They say that money makes the world go round – but it isn't always easy to come by.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to make money that won't take up a huge chunk of your time. From side hustles and quick online tricks to work from home jobs and passive income ideas, we've put together the ultimate list on how to make money fast!
Easy Make Money Fast Schemes
Table of Contents
If you're looking for quick and easy ways to make money in your spare time, this is the section for you. Here are the details on 15 best schemes for earning easy fast money:
Take Paid Surveys
Paid surveys are an increasingly popular means of making fast money.
Research companies all around the world pay survey sites to help them gather data on new products and marketing campaigns through product testing and questionnaires. Those survey sites will then pay you as a survey taker.
It's quick and easy, and most websites offer surveys of different lengths to promote time management and convenience. Do a survey that will take 5 minutes. Do a survey that will take 2 hours. The choice is yours.
1. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is easily the best site for getting paid to do online surveys. They match specific brands and categories to your profile and offer some of the best rewards on the market. You can redeem your points at any time via PayPal or as e-giftcards.
2. MyPoints
If you're looking to do more than just fill out questionnaires, MyPoints also allows you to earn points in several other ways — and it's insanely easy to earn them. After a certain amount, you can redeem points for giftcards or PayPal cash.
3. Vindale Research
Vindale Research offers the highest paying survey rates in the industry. You can easily earn anywhere from $2 to as high as $50 per survey! They also work on a cash-only basis, which means you won't have to redeem points in order to get paid. Vindale Research will either send you a check (at no extra cost to you) or pay via PayPal (with no transaction fees).
4. Sign-Up for Ebates and Get $10
Ebates is a fantastic cashback website and app (iOS and Android).
After signing up, you'll receive a $10 joining bonus, which can be redeemed by spending $25 using their affiliate links. This website/app allows you to shop online and enjoy cashback rewards based on your purchases.
You can also earn referral rewards every time you get a friend to join Ebates – up to a total of $75 by your third successful referral.
Ebates allows you to redeem your points via PayPal, or by receiving a “Big Fat Check” in the mail.
5. Get $5 from Swagbucks
Swagbucks is another great online portal for making extra money fast. It's highly similar to MyPoints, as you can earn Swagbuck Points (“SB”) by completing surveys, watching videos and general online browsing. SB carries the same value as MyPoints too – around $0.0068 per point.
Swagbucks also gives you a $5 welcoming credit for joining via their website or app (iOS/Android). After spending $25 at an affiliated store within 30 days of joining, you'll get an extra $10 bonus too.
You can redeem SBs as cash via PayPal, or as an e-giftcard.
6. Get $5 from InboxDollars
InboxDollars will give you $5 for joining — which is done via their website or iOS/Android app. This bonus also comes with no strings attached: no purchase necessary.
And — if you go to the little box in the top-right corner labeled “My List” – you'll find six quick activities that will earn you extra cash right off the bat. To make more money through InboxDollars, you can also complete surveys, play games, accept offers, and just browse in general.
Last but not least, InboxDollars also gives you the opportunity to earn 10% of your successful referrals' earnings!
7. Get a Free $300 Bonus as a New Lyft Driver
If you have a car and spare time in the afternoons, night and/or weekends, you can make extra money as a Lyft driver.
The app (iOS or Android) allows passengers to request a ride and drivers to accept. Not only will you get paid per minute and mile (directly to your bank account once a week or instantly with Express Pay), but you'll also keep any tips given by passengers.
On top of that, Lyft also offers sign-up bonuses to new drivers. You'll earn $300 just for registering, which you can do online.
8. Download the Nielsen App (and Collect $50)
Nielsen submits reports on mobile user trends to relevant companies. To do so, they need users – which is where you come in.
Enroll on the website and follow the prompts — basically answering general questions about yourself and setting up a username and password. After enrolling, you can install the iOS or Android app, restart your phone and then continue as normal. The Nielsen App runs unobtrusively in the background and earns you up to $50 a year.
9. Link a Card to DOSH and Get a Free $5 Instantly
Dosh is another cashback portal that allows you to earn some of your online purchase expenses back.
One major difference between Dosh and most of its competitors is that it doesn't work with points. You get paid in cash, which can be transferred to your PayPal or – if you link your debit or credit card – straight to your bank account.
Sign-up via the website or app (iOS and Android) and earn $5 instantly when you link your card.
10. Earn Rewards Easily with the Drop App
You can easily turn your everyday purchases into extra cash with the Drop app (iOS and Android).
Simply sign-up (you can do so on their website) and link your debit or credit cards. Any time you pay with your card for products – whether it's groceries, Uber, online purchases, etc. – you'll earn points (provided Drop has an affiliation with them).
Every 5,000 points translates to $5 in rewards.
Drop doesn't redeem points for cash, but you can choose from a number of giftcards to enjoy discounts (or even a free coffee at Starbucks). And let's be honest…who doesn't love free coffee (or tea)?
11. Ibotta $10 Just for Signing Up (Tell 3 Friends and Make $100)
Similar to cashback portals, Ibotta is a receipt scanner app that helps you get some of your purchasing expenses back.
The app (iOS or Android) lists specific grocery items, prescriptions, electronics, toiletries and restaurants that are available for redeeming. In order to enjoy Ibotta's true potential, scan the receipt no later than 7 days after purchase.
Sign-up to Ibotta on their app or website and you'll get a $10 joining bonus. You can also make an extra $100 just by successfully referring three friends!
12. Let Trim Lower Your Bills
Trim is a nifty software program that – as the name implies – trims your bills to help you save money.
To do so, you'll need to sign-up on their website, free of charge, and link your bank account and primary card so Trim can track your expenses with read-only access. After analyzing your accounts, Trim will help cancel subscriptions, negotiate lower bills (including Comcast and AT&T), and even help you find cheaper car insurance.
With their Simple Savings feature, Trim will also help you automate savings with authorized weekly deposits.
13. Get a Free $5 to Invest from Acorn
Acorn is one of the best ways to invest, especially as a beginner.
Simply register via their website, iOS or Android app, and receive $5 free to get started. Link your debit or credit card and choose whether to invest with direct deposits, or through the nifty Round-Up feature.
And Round-Up does exactly that: rounding up your spending expenses to the next full dollar. For example, if you spend $25.45 on groceries, Acorn rounds it to $26 and invests the $0.55 for you.
14. Cryptocurrency
If you're looking to make money through cryptocurrencies, setting up a Coinbase account is a must.
The website and app (iOS and Android) work as a one-stop-shop – something especially useful for cryptocurrency beginners. Coinbase acts as a broker, wallet and exchange service, meaning you can buy, sell, store, invest and send/receive through your Coinbase account. They also have a number of tools to help you manage your portfolio at the same time.
Coinbase currently supports four cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin. As an added (crucial) benefit, Coinbase also insures your digital currency.
15. Find Unclaimed Money
You could be owed money that is being held on your behalf by your local state government.
This is especially true if you've lived in more than one state. Legally, unclaimed money or property value is sent by companies to the state for them to hold until you can be located. This usually happens if you've had no contact with the company for a year or longer.
Unclaimed.org is a website that helps you to find any unclaimed (also referred to as “abandoned”) money that you're owed, free of charge, so you can easily stake your claim and get paid.
16. Play the Lotto (for Free)
If you're looking for ways to make money with your smartphone, Lucktastic is a great place to start.
Self-described as a “fun and free app”, Lucktastic lets you play virtual scratchcards without any cost to you. All you need to do is download the iOS or Android app and start playing!
Claim your rewards after all seven scratch boxes are cleared and keep playing to increase your potential wins. Some scratchcards earn you cash, others contest entries or giftcards. To redeem as cash, you'll need to link a Dwolla account or request a check.
17. Deliver Food with Postmates
18 or older? Have an insured vehicle (even if it's just a bicycle)?
If so, you can make easy money by becoming a food delivery driver for Postmates.
All you need to do is sign up via their website, download the iOS or Android app, and pass a background check. Whenever you have some spare time, simply login and accept delivery requests.
You'll earn a minimum of $4 per delivery (plus tips!), so you can easily make $15+ an hour. Payment is released 4-7 days later, and is made via direct deposit.
Weekend Side Hustles to Make Money Fast
Make the most of your free time over the weekend by earning easy money. This next section will list seven great ideas to help you do exactly that.
18. Walk Dogs in Your Neighborhood
You can easily make as much as $1,000 a month by sitting or walking dogs in your neighborhood through Rover.
Sign-up via the website or app (iOS and Android) and create your profile with details like location, availability, and even preferences such as the age or size of the dogs you're able to sit/walk. And – if you're able to board dogs overnight – you can even make double your average earnings!
Dog owners can send a request and make payments online. Once the service is complete, you can withdraw to PayPal or request a check.
19. Drive with Uber and/or Lyft
Driving for Uber and/or Lyft is a great way to make easy money. As mentioned earlier, Lyft offers a $300 sign-up bonus to new drivers. And while Uber hasn't had any joining rewards since 2017, they do give income guarantees. For example, Uber might guarantee that you'll make $500 with your first 60 rides. If not, they'll pay you the difference.
Signing up for Lyft and Uber is quick and easy, and both have driver apps you'll need to use (Lyft iOS/Android and Uber iOS/Android). To maximize your earnings, sign up for both.
20. Get Paid to Let People Borrow Your Car
If you find yourself sitting with a car that you're not using often, consider letting people rent it for a fee.
Depending on your car's make, model and year, as well as how often you can rent it out, you can potentially earn $500 or more each month by listing it on Getaround's website and app (iOS and Android). You'll get paid on a monthly basis.
To earn even more through Getaround, refer your friends to the service. You'll get $20 referral rewards, plus an extra $200 for every car they list.
21. Share Your Home with an Airbnb Guest
Got a spare room in your home? You can monetize that space by renting it to an Airbnb guest.
Sign-up on the website and list your openings. You'll have to provide details like number of rooms available, how many guests, and what location the opening is in. Listings are also free of charge.
Airbnb gives you an estimate of potential monthly earnings, and qualified guests can reach out to you through the app (iOS and Android). Airbnb also charges 3-5% commission and releases payment via PayPal or direct deposit 24 hours after check-in. They also offer property damage insurance at no extra cost.
22. Deliver Food with UberEats
Whether you have a car, scooter or even just a bicycle, you can deliver food with UberEats to make some fast cash.
As with regular Uber (which you can use simultaneously if you want to increase your earning potential), you'll get paid per mileage. You'll also receive a standard pick-up and drop-off fee, and get to keep 100% of your tips. However, UberEats does charge 25% commission on your delivery earnings.
After accounting for vehicle expenses such as gas, you can expect to earn $8 – $15 an hour. Sign-up via their website or iOS/Android app and start earning!
23. Make $100 Fast with Listverse
Listverse is a great site for writers with a knack for interesting factoids.
You don't have to be experienced either. Even if it's your first attempt at writing outside of school projects and homework assignments, Listverse promises to at least review your submission.
As long as it's 100% original and contains a minimum of ten interesting or unusual tidbits (one to two paragraphs each), a sense of humor, and is written in native-level English, you stand a good chance of being published. And the best part? Listverse will pay $100 via PayPal.
24. Do Errands and Odd Jobs
Gigwalk is a service provider that helps companies to identify and correct their channel execution issues.
You can quickly and easily sign-up to become a Gigwalker with your email by navigating to their website. Work is then done via their iOS or Android app.
Once you've linked your PayPal account, you can start applying to gigs. You can opt for quick gigs that typically pay $3 and upwards, or you can go for gigs that longer to complete and pay $100+. All payment is made directly to your PayPal within a couple of days.
Sell Your Stuff to Make Money Fast
Over time, we all tend to gather a houseful of paraphernalia or miscellaneous knick knacks. But how much of it do you really need or use?
If you're finding it's time for a spring cleaning, don't just throw everything into the garbage. You can make money pretty easily (and fast) by selling or renting your belongings. Below, we will go over six resources to help do exactly that.
25. Sell Your Clothes
Selling your old and unwanted clothing is a great way to clear up wardrobe space while making some extra money in the process.
As long as the items you're looking to get rid of are in good condition, there's no reason to throw them out. We've found the two best platforms for monetizing your chuck-out pile.
Poshmark
Easily the biggest online marketplace for selling new and used clothes, Poshmark features over 5,000 brands.
Selling on Poshmark is really easy. If you redeem a sign-up code when registering online or via their iOS or Android app, you'll get a $5 credit. You can then upload a photo of your item with a description and asking price, and post your listing for free.
Poshmark will send you a fully paid UPS shipping label once you make a sale. You can opt to receive payments (minus a reasonable commission) via direct deposit or check.
Tradesy
If you have a wardrobe full of authentic designer fashion items you're looking to resell, Tradesy is the perfect platform to dive into.
Registering is a quick and easy process – done via the Tradesy website or app (iOS and Android). Afterwards, publishing a listing takes roughly 60 seconds. Tradesy will then help you make a sale by authenticating your items and enhancing your product photos for you.
Tradesy's commission is a little high (19.8%), but you can choose whether to spend your earnings in-store or withdraw them to your PayPal, bank account or ACH transfer.
Sell Miscellaneous Items
Miscellaneous items can very quickly become clutter. Whether you're looking to get rid of unwanted gifts, electronics, or even old toys your child no longer plays with, there's a market for you. Keep reading to discover our top-three picks.
Decluttr
Decluttr lets you create an order by scanning item barcodes via the app (iOS or Android) or website, and gives you a price offer within seconds. They accept anything in working condition, including electronics.
As long as you can put together an order that will earn you a minimum of $5, Decluttr will take it. Simply box the items up, print out the shipping label they send you, and drop it off for shipment.
Decluttr pays via check or Paypal. There is also a $5 joining bonus.
OfferUp
OfferUp helps users sell miscellaneous items to local buyers.
You can sign-up via the website, but you'll need to use the iOS or Android app to create listings. Buyers can interact with you through the app's messaging platform. You can then choose whether to ship the item (and get paid via your linked debit or credit card) or arrange to meet with the buyer and get paid in cash.
OfferUp is 100% free to use – no membership, listing, or commission fees whatsoever!
LetGo
LetGo is another good website/app (iOS and Android) to use if you want to reach local buyers.
When creating a listing, you'll have the choice of setting a fixed price or using the “negotiable” option to open an auction-type bidding. Similar to OfferUp, buyers will interact with you through the app, but LetGo doesn't give the option of online payments.
This means you'll have to either meet in person for a cash handover, or take the risk of accepting online payment without the site's protection. On the plus side, LetGo is also 100% free to use.
26. Rent Out Your Belongings with Fat Llama
Books, vehicles, electronics, instruments – you can rent out (almost) anything you own with Fat Llama.
The site lets you list items free of charge. Simply sign-up, create the listing with photos and your asking price, and hit publish. Interested parties will send you rental requests. All you'll need to do is negotiate a time and place to meet up so they can pick it up (or for you to deliver), and Fat Llama will oversee secure payment within three days.
You can also use the Fat Llama iOS or Android app to rent on the go.
Make Money Fast with Online Jobs
Online jobs are yet another great way to make money fast. In today's digital age, we tend to spend a lot of time online already. Here are five great resources to help you turn that time into money.
27. Work From Home via Freelance Writing Jobs
If you have a flair for words, becoming a freelance writer is an online job you want to check out.
Be warned though — it's not always easy. You need to build a portfolio and market yourself, get into good writing practices, and know what sort of resources will make your freelancing career as seamless and lucrative as possible.
That's a lot of information you'll want to learn as well. Earn More Writing offers a free online course on How to Build a Six-Figure Writing Career that is excellent for beginners.
28. Freelance Proofreading
Maybe you have an eye for details like spelling, grammar and syntax. Maybe you want to monetize those skills. Who wouldn't?
Freelance proofreading is a great way to do so, and it can become even more lucrative than freelance writing if you play your cards right. But there's a lot to learn here too. You can learn it all – including how to attract the ideal clients as a proofreader – through the free Proofread Anywhere course.
Sign-up is a quick and easy process, and the workshop lasts a total of 76 minutes.
28. Sell Your Photos
If your skills dance more in the realm of visual creativity as opposed to written words, you can sell your photographs (or digital art) to different digital companies. You'll earn commission or royalties every time one of your images are purchased. This means that the more you upload, the higher your potential earnings will be!
Here are the three best online galleries to help you make money fast by selling your digital media.
Shutterstock
Signing up as a Shutterstock submitter only takes a few seconds: enter your name, a display name, email, and set a password.
You do need to be 18 or older to join, but submitting photos is just as quick and easy as registering. Shutterstock also has an iOS and Android app that you can also use to submit work. You'll earn anywhere between $0.25 and $120 on an image.
Shutterstock offers monthly payments through PayPal, Payoneer, Skrill and check.
Twenty20
Twenty20 is another great stock photography gallery that lets you showcase and sell your photos.
To create a free account, all you need is your email and a password. Twenty20 will ask whether you want to join as a buyer or contributor, and then to link your PayPal account so you can earn monthly paychecks. Payment is calculated on a commission basis.
Twenty20 does not have an Android app at present, but you can submit and earn through their iOS app and website.
Canva
If you're looking for a third option to sell your photos online, Canva is yet another place to start.
You'll need to complete an application form online to be considered as a Canva contributor. As part of this application, you'll also be asked to include a link to your portfolio. Canva doesn't accept all applications, so spend some time going through the site beforehand to make sure your content matches what they're looking for.
Canva pays royalties monthly via Skrill, Payoneer and PayPal. You can also use the service via their iOS and Android apps.
BONUS: How to Passively Earn Income
As a bonus, we included a section discussing how to passively earn income.
It takes a little time and effort to get started – and you may need to invest a little capital to grow – but if you want to make money while you sleep (as the saying goes), then these five ideas are what you need to get started.
29. Open a High-Yield Savings Account
With a high-yield savings account, you not only invest in your own future, but effectively get paid (in interest, that is) to do so. Depending on your starting budget, one of these two options could be your perfect fit:
CIT Bank
CIT Bank offers one of the best high-yield savings accounts available on the market.
With a CIT Bank Premier High-Yield Savings Account, you'll enjoy higher interest rates than regular savings accounts, while maintaining easy access to your funds. You'll also have the ability to deposit as much as you want, as often as you want. These accounts are insured up to $250,000 by the federal government, additionally giving you peace of mind.
CIT Bank charges no fees to open or maintain a Premier High-Yield Savings Account, though they do require a $100 opening deposit.
Aspiration Account
Aspiration Summit Accounts work in the same way as the CIT Bank Premier High-Yield Savings Account.
One great advantage is that, while CIT Bank requires a $100 deposit when opening your account, an Aspiration Account only needs a $10 deposit. There are no monthly fees, ATM usage or transaction fees – even internationally – and a host of ways to deposit as many times as you'd like. They'll even reimburse you for any fees that other banks charge you for using their ATMs.
Aspiration Summit Accounts promise an industry-leading 1% APY (annual percentage yield) interest rate.
30. Peer-to-Peer Lending
Peer-to-peer lending takes the power of brokerage away from big firms and lets ordinary citizens earn money by funding in safe online environments. If this sounds like an attractive idea to you, check out these two peer-to-peer lending platforms.
Lending Club
Peer-to-peer lending with Lending Club is a lucrative means of earning passive income. Lending Club lets investors sign up online and purchase “Notes”, which correspond to loans fractions.
Borrowers can sign up to request a loan in order to consolidate debt, finance major asset purchases or vacations, or even tend to home refurbishments. Lending Club screens these borrowers, and if everything checks out, they facilitate the loan via WebBank (an FDIC member).
As an investor, you can expect to earn between 3-8% returns yearly.
Prosper
Prosper works on the same principle as Lending Club, allowing you to invest securely.
You can get started by purchasing “Notes” for as little as $25 apiece. Prosper makes it easy to diversify your portfolio too, and if you invest in 3- and 5-year notes, you can build high-yield income ladders. Depending on the risk involved, you can earn anywhere from 5.41% to 14.12% in seasoned returns on your investment.
92% of Prosper's employees also participate as investors, which shows the level of confidence the company has in its abilities. As with Lending Club, all loans are facilitated securely through WebBank.
31. Invest in Real Estate – Starting with as Little as $500
Real estate investments used to be the domain of the wealthy alone. Fort8nately, now almost everyone can invest in commercial real estate. All it takes is a little capital and you'll soon be on your way to a passive income! We've selected two fantastic resources to get you started.
Fundrise
With the Fundrise Starter Portfolio, you can invest in real estate for as little as $500.
Your projected costs are only 1% – and if the 0.15% investment advisory annual fee is waived (which Fundrise will do under certain circumstances), it'll be even less. This means the Fundrise Starter Portfolio is as much as 40% more cost-effective when compared to public investments.
As you get more experience, you'll be able to upgrade to the Core Plan, free of charge, once your total investments reach or exceed $1,000.
RealtyShares
RealtyShares has such rigorous standards in accepting investment opportunities that fewer than 10% of those reviewed become available on their platform.
They also have a cap on how many new investors are added at a time – so you'll need to make sure there's an opportunity to join by checking their site regularly.
It's worth the wait though, as RealtyShares offers a broad assortment of investing opportunities, and you can expect minimums of $10,000. Thus, it's well-worth keeping an eye on them even if they aren't accepting new investors when you first try to apply.
32. Start a Blog
There are several ways to earn a passive income, including starting a blog! Affiliate marketing, advertising, creating ebooks and courses – you can use them all to generate passive income through your blog! Of course, you'll need to have a blog to make money off a blog.
This means picking a niche to write about, choosing and purchasing a domain name and setting up your blog website. Bluehost offers a special deal at $2.95/month to host your WordPress site, with a free domain name and SSL encryption included.
33. Buy Dividend Paying Stocks
Ally Invest offers two options for making money passively via dividend paying stocks: Self-Directed Trading and Alley Invest Managed Portfolios.
If you already have some experience with stock trading, the former may be the better option for you. You'll enjoy one of the lowest trading fees in the industry, with no opening account minimum or hidden costs.
The Alley Invest Managed Portfolio, on the other hand, is a beginner-friendly option better suited to generating a truly passive income. You'll need a starting investment of $2,500, but Ally Invest will automate management of your portfolio.
How to Make Money Fast: Conclusion
Whether you're looking to make money fast so you can save for the future or even just to make ends meet for now, one thing remains true: the ability to generate increased income translates to increased freedom.
With more money, you have better control over your lifestyle. That may mean living where you want to live, vacationing where you want to vacation, and eating where you want to eat.
We've given you 33 great ideas on how to make money fast, complete with 43 resources to help you make it a reality. Now it's up to you to go roll that dough!