Let's brainstorm some ideas for making $200!
If you're looking for a quick way to make $200, this article is for you! Sometimes, we all find ourselves in a quick fix and in desperate need of some fast cash. Thankfully – in this day and age, getting it might not be as difficult as it once was. There are actually quite a few original ideas that could help you get that money faster than you think, and we're going to look at them.
With the advent and rise of the internet, there are tons of new avenues for making a quick buck or two. Not all of these ideas are online, though – there are still a few tried and tested methods that have worked as way of getting quick money for decades, and continue to do so.
While a few of these ideas will need a specific talent or skill, most of them are open to all. You might need to sell something, or just be willing to put in some hard work to get your money. While getting $200 “quickly” might not be as fast as getting smaller amounts – you could still do it within a couple of days.
If you keep finding yourself in a position where you need money desperately, you might need to take a step back and have a look at your wider finances and the way you budget for things long-term. However, if you just need that $200 for a one-off expense, one of these tips could be for you.
Selling & Reselling
Selling something you already own is probably one of the most tried-and-tested ways to make a bit of money. You'll obviously need something valuable, or the skill to create something people will be willing to spend money on – but you could get your money reasonably quickly if you sell the right thing in the right place.
Sell Your Car
If you've got an old vehicle you no longer need – try selling it. Car's cost money, even if you've already paid for it. Selling your car and walking to work could give you the money you need and save you more in the long-run.
Depending on your car, you should be able to sell it quickly and easily for $200 – and probably even for much more. Simply go to a dealer or try one of those online car-buying services and you could get your money on the same day. If you're willing to wait a bit longer, you could try advertising it yourself in classified adverts – but this could take weeks to find a buyer. You will get a bit less money from a dealer, but you'll get it straight away.
Sell Old Items Online
If you've got something that other people want, you can sell it with relative ease online. Whether you're using person-to-person sales sites like Craigslist or online auctions like eBay, there's normally a demand for almost any item. Sites like eBay have a huge marketplace with tons of visitors, meaning there's a market for a wide range of stuff. You could sell your old DVDs, furniture, or practically anything you can think of.
There is one downside to selling online – you probably won't get your money today. While there is a huge demand, you'll normally have to wait a while for someone to buy (and your money to clear). This means there are faster options out there. However, if you're willing to wait, you could get a good price for your old stuff.
Buy and Resell from Second-Hand Stores
This one requires a little investment and some research. The basic idea is that second hand stores often sell items for a fraction of what they’re worth. After all, the people doing the pricing often don’t know what is rare and what isn’t. You can potentially turn a large profit by knowing what is valuable and keeping an eye on what stores are selling.
One example is board games. Many of the older board games are worth more than you would expect, even if they’re used. Some games regularly go for $200 or $300 used and much more than that new. If you focused just on games, you could easily research which ones are valuable and simply keep an eye out for them.
When you do find one, you could resell on eBay, Craigslist or on a specialized site. A single good find might net you $200 profit. But, even if you only make $20 per sale, your income could quickly add up.
Sell Your Old Gold
You've probably seen more and more of those “cash for gold” services in recent years. If you want some quick cash, they're one of the best ways to convert unwanted jewelry into the money you need. You can either find bricks and mortar gold shops in your local area, or use an online service.
The best thing about these shops is that you can get the money straight away, so it really is one of the quickest ways to make that $200. However, you'll be offered a price that's probably way lower than what you think the items are worth. Many of these stores will be scrapping your gold for scrap value, so you won't even get that. if your item has any other design value, this probably isn't the place to sell it – but it might be necessary if you need the money fast.
Sell Your Hair
You can earn a surprising amount of money by selling your hair, particularly through the site Hairsellon. Listings often go for $200 or more and it isn’t unusual to see ones above $400.
The amount you earn is based on various factors, including the length and shade of your hair, along with how it has been cared for. As a result, this way to earn will mostly just apply to females with long hair.
Because the sales are based on length, you wouldn’t be able to make money from the site very often. Even so, it is an interesting option, especially if your hair is in high demand. You can check out the listings for an idea about what your hair is likely to be worth.
Rent a Room
If you've got a property in a desirable location, or somewhere with lots of demand – you could try renting it. You could actually get that money back for a one or two-night stay. Finding someone to rent your room might not be straightforward, and you might have to wait a while for bookings to come through on sites like AirBnB. However, this could be a long-term side earner that makes you even more down the line.
If you don't want to wait, you could ask friends or family if they know anyone who needs a room more immediately. This means you could get the cash straight away rather than waiting for traditional bookings.
Skill Based Ideas
Join a Medical Trial
This one might not be instant, but it could pay way more than the $200 you're looking for. Medical trials are always looking for volunteers, so if you're in the right location, this option could be for you.
You're going to have to think about this one carefully – medical trials are not risk free. While most go off without any issues, some don't. Make sure you're aware of all the risks before agreeing to do a medical trial.
You could also be a medical writer, and earn some money writing.
Do Some DIY or Odd-Jobs
There's a good chance someone you know needs something doing. They might even have been looking for a handyman or someone who can do a specific job for them for a while. Whether it's mowing the lawn or painting a room – you could be the person they're looking for.
While finding other clients for this sort of thing might take time, the best way to make some quick cash with DIY is doing it for friends and family. You could make that $200 from a couple of days work – it could even be something you can fit in at the weekend.
Be an Overnight Caregiver
There is often demand for overnight caregivers, particularly for seniors. This role typically staying with the senior overnight and making sure they’re okay. In some cases, you may have to perform tasks for them, such as cooking or helping them to bathe. But, you’ll often just need to be there to ensure that nothing happens.
There are various ways to find this type of work. Some companies provide caregiver services and regularly higher staff members. Sites like Care.com are another angle to consider. Families also hire caregivers directly, so you could advertise your services locally.
However, communication is important in this role. You need to be clear about what you are willing to do and what you are not, right from the beginning. It’s critical that you and the family are on the same page before you start doing any work. As always, you’ll need to check into local laws too.
Perform on the Street
You're going to need to be talented for this one – so it's not one for everyone. But if you're got a particular skill, especially one that's music or entertainment based (like juggling) then this could be for you.
If you can find yourself a busy spot with lots of foot traffic, like a shopping area – then you could make that $200 in a few hours. Obviously, you're going to need to be good enough for people to actually give you money, as well as having enough confidence to actually perform in public. You'll also need to make sure you're not breaking any local laws and that you aren't encroaching on an existing performer's spot.
Teach a Class
People are often more interested in learning than they are in products – and there are countless classes that you can teach. Pick something that you’re skilled in, that other people might be interested in as well. The most common example is music lessons. But, you really can focus on anything. Crafts often work well, along with topics like teaching another language or even teaching public speaking skills.
Classes also work well because you can charge per participant. You could make $200 simply by charging $50 a person and having a class of four. Or, charge $20 each and have a class of ten.
Create an Online Course
If you’re an expert in an area, you can also make money by creating an online course. There are various platforms designed for this goal, including Teachable and Udemy. This isn’t an exceptionally fast method, as you need to create the course and then get people to join it. But, it can be a passive way to earn, especially if your course becomes popular.
As a first step, I recommend taking a look at the current courses and keep an eye out for any gaps. Ideally, you want a topic that people are interested in that doesn’t have too much competition. If there are hundreds of similar courses out there, your one probably won’t get noticed.
Participate in Market Research
There are a number of market research groups that are looking for members of the public to help with their research. These can actually pay well, and the work is straightforward and normally simply requires you to give your honest opinion on their products. However, getting this sort of gig isn't that straightforward and you might have to wait a while – so there are quicker methods out there.
Business Ideas
Create Something Unique to Sell on Etsy
If you haven't heard of Etsy – it's a great marketplace where people create their own unique arts and crafts like jewelry, decorations, and other similar items. If you've got an appropriate talent, it helps connect you with likeminded people and those who might be interested in buying them. It could be a good long-term money earner or even a business.
The one downside is that you won't get the money that quickly. You'll have to market the items and then wait for someone to buy them. However, you won't need to hold a lot of unwanted stock that could go unsold, as you can make each item as and when someone orders it.
While selling something is easy and quick – not everyone has something they want to get rid of. There are a number of other ways to make money that just require a bit of hard work rather than a physical item to sell.
Pet Sit or Walk Some Dogs
If you've got an interest in dogs or other pets, then this could be an ideal, fun way to make a bit of money on the side. More and more people are looking for pet services so they can have their animals looked after while they're at work or busy with something else.
You'll obviously need to be good with animals and have some experience looking after them. if you want to run a sustainable business with continued work, it might take a bit of time and effort to set things up and get established clients. But if you're just looking for that $200, you could offer your services to friends or family, or ask if they know anyone who needs their dog walked. It might take a few walks to get that $200, but if you can combine a few different dogs at a time – you could earn that amount much more quickly.
Be an Online Graphic Designer
If you have some creative skills, graphic design can be an interesting way to make money. There are various ways to go about this, such as selling graphics as products or selling items with your own graphics on them (Etsy is a great place to do that).
Alternatively, you can sell graphic design as a service. Plenty of people need graphics created for their business or personal needs, so there is a ton of work going around. Fiverr is one place to promote yourself, along with sites like Upwork.
This isn’t an extremely fast way to earn, as it can take time to develop a client base. Even so, you’ll typically get paid once work is done. So, it doesn’t take many clients until you’re earning a few hundred dollars regularly. For that matter, you could easily earn that much for one complex project, especially if you market yourself well.
Make and Sell Homeschooling Resources
This option will only apply to some people, but it can be powerful. Homeschooling is becoming very popular and there is significant demand for tools and resources to make the process easier. After all, homeschooling can often be confusing and somewhat overwhelming.
If you homeschool your own kids and know others who do the same, you could make money by creating resources. There are many different types of things you might create, including lesson plans, resource kits, templates and more. Basically, anything that you would find useful yourself is something you could potentially sell. Many of these things would be easy to produce in bulk as well.
This could also be something that you offer as a service. Many parents would appreciate anything that helps them to save time. You might not earn $200 from a single sale but you could easily do so by selling multiple products.
Become an Uber Driver
Uber has almost created an industry of self-employed taxi drivers out of nothing (Let's not forget Lyft too!). If you've got a vehicle and are happy to taxi strangers around – this option could be ideal for you. You could make that $200 in a few hours work, or a couple of days at most.
Becoming an Uber driver is a great long-term solution and something that could either be your main job or an excellent side earner. However, it will take a few days to get signed up so it isn't the most immediate option on this list. Your ability to get clients will also depend on your rating – so you'll need to make sure you offer a good service. You'll also need to make sure Uber driving is allowed in your area – as some locations have banned it.
Borrowing Money
Get a Bank Loan
Bank loans are one of the most tried and tested methods for getting some quick cash – it shouldn't be too hard to get $200. You'll have to meet the criteria of a number of financial background checks, and it could take a few days to get your money. Make sure you know how much you're going to have to pay back, and when you've got to pay it back by.
Get a Pay-Day Loan
These services have been growing in recent years – and they're a good option if you need some instant cash and want to borrow it against a future pay check. You could get the cash in your hand straight away with pay-day loans. However, the interest rates and late payment penalties are much higher than bank loans, so make sure you've checked all the smallprint and make sure you pay back on time – or you could spiral into even more debt.
Other Posts In This Series:
- 20 Ways to Make $10 Fast
- 19 Ways to Make $20 Fast
- 25 Ways to Make $50 Fast
- 23 Ways to Make $100 Fast
- 22 Ways to Make $300 Fast
- 19 Ways to Make $400 Fast
- 20 Ways to Make $500 Fast
- 20 Ways to Make $600 Fast
- 21 Ways to Make $1,000 Fast
- 22 Ways to Make $2,000 Fast
Nathaniell
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