4 Realistic Ways to Get Cash Now

By

We’ll cover some realistic methods that you can use to get some cash fast. These are simple methods that anyone can use to get a little extra financial help. We’ll also show you how you can get up to $250 instantly with Instacash from MoneyLion. Or even up to $3,000 within two days with a MoneyLion installment loan. Want more options? Search for loans from other top providers with our partner Fiona.

How to Get or Earn Cash Quickly

Let’s take a look at a few realistic methods that you can use to get or make money.  

1. Use Instacash from MoneyLion

Are you looking for an easy way to get a little bit of quick cash to cover an expense? Instacash from MoneyLion is the easy, safe and affordable way to get up to $250 deposited directly into your bank account. And there’s no credit check to qualify. Learn more in the MoneyLion app. In no time, you can get up to $250 at 0% APR in seconds, whenever you have to pay a bill or need a night out!

2. Get a Side Hustle

A side hustle is a type of job that you do outside of your standard nine-to-five gig. Many people who have side hustles do so through freelancing. A side hustle is not the same thing as an extra part-time job. When you take a part-time job, you usually have an employer who decides where you work, what you do every day and how you do your job. A side hustle allows you to work when you want and where you want.

Side hustles can complement a standard job because you get to choose your own hours. A side hustle can allow you to get in touch with your artistic side, explore a passion, and make some extra money to cover an expense or bill. Most side hustles also don’t require a large financial investment — just a desire to market your services. Some common side hustles include:

Making and selling crafts: Creating and selling things you’ve made through a crafting website like Etsy can get you some quick cash. You never know who might be looking for artwork or an item of clothing exactly like what you can make.

Driving for a ridesharing service: Ridesharing services like Uber, Lyft and Via can offer you a quick way to make money in your spare time. First, download a ridesharing app and sign up to be a driver. Every app has its own qualification policies for drivers and eligible vehicles, so you’ll need to make sure that you fit the bill. You’ll earn a percentage of what the rider paid in the app and you may also collect tips.

Get proactive with pets: You can make some quick cash offering dog walking, pet grooming, or pet-sitting services. Advertise your services in your local community center or at nearby pet supply centers. Be sure to ask if it’s okay for you to hang up any advertising material before you put up posters or flyers.

When you pick up a side hustle, your earnings aren’t tax-free money. You’ll need to collect a tax document called a 1099 form from each of your clients when tax season rolls around and you’ll also need to report the income you make to the IRS. Your host site (like Etsy or Uber) may handle tax documentation for you. If not, you’re responsible for making sure that all of your income makes it onto your tax documents. 

3. Take Out a Loan

You borrow money from a bank or a credit union and pay it back in small monthly installments when you take out a loan. You can keep your research simple with our partner Fiona, one of the easiest ways to search for loans from top providers.

It’s completely free to use and the application takes less than 60 seconds.

Fiona will search top online providers to help you find a personalized loan anywhere between $1,000 and $100,000. You’ll find rates as low as 4.99% APR and loan terms from 24-84 months depending on the lender. Fiona will help you find the perfect match in no time.

Fiona doesn’t enforce any specific requirements for how you use your loan. That means you can use it for anything from debt consolidation to medical expenses and covering any large purchase.

Want more options? We got you! MoneyLion offers installment loans up to $3,000 at competitive APRs, and you can apply in minutes.

Every loan includes two parts:

  • Principal: The amount of money you borrow.
  • Interest: Extra money that you pay to the lender in exchange for giving you a loan.

Most lenders calculate interest using an annual percentage rate (APR). APR is the amount of interest you pay on your outstanding principal every year. Let’s say you borrow $1,000 and your lender gives you the loan with an APR of 40%. You’ll pay $400 in interest every year you have the loan out. A higher APR can make it very difficult to pay back your loan on schedule, so don’t be afraid to shop around for lenders until you find a reasonable APR like with Credit Builder Plus.

Keep in mind that there are many types of loans — and you can’t use every type of loan for every purchase. For example, you may only use a mortgage loan to buy a home. Student loans can only go toward tuition or other college expenses and auto loans can only fund vehicle purchases. Other types of loans (like personal loans) can go toward almost anything, ranging from a vacation to a plumbing repair bill. Make sure that you’re using the right type of loan, depending on what you need to buy.

4. Sell Something You Own

Chances are that you have something in your home that you won’t miss if you sold it. Sites like eBay and Poshmark make it easier to sell something that’s gathering dust in your house and make some quick cash. Simply create an account on your website of choice, create a listing for the item you want to sell and set a time limit on the sale.

Here are a few tips that you can use to increase your online sales:

Don’t sell prohibited items: Every website has items that you’re allowed to sell and aren’t allowed to sell. For example, Poshmark requires you to have a piece of clothing, a pair of shoes or an accessory you want to sell. Even eBay (which allows you to sell nearly anything) prohibits selling things like firearms and alcohol. Make sure that the item you’re selling isn’t prohibited. Listing something that’s against the site’s terms of service can get your account banned or suspended.

Take clear photos of your items: The photos you take of your items will influence a buyer to click on your listing and buy your item. Use natural lighting to take photos of your items and make sure that you focus your camera before you tale a shot. Upload photos of your item from every angle.

Write a great description: Your photos may lure buyers in, but your description seals the sale. Make sure you include all relevant information on your item in the description. How many inches long is a dress you’re selling? When was the artwork you’re selling actually painted? If you’re selling a book, what edition is it? Are there any stains, cracks, or other defects on the item you’re selling? Create a thorough description to help buyers feel confident in how they spend their money and allow you to make sales faster.

Prefer to do things the old-fashioned way? You may want to hold a yard sale. Yard sales are a tried-and-true way to earn a little extra money from the comfort of your own home. Use these tips to increase your yard sale revenue:

Have change on hand: Don’t lose a sale because you can’t break a $20 bill! Make sure you have plenty of quarters and dollar bills on hand the day of your sale.

Advertise a few weeks ahead of time: Use brightly colored poster board to create signs that advertise your sale. Put them up around your town about two weeks before your yard sale and check on them periodically to make sure they’re still up.

Team up with your neighbors: Buyers are more likely to come to a community yard sale than a single-family sale. Decide on a date and pool your neighbors’ treasures with your own.

Make sure everything has a price: Buyers don’t want to have to ask for a price on every item they see. Make sure everything you’re selling has a label with a price the morning of your sale.

You must report the income you make from your sales to the IRS for tax purposes. Write down how much money you make and keep detailed sales records to avoid tax troubles later on. 

Get Extra Cash the Safer Way

You might think you must turn to an expensive payday lender or pawn shop to cover your expenses when you need money fast. However, the truth is that there are plenty of legitimate methods that you can use to earn cash fast — or borrow without interest using Instacash or loans from MoneyLion.  

Disclosures

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR TAKING  LOANS

Loans made by affiliates of MoneyLion Inc. If approved, your actual interest rate offer will depend upon your credit history and usage, financial habits and state of residence, among other things.  You must demonstrate $24,000 / year in income to qualify.  Loans range from $1,000 to $3,000.  Origination fees are up to $100 depending on your state of residence.  All loans are for a one year (12 month) term.  The origination fee, if applicable, will be deducted from the loan balance that is disbursed to you at the time of funding.  For example, you could receive a one year loan of $3,000, with an APR of 35.89%, $100 origination fee, with loan proceeds distributed to you in the amount of $2,900, payable with 25 biweekly payments of $133.51 and a final payment of $133.49.  

See Terms and Conditions for additional information.

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

What this means for you:  To open an account, we will ask you for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you.  We may also ask to see a form of identification or income supporting documents.

To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in CA, DE, FL, IL, MO, NM, TX, WI, or UT and meet MoneyLion’s minimum underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. Rates and terms are subject to change at any time without notice, and may be  subject to additional state restrictions.  

† To determine  your rates and terms, MoneyLion conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose to continue the loan application process, we may request your full credit report from one or more credit reporting bureaus, which is considered a hard credit pull and which may affect your credit.


Sign Up
Sign Up

Fast, interest-free advances anytime

Get Instacash advances up to $500 for everyday expenses or life’s surprises. There’s no credit check, no monthly fee, and no interest.

Sign Up