$300 isn't easy to come by, let alone quickly. Try out these ideas to get the three hundred dollars you need
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If you're in a tight fix and in desperate need of some quick cash – you're not alone. Most American's aren't able to come up with a few hundred dollars for an emergency! The truth is though, there's lots of ways to make $300 fast, but you have to be willing to take action, and accept that making this money won't be east. Anyone that promises “fast and easy” money, is probably trying to scam you.
Sometimes, we all find ourselves in a position where we need a certain amount of money as quickly as possible. These tips have been hand-picked to give you a number of potential ideas to get you that $300 quickly and easily.
How quickly you can get that $300 depends on a number of factors. Firstly, it's not as easy to get a “quick” $300 as it is a quick $50. Some of these ideas below you can do on the same day, while others will take a bit longer and require some time to set up and administer. Perhaps even a couple of weeks. You'll have to work out how quickly you really need that money and what you're willing to do for it.
Some of these ideas will require a specific skill or talent – while others just need you to put a bit of work into it. One of the easiest and quickest ways to make money is to sell something you already own – but that won't work for everyone. These tips include a mixture of ideas including those based around selling, borrowing, business ideas and things that just need you to put the work in.
Selling & Reselling
Selling is a tried-and-tested way to make money. While setting up your own shop isn't exactly quick, there are other ways to sell things that don't take as long.
Buy Something In Bulk and Break it Down to Sell
This one could be simple, quick and easy – depending on the product and who you're trying to sell it to. There's probably a local wholesaler or “cash and carry” in your area that regularly supplies local businesses with a wide-range of items. These stores make their money by selling bulk items at a discount. There's enough of a margin in it that enables those who break the stock down and sell them individually to also make money.
This tip works well especially if you have a local one-off event coming up where you can easily sell items like this – think about an event for your local school or a fayre. But you don't have to stick to events like this as you could easily sell your items on a person-by-person basis to people you know.
Think about canned drinks or other similar products – items with mass appeal that people will make as a quick purchase without too much thought. You could also get involved with a recent “craze” like fidget spinners. How quickly you can dispose of your stock will depend on how much work you're willing to put in and the product you decide to sell. But you could make the profit you're looking for within a couple of weeks.
Sell Your Old Gold
When the gold price went up considerable – you will have started to see more of these “cash for gold” type stores appearing. These are a great way to get the cash you need instantly. That's right, you won't have to wait for a week of processing with these stores, they'll give you the money in your hand straight away for your old jewelry.
Remember, most of these stores will be selling your jewelry for scrap value. So don't expect to get a price even as high as that. They also won't pay extra for specific design features – so if you've got a designer necklace, you might want to either wait and sell it somewhere else, or keep it. However, if you need money straight away, one of these cash for gold shops could be exactly what you've been looking for.
Sell Scrap Metal
This one is a bit similar to selling your gold – but it works with many other types of metals like copper, steel, etc. While the principle might be the same, the practice might be a little different – there aren't loads of “cash for scrap metal” stores in shopping areas like there are for gold and jewelry.
If you've got a load of unwanted scrap metal lying around – it could be more valuable than you think. Metal prices have gone up considerably in recent years. The first step with this is to collect all your metal and sort it into bags of it's own type. Merchants won't want bags with mixed up metal that they have to sort through. You'll then have to look for a local scrap merchant who's willing to buy your metal. This should be reasonably easy – just look in your local directory or do a bit of research online (and make a few phonecalls).
Transporting your metal might be difficult if you have a large amount. Be prepared to answer questions and give your personal details so the merchant can make sure they're not buying stolen metal (metal theft has been on the rise since prices went up). The great thing about this kind of selling is you should get your money straight away – potentially even on the same day, but you'll obviously need the metal to start with.
One other idea based around selling metal if you don't have any yourself – offer a service to your friends where you'll collect, sort and transport their scrap metal in return for a cut. This could be a nice long-term side earner but it also won't be as quick if you're looking for instant money.
Sell Your Plasma
Lots of locations are paying people money to donate their own blood plasma. Some could even pay enough to make $300 in just a few visits. People used to donate plasma for free, but many businesses and private healthcare providers will now pay a decent amount of money for it.
You'll have to find a local blood plasma center and do a bit of research to find who pays best. You'll also need to bring identity documents and answer a number of questions before you're accepted. This isn't a cash-in-hand kind of deal, so you'll have to wait a few days for your money to clear. There's also a limit to how often you'll be able to do this, so it depends how much you really need that money, and how quickly. But you could make your $300 target within a month, doing something quick and easy.
Sell Your Hair
Human hair is used in many applications, including dollmaking, leading to significant demand. There are even multiple sites dedicated to buying and selling hair, including Hairsellon. The site allows you to create listings for your hair, which include images and descriptions.
The price you get can vary considerably, influenced by things like the hair length, how you have cared for it and the color. The site has a hair price calculator that acts as a guide and you can also look at other listings. But, if you have long and well-cared for hair, getting more than $300 for it isn’t unusual.
Sell Concert Tickets on StubHub
This works great if you already have tickets to something popular – but don't worry if you haven't. StubHub has helped create a long-term income for many people who see ticket reselling as their main job – but you can still get involved for some quick money if you're in the right place at the right time.
Quite simply, some concerts and events sell out within half an hour on their official website or ticket sale – but these tickets automatically go up in price for aftersale once the event is fully booked. That means if you can get those in-demand tickets in the original sale, you could make a good amount of money quickly and easily.
Make sure you know what events are going to be valuable and avoid those that don't sell out quickly in their original sale. Otherwise you'll be left with tickets nobody will be willing to pay more than face-value for. You'll need to sit patiently at the initial sale ready to make a quick purchase (and hit that refresh button a lot). If you get the tickets, you'll then need to wait for them to sell on StubHub (there are other similar sites you could also sell on). This might mean it takes you a couple of weeks to get your money.
Make sure you're allowed to resell tickets for that particular event or in your location. Don't get stuck with tickets that aren't that popular, stick to big-name events that you know are going to sell out.
Renting Out
If you don't have something to physically sell – you could try renting instead.
Rent Your Vehicle Out
This could be a simple, quick and easy way to make a bit of extra cash if you've got a spare vehicle that you don't need all the time. There are actually a number of new online services that will help rent out private cars. While signing up for one of these and waiting for someone to rent your vehicle could take a while – you could do things much more quickly if you know someone personally who's in need of a vehicle for a while. Try asking your friends and family, or at work. The benefits of doing it yourself are that you'll set the terms and potentially even get cash in hand – but make sure your insurance covers other drivers and that you aren't breaking any terms.
Rent Your Room Out on AirBnB
Again, if you've got a property that you need, especially in a busy or popular location, then this tip could be for you. You could actually make that $300 within a few night's stay.
However, one thing to remember is that to sign up to AirBnB and wait for bookings – it could take days, or even weeks. People don't always book things at the last minute. Similarly to renting your car, you could do things better if you simply ask around and rent out to people you know for instant money. AirBnB is a big marketplace for this sort of thing, so you could get one of those quick bookings, but you'll have to market your property and wait for the money to clear.
Skill Based
Instead of actually selling or renting out things you already own – you can use your skills to make a bit of extra quick cash. The best thing about these is they normally just require a bit of hard-work rather than physical goods, although some might need a particular talent or the ability to do a certain job.
Do Some Day-Labor
If you use a site like Labor Finders, you can find quick and easy day-labor in your local area. Most of these jobs will be physical, so you'll need to be in the right condition and have the right experience to do them.
Traditionally, people used to queue up in certain parts of town to find day jobs like this. This method could actually still work in certain areas – so if you've got knowledge of a place to go, this might be a quicker and easier way than looking online.
Many of these jobs will be cash in hand – that's great for you as it means you could get that $300 within a few days work, but you won't be covered by insurance and you will need to make sure everything is legitimate. These jobs will usually be based around construction and other similar labor-intensive roles. They could also include fruit picking, farm work, factory work, or other manufacturing processes.
A few days hard labor on a construction site might not seem the most appealing, but it's a simple and effective way to earn some quick cash without giving up something you already own. Have a think how much you need that money – and this option could be for you.
Be a Social Media Manager
This is an interesting role, particularly if you target local businesses in your area. The idea is that social media has become incredibly important for modern business. It is a critical way for companies to promote their brand and connect with customers. Yet, many people don’t have the technical expertise to do so.
You can take advantage of this gap by promoting social media management services to local businesses. You might choose to charge an hourly rate or set up a monthly fee for whatever work they are needing. There is a surprising amount of demand in this field and it would be fairly easy to find a few good clients.
Be a Freelance Graphic Designer
If you have the skills, you can make some money with graphic designs. There are countless ways to do this, including selling individual designs. But, one of the most powerful approaches is to freelance. Freelancing means that you’re working for individual clients, who either pay before or after the work is complete. This makes it a fast way to earn, especially if you are an efficient worker.
A common place to get started is Fiverr. Services on Fiverr start a $5, although you can charge for extras.
Personally, I recommend using a site like UpWork instead or you could even try promoting your own services. The competition on Fiverr is simply too intense and most people seem to start there. Sites like UpWork still have considerable competition but you have a greater chance of impressing clients and gaining a reputation.
Become an Uber Driver
If you can drive – you can be an Uber Driver (or Lyft). It really is that simple. Uber have created an industry of part-time and full-time taxi drivers without the barriers to entry that sort of work normally requires.
This method could make you some long-term side cash. It might take a few days to get signed up, though. You'll also have to wait to get clients and for the money to clear. Remember, your ability to get clients will depend a lot on your feedback rating, so make sure you offer an efficient and friendly service or it could limit your ability to make money. You'll also do better if you're in a location that has a lot of demand, like a busy city center.
Try Out Amazon Flex
If driving people around isn’t really your style, you could look into Amazon Flex instead. This is an app-based program, where you basically become a delivery driver for Amazon. The program is only available in around 50 cities so far, but they are rapidly expanding. If they’re not in your local area yet, you can join their waitlist.
Estimates from actual users suggest that you earn between $18 and $25 an hour. However, this doesn’t take into account any expenses, so your profit margin will be lower.
The approach can be a decent way to earn, especially if there are plenty of deliveries required in your area. Amazon also continues to get more popular and successful. So, Flex should become available in more cities as time goes on.
Do Some Overtime
If you've already got a job that offers overtime – you're onto a winner. There's not much point looking at further ways to make money or sell items when you could simply agree to do a few more hours each day. You could make that $300 within a few days of overtime, especially if overtime rates are increased where you work.
The only real downside to this (other than getting worn-out from being overworked) is that you'll have to wait for your paycheck. Even so – this could be the quick and easy way to make $300 you've been looking for. Obviously, this option is only possible if you've got a job that allows it.
Business Based
Check if You're Owed Any Money
Services like paribus.co will help check old store refunds to see if you're owed any money. You can also check for product recalls and other payouts with various different services. You might actually be owed money you didn't even know about from legal cases or other arrangements that weren't made clear to you. For example, if you previously paid for PPI – you could be owed some money back. Some of these will require you to use the services of a service who looks for such payouts on your behalf (and takes a cut) – but you shouldn't have to pay them unless you are actually owed an amount of money.
Clear Your Old Bank Accounts
If you've got a number of old bank accounts that you can barely even remember – they might have more money in them than you think. Especially if you haven't looked at them for ages. Even if you've only left $30 in each account, that could have grown you $50 in the time you left it (if it was a while). You just need a few accounts like that to clear out in order to make your $300.
Use Some of Your Retirement Fund
This one probably isn't recommended unless you're really desperate for the money and you've used probably every other avenue to try and make that $300. You can get some of your retirement fund out early, but it will cost you in penalties. Although $300 isn't the sort of amount that's going to make a huge difference in the long-term, it's not something you're going to want to start relying on, and that money is being saved for a reason. Try and use one of the other methods in this article before taking an early payment from your retirement fund.
Get an Advance at Work
This one could be perfect if you've got an understanding boss. Many large companies don't allow advances any longer, but small businesses could. If you explain your situation to a boss or manager, they might be understanding enough to let you have an advance on your pay check. This could be enough to get the $300 you need. Just make sure you've got enough to last you, and that you'll be able to handle getting a smaller paycheck next time. This works better if you're a reliable employee who's been in the same place for a while, and comes down totally to the whim of your employer and the sort of place you work in – but it could be a great option.
Ask for a Raise
If you have a regular job, asking for a raise is another option. Some experts suggest asking up to three times, partly because it shows that you are serious. But, even just asking once can be effective.
A key part of doing this is being able to argue your case. Don’t just ask for a raise and leave it at that. Instead, be prepared to highlight exactly why you deserve one in the first place. You can also take the time to research what the average wages are in your industry and what is reasonable to expect.
Change Bank Accounts
There's so much competition for new banking clients – many large banks are now offering incentives to get you to switch to them. Have a look around, and see what you can get for simply changing your current account. Some might even pay that $300 you've been looking for. All you have to do is change or standing orders and payment to go to your new account, and you should qualify for the money. Just make sure you've checked all the small-print and follow the instructions carefully.
This is a simple and easy way to get free money that doesn't really cost much on your part – but it could take a few weeks to get everything sorted, so it might not be the best option for you if you're in quick need of the money.
Borrowing
Get a Bank Loan
As opposed to getting another mortgage, a simple bank loan might be a better option for $300. Remember, you'll have to pass a number of financial tests – but these shouldn't be too strict for $300. Make sure you know how much you're going to have to pay back, and when you've got to pay it by.
Get a Pay-Day Loan
This works similarly to getting an advance from your boss, although it costs more and it's a private company giving you the money rather than who you work for. If you know you're getting your pay check soon, you can borrow against this for some instant cash. That's one of the reasons this option could be better than a traditional bank loan – you can normally get the money straight away. However, you'll pay more for it in the long-run. The interest rates on this type of loan can be huge, as well as the late payment fees. Make sure you check all the small print and pay back the full amount as quickly as possible.
Hopefully one of these options works for you. If you keep finding yourself in a tight fix and desperate need for some money – you might need to take a look at your wider finances, improve your overall earnings, or cut long-term costs.
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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
- 20 Ways to Make $200 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
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