When something happens between paydays and you’re on a tight budget it can feel overwhelming. It seems like nothing bad ever happens when you have extra money, only when you’re running on empty. The good news is that whether it’s an unexpected car repair or an overdue bill that came in the mail, you can make a little extra to cover the gap before that next paycheck hits. Here are some easy ways to get a cash infusion in between paydays.
Sell Something Locally
The easiest way to get some quick cash is to sell something. Look through your things at home to discover what you have that could fetch you some extra cash. Small kitchen appliances, electronics, and even baby gear can get you a good amount of money. You can leverage buy and sell groups on social media sites, Craigslist, OfferUp, and other similar apps. You’d be amazed at how much a couple of hours of cleaning out excess stuff can make you. And when you’re hurting for money in between paydays, it makes a big difference to help cover extras and essentials alike.
Sell Something Online
Did you know that normal people use Amazon every single day to sell old movies, books, and other desirable items? If you have an account set up, you can easily make some extra cash quickly by offering these items for sale on Amazon. You’ll rack up amazing reviews by being honest about every little defect and being careful not to sell anything with a scratch that would impede the use of any CD’s, DVD’s, or Blu-Ray discs.
Offer Services
Ask your friends and family if they need a babysitter. Offer handyman services or respond to ads looking for someone to mow lawns. There are plenty of different services you can provide where people will pay you cash the same day for your work. Get creative and offer your professional services as well on the side. Sometimes people need a last-minute bookkeeper or graphic designer for their business and if you can work quickly and effectively, you can make money more quickly.
Payday Loans
If something big comes up and you need more money, there is always the option of getting a payday loan. These are short-term loans typically based on the amount of your paycheck. Other bank loans allow you to pay over a long time. The difference between payday and installment loans is mostly in the ability to pay over an extended time and the kinds of interest rates. You can easily get a payday loan approved in as little as 30 minutes and you often only have 30-60 days to pay the loan in full. This makes it perfect for a short-term need and is great if your credit is less than stellar.
Become a Dog Walker
Apps like Rover have simplified the process of becoming a dog walker. If you love furry friends, you’ll enjoy the rewarding work you can get as a professional dog walker or dog sitter. It’s also a great way to make extra money in between paydays. Get in some exercise, share your love of animals, and get set up to make extra cash when you need it the most. You can also ask around to find out if friends of friends have any dog walking needs.
Drive After Work
With a good driving record, insurance, and a relatively new and clean car you can get paid to drive. Give rides through Lyft and Uber to get extra cash. It’s important to get registered to offer these side gigs before you need it most, but once you start, you can easily make hundreds of extra dollars per month to drive people to their destination. It’s especially helpful during commuting times if you pick someone up who is going the same way as you.
Sell Real Estate Contracts
This option has a lot of moving parts, but at its basic level, you secure a real estate contract and sell it to someone else. You never take full possession of the home, just the contract temporarily. When someone else wants it as well, you can then sell that contract over to them for an additional fee. While this can help with some short-term financial goals, it can also be a long-term professional endeavor. In some cases, you only need a few hundred dollars in escrow to make your first purchase.
Share Your Expertise
Did you know that there are sites where you can answer professional questions and make money doing it? JustAnswer is one of these sites and is great for lawyers, doctors and other professionals especially when you’re fresh out of college and need to pay off all those student loans. Not only can you help people who need an affordable answer to professional questions, you get to make money while you do it. Your legal or medical expertise is often needed in different ways to help people find solutions to problems.
Sell Your Photos
Professional photographers can make a lot of extra cash on the side by selling their digital photos. Businesses and stock photography sites need images all the time. You can create custom offerings using your talents or just offer your extra images for sale through sites like Shutterstock or iStockPhoto. The best part about this money-making idea is that it can eventually become a passive income opportunity. As your images are purchased and downloaded, you’ll make money while you sleep. While this may not make you cash immediately, it is a good option to open an account and upload photos.
Clean Houses
No one really loves to clean, but it’s a skill that most adults at least know how to do. And when you’re cash strapped and needing some income before the next payday, cleaning someone else’s house can make you a good chunk of change. Make sure you do a thorough job and ask good questions to ensure you know exactly which rooms the homeowner wants done and what their expectations are. If they have a lot of knickknacks, the job could take longer because of the time it takes to dust and clean everything with excellence.
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