Everyone needs a quick infusion of cash now and then for an unexpected opportunity or need. Instead of using a credit card or taking out a loan, here are some alternatives to earning fast and easy cash.
Flip A Purchase
If you are knowledgeable about certain items that people are looking for, pick up some bargains at a thrift store or garage sale. Then sell them on eBay or another online outlet for profit. Many people learn about valuable dishware, tools, and clothing along with other in-demand items. They find great deals on popular products that they buy cheap and sell high. Some huge deals have been made by sellers who know what to look for and how to resell it quickly to earn a generous return on investment. You can flip almost any purchase if it still works or looks good and if you know how much it’s worth on the market.
Sell Unwanted Valuables
Look around the house for things you no longer want or need. These might be an old coin collection or a designer lamp that no longer matches the newly-painted walls in your living room. Items in good condition can bring in a good sum. Consider getting rid of things you don’t really use anymore. You might want to advertise and sell a Louis Vuitton for cash that you only used a couple of times or a pair of Burberry boots that look nearly new for cash at a yard sale or a boutique thrift store. Old fashioned costume jewelry or once-fashionable gemstones are in demand and could attract eager buyers when you post an ad. Rare books and hard-to-find toys are popular with collectors who are willing to pay top dollar. Children’s clothes that still look good are needed by moms who don’t want to pay full price, since children grow so fast.
Recycle Unusable Items
Old equipment parts that are in good condition from furnaces, refrigerators, and cars can often very quickly. You can post an ad to attract individual buyers or sell the parts to a recycling center. Newspapers, aluminum cans, and cardboard boxes also earn cash. Look through any accumulated junk that can be offered to the recycling center for same-day cash.
Borrow From Your Savings
You might want to borrow from your savings account if you anticipate being able to soon repay the amount, preferably with interest. An emergency fund could be another source of quick funds. If you don’t have one, this situation is a helpful reminder to start an emergency fund soon. Even $10 or $20 per paycheck can soon add up to offset any losses that you did not see coming.
Tap Your Investments
A long-range investment account can also be a source of fast cash if needed. However, you might pay a penalty, depending on how much you withdraw and how long it takes to replace that amount. Still, the interest you lose could be less than the amount of interest you would pay by taking a personal bank loan instead. Talk to your financial adviser to see if this option would work in your favor.
Childcare or Pet Care
Old fashioned babysitting is still needed today. Ask family members or neighbors with kids if they need some help with childcare while they work or run errands. Alternately, they might have a pet that needs to be walked or fed while they are away from home. You could also consider housesitting for people you trust if they travel. Babysitting, pet care, or housesitting are jobs that usually pay at the time of service, so you don’t have to wait to be paid for several weeks. But be sure to clarify that before you start.
Tutoring
Contact area high schools to see if they need tutors in subjects you are good at. Foreign language, math, computer, or writing students often need help learning tough concepts or preparing for an exam. You may be able to get paid quickly when you tutor students of any age privately by arrangement with their parents. Tutoring can be done one-to-one with students or sometimes offered online remotely.
Yardwork
Seasonal yard work or snow shoveling often pays well at the time of service. All you need are some basic tools and know-how for mowing lawns, pulling weeds, or clearing the driveway from snow and ice. You may also be able to plant flowers or trim trees if you have experience with that type of work. Find out if neighbors or relatives could use a helping hand outdoors this season.
Run Errands
With more people working at home now, they may be grateful for someone to pick up groceries, deposit checks at the bank, or take their kids to sports practice. Pharmacy pickups and dry cleaning drop-offs are also appreciated. If your car is in good condition, and you have comprehensive auto insurance that covers passengers in your vehicle, you may want to assist with errands several hours a week.
Get Rid of Duplicates
This is a good time to sell extras of things you have been storing too long. For example, if you got a new bike last year but still have the old one, put it up for sale. Do the same for furniture, china dishes, and appliances that you no longer because you have more than one or a newer model. Extra building supplies or car parts that never got used can also be sold. If you have five Spring jackets, sell two or three of them. You’ll love getting rid of the clutter while earning cash.
Type Resumes
If you have classmates, friends, or family members who are planning to apply for jobs, offer to update their resume. As long as you have decent typing skills and a fair knowledge of resume format, you can earn $25 to $50 per resume by using a template that can be found free online.
Computer Assistance
Anyone with good computer skills can probably find people who need help. You can show them how to install an update or a new driver as well as various apps they are interested in. Demonstrate on their printer how to scan or copy a document. Charge a modest hourly rate.
Housekeeping Work
Help someone who is ultra busy, elderly, or sick by doing tasks like loading the dishwasher, vacuuming the floors, folding laundry, and putting dinner in the crockpot. You don’t have to do the heavy scrubbing, but any type of house cleaning or organization would be greatly appreciated and well compensated.
Sell Louis Vuitton purse for cash or try another job above to quickly earn needed cash.