If you have some time to spare and want to earn money quickly, there are plenty of strategies to consider. Here are some quick money schemes worth researching if you want to earn cash today:
Hold a yard sale. If you have a yard or garage and plenty of items to sell, you can have a yard sale as early as tomorrow. By advertising your sale on local Facebook pages and Craigslist, you can also skip the paid newspaper ad and keep all of the profits for yourself. If you don’t have time to price everything, try asking patrons to “make an offer” or grouping similar items on tables with an advertised price (e.g. everything on this table is $5).
Related: How to Have a Yard Sale
Sell plasma. After passing an initial screening, you can usually sell your plasma for anywhere from $25 to $50 per donation. To qualify, you’ll have to stand in a long line or show up early, be willing to fill out a very personal questionnaire, and endure a painful needle prick or two. Still, selling plasma is a great way to raise money fast – if you can stand the hassle.
Offer to watch children or pets. If you know anyone who has children or pets, you could easily begin a side gig as a babysitter or pet sitter. To let people know you’re interested, send out a group email describing your services, post an ad on Facebook, or tell friends and acquaintances about your availability in person or over the phone. You can also create a profile on a babysitting referral site like Care.com.
Set up an account on Rover.com. Enjoy furry company once in a while? These days, many professional pet-sitters set up an account on Rover.com. With Rover.com, you can reach people in your area who are actively looking for someone to watch their dogs, cats, hamsters, or turtles, either in their home or your own. You can set your own rules and schedule and come up with your own pricing through the Rover.com pet-sitting platform.
Related: How to make money Dog-Sitting Through Rover.com
Put computer skills to use on Fiverr. If you know how to do almost anything online, you can sell and market your services on Fiverr. While Fiverr’s $5 minimum service charge means you won’t earn a lot at first, you can add additional perks and services once you get a steady flow of clients and a few positive reviews.
Sell stuff online. If you have high-quality items to sell, there are a slew of online marketplaces you can use. Just make sure you understand the fees associated with your sale before you take the plunge. Where neighborhood Facebook pages and Craigslist ads are free, many online marketplaces or consignment shops charge for ads or require you to fork over a percentage when you make a sale.
Related: Beyond eBay: Six Better Ways to Buy, Sell and Trade Stuff Online
Recycle scrap metal. Different types of scrap metal can be recycled for cash at scrap yards around the country. However, how much you’ll make depends a lot on where you live. Metals commonly traded for cash include aluminum, copper, brass, and steel.
Rent out a parking spot. If you live in a busy or congested area and have parking to spare, you might be able to rent out your parking space for some quick cash when you’re not using it. Simply advertise your open parking space online including details on the location, whether it’s covered or uncovered, and your desired hourly, weekly, or monthly fee. If you want, you can even use a site like Just Park or download the Spot App to reach more potential customers.
Get a roommate. If you have a spare room in your home or apartment, getting a roommate is one way to raise money fast. Not only can they help pay the rent, but they can also help with other bills like utilities, cable, and Internet service.
Related: Is a Roommate Worth the Financial Benefit?
Set up a roadside stand. Depending on where you live, you could profit handsomely by setting up a roadside stand. If you live near a resort area, for example, you could buy cases of bottled water, put them on ice, and sell them to passers by for twice what you paid. Selling fruit and produce you grow yourself is also a smart idea in highly-traveled areas.
Sign up for TaskRabbit.com. With TaskRabbit, you’ll be connected to local people who need help with regular chores. Depending on the day, you could get paid to walk a dog, pick up someone’s dry cleaning, or do someone’s grocery shopping. Best of all, it’s free to create a profile and get started.
Sell old textbooks. If you just finished college, you might be able to turn your old textbooks into cold, hard cash. You probably don’t need your old books anyway, and sites like Amazon.com, BookFinder.com, and Cash4Books.net make the process easy and painless.
Sell your college notes. If you paid attention in class and took excellent notes, you could sell them for a handsome profit. To see if your notes are in demand, check out Stuvia.
Sell your old cellphone. If your old cell phone is fairly new and in decent shape, you could consider selling it for some quick cash online. While selling it on eBay or Craigslist is always a possibility, you could also try your luck on technology-specific resale sites like Gazelle.com, Glyde.com, and SellMyCellPhones.com.
Become a tutor in your spare time. Subject matter experts and recent college graduates might have no problem tutoring others in their spare time – and earning money in the process. To find clients, post ads on college message boards, ask around your inner circle, or try a college tutoring site like Tutor.com.
Sign up for clinical drug trials. Signing up for clinical drug trials is an uncommon way for people to earn extra cash, but it still works. With ClinicalTrials.gov, you can explore various clinical trial opportunities in your area. Just be sure to read the fine print, ask questions, and understand the risks.