While the cost of living across the United States is on an unbelievable rise, an increase of wages lags. Higher salaries are coveted but don’t appear to be progressing with the times.
This means that more and more people are seeking out additional streams of income. Long gone are the days of having one income and expecting it to help you get by.
\With the rising costs of being a U.S. citizen, the driving force to work towards goals, and the desire to build lasting wealth, making more money is an absolute necessity. Not sure what you can do?
Check out this list of 8 ways to make more money instantly. Don’t be afraid to try different things to bring in more money.
Trial and error give you the freedom to experiment and find what works best for you!
8 Ways to Make More Money Instantly
#1 Sell unwanted stuff online
I think one of the best ways to make money quick, reduce clutter, and feel better is to sell stuff you no longer want.
Donating is also a good thing, but if you’re looking to get some extra cash, selling is the way to go. Nowadays, there are so many options to choose from when selling your stuff.
Poshmark is great for clothes and accessories. I wrote an article about using Poshmark to make a profit.
Other online marketplaces include eBay, LetGo, and Facebook Marketplace. I recently came across ThredUp and Tradesy too!
I would suggest finding the platform that works best for you, as opposed to being on multiple platforms – at least for the long term.
#2 Create and sell a digital product
While creating a digital product doesn’t happen instantly, once it’s created and available for sale, the money can come in instantly!
In fact, a digital product is a great form of passive income. You can make sales while you’re sleeping, traveling or at your day job!
To get started, think about the information you’d like to package up to sell. Are you good at organizing? Do your friends compliment your style? Is cooking new recipes your thing?
Think about those things and then decide on what information you’ll use for your digital product. The options are endless!
Once you’ve decided on your topic, think about what type of digital product you’d want to create. You could do an eBook, a recorded video training, a checklist, or a combination of all those things.
Find a platform to host it on (YouTube for video, website, etc.) and set up a PayPal account to accept payments.
You can market it to your friends and family, share it on social media, or drop off flyers around town. This may require some extra work, but it could spark that entrepreneurial flame in you!
Not to mention, getting sales in the middle of the night is a great feeling.
#3 Day trade in the stock market
Proceed with caution here! Day trading is the act of buying and selling stock or crypto assets over the course of a day, or over a few days.
If you watch the market, you may have an idea of which stocks have a history of increasing. Even if you buy and sell for a profit of $30, you’re making extra money instantly!
I warn you to proceed with caution because profits are not guaranteed. There is always the scenario of things not going as planned and you losing money.
In those cases, you could hold your investment until it goes back up (which I’d recommend) or sell for a loss.
I’ve day-traded cryptocurrency and have made a few extra hundred bucks a month. Then, my asset went down, and now I’m waiting for it to go back up. That put a pause on my day trading! Make sure you set your personal limits and stick to them.
#4 Become a local dog walker
Do you love dogs? Become a freelance dog walker in your spare time! You can leverage a company like Wag, who handles payments and finding clients.
You can also market yourself online or around your neighborhood and get paid directly from your clients.
Not only do you get to be around dogs, but you get some good exercise in as well! This is an option that requires an exchange of time for money. That’s okay! Especially if you enjoying moving and being around dogs.
#5 Start babysitting or house-sitting
Another option that requires an exchange of time for money, but pays instantly, is babysitting or house-sitting.
Do you have a lot of extra time on your hands? Maybe you enjoy being around kids, or like the solitude of no one being home. Baby-sitting and house-sitting can be great options for you.
Similar to dog-walking, you can find companies that facilitate the meeting of sitter to client, or you can go the freelancing route and find your own clients.
Either option can result in extra money coming in, which is the goal!
#6 Take surveys online
Prefer to stay home when making extra money? Consider taking surveys or watching videos online!
Swagbucks is one of the best resources to leverage to get paid for taking surveys or watching videos from the comfort of your own home.
Looking for something less mainstream than Swagbucks? Some other online survey options include Branded Surveys, InboxDollars, LifePoints and Survey Junkie.
Get an account set up and get to the surveys! The payouts aren’t astronomical, but neither is the amount of work or effort needed to complete the tasks.
#7 Participate in studies or blood drives
If you need a one-time influx of cash, or extra cash on an as-needed basis, participate in local or virtual studies, or blood drives! I get emails all the time for paid studies.
In exchange for my answers to the study and time given, money or gift cards are offered. I don’t accept every request, but I do participate in the ones that interest me or ones I can give good feedback on.
Blood drives are another way to make some extra money and help save lives! I’ve never gone this route but would suggest looking online or contacting your local hospitals for guidance on how to give blood.
#8 Start driving for major companies (Amazon, Uber, Shipt)
A final way to make more money instantly is to become a driver for major logistics companies. Amazon fleet, Uber and Uber Eats, Shipt, InstaCart, Postmates and Lyft are all great options.
What’s even better is that some of the companies give bonuses. Complete a specific number of rides or hours and you get extra cash paid out instantly!
I’ve done Uber in the past and have made good money from it! One weekend I made $400! It’s a great option when your schedule varies or you like driving.
There are options that don’t require human interaction too, which is great if you’re worried about health or safety.
Related: 5 Reasons Why You Need Multiple Income Streams
One thing I will add is to ALWAYS have a plan for extra income. When you do move forward with making extra money, give it a place and a purpose before it comes. That way you aren’t wasting the opportunity!
All of the ideas listed above can help you bring in more money instantly. Some require an exchange of time for money, while others require devoted attention.
Either way, you can find an income-generating activity that suits your personality and lifestyle.
What are some ways you bring in more money? Do you have any go-to income sources when you’re running low on cash? Share your tips and tricks by posting a comment below.
