Ways to Make $25 Fast – Need a Spot? We've Got You
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Find yourself in a bind and need to make money fast? I don’t mean millions of dollars, but just some quick money to meet a short-term need or to satisfy one or two monthly obligations.
Sure, there are tons of popular get-rich-quick ideas everywhere on the web and offline. But do they work? Most often, no! The truth is no one’s just going to give out free money. If you don't know where the "quick cash" comes from, it’s probably not a legit source and, therefore, a .
A bit of good news, though, there are also tons of legit ways to make that extra cash you need urgently. Let’s review proven ways to earn extra money online, offline, and even through mobile apps.
In this article
Ways to Make $25 Fast
1. Make $25 fast on Survey Junkie
Taking paid surveys is a great way to make money fast, and Survey Junkie is one of the best places to start. As far as legit survey sites that pay real money rewards go, Survey Junkie is definitely up there with the best of them. The site is rated highly on Trustpilot and other user review platforms.
The signup process is straightforward, and you’re awarded a welcome bonus of 25 points and another 50 points after answering more in-depth questions about your profile. Once your account is fully set up, the system will match you with paid surveys based on your interests and preferences. You’ll be able to see the duration of the survey, as well as how many points you can earn. Sometimes, you might be invited to participate in focus groups and product testing studies, which earn you even more points.
These reward points can be for Amazon gift cards or cash withdrawable to your PayPal account. Complete a couple of surveys and focus group tests; you’ll have your $25 in no time.
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.
2. Make quick cash with rewards apps
There are lots of apps and platforms that pay you real money rewards for completing simple tasks online. These include completing online surveys and polls, shopping, playing games, reading emails, and browsing for deals. Basically, regular stuff that you would do online, these sites and apps will reward you for doing them. Some of the most popular options available today include:
- Swagbucks — This rewards app pays users via its native platform currency, Swagbucks (SB) points. Each point is worth $0.01, so you’ll need to earn a fair bit before you can cash out $25. There are many ways to earn points — search the web, play games, watch videos, and take surveys. You can redeem points for PayPal cash or gift cards once you’ve accumulated a minimum number of SB points. Signing up on the app is free, and you can earn a sign-up bonus if you have a referral code.
- InboxDollars — If you want to make money online quickly, InboxDollars can get you there by doing simple things like grocery shopping, completing paid surveys, reading emails, playing online games, and more. There’s a $5 welcome bonus and many free gift cards. However, you won’t be able to cash out until your account balance hits $30. InboxDollars has paid out over $80 million in cash rewards to date.
- MyPoints — Being a mystery shopper on MyPoints can be a great way to earn passive income. Get cash back rewards for shopping on popular stores like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, etc. Earn reward points when watching videos, playing games, taking online surveys, and more. Unlike other rewards apps, you can only redeem your earned points for gift cards (usually Amazon and Visa) or travel miles. You also get a $10 sign-up bonus, only $15 short of that $25 target.
Other popular cashback apps worth checking out include Rakuten, Ibotta, Dosh, GasBuddy, and Receipt Hog. While they offer different rewards, their mechanics are largely the same — shop online and earn cashback rewards based on your shopping habits. Even if these cashback apps don’t directly put money into your bank account, they can help you save money, a critical aspect of personal finance. After all, a cent saved is a cent earned.
3. Make money fast playing real money game apps
Thanks to the emergence of esports platforms and advanced fair-matching technology, dozens of mobile game apps offer the opportunity for real players to test their skills against one another and earn cash prizes for winning.
These esports platforms host multiplayer battles and cash tournaments for hundreds of game categories — arcade, cards, board games, casino, etc. How it works is, you and your opponent(s) stake an equal amount, and the winners get all the cash. Alternatively, you could pay an entry fee and enter cash events and contests. The top three winners share the cash prize in the tournament pool.
Some of the highest paying and easiest to play real money game apps include:
- Blackout Bingo — Fancy a game of classic bingo but on a mobile app and with huge earning potential? Download Blackout Bingo from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Samsung Galaxy Store. In multiplayer mode, you go head-to-head against a real opponent with a similar skill level. You win the game, you win the real money in the pool. When you’ve upgraded your skills, you can begin working your way up the leaderboard and compete in cash tournaments with higher-value cash prizes.
- Solitaire Cash — Players who are good at this game can earn up to $83 per win. That’s more than triple your original target of $25 earned in as little as 2 minutes. Talk about some pretty quick cash. Solitaire Cash is a free app available for download for iOS devices. Android users can also play through the app’s APK (Android Package Kit). You can fund your account through your PayPal or Apple Pay account, or via credit card payments.
- Bubble Cash — Classic bubble puzzle game where you have to match three bubbles of the same color to clear them off the board and score combos. Cash competitions require an entry fee with real money, though some tournaments accept gems, the in-app reward currency. You need a steady hand and a mind for a strategy to clear the board in Bubble Cash quickly. The potential rewards are well worth it, as you could earn more than $25 just to win regular multiplayer matches.
- Rewarded Play and Mistplay — These aren’t game apps per se. Instead, they reward users for downloading and playing certain games. You’ll accrue points based on your gaming habits and when you’re ready, redeem them for PayPal cash and gift cards. However, keep in mind that some sponsored games can be quite heavy, so it’s best to go this route only if your mobile device has enough storage space and processing power, else they might slow its performance.
Earn even more cash with these 22 Best Game Apps That Pay Real Money in 2022.
4. Make $25 fast with side gigs
If you’re not taking advantage of today’s gig economy, you’re missing out on several proven, legit ways to make extra money in your free time. The best part is it’s so easy to snatch up a well-paying gig, especially with many online platforms connecting clients with freelancers. Some of the most popular examples include Fiverr, TaskRabbit, and Upwork. These freelance marketplaces are great for finding both full-time and part-time gigs.
The amount you can earn on these gigs will often depend on the type of work involved and for how long. For instance, being a virtual assistant can earn anywhere from $10 to $20 per hour. This means you’ve already made your $25 target in two to three hours. Some gigs pay even more, such as web designing, video production, content writing, and social media marketing.
To succeed in the gig economy, you must go for side hustles that match your strengths. For instance, if you don’t have an eye for design, signing up for a graphic design gig might not be a good idea. Similarly, freelance copywriting may not be ideal for applicants who struggle with grammar. Focus solely on what you’re good at and use it to make money fast.
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.
5. Make $25+ selling your usage data
Brands and retailers are always conducting market research about consumer behavior. This helps them make informed decisions about improving their products and services and their positions in the market. This market research involves tracking online users' usage data to understand better how consumers think.
Most websites and apps already do this without your express consent, so if you search for something online, you’ll likely see an ad for related items when browsing the web or your favorite social media platforms.
The good news is several market research companies will happily pay you for your browser usage data. This can be on your desktop or mobile device. You can make a quick buck selling your data to the following companies — Savvy Connect, Nielsen Mobile Panel, MobileXpression, and Data Coup. Once you set up your profile, you can install their apps or extensions to track your browser usage data.
While the payouts are not high, selling your data for cash can be a great way to set up a new passive income stream. It’s almost like getting free cash since no work is involved.
6. Make quick money selling items online
Selling stuff online is a sure way to make extra money fast. Things like furniture, electronic devices, and clothing can be listed for sale on various sites, including Craigslist, Etsy, Amazon, and eBay.
If you don't want to set up an online store, you could list your items for sale directly and for free on Facebook Marketplace.
The best part is the items don't even have to be brand new. Quickly search around your house for items you think people will still find useful. For instance, a pair of Bluetooth speakers in good condition but currently accumulating dust in the basement or a tool set sitting in your garage that you don’t need anymore. You’ll be surprised how many things you can quickly sell for $25 or even more.
7. Sign up as a delivery driver
Want to make $25 fast? You could do that in one trip as a grocery or food delivery rider. The gig is flexible with lots of earning potential, so you’re basically making money on your own time, making it a scalable and sustainable side hustle.
Many options are available, too — Doordash, Instacart, Uber Eats, Postmates — all offer delivery gigs that you can sign up for and quickly make some extra cash. However, there are certain key requirements that you’ll need to meet first.
For one, you need your own vehicle that you’d use for making deliveries. Usually, a motorbike, scooter, or sturdy bicycle would do. Alternatively, if you’ve got a good car or SUV, you could sign up for ride-sharing services instead, like Uber and Lyft, as they pay more.
8. Explore affiliate marketing
Are you a blogger with lots of subscriptions? Or perhaps you can access a website or platform with a large, highly engaged audience. You can use these to make some good money from affiliate marketing.
Basically, you’d promote other brands’ products or services relevant to the audience or subscribers and get a commission on each sale. Some popular high-paying affiliate programs include Refersion, Hubspot, Hostinger, Amazon Associates, and Shopify.
Affiliate marketing can help you create a solid passive income stream with a highly engaged audience. As long as people buy through your unique affiliate link, you’re making money.
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.
9. Earn $25 from your investments
Some brokerage apps, including Robinhood and Acorns, reward you with free stock for signing up and using their platform. In Robinhood, for instance, once you are approved and your bank account has been linked to your investment account, you’ll be awarded free stock to kickstart your portfolio.
The free stock's cash value could be between $5 and $200, depending on your level of investment. You can sell the stock after three trading days from when you claimed them. However, to cash out, you’ll need to wait at least 30 days, after which you can withdraw the money to your bank account without restrictions.
Another way to earn ‘free cash’ through gift stock is through referrals. You get free stock when other people sign up on the app using your referral link or code.
If you’d rather diversify your portfolio with alternative assets, some apps like Yieldstreet and Fundrise offer real estate, legal finance, art investment, and other opportunities. Diversification is a great way to protect your investments from market volatility.
Disclaimer: Don’t take this as investing or financial advice. It’s merely a suggestion based on the main subject of this article, which is about making $25 fast.
Beyond making money fast
We all could use some extra cash, so finding effective ways to make it is a no-brainer. However, having firm control over your spending is also important beyond making more money.
Again, this isn't financial advice; it’s common sense. As you make more money, you should also look inward to identify and cut out wasteful or unnecessary expenses. That’s personal finance 101.
Commit to your hustle. Whatever money-making gig you decide to go for, staying committed is important. Just because you don't see immediate results doesn't mean a process isn't working.
The bottom line
Almost everyone needs a side hustle or two to make ends meet. Hopefully, with this list of proven ways to make money fast, you can make more than $25. And when the money starts coming in, scale your efforts or take on a new gig (provided you have the time). The point is once you’ve unlocked a new income stream, nothing is stopping you from unlocking another and another until you have multiple streams.
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.
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Writer
Ezekiel Arifalo is a freelance journalist who specializes in personal finance writing and editing. His work has appeared on sites including Nova Credit and Medium.
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