are good places to start.
54. Enter giveaways
Giveaways are happening all the time. My personal favorite as of late are giveaways held on Instagram. You can be entered to win by simply following people and tagging some friends. Cash giveaways are the most straight forward.55. Check your taxes
Is the government taking too much out of your paycheck? The goal is to not end up with a large sum of money come tax season, but to reach as close to zero as possible. This will allow you to keep all of your money instead of lending it to the government interest free.56. Matched betting
Matched betting is when you bet on a team to win in one league and bet on them to lose in another league. The profits come from earning free bets. Check out this guy’s tutorial on how to make money doing it.57. Airbnb a room, home, garage
If you’ve got a spare room in your home and you don’t mind a stranger living with you, then you might consider putting it on Airbnb.58. Help hang Christmas lights or arrange the Christmas tree for the elderly
Come Christmas time, it gets harder for the older generations to hang lights and put up Christmas tress. Some people ut jobs like these in the classifieds, so keep a look out in your local newspaper or make a flyer and place it in your local church bulletin or town bulletin.59. Be a referee for a high school sporting event
Referees can make $15-60 per match depending on where you live. All you need is some online training, a certification, and your uniform. If you love sports, then this might be a fun way to make money fast for you.60. Organize someone’s home or room
Many people are trying to organize their homes but don’t know where to begin. Becoming a professional organizer can be a real thing, just look at Mari Kondo and The Home Edit.61. Become a tax professional
For just $149 to get started, you can be on your way to managing other people’s taxes. If you decide to work for a large company like H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt, you could possibly make $7,000 in your first tax year season working full time (40 hours per week).However, if you decide you just want to do a few tax returns here and there for extra cash, I’ve seen independent tax preparers charge anywhere from $50 for an EZ return up to $270 if you itemize deductions.62. Decorate someone’s home
People often rely on interior designers to come into their home and decorate for them. If you have a eye for design and color, then offer to help a friend decorate their home. Build up your portfolio to show others what you can do and start charging per room.63. Unclaimed money
Go to Unclaimed.org to see if you have any unclaimed money. If you left money in a lock box or have a refund that never got to you, then you may have unclaimed money in your name. It’s worth checking it out.
Leave a Reply