8 Creative Ways to Pay Rent When the Bank Account Is Near Zero (2024)

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When you think you’re out of money, you generally assume you can’t spend anymore. Your instinct is to turn super frugal — cut every non-necessity — and maybe even skip a bill or two.

When you think you can’t even make rent, the situation can seem pretty dire.

But it doesn’t have to be. Instead of figuring out what you have to forgo this month when money is tight, find ways to make the money you need.

That doesn’t have to mean a second job or going into debt. There are tons of small, simple ways to put extra cash in your bank account so you don’t feel that panic at the first of the month.

Not all of these tactics will put money in your pocket right away, but we’ll note the ones that will!

1. Let This Organization Pay It for You

If you can’t pay your rent because of unforeseen circ*mstances, look into applying for a grant. Take, for example, Modest Needs grants, which are designed for workers just above the poverty line who are ineligible for most other forms of social assistance.

7 Ways to Make Money if You Hate People

Do you avoid people too? In the past, there was almost no way around working with people if you wanted to earn a living, but things have changed.

Our team has compiled a list of creative ways you can fatten your bank account this month, without having to put up with people.

Enough small talk. Here are some ways to earn extra cash, without all of the social stuff.

It provides small grants to deserving, self-sufficient individuals who are usually capable of paying rent and other expenses, but can’t cover expenses for the month because of surprise costs, such as medical emergencies, a death in the family, loss of a job or a large utility bill.

Modest Needs accepts applications from anyone in need, with a priority for people living alone, public school teachers and first responders.

2.Let This App Pay You up to $83 For Playing Solitaire Games

Lots of us already play Solitaire on our phones for fun or just to pass the time. Want to see if you can win money at it?

There’s a free iPhone app called Solitaire Cash that lets you play for real money. You could get paid up to $83 per win.

You might be thinking: There’s got to be a catch. This is definitely one of those spammy apps, right?

Wrong. There really isn’t a catch. Sure, you can pay to play in some higher-stakes tournaments, but there’s no pressure. And, in fact, there aren’t even any annoying ads.

With each game, you’ll battle it out against at least five other players. Everyone gets the same deck, so winning is totally a matter of skill. The top three players who solve the deck fastest can win real money — anywhere from $1 to $83.

Over on the App Store, it has over a million downloads and more than 15,000 ratings, averaging 4.7 stars (out of 5).

To get started, just download the free app and start playing your first game immediately.

3.Add $225 to Your Wallet Just for Watching the News

It’s been a historic year in news, and we’re all constantly refreshing for the latest updates. You probably know more than one news-junkie who fancies themselves an expert in respiratory illness or a political mastermind.

And research companies want to pay you to keep watching. You could add up to $225 a month to your pocket by signing up for a free account with Swagbucks. They’ll present you with short news clips to choose from every day, then ask you a few questions about them.

You just have to answer honestly, and Swagbucks will continue to pay you every month. This might sound too good to be true, but it’s already paid its users more than $429 million. We talked to one user in Pennsylvania, 52-year-old Carolinda Hendrickson, who earned $1,200 in a year.

It takes about one minute to sign up, and start getting paid to watch the news.

4.Get Paid to Watch Cooking Videos

8 Creative Ways to Pay Rent When the Bank Account Is Near Zero (1)

If we told you that you could get paid to watch videos on your computer, you’d probably laugh.

It’s too good to be true, right?

But we’re serious. A website called InboxDollars will pay you to watch short video clips online. One minute you might watch someone bake brownies and the next you might get the latest updates on Kardashian drama.

All you have to do is choose which videos you want to watch and answer a few quick questions about them afterward. Brands pay InboxDollars to get these videos in front of viewers, and it passes a cut onto you.

InboxDollars won’t cover your full rent, but it’s possible to earn up to $225 per month watching these videos.

Unlike other sites, InboxDollars pays you in cash — no points or gift cards — so you can put the money directly toward rent. It’s already paid its users more than $56 million.

It takes about one minute to sign up, and you’ll immediately earn a $5 bonus to get you started.

5. Cancel Your Car Insurance

When you’re trying to pay rent, cutting expenses is one of the most impactful things you can do. It might feel like you’ve already cut every enjoyable thing out of your budget, but the truth is, one of the simplest expenses you can cut is car insurance.

A website called Insure.com makes it super easy to compare car insurance prices. All you have to do is enter your ZIP code and your age, and it’ll show you your options.

Using Insure.com, people have saved an average of $489 a year.

Yup. That could be $500 back in your pocket just for taking a few minutes to look at your options.

6.Ask This Website to Help Pay Your Credit Card Bill This Month

If you have credit card debt, you know. The anxiety, the interest rates, the fear you’re never going to escape…

And the truth is, your credit card company doesn’t really care. It’s just getting rich by ripping you off with high interest rates. But a website called AmOne wants to help.

If you owe your credit card companies $50,000 or less, AmOne will match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every single one of your balances.

The benefit? You’ll be left with one bill to pay each month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmOne rates start at 5.99% APR), you’ll get out of debt that much faster. Plus: No credit card payment this month.

AmOne keeps your information confidential and secure, which is probably why after 20 years in business, it still has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

It takes two minutes to see if you qualify for up to $50,000 online. You do need to give AmOne a real phone number in order to qualify, but don’t worry — they won’t spam you with phone calls.

7.Get Paid Every Time You Buy Toilet Paper

Grocery shopping was never exactly pleasant. But these days, it’s a downright struggle. Fighting crowds; keeping six feet of space — just buying toilet paper is a feat. Shouldn’t you have something to show for it?

A free app called Fetch Rewards will reward you with gift cards just for sharing your grocery receipts. Yep, that includes toilet paper brands like Cottonelle and Scott, too.

Just upload the photos of your receipts to the app and Fetch will reward you with gift cards to places like Amazon, Walmart, Chipotle and dozens of other retailers.

And it’s perfect for those of us who don’t want to put a ton of work into this. All you have to do is send Fetch a photo of your receipt, and it does everything for you. No scanning barcodes or searching for offers — and you can use it with any grocery receipt.

When you download the app, use the code PENNY to automatically earn 2,000 points when you scan your first receipt. Then start snapping photos of your recent receipts to see how many points you can earn without a single trip to the store!

Not so bad for a useless receipt, right?

8. Get a Free $80 for Playing This Cell Phone Game

We all have our favorite ways to kill time. A good book, a good conversation, a hockey game.

Here’s another good time-killer: Playing games on your iPhone. And what if you could play for money? Real money? There’s a free iPhone and iPad app called Bubble Cash that pays you to play. You can get paid up to $80 per win!

You might be wondering if there’s a catch. But there’s really not. Bubble Cash is free to download and is completely skill-based. And it’s quite popular. It has more than a million downloads and averages a rating of 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store.

Players have won hundreds of thousands in prize money so far.

To get started, just download the free app and start playing your first game immediately.

5 Companies That Send People Money When They’re Asked Nicely

When you log into your bank account, how do your savings look? Probably not as good as you’d like. It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.

But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?

Ask one of these companies to help….

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8 Creative Ways to Pay Rent When the Bank Account Is Near Zero (2024)

FAQs

8 Creative Ways to Pay Rent When the Bank Account Is Near Zero? ›

Pay Bills with a Money Order

Money orders can almost always be used in place of a personal check, and because of this, they're great for people without bank accounts. The funds on a money order are guaranteed. They never expire, and you can even put a stop payment on them if you need to.

How do people without bank accounts pay bills? ›

Pay Bills with a Money Order

Money orders can almost always be used in place of a personal check, and because of this, they're great for people without bank accounts. The funds on a money order are guaranteed. They never expire, and you can even put a stop payment on them if you need to.

What do I do when I don't have enough money to pay the rent? ›

Explore free options first
  1. Talk to your landlord. Explain your situation and ask for more time to pay, an installment plan and/or waived late fees. ...
  2. Tap into assistance programs. ...
  3. Call 211. ...
  4. Ask for help. ...
  5. Modify living arrangements. ...
  6. Seek advice.
Feb 20, 2024

How to come up with rent money fast? ›

Best Options If You Need Money To Pay Rent Tomorrow
  1. Speak With Your Landlord.
  2. Borrow The Money.
  3. Sell Stuff For Fast Cash.
  4. Start An Online Side Hustle.
  5. Look For Renter Assistance Programs.
  6. Make Money With Gig Economy Apps.
  7. Do Odd Jobs For Cash.
  8. Find a Temporary Work Agency.
Jul 16, 2024

How to live with no bank account? ›

If you're looking for a checking account alternative, consider these tools to help you manage your money.
  1. Cash. If you use cash frequently, you'll want to be mindful of budgeting, spending, and saving. ...
  2. Check-Cashing Services. ...
  3. Reloadable Prepaid Cards. ...
  4. Money Orders.

How do I pay my bills if I have no money? ›

Finding financial relief
  1. Government disability insurance programs. ...
  2. Disability and income replacement benefits through your employer. ...
  3. Create a barebones budget. ...
  4. Use coupons and consider store brands. ...
  5. Evaluate and eliminate some nonessential expenses. ...
  6. Prioritize credit card payments. ...
  7. Apply for government programs.

What if I'm broke and can't pay rent? ›

Search online or call your local courthouse to get the contact information for the Legal Aid Society office near you. If you're not quite at that point yet, reach out to local charity organizations for one-time grants to help cover the cost of rent before it gets far enough behind to warrant an eviction.

Can I pay rent with a credit card? ›

Landlords who do accept direct credit card payments have to pay merchant processing fees for the privilege, and it's common for them to pass those fees on to the renters on top of rent. The convenience fee for paying rent with a card typically ranges from 2.5% to 2.9%, which may sound small, but it adds up.

What's the difference between renting and owning? ›

Renting offers more flexibility and less upfront costs, but it does not build equity or offer tax benefits. Owning requires a large financial commitment and more responsibility, but provides stability and potential for building equity.

How can I get money right now? ›

Ways to Make Quick Cash: 8 Legitimate Ways to Earn Quick Cash Now
  1. Sell your stuff at a garage sale or online.
  2. Freelance.
  3. Use a money-making app.
  4. Open a bank account that has a cash bonus.
  5. Start a side hustle.
  6. Perform tasks through a gig economy app.
  7. Recycle.
  8. Ask a loved one to borrow money.
2 days ago

How do you get around making 3 times the rent? ›

You may still be able to get the apartment by increasing the security deposit, finding a guarantor, or demonstrating your financial responsibility even if you don't make three times the rent by providing your potential landlord with bank statements that show financial responsibility and sound decision-making regarding ...

How to get quick money to pay bills? ›

25+ Ways to Make Quick Money in One Day
  1. Become a rideshare driver. ...
  2. Focus on freelancing. ...
  3. Sell unused gift cards. ...
  4. Carsharing or parking spot rentals. ...
  5. Send app referrals. ...
  6. Find unclaimed money. ...
  7. Deliver groceries or take out. ...
  8. Sell your clothes online.

How do the unbanked pay their bills? ›

For unbanked Americans, cash is the primary payment method for more than half (54%) all bill payments, compared to only 5% for banked individuals. Unbanked consumers rely heavily on cash for paying bills. Source: Federal Reserve of Atlanta.

How can I pay without a bank account? ›

  1. Mobile money services. Many countries have mobile money services that allow users to send and receive money using their mobile phones. ...
  2. Online payment platforms. ...
  3. Money transfer operators (MTOs) ...
  4. Prepaid cards. ...
  5. Mobile Wallets. ...
  6. Money orders and cashier's cheques. ...
  7. International remittance services.
Mar 11, 2024

Is there a way to get paid without a bank account? ›

Digital payment platforms

PayPal, Venmo, Western Union, and Cash App are some of the most popular payment services that do not require you to own a bank account to receive money. If you use a payment app like PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App, your recipient may sign up for the app and link a prepaid debit card.

How can I pay my employees without a bank account? ›

Alternative Ways to Pay Employees Who Don't Have Bank Accounts
  1. Pay them with a paper check that they can take to a check-cashing center.
  2. Pay them in cash.

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