Try a garage sale.
Look, I know it's not very realistic to pull these off; I personally wouldn't bother trying. But if you've got a ton of stuff lying around not outright junk, but stuff you don't need, like the aforementioned DVDs and kid's clothes it's worth a try. Advertise on Craigslist and put up signs in your neighborhood, then come Saturday haul a table out to your driveway (assuming you have a driveway), load it up with stuff for sale, and take whatever you can get.
Become an Uber or Lyft driver.
I know this won't be practical for a lot of people. I'm pretty sure I'd say, No thanks, myself. On the other hand, if you have some downtime, a reliable car, good insurance. and decent social skills, you can certainly earn some honest money driving people around.
The average Uber driver is said to make about $19 to $21 an hour after tolls and some other expenses are factored in although I've seen other numbers suggesting it's closer to $16, and with Lyft, the average is said to be less (closer to $11). But on the plus side, you can generally get your money instantly, which wasn't always the case with these ride-sharing businesses.
To make real money, you'll have to drive around a decent amount and during peak hours, such as Saturday nights. Also keep in mind the cost of gas and the additional wear and tear on your car.
Oh, and why am I saying that it'll take a week to get paid if you're paid instantly? It'll take at least that long – and possibly up to two weeks – to pass the initial background check.
Sell those expensive concert tickets.
Boy, I hate to suggest this if you were really excited about attending an upcoming concert, sporting event, or a Broadway play. But if you have tickets to a big event, selling them could be a helpful and quick way to get your financial picture back on track.
StubHub is probably the best known ticket resale website, but other sites have gotten in on the game, too, including VividSeats and even Ticketmaster. Depending on what kind of tickets you've got, you could make your money back and then some but you'll usually have to wait at least a few days for the cash.
Using StubHub as an example, after you list your tickets (factoring in their fees), you'll have to wait for someone to buy them. This can happen quickly if it's a big-name concert or Broadway play, but maybe not so fast if it's a reading of Elizabethan poetry; of course, setting a low price will generally help them sell faster. Once the buyer receives their tickets if you uploaded PDF e-tickets, they'll get them immediately, otherwise you'll have to mail them to the buyer StubHub begins processing the payment. If you're paid via PayPal, it'll take up to five days (a check in the mail will take up to two weeks).
Sell your gift cards.
If you've got gift cards lying around that you never manage to use maybe you've got $50 to Longhorn Steakhouse, but you're a vegetarian you can sell them at a discount through gift card exchange sites such as CardCash. com. Once the site receives and verifies the balance on the card (e-cards are obviously handy, but they'll pay for you to mail in physical gift cards), you can get paid in as little as two days.
Note that you're effectively paying a fee of 15% or more of the card's value, but if you're truly in a bind or simply can't imagine using or re-gifting a gift card, that may be a small price to pay for quick money.
Look at online lenders.
There are a variety of online lenders out there, and if your credit is fairly good, you can apply for a personal loan online and be approved almost instantly. The money will still take a few days or even a week to hit your account, and the interest rate will be higher than, say, a home equity loan. But a personal loan from a reputable company and be careful, for some online lenders are little more than payday loan shops online beats credit card debt for a couple of reasons: Installment loans are better for your credit than revolving credit card balances, and even a 10% interest rate is preferable to what you'd pay for a cash advance.
