Do you want or need to make 500 dollars fast?
You can make $500 fast if you know where to look and where to spend time.
There are so many reasons why people want to make $500 fast. For the most part, an emergency can cause stress and extra strain on your budget. Knowing how to make extra money will reduce your stress and take care of the emergency.
Whether you need the money for rent, or you need the money for groceries, we’ve got you covered.
No matter what your reasons are for wanting an extra $500, you are in the right place to find how to do so. I will show you multiple ways and methods to make $500 fast. Some of these may take longer than others but the key is to go for as much as you can to maximize your earnings.
It is important to know that, how much money you make, depends on how much time and effort you put into the way(s) you choose to make the money.
How to Make $500 Fast
It is best to find what works best for you because there are people who prefer to stay at home and make money. On the other hand, some don’t mind leaving the house to achieve their goals.
Whatever way you choose, you can still achieve your goals. However, you may reach your goals faster when you combine multiple methods listed here.
From working on your laptop to selling your old stuff, there’s money waiting to be made. All you have to do is to decide what you want to do and start making an effort.
Sell Your Stuff
You may not be excited about selling online, but I think selling things is an easy and fast way to make $500 fast. Fortunately, there are many online sites available to list your items for sale.
1. Sell CDs, DVDs, Tech, and LEGO® with Decluttr
Decluttr if you want to make quick cash or, sell your unwanted CDs, DVDs, games, tablets, books, and much more. When you enter the barcode on each item, you receive an instant offer for your stuff. You have the option to download the Decluttr app to scan items, or manually enter the code.
After you scan all your items and accept the order, Decluttr will send you a free shipping label to use to ship the items.
You’ll have the option to receive payment via PayPal, direct deposit, or a mailed check, the day after your order arrives.
This is a great way to make quick cash if you have a bunch of games, CDs, DVDs, and other techy items you no longer need or use.
How fast can you make $500?
You may not reach your $500 goal with just this method except you have a huge collection of old DVDs or a huge LEGO collection. However, when combined with some of the other items on this list, Decluttr can help you get there faster.
2. Sell on eBay
Whereas Decluttr only takes certain items, you can sell just about anything you own on eBay. eBay is one of the most popular sites for selling stuff because as it is well known and you can sell to people all over the world.
When selling on eBay, there’s competition and it’s important to list your items to match your competitor’s prices. To do this, check the prices of items already listed on eBay that are similar to what you want to sell.
If your price is below what the others or asking, your item will probably sell quicker. Remember as you list your prices, consider the shipping cost, and add any shipping costs into your price if you promise free shipping.
When I initially started selling on eBay, I lost money because I forgot to include the shipping cost in the price of the item.
In most cases, great pictures, descriptions, and if it is clothing, the measurements make a world of difference. Most eBay buyers pay via PayPal, which means fast payment for you.
2. Craigslist
Craigslist is another great way to sell your old or new your stuff and your services. Your reach is limited to selling locally to the people around you.
Do you have a particular skill or knowledge of an in-demand service in your area, offer it on Craigslist! For example, we have hired a moving company and had a great experience. We referred the movers to another family.
You could also offer services like babysitting, Dog walking, or various projects around the house.
Bonus tip: Browse the “free” section of Craigslist for free items. If you find some great ticket items that are listed in the “free” section, resell to make $500 fast.
How fast can you make $500?
If you have valuable items to sell or you have in-demand skills, you will make $500 fast. Children’s’ clothes, shoes, electronics, old furniture, and appliances are all great items to sell on Craigslist.
3. Sell Clothes and Accessories on Poshmark
Poshmark is an online marketplace where people buy and sell clothing and accessories from each other. With Poshmark, you don’t have to meet for a sale, all items are shipped.
Poshmark is the perfect place to sell shoes, clothes, and jewelry that you no longer need or use.
Generally, the prices on Poshmark are higher than eBay and Craigslist. The selling process is very simple: create an account, download the app, take a picture of the item you want to sell, add a description and price and you’re done!
How fast can you make $500?
If you have a few name brand or decent items to sell and you start today, you could make $500 with Poshmark very fast. If you can sell 25 items for $20 or 20 items for $25, that’s all you need to make $500.
4. Sell on Facebook Marketplace
Facebook is a popular marketplace to sell online these days. Hundreds of items are listed daily as well as services. The good thing about selling on Facebook is that it’s super easy. All you have to do is to create a great description of your item and take good pictures.
For starters, baby or kids’ clothes is always the easiest to sell. I suggest selling in bundles to get rid of the clothes faster. Give a great description and accurate count of the items in the bundle.
How fast can you make $500?
How much you can make depends on the value of the items and how many items you have to sell – you could easily make $500.
5. Amazon Trade-In Program
The Amazon Trade-In program allows customers to receive an Amazon Gift Card in exchange for hundreds of thousands of eligible items including video games, Kindles, books, electronics, DVDs, and more.
The process is easy and convenient with an immediate offer and free shipping.
Amazon emails you a prepaid shipping label, so it does not cost you anything to ship your items to them.
Amazon will not take everything you have to sell. But if they accept your trade-in, they’ll give you an offer price, and if you choose to sell it to them they’ll pay you in the form of an Amazon gift card within two days of analyzing your stuff.
Qualified customers who send in a video game, console or accessory can be paid immediately by selecting Amazon’s Instant Payment option.
However, it’s important, to be honest about the items you’re sending in for trade-in, because if your package arrives and the items are not as described, Amazon will request the money be returned.
Although you receive payment as an Amazon gift card, it will not be difficult to find something to purchase. If you need cash, sell your gift card to family, and friends, or a gift card resale site.
6. Sell your photos online or take portrait pictures
Shutterstock is a popular site for stock photography. Anyone can upload their pictures to Shutterstock, even if you’re not a professional photographer.
This method works best if you upload photos of places or objects that are in high demand.
The Shutterstock app lets you upload pictures straight from your phone.
You can also:
- Contact your local real estate agents and offer to take professional pictures of their new listings
- Wedding Photography
- Family Portraits
- Senior Portraits
- Baby Portraits
- Birthday Parties
How fast can you make $500?
If you have a nice camera and you can take amazing pictures, you can make $500 in one photography session.
7. Freelance Writing
Freelance Writing is another good way to make money fast. There is an increased demand for Freelance writers now as many online digital platforms require writers.
Websites are constantly looking for content writers for their site and many of them pay anywhere from $50 to $500+ for a blog post. If you have specialized knowledge about a specific area, you might demand more money per word.
You can write for blogs, media publications, magazines, etc. No professional background is required to write but having some experience in writing will definitely help.
If you don’t have any experience and are interested in working from home, I recommend gaining more knowledge and skill by joining the Earn More Writing School.
You can find freelance writing in places like Upwork, Flexjobs, etc. If you enjoy writing and would like to make money from home, look into these websites to start your freelance writing career from home.
8. TEACH ENGLISH ONLINE
VIPKID is a company that hires teachers to teach English to Chinese kids. To apply to VIPKID, you must meet three minimum requirements:
- A Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in any field.
- Eligible to work in the US or Canada.
- Have at least one year of teaching experience (includes homeschooling, tutoring, coaching, mentoring or other life experiences)
In addition to the requirements above, your level of English must be fluent and will be evaluated during the interview.
You can earn anywhere from $17-$22 an hour based on experience and certification. The pay scale may go up or down depending on how well you do on your mock class interview.
Many people are earning around $2000 a month teaching with VIPKID. I read about someone earning about $5000 a month.
9. Ride Sharing
There is a demand for ridesharing when people go out on the weekend or to events around town. If you enjoy spending time in your car and meeting new people, driving for Lyft or Uber could be a great side gig for you!
According to some analysts, the average driver reportedly earns $17.50 per hour. Drivers earn by receiving a portion of the fee charged to customers, plus tips.
To increase your earnings, drive during the weekends especially at night, and holidays.
How fast can you make $500?
Right now, Lyft is offering a $1000 bonus for new drivers who sign up and complete 125 rides in 30 days. So you make $500 in 30 days.
10. Amazon Delivery
Amazon Flex – As more and more people shop online, UPS, FedEx, and the Post Office are unable to keep up with Amazon Prime and the one/two-hour delivery. As a result, Amazon has turned to independent contractors to drop off packages at homes and businesses.
According to Amazon, you can make between $18-$25 an hour. You will have to schedule a block of availability, then pick up packages from an Amazon warehouse for delivery.
How fast can you make $500?
Let’s say you make $20 per hour, it will take 25 hours to make $500. Pay depends on the market and the rate of pay.
11. Walk Dogs and Pet Sit on Rover
This job is definitely for animal lovers. I can’t imagine anyone that is not a fund of dogs or someone afraid of animals to pet sit.
If you live in a place like my area, it would be easy to get customers looking for pet sitters. I know someone that takes their dog to the sitter whenever they go out of town.
Earnings for Rover pet sitters and walkers rates are for specific services and not hourly rates. This means you charge what you believe your services are worth. It is always good to check out the competition in your area to see what others are charging.
For example, to hire a Rover dog walker in my area would range from $16 to $20 for a small Dog (0-15lbs). For overnight pet boarding, the rates per night range from $25-$40 for a small Dog.
How fast can you make $500?
If you offered pet boarding and charged $40 per night, you could make $500 in 12.5 nights. If you walked Dogs at a rate of $20 per visit, you’d need to make 25 visits to earn $500. The rates also depend on the size of the dog.
12. Sell Unused Gift Cards
I am sure at one point or another, we have all received gift cards to restaurants and stores that we don’t visit.
Rather than let the gift card go to waste, why not exchange it.
If you want to turn your gift card into cash, check out Raise.com or Cardpool.com.
Depending on the brand of the gift card, you can get up to 92% of the value of the gift card in cash or receive an Amazon gift card!
How fast can you make $500?
If you had a bunch of gift cards lying around, you could make $500 fast.
13. Grocery Shop for Others
If you want to make money fast, try Instacart to make money shopping for groceries for others.
As an Instacart shopper, you receive orders through the Instacart app and then shop and deliver groceries to the customer’s door.
It only takes a couple of days to start once you sign up. You will receive a debit card to do the shopping and be paid within the same week!
Here’s How It Works
- On the app, you will get visibility to all available options within the time frame you want to work
- Choose your schedule
- Pick and choose which orders you want to take
How fast can you make $500?
On average, Instacart pays $11 per hour. However, customers also include tips that will make you $500 fast.
14. Food Delivery
People want convenience – food delivered to them in the comfort of their own home. You’ll drive the food from the restaurant to the home. The pay varies depending on your city and the time of day. As always, there is a surge charge during busy times.
To work in the food delivery business, you will have to own an iPhone or Android to download the required apps.
UberEats
UberEats is the most popular food delivery service. The pay is based on the location of the pickup and where it is delivered, mileage, surge charge during busy times, and tips.
You have to be 19 to join UberEats. The great thing is you can deliver with a car, bike, scooter, or even shoes, and deliver whenever you want.
Dashers as they are called, deliver food and other items from area stores. DoorDash pays per delivery, and you get to keep your tips. The website states that average pay is $10 – $25, but that depends on many factors. As with Ridesharing, the pay depends on the city, distance, and more. At this time, they’re only operating in a few cities in the US and Canada.
To become a Skipthedishes courier you’ll complete an application, go through an interview, and buy a thermal (keep the food hot) delivery bag. They’re only operating in a few cities in the US and Canada.
Food delivery or pickup from local restaurants. Grubhub delivery is in over 1,200 cities in the United States. You’ll schedule a block of time to work, then receive food pickup from different restaurants and drop it off for the customers.
The pay is per delivery and mileage, plus you keep any tips from customers.
How fast can you make $500?
The pay depends on where you live and the company you work with.
15. Sell Plasma
I didn’t realize you could donate Plasma until they opened a location in my area. I received an introductory flyer showing a rate of $100 per donation.
The plasma donation process takes anywhere from one hour to an hour and a half and you can expect to be paid anywhere from $20 to $50 per donation.
Each company has its own donation requirements, from weight to age to general health, but you can check their website for the requirements. Many of the eligibility rules are the same as red blood donation. If you have any recent piercings or tattoos within the past twelve (12) months, you will not be eligible.
How fast can you make $500?
On the low side, if you are paid $25 per visit, you will need to visit 20 times to make $500. When you combine this side hustle with another, you can reach your goal faster.
16. Sign up for Research Studies – Up to $400 per study
You can make quick easy money by participating in research studies.
Respondent is one of the best ones out there and you can make $50-$400 per study.
Some researchers like to process all their outstanding incentives in a single transaction at the end of the study, others like to pay Respondents as soon as they have attended their session. This is at the discretion of the researcher.
It really depends on which study you do to determine how soon you’ll get paid and payment is made via PayPal.
Vindale Research is another research/survey program where you can make $10-$50 per day if you apply to multiple surveys/studies.
Once you’ve joined, you’ll have access to all the ways to earn, including getting paid to do surveys online.
Once your account balance reaches $50 or more, you may request payment. As a new member, your first payment has to be made by check. Paper checks may take up to 2 weeks to receive and up to 7 days to clear depending on your bank’s clearing policy.
17. Make money fast by reviewing music at Slice the Pie.
Slice the Pie is a paid review site that pays people to review new songs, fashion items, accessories, and commercials before they are released to the public.
You provide comment immediately about what you liked or disliked about you listened to or saw, you must be specific and provide a well written and thought out review. Payment is not received for general comments.
Slice the Pie also has a referral program and you can earn money by referring others. You receive cash bonuses through PayPal each time you review music.
Payment is made twice a week through PayPal.
Click here to start earning cash on Slice the Pie.
18. Take paid online surveys
This is the quickest and easiest way to make money. I have made hundreds of dollars from survey sites.
However, you will not earn a full-time income just from doing surveys. Completing surveys can be an extra income when you find the right ones. I recommend signing up for:
Swagbucks: There are multiple ways to earn rewards on Swagbucks. Earn money by taking surveys, watching videos, online searches, playing games, referrals, and more. You earn random points, referred to as SB (Swagbucks). Points can be redeemed for gift cards or PayPal cash. Must be 13 and older to participate.
Survey Junkie: What I like most about Survey Junkie is that you will know by the first two questions if you are eligible for that survey. You will also know how long and how much you will receive for a survey. Skip the survey if it does not pay well. There are plenty to choose from, and they update the site regularly.
The Harris Poll: Harrispollonline.com is a web-based online survey and rewards system where users get paid to conduct surveys. By participating in the surveys, you can influence important decision-making in corporations, government, and non –profit organizations. This is one of the oldest survey sites in the world.
The more Survey websites you sign up for, the more you’ll earn.
Tip: You must open a separate email account exclusively for surveys. You’ll start to get flooded with emails and it will be more manageable in a different account.
How fast can you make $500?
You can make anywhere from $50-$100 in a month in your spare time.
19.Fiverr
I began with Fiverr.com because it is one of the best places to find jobs online for students. Fiverr is a marketplace online where people sell freelance services at a starting price of $5.
Some of the jobs that do well on Fiverr include graphic designing, SEO (search engine optimization) services, app creation, website building, writing, and translation.
If you’re unsure of what to sell or the services to offer on Fiverr, you should outline your passion and interests on paper then narrow down to the 1 or 2 that will be profitable.
Although most services begin at $5, you can charge as high as $1500 depending on the job. Most times, jobs that cost that much are big graphic design projects or programming work.
The best thing about Fiverr is that you get to deliver on your own time. This is very convenient for college students you decide the delivery time. And, this is huge for college students who may have a tight schedule. That is one of the reasons part-time online jobs are always better for college students.
On Fiverr, the standard delivery time for a project is 3 days, however, if you feel this will affect your schoolwork, you can set the delivery time to 5 or 7 days. If you do really good work, clients won’t mind waiting.
Equally, you can set your delivery time to 24 hours or a day and charge clients extra for express delivery.
How fast can you make $500?
To make money on Fiverr, you have to take higher-paying projects. There are lots of low offers that are not great for the seller. A skill that is high demand, will yield a higher pay.
20. Get Paid to lose Weight
HealthyWage offers people the opportunity to earn cash for losing weight. Earn cash for losing weight?
This sounds too good to be true, but it is true.
The company was founded in 2009, and its HQ is in New York, and part of its mission is to provide ways to have to be able to calculate the impact of the growing obesity epidemic in the US.
They do this by offering cash prizes to make weight loss and fitness more fun and effective.
Make a personal weight loss bet, get your friends together for a team weight loss challenge,
or compete in a corporate wellness program. Your winnings depend on how much weight you lose and how much you bet. This is a win-win situation, you get to lose weight and make money at the same time.
21. Become a Gigwalker
Gigwalk is an app that connects businesses with “Gigwalkers” (you) to perform short tasks.
For example, a business’s post tasks or “Gigs” for Gigwalkers to complete, a task like taking pictures of a product at a store or answering some short survey questions.
You can pick the gigs in your area that are a good fit for you, do the task, and get paid. Gigs can take anywhere from 5 minutes to a few hours to complete and the pay is $3 to $100 each.
This app is ideal if you live in a large metropolitan area and can quickly go from gig to gig.
How fast can you make $500?
If you live in a metropolitan area then you can walk and complete gigs fast, you will easily make $500 fast. However, if you live in a more rural area, it may take a while to get to $500 and the cost of driving may not make it a profitable gig.
22. Recycle Items
Another way to bring in quick cash is to recycle items – either your own or friends, family, and neighbor’s items they want to discard.
Depending on which state you live in there are several options for recycling things. You can collect aluminum cans, collect scrap metal, or recycle old appliances.
You might also be able to recycle old electronics or glass bottles and jars. Depending on what you recycle and how much of it you bring in, you could earn several hundred dollars in just a few days.
You’ll have to put in some time as you go to different houses to pick up their discarded recyclables, but in the end, you’ll have cash in hand.
23. Garage Sale
Yard/garage sales can help you make $500 fast. Garage sales can be a lot of work but achieving your goal makes it worthwhile.
Consider the following if you decide to have a garage sale:
- Advertise your sale with signs in your neighborhood, online garage sales notification sites such as Craigslist, and the neighborhood watch site or community group page.
- Price your stuff competitively and put a price sticker on all your items beforehand.
- Be willing to bargain with shoppers. Garage sale shoppers want a bargain.
- Organizing is the key to an easy shopping experience.
Have your sale on a sunny weekend: Fridays and Saturdays are the best days for garage sales.
The amount you make depends on the items you are selling.
24. Be a part of an online focus group
A focus group can be a great way to make extra money. It is easier to find online focus groups as opposed to local focus groups.
VIP Voice is a great platform for finding focus groups. They’re a company that will reward you for filling out surveys. If your profile qualifies, you can be invited to do these online focus groups for specific products.
Each focus group via VIP Voice will reward you $25 – $100 depending on the length of the focus group. I have made $50-$100 for being part of a focus group.
25. Become an Airbnb Host
With hotel charges increasing, people are looking for more reasonably priced accommodations.
Airbnb is an online marketplace that lets people rent out their room or entire home to guests.
If you have an extra room in your house that is not used, you can rent out your space to guests using the Airbnb app and make extra money each week.
Just head over to Airbnb and begin by reading How Airbnb works. The site gives you a general idea of what to expect before you get started. Airbnb also provides rates for each area, so you know what rates to expect to determine your price.
You don’t have to worry about payments because Guests are charged before arrival and you’ll get paid automatically after check-in, minus a 3% service fee.
Click here to find out how much you can make in your area and list your room to start earning today!
How to Make $500 Fast
If you’re looking for ways to make $500 fast, you’ll need to invest at least 30 minutes each day to earn extra money.
Decide which one of the things on the list is best for you to reach your goal of $500 in the shortest amount of time and start today.
