How to Make $100 Fast — 10 Ideas for Right Now

How to Make $100 Fast — 10 Ideas for Right Now
Most of us have experienced times in our adult lives when we need to know how to make $100 fast. And by fast we mean in enough time to get our electric bill paid or pay back our friend who loaned us money over the weekend. Whatever our reasons, sometimes we find ourselves a little short and need to make money fast. 
When you’re short on funds, you need to have ideas on how to make money in your back pocket for making money in a hurry. Instead of reaching for another credit card or borrowing money from yet another family member or friend, it pays to get creative and learn to earn $100 quickly. 
We want to help take the guesswork out of it for you and give you our favorite ideas for a quick cash infusion. These are not “get rich quick” ideas either. If you’re willing to do a little work then it could be the difference-maker for this month’s budget. 

How to make $100 fast

1. Survey Junkie

If Swagbucks sounds intriguing but you’re most interested in taking surveys, then Survey Junkie may be what you’re looking for. It’s also similar to Swagbucks in that you earn points for taking surveys and in turn, you earn gift cards or can cash out via PayPal. These surveys are similar to focus groups in that they’re used by brands to make product recommendations and marketing decisions in some cases. It’s easy work and a fun way to make money in your spare time, even offering payment when you watch videos.

2. Swagbucks

How does taking online surveys, playing games, or watching videos sound for making extra cash? With Swagbucks, this is actually possible. Signing up for this survey site is not only a great way to kill time, you can actually earn a few bucks while you’re at it. Swagbucks has been around for years and has paid out over $689 million in cash and gift cards. Simply create an account and start earning points. Whenever you hit a certain point threshold, you can convert the points to gift cards or cash via PayPal. 

3. InboxDollars

If points are not interesting to you but you’d rather have real money, then InboxDollars may be a better choice. You can earn money for watching videos and taking surveys, which can be used by other companies for making brand decisions. You can also earn cash back for shopping through the site’s shopping links. 

4. Fiverr

If you have a digital marketing skill, you’re interested in working in the gig economy, and making a quick $100 then Fiverr could be a great place to start. Fiverr is a community of freelancers and it’s open to businesses or individuals to hire freelancers. Fiverr specializes in connecting people to freelance writers, graphic designers, social media managers, and all things related to digital marketing. Whether it’s website design, writing, videography, or book design, Fiverr can connect you.
If you have any of the marketable skills then all you need to do is set up a profile on Fiverr. There are ways to increase your chances of getting picked, such as uploading your sample work and optimizing your profile. Keep in mind Fiverr does keep a percentage of your earnings, so make sure you set your rates accordingly. 

5. Upwork

Upwork is another popular marketplace for budding freelancers and gig workers and it’s somewhat similar to the idea of Fiverr. However, Upwork offers a variety of gigs, including data entry, translation services, and virtual assistants
As a freelancer, you have the chance to bid on jobs and you’ll receive ratings as you book more work. Upwork handles all the work for you, such as invoicing. Upwork also pays in a variety of ways, including PayPal and ACH transfers. 

6. eBay

eBay has remained a staple in the online marketplace because you can literally sell anything on the site, kind of like an online garage sale. If you set up your listings either for sale through bidding or buy-it-now, you can have money in your account within a week. Not only do collectibles sell well, but you can list anything from car parts to shoes to memorabilia. You can even add the shipping costs into the item to make sure you’re covered and make as much money as possible from selling used items. 

7. Paypal

If you have a PayPal account then you may be able to make $100 easier than you think. Since many individuals also have PayPal, it makes it easier for you to sell items online or locally. By taking PayPal payments, you open up the potential for more customers. What exactly can you sell? Pretty much anything you can think of, including items on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
Look in your closet and find clothes or shoes you’ve outgrown or no longer need. Do you have a ping pong table collecting dust? Think of all the items you can sell quickly and then make sure your customers know you accept PayPal for the payouts. There is even a way to sell goods on Amazon and becoming one of its retailers. And if you are creative, you can make and sell your goods on Etsy; just link your Paypal to your bank account and watch the money roll in. 

8. Uber and Lyft

By now, almost everyone has either heard of Uber and Lyft or taken one themselves as this ridesharing app continues to remain popular. You can make good money by making yourself available as an Uber driver. As long as you have your own transportation and are reliable, you can get started fairly quickly and start earning. You not only earn money from the fares, but also from tips and sign-on bonuses. 

9. Doordash

Doordash, UberEats, Instacart and GrubHub are all examples of ways to make money by taking part in food delivery. People place their orders through an app and if you’re available then you can make money by delivering the meal. Not only do you get paid for the gigs, but you can also earn money from tips. You set your own schedule and turn on your availability when you are free. If you have reliable transportation, a smartphone, and are willing to work nights and weekends (when most people are ordering for delivery) then it could be a good way to make quick money. 

10. Rover

Perhaps the only humans you prefer to deal with are the furry ones - fur babies that is! Rover is a great option if you love animals and want to make sure someone’s fur child is taken care of while they are unavailable. With Rover, you can make money as you walk dogs and serve as a pet sitter market your pet-related services and earn payments for taking care of animals. Rover charges a 20% fee but you can make money with pet sitting, house sitting, boarding animals, or as a dog walker. You can determine whether to do this as a part-time or full-time job.
Similarly, you can offer pet sitting as well as babysitting services on Care.com.
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More ideas for a money-making side hustle

If you still need a few more ideas for how to earn $100 fast, then here are a few more ideas to consider. 
If you are physically able to then you could actually donate plasma as a side gig. Some people are actually able to donate plasma up to two times per week, which could mean earning up to $900 in a month. Most plasma donation centers pay in gift cards and there are opportunities for earning bonuses. 

Rent out your car

If you live near a major airport or larger city then consider renting out your car. There has never been a better time to consider this as the country is still dealing with a rental car shortage. Sites like Turo or GetAround make it possible for individuals to rent out their car when it’s not in use. 

Airbnb

Airbnb continues to remain a popular way to book vacation rentals, homes, and anything in between. If you have a spare room or have time where your home will be available then why not rent it out? Airbnb makes it so much easier for hosts now than ever, including offering $1 million in liability insurance. If you’re looking for a way to make $100 quickly, then renting out your home for a long weekend or during a popular event could be a super-easy way to make money fast. 

The bottom line

Whether you’re willing to take on an in-person gig, you want to make money online or trying to earn money from passive income, there are plenty of ideas for making money fast. This doesn’t mean someone hands you $100, rather with a little effort you could earn the money you need to help bridge the gaps in your monthly budget. Or, perhaps one of these ideas can get you the extra cash you need each month to start achieving your personal finance goals, like saving or paying off debt. 

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Sara Coleman is a former corporate gal turned creative entrepreneur. She began writing professionally several years ago and now contributes to multiple websites, blogs, and magazines. She’s also an avid reader and can’t resist a great historical fiction novel. Sara holds a BA in journalism from the University of Georgia and can be found supporting her Bulldogs every chance she has. She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her wonderfully supportive husband and three children. When she’s not ushering her kids to sports and dance lessons, she can be found creating content for her own website, TheProperPen.com.

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