Sometimes, you need to find quick ways to make money, whether for an emergency car repair, an unexpected medical bill, or simply to make ends meet. This is particularly important considering that less than half of Americans could cover a $1,000 emergency expense without using a credit card.
While no quick-money scheme will give you $300 overnight, there are several legitimate ways to earn extra cash, such as the following 21 quick financial solutions.
1. Volunteer to work overtime or ask for it.
Despite seeming obvious, this is one of the easiest ways to rake in $300 fast. If your job allows you to work overtime or pick up additional shifts, you can earn extra income quickly. After all, federal law says employers have to pay overtime at least time and a half their regular rate. The overtime pay, for example, is $30 an hour if you usually make $20.
When it comes to volunteering for overtime, what’s the best part? There are unlikely to be any additional costs involved. Since you’d already be at work, you can just extend your hours. Furthermore, you won’t need training if you already have a job. And this could even line you up for a potential raise or promotion.
2. Sell unused items.
A simple and quick way to make $300? Sell any unused items around the house. To make money reselling stuff lying around your house — or get paid to list other people’s stuff — try these ideas:
- Have a garage sale if the weather permits.
- Create a Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Craigslist listing.
- Sell your used clothing at a local consignment shop or online through Poshmark.
- Don’t be afraid to pawn off valuables.
- On Worthy, you can sell jewelry that you no longer wear
- Decluttr is the place to sell your old electronic devices.
- Offer to help an older person to list their stuff. They are often unable to do it themselves but have many items they want to sell.
3. Take online surveys.
You can earn money by taking online surveys with several apps and websites. Although the pay per survey is typically low, you can earn a decent income if you take enough surveys. It usually takes a few minutes to complete these surveys, and you can earn points redeemed for cash or gift cards.
Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and InboxDollar are among the most popular survey sites.
4. Monetize your skills and talents.
Consider offering your skills or talents as a service if you possess them. You could provide freelance writing, graphic design, web development, tutoring, or even pet-sitting services. Using online marketplaces like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer, freelancers can quickly connect with potential clients and earn money.
As of 2023, the average freelancer’s hourly rate is $24.31, or $50,565 per year in the United States. Experienced workers earn up to $72,800 annually, while entry-level positions start at $45,958.
5. Drive for Uber or Lyft.
Driving for Uber or Lyft is a great way to earn $300 fast. However, this will depend on your location and your availability. For instance, you’ll make more if you live in a busy city or tourist town and can drive on weekends.
Furthermore, you can start quickly and possibly make money by tomorrow or the end of the week.
It is reported that some drivers make more than minimum wage, making $19 an hour on average. As a result, you will make $300 after 16 hours of work.
6. Deliver for food apps.
Would you be interested in delivering food apps instead of driving people around? Food, groceries, and other items can be delivered for payment with companies like Instacart.
You can also earn money by delivering takeout orders in your area with apps such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates. As a delivery driver, you’ll get paid for your deliveries and keep all tips.
Like ride-sharing apps, you set your own schedule and work when you’re available. This is a great way to make extra cash at night, on weekends, or during your breaks.
7. Rent out a spare room.
If you have extra space in your home, you can rent out a room to a roommate. Providing you get along, this is an easy way to earn extra income each month
Alternatively, you can rent a spare room in your home on Airbnb or VRBO. But, like with ride-sharing, the amount you make depends on your location and availability.
8. Rent out your car.
Did you know you can earn extra money by renting your car on Turo? Through Turo’s online marketplace, private car owners can rent their cars to others.
This is a quick and easy way to make $300 or cover your monthly car payments. Simply sign up for Turo, list your car, and decide how much you want to charge.
9. Monetize your hobbies.
Have you considered turning your hobby or skill into a revenue stream? If you are good at it, you could sell handmade crafts, provide photography or videography services, or teach online courses related to your interests.
In addition to building your own online store with a platform like Shopify, you can sell handmade items on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Big Cartel, and even social media sites like Instagram and Facebook. It is also possible to sell handmade items wholesale to other companies.
10. Participate in paid research studies.
Several companies pay people to take part in research studies. You can do these studies online, in person, or over the phone. Try searching online through ResearchMatch or contacting local universities or research institutions to find research studies you can join.
11. Offer pet sitting or dog walking services.
Your area may benefit from your love of animals by offering pet-sitting or dog-walking services. Put up flyers in your neighborhood or advertise your services on websites like Rover or Wag.
As an FYI, Rovers earn an average hourly rate of $17.23. Their average monthly earnings are $3,780, with a range of $1,625 to $6,958.
12. Teach online classes or tutor.
Consider teaching online classes or tutoring students in your area if you are knowledgeable about a particular subject. Udemy and Skillshare are online platforms enabling teachers to reach a global audience.
It is also possible to tutor students in person through local schools, community centers, or online tutoring platforms in your community.
13. Invest in stocks.
The sooner you start investing, the better. The good news is that you can earn passive income by investing with the help of a good stock trading app.
You may even be able to get to $300 even faster with some of these apps that offer promotional free stocks.
For newbies, I recommend:
- Acorns. Using Acorns, you can round up your purchases to invest. A debit card is included, as well as bonus investments. There is no minimum deposit or commission, but a monthly fee is charged.
- Robinhood. It works similarly to Acorns but does not charge a subscription fee. Cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and stocks are all available for investment.
- SoFi Invest. There is no minimum deposit or commission fee for online stocks at SoFi Invest. For as little as $5, you can purchase fractional shares of your favorite companies.
- Stash. Investing in fractional shares is possible with Stash, starting at just a penny. It is possible to set up automatic savings and choose which stocks or funds to invest in. There is no commission or minimum deposit requirement with Stash, but it has a low monthly fee.
14. Participate in online contests and sweepstakes.
You can enter online contests and sweepstakes on several websites and apps, which offer a variety of prizes, including cash rewards. Even though winning these contests isn’t guaranteed, they can be a fun way to earn extra cash.
15. Take part in focus groups or online panels.
Focus groups and online panels are used by companies to gather feedback about products, services, or marketing campaigns. You can find opportunities to participate in focus groups or online panels by searching online or contacting local marketing companies. You can also check out sites like User Interviews or Respondent.
16. Get a part-time job.
Part-time jobs can help you make $300 quickly if you have the time. The retail, food service, customer service, and other industries offer many part-time jobs. Part-time jobs are available online or through local employers.
17. Offer your help with tasks and errands.
Offering your services for house cleaning, assembling furniture, or running errands for busy individuals could be a good use of your handy skills. Advertising your services through local bulletin boards, social media, or neighborhood groups is possible. Or, you could just list your services on sites like TaskRabbit.
18. Recycle scrap metal.
You can sell scrap metal for cash at a scrap metal yard if you have any lying around. Various types of scrap metal can be found in the scrap yard, including old car appliance parts. Better yet, you can consistently offer to pick up someone else’s scrap by checking free junk ads on Craigslist or driving around on trash collection day.
The amount of money you can make scrapping metal depends on its type and location. The price per pound can range from $0.05 to over $2.00.
19. Plasma donation.
Blood banks and plasma donation centers accept plasma donations. Earning $100 or more per donation is possible, but there are some restrictions and potential side effects to consider.
The FDA allows you to donate up to twice a week with a two-day interval between donations.
20. Make use of money-finding apps.
Using a money finder app, you might be able to save your way to $300. Hidden money can be found on a few sites that are specifically designed to assist you with this task.
To get you started, here are a few apps:
- Capital One Shopping. You can track your online purchases, receive price drop notifications, and request refunds with this app. Also, you can get shipping refunds if your deliveries are late using the app.
- Mint. Using Mint, you can connect your accounts, track your cash flow, and negotiate bills so you can save money.
- Trim. With Trim, you can negotiate your bills, cancel subscriptions, and lower your credit card interest rates.
21. Download a cash advance app.
Cash advance apps come in many varieties. Some offer interest-free loans, while others only let you borrow from your paychecks. Whatever the case, cash advance apps are a way to get a small amount of cash. Your next paycheck typically triggers repayment.
You can save a lot of money by using apps that offer cash advances instead of payday loans, which can have outrageous APRs of over 400%. It’s also not uncommon for cash advance apps not to allow additional advances before repayment, so you don’t have to worry about overdraft fees. However, subscription fees, suggested tips, and express funding fees may increase over time.
Here are a few cash advance apps worth checking out:
- Earnin. With this loan, you can borrow up to $100 per day, $750 per pay period. Funds are usually received in 1 to 3 days.
- Dave. You can borrow up to $500 and have the money in 2 or 3 days.
- MoneyLion. You can borrow between $10 and $500 and receive the money within one to five days.
You can make money quickly with some effort and creativity, but it’s not always easy. Despite this, by following these tips, you can earn $300 in a short period of time.
FAQs
How quickly can I make $300?
How fast you can make $300 depends on which method you choose. The process of selling items you don’t need can be very quick, but teaching English online, for example, may take longer.
What are some tips for making $300 fast?
You can make $300 fast by following these tips:
- Think outside the box. Consider all possible ways to make money, and don’t be afraid to get creative.
- Take action. Make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.
- Don’t give up. There are no guarantees when it comes to making money. There is also the possibility that it will take some time and effort. Don’t give up, though.
How can you make $300 fast without falling victim to scams?
It is common for scammers to target people who want to make money quickly. Watch out for these red flags:
- Jobs that promise a lot of money for little effort.
- You have to pay money upfront for any job.
- The job you are applying for asks for your personal information, such as your Social Security number or your bank account number.
What are some tips for staying safe when making money online?
If you are thinking about making money online, here are a few tips to keep you safe:
- You should only use websites and companies that are reputable.
- Do not share your personal information with anyone you do not trust.
- You should be careful when clicking on links in emails or on websites.
- Don’t be fooled by scams that claim you can make easy money.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels
