Sometimes you just need money—fast! There are plenty of ways to earn extra cash, from survey sites to selling T-shirts, but these methods can take weeks or even months to pay out. With all the tools and resources available today, generating some extra income has become significantly easier. However, if you need cash now, here are some of my best ideas to get money quickly, often the same day.
**Sell Your Stuff**
Start by looking around your home for things to sell. You might be surprised at what people will buy second-hand. Bigger items like furniture or tools are obvious choices, but even cheap clothes and toys can add up. For quick cash, sell locally through Facebook Marketplace, local buy and sell groups, or Gumtree. If you have a lot of items, consider a yard sale. Specialized items can be advertised in relevant community groups or local meeting places. New marketplace apps like Shpock or Mercari are options too, though they may not be as reliable in all areas.
**Sell Your Services**
Offer to do chores or odd jobs for friends, family, or neighbors. Some quick and easy services include:
– Babysitting
– Dog walking
– DIY, painting, handyman tasks
– Gardening, weeding, mowing lawns
– House cleaning
– Washing cars
– Laundry, ironing
– Assembling flat-pack furniture
– Help with packing/moving
– Mending/darning clothes
Advertise on Facebook, Gumtree, local community pages, or even by knocking on doors and putting flyers through letterboxes. Apps like Taskrabbit can help, but they take longer to pay out and take a cut of your earnings. For fast cash, stick to cash-in-hand jobs.
**Round Up Your Loose Change**
Check around your home for loose change. You might be surprised how much it adds up. Look in old wallets, handbags, pockets of clothes you haven’t worn in a while, or even the glovebox of your car. You might find some hidden cash.
**Lightening Payouts at OhMyDosh!**
OhMyDosh! is a site that pays you to complete offers like signing up for free trials. For fast cash, stick to the ‘lightening payouts’ section, where you can get money in your account within three days. Just be sure to cancel any free trials before they end to avoid charges.
**Fast-Paying Money-Making Apps and Survey Sites**
Some apps and survey sites pay quickly and have low or no payment thresholds. Here are some of the best options:
– Qmee: Paid surveys with no minimum cash-out amount.
– Curious Cat: Survey app that lets you cash out to PayPal after reaching 100 points (£1).
– Citizenme: Pays instantly to PayPal for very short surveys.
– PineCone Research: Pays £3 per survey, with cash-out available from £3.
– Swagbucks: Earn for various tasks; has a £5 payment threshold.
– Prolific Academic: High-paying surveys with a £5 or £20 payment threshold.
**Look for Hidden Cash Equivalents**
Think about any less obvious sources of money you might have, like gift vouchers or loyalty points. You can sell gift cards to friends for their cash value or use loyalty points towards your weekly shop to free up some room in your budget.
**Do I Have to Pay Tax?**
If you’re making extra money regularly, you need to register with HMRC as self-employed and declare it. However, you can earn up to £1,000 from trading or property income without having to declare it. Keep a record of all the money you make, just in case you go over £1,000.
I hope this article is useful for anyone who needs to make money fast. Most of these are short-term solutions, but once the pressure’s off, consider exploring longer-term money-making opportunities. If you’re completely broke and worried about feeding yourself or your family, check out resources like Skint Dad. If you’re struggling with debt, the Debt Camel website offers free practical advice.
If you have any more ideas for making money quickly, please share in the comments!