I Need Money Now: 17 Ways to Find Fast Cash

You need cash now, but payday is days or weeks away. Use this list for some realistic inspiration to make, borrow or save some extra money on short order, without falling prey to scams.

Easy ways to get money now

These methods might not net you a lot, but each could be a path to real cash, real fast.

1. Sell spare electronics at an ecoATM

You can sell your used phone or tablet on sites such as Swappa and Gazelle, but to get money now, using an ecoATM kiosk is your quickest option since it takes just minutes. Consider selling old MP3 players, cell phones or tablets.

2. Pawn something

As a way to borrow money, pawnshop loans are not great. But they’re quick, and if you can’t repay the loan, the pawnshop simply keeps the item you used as collateral. That’s better than ruined credit and calls from debt collectors.

You can often sell outright instead of borrowing against an item at a pawnshop. Jewelry and gold, musical instruments, firearms and up-to-date electronics are among the items that fare best.

» MORE: How to get cash for gold

3. Walk or watch a dog

Sites such as Care.com, Rover and Wag match pet owners with sitters and dog walkers. At Rover, you can choose to host the dog, stay at the owner’s house or do drop-in care visits. Rates for pet sitting at an owner’s home can range from $25 to $100 a night, depending on the size of your city and the services involved.

4. Become a rideshare or delivery driver

These are jobs you can do in the evenings or on weekends, using your own car and gas, that can help you get money now. Become an Uber driver or Lyft driver to get matched with people willing to pay for a ride. It’s even easier to earn with a delivery service like DoorDash, and it’s quick.

The average pay for a delivery driver (in general) nationwide is $18 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter.

I tried DoorDash delivery as a side hustle and didn’t make much money, but did get paid quickly. I did my first dash on a Thursday and the $23.25 I made that day was in my bank account via direct deposit the following Tuesday.

Tommy Tindall

Writer, side hustle tester

5. Sell your gift cards

Exchange websites offer cash for gift cards. The site CardCash pays up to 92% of a card’s value. GiftCash is another option. Sites like these tend to take a few days to issue payment, especially if the card needs to be mailed in.

Quick ways to borrow cash safely

Avoid payday loans and “fast cash” options that appear too good to be true. Try these instead.

6. Seek community loans and assistance

Local community organizations may offer loans or short-term assistance to help with rent, utilities or other emergency needs. Religious groups may make small loans at low rates. Community centers and nonprofit associations in your area may also offer small loans.

7. Use a credit card cash advance

If you have a credit card and the account is in good standing, a cash advance is a much cheaper option than a high-interest payday loan. You’ll pay a fee, typically about 5% of the amount you borrow, plus interest, which can be about 30%.

8. Look for a payday alternative loan

Some credit unions offer small, short-term cash advances known as payday alternative loans. Federally chartered credit unions legally can’t charge more than a 28% annual percentage rate on PALs. That's not cheap, but traditional payday loans can have triple-digit APRs.

9. Get a personal loan

Some lenders can fund a personal loan in a day, especially if you have good credit. If not, look for lenders that work with bad credit. Rates for borrowers with bad credit from mainstream lenders can reach about 36% APR. Avoid no-credit-check loans with more exorbitant APRs.

» MORE: NerdWallet's picks for best lenders for fast cash

You can also ask for a loan from family or friends to avoid challenges with credit and reduce or eliminate interest. Money transfer apps like Venmo and Zelle make the exchange quick — but be sure to agree on the terms upfront to avoid family or friendship fallout.

10. Consolidate your debt

If struggling to keep up with multiple debts, a debt consolidation loan can combine them into one lower monthly payment — and some lenders fund within a day. For example, refinancing $5,000 from 10% to 5% interest could save you over $500 in four years.

» COMPARE: The best debt consolidation loans

If you have good credit, you can shop for a balance transfer credit card and move your high-interest credit card debt to a new card with a 0% introductory interest rate. Pay it off before the rate balloons at the end of the introductory period, though.

11. Refinance your student loans

Private student loan refinancing options are available for people with a range of credit scores. It’s worth checking whether a refinance could save you money.

Ways to find fast cash by saving

A simple action like a phone call or internet search can save you money on bills, which may be faster than trying to earn more.

12. Ask for forbearance on bills

Some creditors, such as utilities and cable television companies, may not charge interest on late payments, so find out whether they’ll accept delayed payments. Use whatever money you save from not paying those bills to cover emergency needs. If you can't pay consumer debts, such as auto loans or mortgages, explore your options with the lender first before turning to high-rate loans.

13. Cut your homeowners and car insurance premiums

Shop around to lower homeowners insurance by $1,000 or more a year. Find discounts for things such as having a home security system, staying claim-free or setting up automatic payments.

Compare car insurance companies, too. Premiums for the same driver for the same coverage can vary by hundreds of dollars from company to company. Ask about car insurance discounts, where having a clean driving record or making good grades as a student can net 15% to 20% off.

Go for the bundle if your insurance company offers discounts for combining home and auto policies.

» COMPARE: Shop car insurance rates

14. Change your cell phone plan

Switching cell phone providers is a good way to cut spending. Budget carriers such as Visible and Mint Mobile offer cheap cell phone plans with talk, text and data for as little as $25 and $15 a month, respectively.

More fast cash options

You can explore ways to borrow from yourself if needed.

15. Request a payroll advance

Ask your employer for a cash advance on your pay. This usually doesn’t cost any fees and you can repay via payroll deduction. Some companies also offer low-cost loans to workers in crises. You also might consider EarnIn, a cash advance app that offers workers advances that they repay in a lump sum on payday at no interest. It does ask for a voluntary tip, though, and requires access to your bank account.

» COMPARE: Cash advance apps that loan you money

16. Dip into your retirement account

A 401(k) loan lets you borrow money from your retirement account at a low interest rate, but it can set you back on retirement savings.

A typical 401(k) loan allows you to borrow as much as half your account balance, up to $50,000, generally to be repaid within five years. However, if you don’t make timely payments, the loan may be considered taxable income.

Remember though, when you dip into your retirement savings, you miss out on potential stock market gains from compounding interest.

» MORE: Rules on cashing out your 401(k)

17. Borrow against life insurance

If you have life insurance that has cash value, sometimes called permanent life insurance, you can borrow against your life insurance policy and have the rest of your life to repay it. If you don’t repay, the insurance company subtracts the money from the policy payout when you die. But you can’t borrow against a term life insurance policy, which is the more common type.

Watch out for payday loan scams

Don’t be fooled by these fast-cash options. Each comes with a catch that ends up costing you.

Payday loans

Payday loans are short-term loans made to people who have a source of income and a bank account to be repaid in a lump sum. Interest is usually expressed as a “fee” — $10 to $30 per $100 borrowed is common. But a typical $15 fee on a two-week loan amounts to nearly 400% interest on an annual basis.

Payday installment loans

Available at stores and online, payday installment loans stretch repayment terms. You don’t need good credit; the products often are advertised as no-credit-check installment loans. But you typically must meet the requirements of a payday loan: a paycheck and a bank account. Interest charges hit hard over the long term: A $2,000, three-year loan at 400% APR will end up costing over $22,000 in interest.

Car title loans

These short-term loans — in places where they’re legal — require you to hand over the title to your vehicle as collateral for the debt. These loans are expensive, and the lender can seize your car if you don’t repay.

Credit-building payday loans

Most payday lenders don’t report on-time payments to the big credit bureaus, so there's little positive impact on your credit score, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Some lenders, such as Rise and Fig, offer installment loans at a lower cost than other payday loans and with credit reporting, but their rates are still higher than mainstream lenders.

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Need Money Now? 17 Ways to Find Fast Cash