20 Ways to Make $10 Fast

image of lightbulb and dollar sign drawn on a notepad representing ideas to make ten dollars fast

Let's sit down and brainstorm some ideas of how to make ten dollars fast. It's not a lot of money, so this should be easy!

If you're in a tight fix for money – you might need a solution that helps you get what you're looking for right away. In this article, we're going to look at 10 ways to get $10 as quickly as possible, potentially even today if you're really urgent.

These are mostly short-term solutions, so if you're constantly finding yourself in a position where money is tight or where you need a certain amount urgently, you might want to look at more wholesale changes to your life or budgeting arrangements. However, if you need $10 super quick – one of these tips could be for you.

We're going to look at a few different types of money-making techniques, from simply selling stuff you already earn to providing a service for something. Some of these will be possible for anyone, whereas others will rely on talents or skills only certain people have.

Categories:

Selling & Reselling
Business Ideas
Other Ideas

Selling and Reselling

Selling used items at a flea market

This is one of the easiest ways to make a quick ten bucks – but it'll only be quick if you've got one in your area happening on the right day. All you'll have to do is turn up and pay a small fee to sell your items, so it would be useful if you've got a few more than just one – but you could make quite a bit more than $10 quickly and easily.

There is one other option if there is a flea market nearby but you don't have a huge amount to sell and really only need that $10 – simply approach a few of the stall owners with a good offer and try and sell directly to them so they can then make a profit selling the item to the public. That way you don't even have to pay the fees and start your own stall.

Flea markets work well with things like old CDs and other household items like vases and things other people could genuinely want. Sporting equipment can also sell well.

Selling old items to a second-hand store

If you've got a local pawn shop or second hand store that's used providing cash for things you no longer need – this could potentially be the best option. Things like DVDs, CDs and video games sell well, as do musical equipment and other home electronics like televisions. You might only need to sell a few DVDs to make $10 quickly and easily.

Be prepared to get paid far less than you think the item is actually worth – but if you're desperate, it might be necessary. You can also loan items to some stores and buy them back if it's something you really need – but you'll obviously have to pay them more than you got. If you don't meet a designated deadline, you'll lose the item and they'll sell it to someone else – but this could be a useful option if all you need is some quick cash.

Try and sell something door to door

If you've got a surplus of useful household items like extra cleaning product you don't need – you could try selling them door to door. This is a somewhat risky idea and you might annoy some people – so you'll have to approach it with the right attitude and be happy to get knocked back a few times. You'll also need to check local bylaws and make sure you're not doing anything you shouldn't.

Business Ideas

The thing with many of the options we've already looked at is that you need something physical to sell in order to make the money. What if you don't want to sell one of your items, or even don't have anything to sell? Don't worry – there are still options for you. The next thing to look at is providing a service or skill for someone in return for money. If you've got a particular talent, or even are just willing to put an hour's hard work in for someone – one of these options could be for you.

Mow someone's lawn

This one is as simple as it comes – ask around your local area and see if anyone needs some gardening work done. It's so basic you probably don't need it explaining – but make sure you do a good job. Be presentable and friendly and politely knock on people's door to ask if they need anything doing. Don't come across as a pushy salesperson and you should get someone who's interested relatively quickly.

It might take a few hours knocking on doors, but 30 minutes of mowing should be enough to earn you $10 quickly and easily. One thing to bear in mind – you might need your own lawnmower, which means you'll need to transport it and fuel it. Some houses might even have a mower you can use, but this'll be a tougher sell door-to-door and might make you come across as unprofessional.

One tip is to simply ask people you know rather than trying to market your skills to complete strangers. If you're up front about why you're doing it, you'll be able to discuss whether they've got a mower you can use and things should run much more smoothly.

Clean someone's windows

Again, this one is similar to mowing someone's lawn – except you'll be cleaning windows instead. This might be a better option for someone who doesn't have a lawnmower but does have a bucket and potentially a ladder.

Again, offer your services effectively door to door and $10 is a fair price for one home's windows. You'll need to do a good job, and make sure you work safely at all times (especially if you're using a ladder).

Clear someone's yard or garage

If someone has a large amount of garbage or clutter in their yard – they might be looking for someone to clear it. This one is slightly more difficult as it'll only work on people who actually have something that needs cleared – so your market will be smaller than simply people who need their lawn mowed or windows cleaned. You'll also need transport and a means of disposing of what you clear.

One upside for this type of work is that some of the items you clear might have additional value and could work well with the second hand store or boot sale options we've already looked at.

Perform on the street

If you've got a particular talent – this option could be for you. This works well with musical people, but it could also work with other performance based talents. If you can play an instrument or sing, simply set up in a busy spot and start performing. People love giving a bit of money to street performers they enjoy, so it could be a quick, easy and enjoyable way to make that $10. You could even earn that in twenty minutes in the right location. Pick a busy city-center area, perhaps somewhere with a lot of shoppers or passing foot-traffic.

You'll obviously need to be reasonably confident and happy to perform in busy areas – so this isn't one for shy people. You'll also actually need to be reasonably good, so people will be willing to pay. Make sure you check the local bylaws and that you don't need a license for street performing. You might also want to make sure you aren't encroaching on an existing performer's patch.

Other Ideas

Refer a friend to a website you use

Chances are that one of the sites or businesses you already use offer a simple “refer a friend” scheme. You've probably seen many of these before when you didn't really need the money. But now you do. Find something you already like and it'll be easier to convince someone to use. Simply refer the friend and make sure they sign up using your link or code, and you could make an easy $10 (or potentially more).

One thing to look out for with this that some sites need a certain number of referrals before they pay out, so you might not be able to get your $10 that quickly.

Do some online surveys

This is one option that's been around for a while. It used to be much bigger than it is – but it's still a viable option. Do a quick search for paid online surveys in your area (many of them are country specific) and start getting involved. You might only have to fill out a couple of hours worth of surveys to make $10, but again – they might require you to meet a threshold of say $50 before you get your option, so it might not be the best option if you're in a super rush.

The good thing about surveys is that they're easy and you can do them at home without any particular talent.

Sell someone on Fiverr (twice)

The online marketplace Fiverr has tons of ways for you to make a quick five (or ten) dollars. The whole point of the site is that everything sells something for $5 – so all you'll need to do is sell two things and you've hit your $10 target. You could create a personal video message for someone, sell an ebook or design a simple logo for someone's company if you've got the right skills. There are tons of different “gigs” that cover a wide range of talents. There might be something you can do quickly and easily to make the money you need.

One downside of this option is that you'll still need to market your skills effectively, and there is a lot of competition. It could take a while to get your first client as a lot of people rely on having tons of positive reviews (which you won't have to start with). That being said, it could be a sustainable option that sees you making even more than then $10 you need initially.

Join an article writing site

Many sites will pay for written content and you don’t need to need to be an especially amazing writer either. Instead, it’s mostly a matter of finding a place where the demand matches your skill and experience level.

If you’re looking to make $10 fast, you could look for low-quality freelance writing sites that pay per article. These are often called content mills. One example is Zemandi and another is iWriter, although there are plenty of others too. Sites like these generally pay poorly for the time you put in. For example, you might average $5 an hour, or less. The pieces you’re writing often aren’t very interesting either.

Even so, the sites tend to have a large amount of work available and often pay promptly. It’s also much easier to get accepted through this type of site than with one that pays are more reasonable rates. So, for a little money here and there, this type of site can be perfect.

Get paid for content

There are also many sites that directly pay you for content that they can use. The site Cracked is one example. They focus on comedy and the amount you earn varies depending on the type of content that you’re producing. There are plenty of other examples. Many high-profile sites that publish content will even have a page that tells you how you can write for them.

The catch is that you normally have to write the content first. Plus, the competition can be fierce. You can still earn money. But, it’s worth making sure what you’re going to write is a great fit for the website before you get started.

Sell stock photos

Another fairly easy way to make money is with your camera. At this point, there are probably hundreds of different stock photo sites out there and most are looking for new photos that they can sell. Some sites will require that you give them exclusive rights to your images. But, others will allow you to sell that same image elsewhere too.

The catch is that you only make money when the photo sells. So, it isn’t as fast as some of the other options on this list. But, the income potential remains as long as your photo is up there, which can easily lead to passive income.

You can also increase your odds by focusing on topics that have relatively low competition but are still popular. For example, you’re not going to get anywhere with stock photos of a sunset – even if it is an amazing one. But, you might have more luck with an amazing image of keto food, especially with how popular that diet is becoming.

Be a website tester

There are various sites that pay you for testing websites or for completing other small tasks. Some of these even pay $10 per test. In other cases, you might have to complete a few tests to earn $10. Either way, the sites can be a way to earn a little money fairly quickly.

But, you’ll need to pay close attention to the sites and their reviews. Some are low-quality and may not actually pay. Others will require you to submit at least one review first, just to see if you get approved.

As with surveys and article writing sites, the amount you earn for your time is pretty low. If you need money fast, this may not be a problem. But, the approach certainly isn’t good for long-term income.

Try a task app

There are also various apps that can let you make money with your phone, ones that have nothing to do with surveys. For example, the site Field Agent requires people to complete tasks in the real world. This can involve processes like going to a specific store and counting how many there are of a given type of product. You may have to take photographs too.

The apps don’t pay all that well, especially when you factor in any expenses. But, it isn’t unusual to see tasks that pay $1, $2 or even $5. It would only take a few of these tasks to earn $10. You might even find there are some in your immediate area.

If you take this approach, keep an eye on app reviews. They will all have their issues but some apps will be more reliable than others.

Listen to music

There are actually places that will pay you for listening to music. Truly! Of course, you’re not just listening to music. Instead, the sites tend to pay you for writing reviews about what you hear. One of the most well-known sites for this is Slice the Pie, which tends to be pretty popular.

This is another case where you’re legitimately earning but you’re not earning very much at a time. The concept also works like a survey site, in that you often have to sit and wait for more opportunities. You can’t just do as many reviews as you feel like.

Still, if you’re only trying to earn $10, reviewing music isn’t a horrible idea. The sites do seem to pay out and you might even enjoy the process.

Trade in empty cans

Many states will allow you to make money by recycling cans and bottles. This can be a pretty simple way to earn, especially if there are regular soda drinkers in your household. You might also know friends or family who often have cans lying around and don’t both recycling them. If so, you’ve got an easy source of income.

You can also take the time to actively collect cans and bottles from around the neighborhood. It isn’t the most glamorous way to earn, nor is it particularly efficient. But, plenty of people do throw away cans regularly – so there is money to be made.

I wouldn’t ever recommend this as a regular way to earn, the time versus money ratio just isn’t worth it. But, if you’re looking for $10 relatively fast, it isn’t a bad way to go.

Get cash back

You can also make money through cash back programs, like Ibotta. Getting money back isn’t quite the same as actually earning. But, the idea can be powerful if you were going to spend the money already. For example, Ibotta works with many popular retail stores, including Walgreens, Walmart and Aldi. Ibotta also gives you a $10 bonus for signing up (although you do have to make a purchase and verify with the app to get that).

Honestly, the app works pretty well as a way to get money back. It’s not revolutionary – but if you’re spending the money anyway, why not? Giving my own spending habits, I imagine I could easily earn $10 a month through the app, without any real thought or planning.

Review books on Amazon

Reviewing books is an interesting way to make a quick buck – as long as you can find the work. You can advertise through sites like Fiverr, but the most practical way to earn is to join a company that sells book reviews. These companies help to boost author’s ratings on Amazon by providing reviews of books that wouldn’t normally get read otherwise.

Some of them will only provide positive reviews, while others will offer more objective ones. Either way, you’re getting paid to review. You normally get some money to actually purchase the book too (typically as an eBook). Many reviewers end up just skimming the book and then reviewing it, so you don’t need to read an entire book every time.

But, finding the work isn’t as easy as it seems. Book reviews like this violate Amazon’s terms and conditions. You’ll have to look on places like Craigslist or talk to other book reviewers to get involved.

Borrow it

The reality is – many people you know will be willing to help you if you're in a tight fix. If you can be up front and honest with them, they might want to help you. After all, it's only $10. As a friend or relative if you can borrow it. This could be the easiest option of them all – just be sure to pay it back on time! There's nothing worse than someone lending a hand when you need help and you taking your sweet time giving the money back.

Nathaniell

What's up ladies and dudes! Great to finally meet you, and I hope you enjoyed this post. My name is Nathaniell and I'm the owner of One More Cup of Coffee. I started my first online business in 2010 promoting computer software and now I help newbies start their own businesses. Sign up for my #1 recommended training course and learn how to start your business for FREE!