Need some quick cash?

Quick and Easy Ways to Make Extra Cash

I recently found myself in a pinch and needed some extra cash and in a short amount of time. After searching the web for hours, I came across quite a few actually “do-able” ideas, but not without coming across endless amounts of get-rich-quick scams. So I decided to compile my own list of suggestions to save some the time and hassle I went through. These suggestions can be done pretty quickly and require no type of investment, whether it be big or small. Because when you’re broke, you’re broke, and even the most miniscule amount is too much!

 

Sell Stuff!

Sell your books you’ve already read or no longer need

Look around your house for textbooks, romance novels, and self-help books that are just lying around collecting dust. There are several websites that will buy these from you. They even pay the shipping. Just type something like, who buys used books, into your search engine and a list will pop up. Cash4books.net is a good place to start. They’ll even price match their competitors. Have your books handy and then go to their site. You just type in your books ISBN number (they show you where this is located), and they’ll tell you whether or not they’ll purchase the book, and if so, they’ll quote you a price. If you like the money they’re talkin’, print off a free shipping label, pack up the books and send ‘em off. You’ll receive a check in the mai,l usually within 4 business days.

*text books (written in the last 5 yrs in most cases) are worth more, and so are best-sellers that are still in high demand*

 

Sell old cell phones you no longer use

It’s a pretty simple process. Search the web for sites that buy used cell phones. Enter your make and model and they give you a quote. Most pay shipping. Just look around for the sites that do. I’ve personally used Pacebutler.com. I just put my old phones in a box, taped the free shipping label I printed off to it, and they arranged for fed-ex to pick up the package from my doorstep. The whole process took about two days and I had my money back in four.

 

Resell unused gift cards

Got any gift cards you’ve never used? There are people out there who want them! No, you won’t get full face value for them, but what you will get is better than the nothing you’ve got with them just sitting around in drawer somewhere. Depending on what the card is for determines how much you may get for it. Gift cards for places like Wal-Mart and Target generally sell for more than cards to places most people have never heard of. Typically, a $50 Wal-Mart gift card will sell for $25. Check out GiftCardGranny.com.

 

 Sell old gold or silver

I used to think all my old jewelry was junk and no one would want it. I didn’t realize that people who buy old jewelry don’t care what it looks like. They just want the metal. It’s usually melted down and turned into something different anyway. They take what you give them and sell it to a wholesale buyer who pays them probably three times more than what they paid you for it. You might be thinking, “Then why can’t I just sell it to the wholesaler myself”?  Most of the time they only buy in large quantities, but in some cases you can. If you’re willing to put in the effort to locate these buyers then I say, go for it! Hey, you might just be able to go into business for yourself. You never know (google, how to start my own gold buying business and see). Search Craigslist under items wanted to find a business or person who buys  gold and silver. Get quotes to see who offers the most money. I found a woman in my town that offers to beat any price in town by 60%! I made close to $300 just off an old high school promise ring and a kinked up gold necklace.

*these dealers will buy old coins too, or anything made of gold or silver*

 

Sell your valuables

Go to 62days.com and check out the site. You sell your valuables (watches, jewelry, antiques…) to them and get the cash deposited into your bank account within 24 hours of them receiving your valuable. You haven’t heard the best part yet. They give you 62 days to change your mind! This means, after you’ve sold an item to them you have 62 days to decide if you want that item back. You just give the site their money back and they’ll send you back your item free of charge!  The whole process is simple. Go to the site, tell them what items you wish to sell, they give you a quote and pay for the shipping.

*similar to pawning an item, only without the interest*

 

Sell your hair

Have gorgeous, natural, non-chemically treated locks? If you can part with them, sell them. Sounds crazy, I know.  But sometimes desperate situations call for desperate measures! And if it makes you feel better, a lot of places that buy human hair use it to turn into wigs for cancer patients and those with other debilitating diseases that cause hair loss. So, not only will you make some needed cash, you’ll be helping out someone less fortunate as well. Hey, maybe you were planning on cutting it anyway! Check out http://www.stay-a-stay-at-home-mom.com/sell-your-hair.html, for more info.

*prices range from $200-$3,000*

 

Use Your Talents!

Musically inclined?

If you were blessed with the ability to write music or beats, then profit from it! Beats4tracks.com will pay you for your rap beats.  Not big into rap? Search the web. Many sites out there will buy your tunes. You might also try offering lessons. Private lessons go anywhere from $15-$40 for a half hour lesson, whether it be piano, violin, guitar, cello… You name it, someone out there wants to learn it.

Bilingual?

Get to translating already! Translators are a hot commodity right now! You can work online or find a local business to work for. Search Craigslist and sites like Elance.com for opportunities. Best thing is, you set your price.  People need things like children’s books, articles, personal letters… You name it, they need it translated. And it can all be done from home.  I work for a home health agency that pays a guy great money just to be available for calls so he can translate to clients over the phone. Yes there are professional services like these available but they usually charge top-dollar, and companies prefer to save money instead of spend it.

 

Make Use of What You’ve Got!

Empty garage?

Rent it out. Plenty of people like boat owners are looking for cheap places to store their boats. Got a friend or family member paying for a storage unit? Offer to charge a percentage less than the storage company their currently renting from.

 

Got a pick-up?

·      Recycle scrap metal

Place an add in your local paper offering to pick up peoples junk washers, dryers, refrigerators… Charge $5-$10 (or do it for free), and then sell it to a salvage yard or a place that buys scrap metal. You may only get $20 or $50, but if you can get the job done quickly, you just made that amount in say, half an hr!

·      Clean up after garage sales

Look in your local paper for yard sales. Either call or stop buy, give the host your contact info, and let them know you’ll pick up whatever’s left afterwards that didn’t sale, for free. You can then sale the items on Ebay or Craigslist or have your own garage sale. Most people will be relieved to not have to clean up afterwards or worry about what to do with the left overs. Donate whatever you can’t use to charity.

·      Clean foreclosed or abandoned rental houses

Place an add on Craigslist geared towards rental companies/landlords. Say something like, “will clean up vacant property for $50.” Seems pretty cheap huh? That’s what the landlords will think too. You can then turn around and sell the good finds at a yard sale, on Craigslist or Ebay. Plus, you made an extra $50.

*if you’re a pretty good handyman, you could also charge for things like drywall repair, painting, and plumbing. Check to make sure you don’t need to be bonded or insured first. Laws vary city to city*

·      Pick up firewood

After a winter storm, drive around town cleaning up tree debris. You could even charge homeowners for this. Then sell it as firewood.

·      Haul stuff

I don’t know how many times I’ve purchased something too large to fit in my car. And anyone I knew with a truck was unavailable. Offer what you feel is a reasonable price to move things for people. Check to see what other companies or hauling men are charging and beat their price. Go around to local appliance and furniture stores that don’t offer delivery and leave your contact info and rates with them. They’ll be happy to have your info on file. Sometimes not knowing whether you can get your purchase home can make or break a sale. They’ll love being able to tell customers, “We don’t offer delivery, but we can supply you with someone who can.” Just be sure to make it clear to whomever, that you are not liable for any damage that may occur during transport. It may be safe to get this in writing. You can also make it clear that you don’t load or un-load, you just drive and supply the truck.

 

Some of these suggestions may not work for everyone, but hopefully you found something on here to help you out.  Thought of something I didn’t? Leave your comments and feed back below.