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I know the struggle – when you’re about to be evicted or can’t find enough money for your next meal – when you desperately need money now…today.
I was never spoon-fed on a silver platter. I have worked my ass off for everything I have, and I’ve experienced trials and struggles throughout my entire life to get where I am today.
If you’re hurting financially, here are five things you can do to make money quickly.
Donate Blood Plasma
This is one of the craziest things I’ve ever done to make money fast. For a while, right after I quit my full-time job to stay at home with the kids (cause daycare’s expensive, am I right?!), I stumbled upon blood plasma donation.
This is not to be confused with donating blood. Blood plasma is a process that takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour, and you can earn up to $400 per month donating twice per week.
It’s not something I would ever do again (especially during a pandemic), but if you’re desperate for money, it might be worth looking into.
Income Potential: $400/month
DECLUTTER AND SELL ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE
When we packed up to move from Illinois to Florida two months ago, we decided to sell many of our large items to make more room on the U-Haul.
But we had so many smaller items in our home of value that we weren’t using and decided to sell as well.
You probably won’t be able to sell items like your washer and dryer, but you might have some items that you can get rid of.
Best Selling Items on Facebook Marketplace
- Furniture (even if it’s ugly and needs refinishing)
- Appliances (like that air fryer you bought and never use)
- Lawn and Garden Tools
- Home Decor
- Designer Purses and Clothing
Income Potential: $100-500 or more
Pick Up a Second or Even Third Job
I always laugh at people who say that they can’t work through college because they don’t have time.
As a full-time student, I worked at Walmart, Pizza Hut (delivering pizzas), and I cleaned a construction office all at once. Three jobs while going to school full-time.
Isn’t it funny how when we become grown-ups, we realize how much we actually are capable of?
There are plenty of extra jobs that would work around your existing schedule. Maybe you can pick up a part-time (or peak time) teller job.
You could work at a grocery store in the evenings facing or stocking shelves.
Hobby Lobby and Chic fil a allow Sundays for rest, so even if you pick up a second or third job, maybe you can still have a day with the family.
Remember that this is only temporary, to help you get through a difficult time, and one day you’ll look back and remember how hard you hustled to make things happen!
Income Potential: $400-500/mo (at 10 hours per week, $10/hour)
Side Note: You can also get your teenager on board with helping out. Have your teen get a summer job, and you can reduce the cost of paying for some of their summer fun activities.
ReWork Your Budget – Reduce Expenses if You DEsperately Need Money
One of the best things you can do when you desperately need money now is to rework the budget and cut things you don’t need.
You automatically give yourself a raise by reducing expenses, and you control the amount you save.
Here are some money-saving opportunities:
- Manicures and Pedicures – $60/month
- Change Hairstyle to Balayage & Reduce Visits – $150/every other month saved
- Consider switching from traditional health insurance to Christian Healthcare Ministries – $700/month potential savings
- Groceries – Cut out snacking and processed foods – $300/month
- Eating Out – $300/month
- Beer and Wine – $100/month
- Cigarettes – $300/month
- DirecTV or Dish Network – Switch to YouTube TV or Sling – $60/month
- Switch from – $100/month for 2 lines
These simple tweaks can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars every single month, affording you an instant raise.
Start a Side Hustle
There is almost always someone needing services. People in your city are probably trying to find someone to petsit or housesit while they’re on vacation next month.
My daughter earned $80 feeding the neighbor’s cat one week out of the summer a few years ago. Anyone can do it!
Some other ways to make money on the side include:
- pressure washing business
- deck or concrete staining
- refinishing furniture
- painting kitchen cabinets
- creating and selling art
- teaching music or art lessons
- babysitting
- car detailing
- washing windows
- decorating/painting downtown store windows
The downside to working second and third jobs is that they take up a lot of time.
In November of 2018, when this blog was just getting started, I was looking to earn a little extra money because I wasn’t making much money blogging yet.
So I applied for a part-time job at my local blood donation center. This job would have paid a measly $190 per week, but I was happy to try to help contribute to our family finances (other than just being the budget creator and money manager).
Long story short, I didn’t get the job, but I’m so glad I didn’t because I was able to focus on this blog, and within 3 months, I was earning 4x more than that job would have paid.
Now, I’m earning over $4,000 per month on Perfection Hangover. My side hustle and hobby blog has turned into an actual business, and I might work a total of 20 hours per week on it.
Blogging is not a passive income opportunity, though, and it takes time to build it up. If you’re interested in learning how to start a blog of your own, check out my tutorial.
It answers a lot of questions you might have about how it all works (including how a blog makes money).
Income Potential: $100/month to $4,000/month and more
I know it sucks being broke and not knowing how you’re going to pay the bills. Times are tough right now for so many, but hang in there.
It’s good to know that when you desperately need money, there are several options to come up with quick cash.
If I can help brainstorm with you in any way, drop me a comment. I respond to each and every one!
