Various Options for Immediate Needs – From Old School to New Tech

I’ve certainly had my share of ups and downs financially over my lifetime and most of those days when I was looking for quick cash were prior to the internet!  Now, with access to the web going on 20 years, there are too many ways to count to raise cash quickly in a time of need.  There are a few lower-tech old school ways I can suggest, and then some newer ways like relying on high interest loans for financial emergencies, with 24Cash being an example.

Garage Sale – This is one of the more common, and potentially cliche ways to raise funds, but it’s actually pretty effective.  Success can be boosted by pooling together with multiple neighbors to draw larger crowds.  The one thing I didn’t expect when I hosted my first garage sale was how much people wanted to haggle.  I feel like this haggling behavior has increased a bit over time, but maybe that will also help you hone your haggling skills by pushing back and standing your ground.

Gig Work – There are so many ways to earn money doing gig work that there are entire business and blogs dedicated to it.  However, some of the main ones that come to mind include the theme of focusing on what you do best and enjoy, and if at all possible, something that has a higher barrier to entry than normal.  Pretty much anyone can drive, so gig work for the Ubers and Lyfts of the world may be good flexible gig work, but the pay isn’t great unless it’s at peak times.  So, consider if you’ve ever done craft work around the home like laying floors or painting.  On the academic side, tutoring is an excellent side gig, as certain topics are very hard to find good tutors, like high school level chemistry, calculus, etc.  

Unload Your Stuff Online – The ultimate mix of garage sale and online commerce is to rely on sites like Facebook Marketplace and eBay to sell your wares or even those of others.  I’ve actually come across a few people that go around picking up stuff listed for free on sites or out for trash and then selling it online.  If you have the time and inclination, it’s not too difficult to make a few hundred dollars per week doing this.

There are many other ways to make money in a bind; list them here!