If you’ve ever looked for ways to make money fast, you’ve probably seen a wide variety of sketchy and even illegal things you could do to get that extra dough. Many opportunities to make a quick buck are riddled with issues.
However, there are legit and legal ways to make money fast. Our list includes 12 ways you can make money fast without doing anything sketchy.
Table of Contents
Complete surveys and participate in focus groups.
Companies will pay serious money to get feedback from real people about their products and advertising campaigns. There are a wide variety of sites that allow you to complete surveys and participate in focus groups for fast money.
One of the most highly recommended of these sites is Survey Junkie. They offer the highest pay for completing surveys and as much as $150 for a one-hour focus group session.
In addition to paying well, this site always has lots of surveys available. Because the focus groups are often in high demand, you may want to sign up for emails to increase your chances of getting into a focus group.
Teach English or tutor online.
If you have a Bachelor’s Degree and speak English as your native language, you can make a significant income teaching online. Some sites may even pay you as much as $22 an hour to teach English to international students.
VIPKid is one of the best-known companies offering this work opportunity. You can teach English to students in China over video conference from the comfort of your own home.
Sites like these often require you to go through an interview process online. However, once completed, teaching and tutoring online can become a great means for bringing in extra income fast.
Become an Uber or Lyft driver.
One of the best things about driving for Uber or Lyft is that you get paid daily for your work without having to set a regular schedule. If you need to make some extra money quickly, driving for these services is a great, legitimate way to do it.
Once you’re identity and work eligibility are verified, you can pick up passengers. Whether you drive for an extra hour or spend an entire day shuttling passengers, these services can help you make more money fast.
Do work for others on a site like Fiverr.
If you have skills in graphic design, writing, editing, coding, or just about anything else, you can make some extra money quickly on Fiverr. After your identity has been verified, you can set up gigs to do work for others.
Some Fiverr freelancers end up turning this side gig into a full-time job! Over time, you may be able to raise your prices or offer additional services, increasing your earning potential.
Even if you have no intention of turning freelance work into a full-time business, Fiverr can help you make a little extra money each week. By offering services in areas where you have a particular talent, you can make money quickly.
Unfortunately, new sellers must wait two full weeks after each sale before the money can be deposited in their bank account. However, if you need extra cash on a monthly basis, this can be a great option.
Sell your unwanted stuff.
Take some time to go through your possessions and select items you no longer need, want, or use. When you take the time to sell them (instead of throwing them away), you have a potential source of quick income.
Old phones, computers, tablets, and other outdated and unusable technology can be sold to a variety of online services such as Gazelle. Your old technology can get you money quickly and easily.
You can also sell old books and textbooks, either online or to a local book store. When you list your old books on a site like Amazon, you can make money off of books you don’t intend to keep.
Clothing, old appliances, furniture, and other valuables can also be traded for cash. Although pawnshops can help you walk away with cash in your hand, selling through online retailers can get you more money in your pocket.
Walk or watch dogs for money.
Pet care is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States. While you may not be able to offer grooming services without proper licensing, you can make money by walking or boarding dogs.
When people have hectic work lives outside the home, their dogs are often left alone for extended periods of time. Because of this, people are willing to pay a significant amount to have someone walk their dogs for them.
As people resume going on vacations after closures due to Covid-19, many pet owners are looking for people to watch their dog while they’re away. Becoming a dog-sitter on a site like Rover can be a great way to make extra money fast.
If you don’t use an online service, walking or watching a dog can be an easy way to get cash quickly. Ask friends and neighbors if they’d be willing to pay you to walk their dogs.
Sometimes the people close to you can become your best customers.
Babysit for friends or through an online service.
There’s a reason babysitting is so popular among teenagers: it typically pays cash at the end of each babysitting gig. If you enjoy being around children, time with someone else’s kids can be an added bonus.
Whether you’re babysitting after school or during a date night for the parents, you can make a significant amount of cash by watching someone else’s children. When you sign up to be a babysitter through a service like Sittercity, you may make as much as $15 to $40 an hour!
Do odd jobs on Craigslist.
Craigslist isn’t just for selling your unwanted stuff. Under the “gigs” tab on their website, you can find locals who are looking to hire people to complete odd jobs.
You can get paid for lawn-mowing, shoveling snow, raking leaves, landscaping, cleaning, or other tasks. For many people trying to make extra money, Craigslist’s gigs provide an easy way to make money fast.
If you’re meeting someone for the first time, it’s important that you either meet in public or let friends and family know where you are. Although doing jobs at another person’s home can be a great source of additional income, it’s important that you’re safe.
Sell unused gift cards.
If you have gift cards sitting around, you can exchange them for quick cash on websites like Cardpool, CardCash, or Gift Card Granny. These sites sometimes offer as much as 92% of your gift card value in cash.
You can also exchange your gift cards on sites like these, getting gift cards for places you actually shop. This can be a great way to maximize gift cards that are otherwise sitting unused.
Test websites and apps.
Sites like Usertesting.com allow you to get paid to test websites and apps. By providing your opinion on how well a website or app works, you can get money quickly.
To be approved for testing websites through the site, you’ll need to pass a short test to prove you’re capable of testing sufficiently. Once accepted, you can make $10 for each 20-minute website test.
Some customers pay additional money for a video conversation after your test. These video chats can pay up to $120 each!
Even if you don’t do video conferences with web customers, testing websites can help you make up to $30 an hour. Because payment is issued through PayPal, you can use the extra income for anything.
Become a mystery shopper.
Businesses use mystery shoppers to ensure that their store locations are providing the best customer service possible. Sites like IntelliShop, BestMark, and Sinclair Customer Metrics will pay you cash to complete mystery shopper jobs.
This can be a great option if you have some extra time and want to get paid to shop. Because these offers also include restaurants, it can be a great way to pay for a meal out for you and a friend.
However, some of the companies offering these jobs can take a while to pay out. Make sure you read the fine print on their sites before picking up mystery shopping gigs.
Go door-to-door offering seasonal work.
Each season comes with its own outdoor tasks. Many homeowners would rather pay someone than deal with it themselves.
In the spring, offer help spreading mulch or weeding gardens. While not everyone keeps their yard landscaped, you may find people who want assistance with these areas.
In the summer, go door-to-door offering lawn-mowing services. If you have your own lawnmower, you may even be able to ask for more money.
In the fall, offer your services raking leaves. For some months, you may find plenty of people willing to pay you to handle their raking.
In the winter, watch for snow and go door-to-door offering your services shoveling driveways. Because this depends greatly on the weather, it’s important to take action when these opportunities arise.
Conclusion
You don’t have to sell your blood, win at a casino, or break any laws to make money fast. When you pick up some side hustles, you open doors to increased income.
Whether you try one or all of the above ideas, you’re sure to find something that works for you.
