I Need Money Now Desperately! 20 Legit Ways To Get Money Today

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I know you have thoughts and questions like…

• Where can I get money now?
• How can I get money today?
• How can I make fast cash today?

Hey there, my friend. I completely relate to your situation. Just like you, I once found myself in a tight spot, relentlessly searching for immediate financial help.

As a person living paycheck to paycheck, I was desperately looking for cash all the time.

Believe it or not, I was able to save up $10,000 in a year for my emergency fund. And, in time, I even managed to accumulate my first $100,000 in savings through side jobs and investing that extra money. But man, it was initially a tough climb. I mean, how the heck can you save money when you have no money, right?

It’s frustrating to hear advice from people who tell you that saving money shouldn’t be hard and that we should be able to do it without a high-paying job.

Ugh!

So, I understand that, right now, you might be overwhelmed with worry, with thoughts racing in your head, something along the lines of, “I need cash today… I need cash instantly!”

You might have even pondered the idea of finding legit ways to make money online now, anything to help keep your head above water.

Sometimes, life just hurls a financial curveball your way.

It could be that your car just decided to stop working, or a medical emergency sprung up out of nowhere. As if that wasn’t enough, maybe you’re dealing with a sudden job loss, finding yourself unemployed without a penny to your name.

You’re strapped for cash, and the path forward seems unclear.

Life can be rough, indeed…

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I need money now! How to get money today!

Fortunately, I’ve handpicked a list of things you could do to get money now. Some are considered as ways to get “free money” whereas other methods require a little bit of effort to get money today.

For example, free and legitimate resources like Survey Junkie will pay you up to $45 per survey just for offering your opinion about a product or service! It’s what I personally use to help me out when I need some extra cash each month. 🙂

✔️ EARN FREE MONEY NOW! I highly recommend signing up for Survey Junkie here because you can start earning money online immediately! Membership is always 100% free!

Either way, they are all tried and true legitimate ways of getting money when you urgently need it.

I HIGHLY recommend trying all of these methods listed below before turning to things like your credit card or payday loans.

I also recommend checking out all these possible ways to make money without a job.

Borrowing money should be your absolute last resort because you don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you’re constantly chained to paying off debt with extremely high interest rates and fees!

Debt will only make your situation worse, so let’s help you find some ways to make money instantly without getting yourself into financial trouble.

1. Look for a low-stress part-time job to earn money now

One of the most effective ways to receive money is to look for a low-stress job.

There are many side hustle ideas and jobs that are the perfect fit for you – you just need to find the right one!

We have these resources below that will help you look for the perfect part-time job to help you immediately with your financial needs:

• Fun and Profitable Hobbies That Pay Well (Earn Up To $120,000 Annually)
• Early Morning Shift Jobs That Pay Good Money (Earn Up To $120,000 Annually)
• High Paying Jobs For Introverts Who Like To Work Alone (Earn Up To $120,000 Annually)

2. Deliver food on DoorDash for fast cash today

Are you still thinking to yourself, “I need money now” or “I need to make money now”?

I know you desperately need the money NOW, so have you considered making extra money by delivering food with these apps that pay you up to $51 per hour? It’s totally free to join and you’ll start earning money immediately.

It will take less than 10 minutes to complete most of their application forms.

When I signed up to DoorDash, it took less than 24 hours for my application to be approved, and the process didn’t require any interviews or anything of that sort. Once approved, I was able to start delivering food in my area using my car, bike, or scooter.

It was delightful to see that I was able to earn $155 in a day! The best part is that DoorDash allows you the option to get paid on the same day, which is great when you need money immediately!

You can even find out how much you can make in a day on DoorDash, which documents my personal experience along with some tips on how to boost your income with food delivery.

What I like and most people like about delivery apps is you can choose your own schedule. You can deliver for a few hours in the mornings, nights, or just the weekends – whenever you’re free. Most importantly, whenever you need the money.

Again, if you need cash today, I recommend giving this a try!

You can sign up for DoorDash here and become a Dasher. There is no fee or interview involved. All they require is a background check and they ask you a few questions regarding your mode of food delivery (e.g., vehicle, bike, scooter).

You could potentially earn $100 today or during this weekend, which is the peak time to maximize earnings with this side gig. I am doing it myself to get money today, so why can’t you?

3. Make money now and fast by selling stuff

Do you have a lot of old junk lying around your home?

Yes, I’m talking about looking for things to sell to make money.

And the good news is there are so many creative ways to make money now and fast.

One thing I recommend doing is selling your old clothes and other junk for fast money on platforms like OfferUp. They always say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

This is what I personally did when I desperately needed cash.

I sold a huge pile of my old clothes along with other stuff I don’t use anymore and got over $1,000 in a short period of time!

If you have old cell phones, games, books, or LEGO that you don’t use anymore, you can use resources like the Decluttr to post your items to sell online.

Sign up for the Decluttr app and you can use their super fast barcode scanner to value your items right now.

4. Get money now by selling your old furniture

Now we know that selling is one way to make money fast, but I want to mention one of the most legitimate and fast ways to get cash. I’ve done this when I was desperate for money, so I know just how well it works. Flipping furniture for money can be a quick way to financial relief — and not a lot of people know it! As long as you can find the best places to sell your old furniture, you’ll realize this is one of the most lucrative options on this list.

Do you have an old recliner or maybe a neglected desk just collecting dust in the corner? Yes, they can be transformed into money-making furniture!

But even if you don’t have any old furniture to sell, that’s not a problem at all! You can just keep an eye out for pieces that people are chucking out for free. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! And you might be surprised, but there’s a ton of free furniture when you know where to find free stuff online.

Take this gem, for instance…

I found it abandoned a couple of years back. I got to work right away, giving it a bit of a facelift, and voila! I managed to sell it for $150 within 24 hours! I know it sounds unreal, but it’s true, surprisingly. If you have the time to flip 1 piece of furniture a day, that can easily equate to anywhere around $700 to $1,000 in a week.

Fun fact: this was one of my very first fixer-uppers!

I had thoughts like “I need to get paid today,” so what better way than to turn something around in the next 24 hours?

Before:

After:

Flipping furniture not only fills your wallet with a smile, it also helps you unleash your creativity.

Make do with what you have and give this fun side hustle a try. Trust me, it can take your stress away!

5. Need money now? Get free money today through PayPal

Does the thought “I need money today for free” ever cross your mind?

If so, then you’re in the right place.

I never really knew what the term “free money” meant and I was oblivious to the fact that I’ve been taking advantage of these resources for many years to earn some money without putting much thought into it.

Here is a quick list of legitimate ways to get free money now.

The great thing is these resources are legitimate, safe, and free to use. I’ve been using them for almost a decade now and that’s how I earn money online for free.

As long as you have access to a smartphone or computer, then you’re good to go!

Need money for free? Sign up with Swagbucks and get $5 today

You can earn money online for free by surfing the web, watching videos, and filling out simple survey questions. This company has paid out almost $400 million in cash to members to date!

👉 You can sign up for Swagbucks here for FREE here and get a $5 welcome bonus today!

IMPORTANT: Remember to hit the verify button in your e-mail from Swagbucks when you sign up so you can claim your FREE $5 bonus!

Here is a screenshot of all the PayPal cash that I can redeem with Swagbucks now when I log into my account:

6. Take on a fun second job that’s hiring now!

Let’s admit it: one job isn’t enough to get us by anymore. So have you ever thought about grabbing a second, fun job that pays well to help you earn quick cash? Think of all the possibilities. That extra cash could be what you’re looking for.

Not sure what second job you could get? Well, you have endless opportunities. You can deliver food, teach others, or even take the neighbor’s furbaby for a quick walk.

If you want to find a fulfilling second job, it’s best to go for something you would enjoy. Personally, that was putting up a money-making blog for me. Although this wasn’t as instant as selling used furniture or clothes, I knew it would be better for the long term. It’s this second job that has generated the most money for me, compared to any other side hustles I’ve tried.

I’ve been blogging for over 5 years now and so far, I’ve earned a total of around $800,000 from it. Yes, it’s all from blogging. You can read my personal story and learn how I make six figures per year as a full-time blogger which started as a hobby!

This blog was the boost that really made a big difference in my finances. I used to live paycheck to paycheck and had a lot of financial problems but my life took a 180-degree turn when I stopped doubting and started getting to work!

I sometimes get mind-blown, but you can see how I earned $1,000 in a single day just from my blog!

And you know what’s the most life-changing part about a second job? Sure, the money’s very rewarding, but that’s not it. It’s the fact that you’ll pick up new skills and meet interesting people. And who knows? You might even stumble upon a new passion that will make you feel alive! That’s exactly what happened to me when I started this blog.

So yeah, you’ll have to put in effort, but it could be just what you need to relieve yourself of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle! Plus, you have the choice to do what you enjoy!

7. How to get money today by using Rakuten

10. Get money today from these “get paid to” sites

Get paid to sites is the rave today and many people are searching for them because they want to make quick money in one day.

I have to be honest here though. You won’t earn thousands or even hundreds of dollars in a day with these “get paid to sites”, but you can still make extra money in the next 24 hours or so when you take advantage of their sign-up bonuses and complete a few online activities.

I searched around the web to see which legitimate sites are offering sign-up bonuses when you join today.

Again, these are all free to sign up for and use. The more you sign up for, the more money and bonuses you may be able to earn.

Get $5 bonus from Swagbucks and earn up to $35 per survey TODAY

If you’re going to join at least a few survey sites, I recommend joining Swagbucks Surveys here and get FREE $5 bonus just by signing up. It has one of the highest ratings on Trustpilot with a 4.3/5.

Get $1.50 bonus from Survey Junkie right NOW

When you create a FREE Survey Junkie account now, you’ll instantly get $1.50 just for completing your profile in under a minute.

Creating a profile is important because that’s how they find surveys that are suitable and the right fit for you. The more surveys they can match you with, the more you can earn.

Once your profile is complete, you can start earning money online by providing your opinion about the products and services you like or dislike through their survey questionnaires.

With Survey Junkie, you could earn up to $35 per survey today!

Get $5 in FREE money NOW from Inbox Dollars

InboxDollars is another online rewards program that’s owned by the same parent company as Swagbucks, so they are definitely legitimate and safe to use.

Aside from getting paid to take surveys and rewarded for watching videos and TV, you also get to redeem free food and grocery store coupons!

Join InboxDollars (for the U.S.) here today and get a FREE $5 sign-on bonus now!

HINT: To get your $5 bonus, just remember to click on the ‘verify’ button in the e-mail from Inbox Dollars once you enter your e-mail address.

If you reside in Canada, then you’ll want to sign up to DailyRewards here. This is the Canadian version of Inbox Dollars. Get a FREE $5 bonus when you join today!

11. Take surveys online for cash

For the full list, you can join the highest-paying online surveys today and get up to $50 cash for free when you sign up for all of them. If you reside in Canada, you should try these best online surveys that pay cash in Canada.

You’ll earn even more when you complete your profile and take surveys online.

Again, you won’t get rich from this but it’s definitely worth trying for some extra money. Plus, they’re all free and safe to use, so why not?

12. Pick up free stuff and sell them for fast money

You’ve probably heard about many success stories of how people flip things online for a profit.

The problem is you don’t have any money to invest so “buying low and selling high” won’t work for you when you desperately need cash.

So, here’s where you have to get a little more creative if you want to make money quick.

Have you ever considered hunting for free stuff online?

They all have free sections where people are desperately trying to get rid of their stuff!

Yeah, I’m not joking. Some people are begging you to take away their pile of clothes that are “like-new” condition because they have too much stuff and clutter gives them a headache. You may even come across brand new items with tags attached to them!

I’m not saying this is super easy to find, but there are a lot of opportunities for you! This is where you can make money fast if you are willing to go the extra mile.

13. Have a garage sale for fast money

Tying in with my last point, whether you’re decluttering or finding free stuff to sell for a profit, you can always start by having a garage sale in person or online if you need money fast.

I prefer selling online through Craigslist, Letgo, Carousell or Etsy only because I feel it’s easier for me, but you’ll likely get cash faster by having a traditional garage sale.

I’ve personally made several thousands of dollars by flipping junk that people were begging me to take away from them.

That includes flipping free furniture for a profit, upcycling home décor pieces, selling clothes online, and flipping random finds like arts, handbags, mirrors, and small home appliances.

This is a perfect solution if you’re looking for how to make quick money in one day.

Here is a quick example of how I made $150 with two small tables in less than a day by picking them up for free online and flipping it for fast cash:

BEFORE: picked up from someone for free

AFTER: sold 2 of these for $150

14. Look for unused gift cards and get money now

Every time I catch myself saying “Help! I need cash now”, I would turn to my unused gift cards and turn them into cash.

Perhaps you may even want to try to find free ways to earn Amazon gift cards and consider selling them for extra cash.

I’ve collected gift cards from my family and friends over the years and I haven’t used them because they aren’t the stores I shop at.

If this sounds like you, consider selling your gift cards online on sites like Raise or Gift Card Granny for fast money.

15. Turn your coins or loose change into cash

According to a Bloomberg source, we toss away $62 million of loose change every year!

Whether you’ve collected a stash of coins in your piggy bank or have some lying on your couch, now is the time to convert those into bills for fast cash.

Many banks have discounted coin-counting and swapping services, but I still recommend heading to your local bank or credit union to see if they still offer these services today. They may also give you coin wrapping paper for free when you ask.

If you still can’t find any coin-counting services at your local bank, then you may want to give Coinstar a try. There’s no need to slowly count, sort, wrap, or roll up your coins with traditional methods. You can get cash now in just a few minutes when you visit one of their big green kiosks.

However, note that Coinstar charges a service fee of 11.9% when you turn your coins into bills. That means for every $100, you’re incurring a fee of almost $12.

If you want to avoid these fees, Coinstar gives you the option to instantly trade your coins for gift cards like Amazon. Just be sure that the gift card actually adds value if you decide to go with this option.

16. Rent out your stuff for money

We all know you can rent out your properties on Airbnb, but properties aren’t the only things you can rent out for money. Sometimes, all you need to do is look around your home. Yes, it’s filled with treasure! You would be surprised at all the things you already have that can bring in money. Everything from cameras, drones, musical instruments, tools, and even clothes can be rented out!

It seems overwhelming to find something you can rent out but it’s not! In fact, some people have made a lot of money from renting out their wardrobe!

Renting out your things for cash isn’t just a smart idea because you get additional income without too much effort. It’s also a great way to help you declutter and live more sustainably. Doing this means you help other people reduce their expenses, all while helping the environment.

Once you get the hang of it, you won’t only earn extra income when you need it, but you can also have a more sustainable lifestyle. Win-win!

17. Return an unused item for instant cash

Look around your home. Do you have any items that you purchased in the past but did not open yet?

Retailers generally have a strict policy where they only allow an item to be returned for up to 14 days. If you’re lucky, you’ll have 30 to 90 days.

However, places like Costco have a VERY generous return policy where you can return almost anything for a FULL refund without a receipt. Even after a year of purchasing the item!

What I’m about to tell you is a true story.

My father purchased a faucet and some brand new light fixtures from Costco (that he almost forgot about) and left them in the storage room for over 2 years!

One day, he needed money for some groceries so he returned the Costco items and got back over $300 in cash without a receipt and with no questions asked!

18. Get paid today using TaskRabbit

Do you find enjoyment in assembling furniture like bookcases and tables, installing shelves, mounting the TV onto the wall, or helping your friends move to their new apartment?

If so, you can become a Tasker with TaskRabbit and get paid for various types of gigs.

The average project to assemble a table or desk costs between $55 to $144 per job.

Helping someone mount their TV could help you earn an average rate of $60 to $129.

You could even help someone clean their bathroom or kitchen and get paid $65 to $140 for each job.

As a bonus, you may get tips from the person you’re helping, which is yours to keep 100%.

Not too shabby if you need money quick and fast today!

19. Ask a friend or family member for help

No one likes to ask people to lend them money, especially when it comes to family members and friends. You’ve heard many stories where relationships turned sour when money became a problem.

With that said, I do not recommend asking your friends or family members to lend you money if you don’t have the intention of returning it back. By doing this, you could harm your relationships and make them lose trust in you.

So before you reach out to your close ones, be sure that you’ve tried all of the recommendations in this post.

It’s okay to be honest about your situation and ask for help as long as you’ve exhausted all other options.

Asking for help from a family member or friend may be a better solution compared to payday loans or cash advances because you avoid the hefty interest rates and fees.

20. The fastest way to get money today (cash advances)

As I mentioned at the very beginning, borrowing money should be your absolute last resort because you don’t want to put yourself in a vicious cycle of debt.

I don’t like recommending payday loans or any cash advances. These are very short-term cash loans that would give you money now at an extremely high price tag. This may be keeping you poor and preventing you from saving money and building wealth.

I have to admit that payday loans and cash advances are very tempting because the approval is easy and fast. You also get cash instantly when you have bad credit or no credit! And sure, they may “solve” your money problems now but it’s only a Band-Aid solution that can potentially snowball quickly into bigger problems.

Again, I highly encourage you to try all or most of the recommendations in this post before using cash advances or even taking out a personal loan at more reasonable rates from places like Credible.com which offers rates from 4.99% in just 2 minutes.

Need money now? How to make money today!

No matter what your situation is – no income, low income, mid-income, high income – everyone is always going to catch themselves saying “I need money now” at some point in time.

There are so many ways to make $1,000 or more without having to rely on personal loans or beg from friends and family members.

Whether you’re an adult looking for $2,000 now, or a teenager looking for online jobs for teens that pay up to $20/hour, there are many real and legitimate ways to make money today.

Here is a list of ideas on how to make extra money for anyone when you desperately need cash now. And here is a list of creative ways to make $100 a day when you need money fast.