How to Make $5,000 Fast – Get Money Now
Joy Wallet is advertiser-supported: we may earn compensation from the products and offers mentioned in this article. However, any expressed opinions are our own and aren't influenced by compensation. To read our full disclosure, click here.
If living in a big city has taught me anything, you can never have too much cash, especially when prices for essentials and necessities such as medication, fuel, toilet paper, etc., are skyrocketing. Luckily, I was raised to think independently — if I wanted something, I had to work for it. So, I started working odd jobs as a teen and never stopped. Now, I work a full-time job and supplement my base income (salary) as a freelance writer and editor.
Whether you’re short on rent or interested in making a little extra cash for a vacation, home renovation, or large purchase, here’s a list of legit ways to make extra cash in your spare time.
In this article
Ways to Make $5,000 Fast
Take online surveys
Looking for an even easier way to make money online? Survey sites are one way to do just that. Sure, you may not make a lot of money, but you will make some, and making some money is better than making no money. Bonus: most survey sites offer new members a $5 to $10 sign-up reward — that’s like free money in your pocket!
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
InboxDollars
Founded in 2000, InboxDollars is an online rewards program that pays its members for completing tasks and taking online surveys — $0.50 and $5 apiece. You can also make money by playing games, watching videos, and searching the web (which is something you already do!). Getting started with InboxDollars is simple, and anyone can sign up, including users in Canada and the UK.
InboxDollars pays users via PayPal, ePayment, or check. Users can also opt to receive an Amazon gift card instead of cash.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is another market research platform that pays users for sharing their opinions. It’s free to sign up, and members can receive payment via PayPal or gift cards. Here’s how it works: Once a member completes a survey, they get a certain number of points. These points can then be redeemed for cash or a gift card. The catch? Users aren’t allowed to cash out until they’ve reached 500 points.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a web-based rewards program that rewards users for doing various tasks, completing surveys, watching videos, playing games, etc. Like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks rewards members with points (SB points) that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards. You can also donate their points to charity if you’d like.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Sell stuff online
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to earn cash, head to your closet. Selling unwanted clothing items, shoes, and accessories is an almost-effortless way to make extra cash and fast. All you need is good lighting, a working camera (you can use your smartphone), and internet access to get started.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
eBay
Founded in 1995, eBay is one of the “original” online marketplaces. Back then, eBay worked as an auction-style eCommerce site — buyers would make an offer, and the seller would then approve or decline their bid. Today, however, eBay gives sellers the option to sell their items for a fixed price via its “buy it now” feature.” (Pro tip: eBay is great for reselling liquidation items!)
eBay charges sellers two fees: an insertion fee and a final value fee. The amount of each depends on the item’s selling price and category.
Craigslist
Craigslist is simple and free to use. Unlike other marketplaces or buying-and-selling apps, Craigslist puts the power in the seller’s hands. This means price, shipping, and pick-up location are up to the seller and buyer to decide. Craigslist also caters to local and international buyers and sellers, making it easy to sell anything, no matter where you are.
Craigslist does come with a few potential downfalls, including scammers and hagglers. But don’t worry: If you use common sense and err on the side of caution, you’ll be fine.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is a quick and efficient way to unload unwanted items for a fair selling price. Upload your photos, decide on a price and pick-up option, and publish your post. What’s more? With Facebook Marketplace, sellers can publish one post to multiple FB communities.
Facebook Marketplace is particularly useful for sellers looking to move (e.g., sell furniture and heavy items) quickly. Most buyers will come right to your home, pay you on the spot, and do all the heavy lifting!
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Decluttr
Decluttr is a free online platform for people interested in buying or selling tech items such as cell phones, CDs, DVDs, and games, among other items. Decluttr’s instant price tool makes it easy for sellers to price their items. Just scan the barcode or enter the item manually for a free valuation.
With Decluttr, you don’t have to worry about shipping either. Decluttr’s Welcome Pack includes a free shipping label. Just print it out, tape it to your package, and send it out.
Create and sell a masterclass
Not interested in selling your stuff? Sell your expertise instead! Musicians, artists, and even freelance writers (examples include Kat Boogaard and Amber Petty) can make money online by teaching their very own masterclass in the privacy of their own homes. Get yourself a camera and start recording if you have a desirable skill set. Who knows: You may find that teaching is your true passion!
Teachable
Teachable describes itself as “the world’s most user-friendly and powerful online course creation platform.” The platform features more than 100,000 instructors and more than 417,000 courses. Through Teachable, users can choose a custom domain to host their classes. They can then import their content into Teachable’s ready-made templates (so no coding experience is needed). Instructors can also create quizzes, discussion forums, and certificates for their students.
Teachable offers four plans: Business for $249 per month, Pro for $99 per month, Basic for $29 per month, and a Free plan. You can visit the pricing guide to decide which plan is best for you and your online business.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Thinkific
Like Teachable, Thinkific gives instructors the ability to create quizzes and certification courses. Thinkific is ideal for new or beginner instructors looking for an intuitive platform. With Thinkific, users can manage their own clients, payments, and course materials via a user-friendly dashboard.
Thinkific offers a free Test Drive plan for instructors who want to get a feel for the platform (it is limited in what you can do) and a Pro plan for $99. You can visit Thinkific’s pricing guide for more info.
Moonlight as a rideshare driver
If you’re good with small talk and enjoy taking long drives, you may want to consider adding “rideshare driver” to your list of possible gigs. Becoming a rideshare driver often requires much less than a typical job (e.g., interviews, hard skills, etc.,), and the pay is usually pretty good.
Lyft
To apply for a driver application with Lyft, you’ll need a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, and a four-door vehicle or rental (Lyft offers rentals via Express Drive). You’ll also be asked to undergo a background check. Thanks to Lyft’s payment system, you can earn quick cash in as little as one-to-two hours with Express Pay. You can also sign up for a Lyft Direct debit card to instantly access your earnings. Lyft offers cool bonuses, too. So, you can potentially earn even more if you’re driving during a “high demand” window or if you complete a certain number of rides in a specific time frame (e.g., five rides between Monday and Friday).
Uber
To become a driver with Uber, you will need to meet the minimum age to drive in your city, have at least one year of licensed driving experience in the US, have a valid driver’s license, and be able to use an eligible four-door vehicle. If you meet these requirements, you’ll be asked to complete an online screening (this covers your driving record and criminal history). You’ll also need to provide Uber with your driver’s license, proof of residency, insurance, and a driver profile photo.
If you don’t have a car of your own, Uber offers car rental options. In addition to picking up passengers, you can make extra money with Uber Eats as a delivery driver.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Become an affiliate marketer
Affiliate marketing isn’t limited to the tech-savvy. In fact, it’s really easy to get into, and it’s a proven way to make passive income. (You can make money while you sleep!) Here’s how it works: Join an affiliate network, post affiliate links on your blog, website, or social media channels, and earn a commission whenever a visitor buys something through the link. Affiliate marketers can get paid in other ways, too. Cost-per-lead (CPL), for example, allows marketers to earn money whenever a user enters personal details, such as their phone number or email address.
Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates is an affiliate marketing program that gives website owners and bloggers the option to earn referral fees whenever a customer clicks through and buys a product from Amazon. It’s free to join and use Amazon Associates, and filling out the application is simple. With that being said, Amazon Associates is best suited for marketers who can generate a decent amount of traffic to their website.
Amazon Associates gives users three options to earn: Product links, banners, and native shopping ads.
eBay Partner Network
The eBay Partner Network is eBay’s affiliate marketing program. Joining is free and easy, and according to the site, you can earn commissions up to 4% of an item’s sale price. With eBay’s Partner Network, users who don’t have their own website can make money via email marketing and social media. Note: You will need an eBay account to sign up for the affiliate program.
The eBay Partner Network approval process is quick — most applications are accepted within 24 hours.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Add ‘freelancer’ to your resume
If you’re a writer, graphic designer, SEO, data entry specialist, virtual assistant, etc., you may want to consider signing up for an account on a freelancing platform like Upwork or Fiverr. These sites allow you to create a profile and show off your skills right on the site itself (no coding or website design experience needed!).
Fiverr
To create an account with Fiverr, click the “Become a Seller” button, enter your email address, and continue through the step-by-step process. The site will ask you to set a username, choose a password, and activate your account via email. Once you’ve completed those steps, your account will be published. You can then set up your profile to highlight your skills. Fiverr also offers users the opportunity to take one or more skill tests to show the public just how much they know.
With Fiverr, freelancers can set up gigs and pricing options, or clients can request a quote. This way, the work comes to you!
Upwork
Getting started with Upwork is similar to Fiverr in that it’s free to join, and the account creation process is fairly simple. Finding work with Upwork is a bit different, though. Instead of clients coming to you, you’ll be able to browse available jobs and “submit a proposal.” Each submission will cost you a certain number of “connects.” With the Basic plan (free), you get 10 connects per month. Unused connects rollover up to 200.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Get a side gig as a delivery driver
If you have a working vehicle, scooter, or bike and spare time to kill, becoming a delivery driver might be your best next move. Why? Because we live in an on-demand culture and couriers are the glue that’s holding it all together.
DoorDash
DoorDash is one of the most popular food delivery apps in the market. To become a Dasher, you’ll need to be 18 or older and have a reliable means of transportation. You’re also required to have a valid driver’s license, social security number, and consent to a background check.
Once your application is accepted, Dashing is easy. Just click “Dash Now” in the DoorDash app and accept incoming orders. The app will then provide pick-up and drop-off instructions.
Instacart
Instacart is a grocery delivery service that offers same-day delivery to people across 6,000 cities nationwide and Canada. Instacart provides potential shoppers with two options: Shop and Deliver or Shop Only. The Shop and Deliver option is a full-service shopping role in which you’ll be required to shop for the customer’s order and deliver it to their door (you’ll need a vehicle). The Shop Only option does not require you to have a car, but it does require you to schedule your shifts ahead of time (whereas the Shop and Deliver option allows you to work whenever).
Shipt
Shipt isn’t as popular as Instacart, but the business model is similar. Shipt is a membership-based app that pays shoppers to deliver groceries and essentials to customers. Like other delivery apps, Shipt shoppers can choose when they want to work. However, the amount of work you receive depends on your shopper rating — if you earn a good rating, you’ll get more orders.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Become a dog walker
According to ZipRecruiter, dog walkers make $2,493 per month, on average. That’s a decent amount of cash for a side hustle. Plus, dog walking gives you the chance to get out and get some exercise while taking care of the most adorable clients on the planet. You also get to make your own schedule and, in some cases, set your rate and specific business guidelines (e.g., doesn’t work with large dogs, only works nights and weekends, etc.).
Rover
Rover is an app for pet parents who need a pet sitter or walker ASAP. Rover is available in 10 countries and more than 24,000 neighborhoods across the globe. To become a dog walker with Rover, click the “Become a sitter” button on the site’s homepage and choose the services you’d like to provide (e.g., boarding, walking, house sitting, etc.). You’ll then be asked to build out your profile with basic info, testimonials, and photos. All walkers must undergo a background check and pass a safety quiz before their application can be approved. According to the Rover website, it can take anywhere between 10 to 20 business days to get approved.
Note: Rover allows walkers to set their own rate, but the company takes a 20% service fee from each booking.
Wag!
Wag! is similar to Rover in its services and sign-up process. You’ll need to create an account, fill out some basic info, and provide the company with recommendations. Wag! also requires potential walkers to watch training videos and complete a background check. (Wag! charges potential walkers $29.95 to complete their application. This fee covers the background check.)
Note: In addition to the application fee, Wag! also takes a 40% cut of whatever you make — that’s twice as much as Rover’s fee!
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Host your home
If you’re interested in real estate, but lack the funds needed to go all the way, start small. This could mean buying REITs (real estate investment trusts), using an online platform to invest, or renting out a room in your home.
Airbnb
Airbnb offers unique vacation rentals for both short-term and long-term stays. Through Airbnb, hosts can rent out a room or their entire house. The app also gives users the option to book experiences (e.g., cooking classes, art workshops, etc.). To host space with Airbnb you must be responsive, accept trip requests, avoid canceling on guests, and maintain a high rating. Airbnb also asks hosts to provide their guests with essential amenities (e.g., toilet paper, towels, linens, etc.).
According to the company website, hosts can rake in more than $9,000 per year, depending on their renting space and how often it’s booked. Note: Airbnb charges a flat service fee of 3% of the booking subtotal.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
Vrbo
Vrbo is similar to Airbnb, except Vrbo doesn’t offer “shared” spaces (e.g., private rooms, campsites, etc.) — Vrbo offers stand-alone vacation homes only. So if you have a vacation home that you rarely or occasionally visit, Vrbo may be the way to go. With Vrbo, hosts are charged a 5% commission per booking, plus a 3% payment processing fee.
Cost and fees
While the platforms listed above are free to download and use, some require users to pay a fee. For example, platforms like Rover and Upwork take a percentage of your earnings and label it as a “service fee” to use their platform.
In addition to paying one or more fees, you may be required to cover additional costs depending on the side hustle you choose.
Examples of additional costs include, but are not limited to:
- car maintenance
- fuel
- postage and shipping
- software
- internet access
- subscription costs
Beyond fees and covering any costs associated with each gig, you’ll also be responsible for paying income taxes on your earnings.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy to get started. Most of the side gig options above require little to no training, so you can start earning extra cash today!
- ePayment. Long gone are the days of waiting two weeks or more to receive a check. Thanks to the internet, you can receive payment quickly and electronically.
- Flexible hours. One of the main perks of running a side hustle is being your own boss. Most, if not all, of the gigs listed above, allow you to control your schedule.
Cons
- Fees. Some of these websites require users to pay a service fee or premium to use their platform.
- Waiting periods. Some of the options on this list may need you to wait a certain amount of time to use their service. For example, Rover applications take 10 to 20 business days to process.
The bottom line
While this isn’t a comprehensive list of side jobs, these gigs can help you reach your financial goals — no matter what they are. Just do a little bit of research before deciding on which side hustle you’d like to pursue. Some of the platforms listed above require members to pay a service fee, while others take a percentage of your earnings.
Joy Wallet is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor, financial advisor, loan broker, insurance producer, or insurance broker. Its articles, interactive tools and other content are provided to you for free, as self-help tools and for informational purposes only. They are not intended to provide investment advice. Joy Wallet does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information in regard to your individual circumstances. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific investment issues. Featured estimates are based on past market performance, and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.
Our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market. We are compensated by our partners, which may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on our site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice. Our editorials are grounded on independent research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services.
We value your privacy. We work with trusted partners to provide relevant advertising based on information about your use of Joy Wallet’s and third-party websites and applications. This includes, but is not limited to, sharing information about your web browsing activities with Meta (Facebook) and Google. All of the web browsing information that is shared is anonymized. To learn more, click on our Privacy Policy link.
Images appearing across JoyWallet are courtesy of shutterstock.com.
Writer
Tabitha Britt is a New York-based freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared on INSIDER, the Huffington Post, and Taste of Home. When she's not glued to her computer screen, she can be found walking her beloved pooch, Biscuit.
Share this article
