We’ve all been there! It’s the holidays and we could use some extra funds or a big medical bill just arrived. The car won’t start and it needs repaired or we’ve been putting off a home repair and it just can’t wait any longer. Here are some tried and true ways to make some extra cash fast.
Online/App Savings
- Sell things you don’t use on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or clothes on a site like Poshmark. Seriously, anything you have laying around that still functions, sell it! If you can make even $10-$20 per item, every little bit helps! I just sold a Fitbit for $20 that I don’t use anymore because it will only hold a charge for about 12 hours. Don’t assume your trash isn’t another’s treasure.
- Anytime you make an online purchase, use the Honey browser extension to look for promo codes to save money. With the amount of online shopping we do in my household, this is an easy way to put some extra cash back in my pocket.
- Take surveys online through companies like Swagbucks.
- Coupon and use money saving apps like Ibotta, Fetch Rewards, or Flipp to check prices on groceries as well as clip coupons that you can use for purchases.
- Use a company like BillShark to eliminate or negotiate bills you think you might be overpaying on.
- Find your local Buy Nothing community. First, look at Facebook and see if there is a Buy Nothing group in your area. If so, you can ask for things you need or need to borrow instead of purchasing. Many people post things they no longer need on the site as well. I have personally gotten many pantry items, kids clothes, bikes, etc. I have also gifted bedding, curtains, kids items, etc. on the site.
Physical Savings
- Donate plasma. Nearby, you can earn up to $900 in your first month if you donate regularly, which is almost to your minimum $1000 emergency fund.
- Do odd jobs for people on Nextdoor. I see people posting constantly that they will mow lawns, shovel snow, landscape, pick up dog poop, and other odd jobs to save for a purpose or to support their families. Many people are happy to have you help them out and pay you for your services.
- Drive for DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub.
- Drive for Lyft or Uber if you have a free Friday or Saturday night, especially if you live in a bigger city.
- Become a shopper for Instacart.
- Walk or watch your friends or neighbors dogs, cats, or parakeet (okay, maybe don’t take that one for a walk!).
- Monetize your hobbies. Do you enjoy sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, crafting, making signs or t-shirts, woodworking, etc. With platforms like Etsy and Facebook Marketplace, you can turn your hobby into a profitable side hustle.
- Babysit or House sit.
- Rent out a room using Airbnb or loan your car to others using a site like Turo.
Other Creative Ways to Save
- Cut all unnecessary spending. Cancel Netflix. Cut cable. Eat in instead of eating out, you can still make it an experience like cooking a meal with a friend!
- Save on necessary spending by bartering with friends. Maybe you can get a haircut from a friend who is a barber by offering to help them with marketing for their business. Maybe a friend would help you do your taxes in exchange for you watching their house while they’re on vacation. Good ol’ fashioned bartering needs to be brought back!
- Call an insurance broker and see if you can find a better rate on auto or renters/home insurance. Personally, we run our rates at least once a year to make sure we are getting the best deals and we maintain the coverage we want (or add coverage as we see necessary). This year, I was able to save about $250 (or a little more than $20/month) on my home and auto by switching providers.
Hoping this helps you make a little extra cash! What would you add to this list?
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