50 Quick Ways to Make Money

Money issues. I’m not sure anyone is immune to them. I’ve heard that the best way to keep them from happening is to have a hefty emergency fund saved up. That can take a lot of discipline and planning ahead though. And what do you do if your emergency fund is just getting started or is nonexistent?

Having some very unexpected bills pile up lately got me to brainstorming all the ways that you can quickly make money. Here is my list of 50 Quick Ways to Make Money:

1. Garage Sale – everyone has unwanted items laying around. Clear the clutter and make some money doing so. For a bigger impact coordinate with family and neighbors.
2. Sell Gold and Silver – Clean out your jewelry box.
3. Sell unwanted items on Ebay – Have a bunch of collectibles just taking up space on a shelf somewhere?
4. Make something and have a craft sale – Turn that hobby people admire you for into a money maker.
5. Lemonade and Bake Sale – So this one may be more popular for your kids to do, but it is a great way to introduce them to the world of entrepreneurship.
6. Consulting – What do people ask you for help doing? Turn that into a service that you can sell.
7. Sell your product or service at a discount – Have an existing product or service? Consider offering a limited time discount in order to make money quickly.
8. Bundle your products or services for a greater value – People love to receive a great deal or value. Add-on a service or bonus to your existing offer.
9. Sign up with a temp agency – They are always looking for new people to help fill jobs and you can work around your current availability.
10. Sell a Service on Fiverr – Check out what other people are offering and see if you can come up with something that may be a popular seller.
11. Look for a freelance gig on Elance, FlexJobs, or Odesk.
12. Dog Walking – Make up some fliers and distribute around your neighborhood. Sign up at an online directory to offer your dog walking service.
13. Baby Sitting – Not just for teenagers anymore, babysitters can earn $15 or more an hour.
14. Write an ebook- It is easier than ever to write a book, especially a how to one, and publish it online.
15. Offer freelance writing services – Websites need new content all the time. Put on your writer’s cap and capitalize on it.
16. Teach a class – Create an online course and offer it on Udemy.
17. Scoop dog poop – Not much of a description needed here.
18. Sell Plasma – I’m not a big fan of needles, but I remember this being a very popular way to earn money in college. It still is. Find a place to donate plasma here.
19. Get a part-time job as a bartender or pizza delivery – With tips, these can be pretty high paying part time jobs.
20. Sell crafts online – Etsy is a great place to sell unique goods to people around the world.
21. Mechanical Turk – Perform HITs (Human Intelligence Tasks) and earn money.
22. Answer surveys online – There are many reputable survey companies out there that will allow you to earn money by answering surveys.
23. Sell items on Craigslist – This is a good option when you don’t want to have a garage sale and an item is too big to sell on eBay.
24. Recycle Scrap Metal – I’m definitely not suggesting you rip out all the copper plumbing in your home, but look around for any old bits and pieces around your home.
25. Sell Sperm or Eggs – There are health and age requirements with this one, as well as perhaps some moral issues but an option for some people.
26. Medical Test Volunteer – This is an interesting option and at the very least you get a free health check up. The National Institute of Health has a search for active medical studies. Some medical schools also pay volunteers to act as patients.
27. Return items to store – We all buy things and then never quite get around to using them. I can think of at least one thing in my house waiting for me to return it to the store. Spend a few hours gathering up the items that still have tags and you have the receipt for and return them.
28. Collect Returnables – In several states you are paid a deposit for returnable bottles and cans. In others you can earn money for metal cans with a scrap metal recycler. Spend a day walking your neighborhood (or visit a collect campus and dive into trash cans). Earn some money and clean up the environment at the same time!
29. Cut Lawns – Have a lawn mower and a good work ethic? Go door to door in your neighborhood and offer to cut grass at a discount from what the local lawn services charge.
30. Wash and Detail Cars – This is another task that you neighbors who are strapped for time will really appreciate.
31. Collect loose change -Upend those couch cushions and empty your piggy banks! My credit union even has a change counting machine making it really easy to get cash (or make a deposit) with all of our loose change.
32. Sell Old Electronics – Gazelle makes it really easy to earn cash for your old cell phones, tablets, and computers. You can earn an extra $5 for returning a device with a value of $25 or more during the month of April 2014.
33. Sell unused gift cards – Gift cards are a great gift to get, unless they are from a store or restaurant that you don’t like. Cardpool and GiftCards.com are two places to get you started.
34. Join a focus group – Companies are always looking for people to join their focus groups and give their opinion on things, in exchange for compensation for their time.
35. Pet sitting – People go on vacation year round these days and want someone to either stay in their home to watch their pets or check on them a few times a day. You can offer this service to people that you know to start, which is also a great way to gain references. Sign up to become a Pet Sitter and advertise your services on Care.com.
36. House sitting – There is a certain peace of mind knowing that someone is staying in your home while you are away, to take in the mail, water the plants, and give it an appearance of being lived in. This is also a great way to see different areas if you are able to be location independent for a time period.
37. Rent a spare room – If you don’t mind opening your home up to another person, this can be a great way to help with expenses.
38. Shovel Snow – This is most efficient if you have a snow blower, but a good old fashioned snow shovel will work too.
39. Clean Houses – Make up a flyer and pass it around your neighborhood. Offer weekly, biweekly, or monthly cleaning or help with one time clean up projects.
40. Clean Gutters – Most homeowners do not want to do this necessary task. Have a ladder and don’t mind heights? This messy job could be the perfect way to earn some extra money.
41. House Painting – I’m always surprised at how many people hire out this job as I think it is one of the easiest home improvement tasks there is. Disclosure though: I love to paint. Except bathrooms, those are never fun. Anyway if you love to paint too, this can be a great job.
42. Mystery Shopping – Love to shop and good at remembering details? There are a number of legitimate companies that will pay you to order a latte, go to the movies, or get the oil changed in your car, just to name a few.
43. Tutor students – Is everyone also raving about how well you explain polynomials or cell mitosis? Perhaps a job tutoring students struggling with your favorite subjects is your key to making some extra money each month.
44. Offer music lessons – Have an ear for music? Piano, drums, and violin lessons are some of in demand lessons needed. You definitely need some experience for this one.
45. Officiate Weddings – States vary with their requirements for this one. Check with your local and state officials to see if this is possible. Many couples are choosing untraditional wedding places these days, along with officiants.
46. Sell at a Consignment Shop – Don’t want to go through the hassle of selling your things on eBay or in a garage sale? Find a local consignment shop that will do all the hard work for you. They usually take a commission on the sale, but might have a more targeted audience for your items than a garage sale would draw in.
47. Sell for others on eBay or Craigslist – Let’s face it, selling on eBay and Craigslist can be a pain. The pictures, the listings, the shipping, etc. Earn a commission on the sales for other people by providing this service.
48. Become a mock juror – Some attorneys prepare for trials with a mock jury. You can sign up with eJury or Online Verdict.
49. Spring or Fall Yard Cleanup – Offer your services with leaf clean up in the fall and weed clean up in the spring. This is a labor intensive job that many people will gladly pay for.
50. Sell hair – I didn’t quite realize that there was a market for actual human hair but there are two online marketplaces where people are doing just that. Online Hair Affair and Hairwork are two of the places that I found where people are buying and selling hair.

Hopefully some of these ideas help you if you are looking for a quick way to make some money. Let me know if you have any suggestions in the comments below. Have you tried any of the ideas above? How did it work for you?

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