How to Make $2,000 Fast – Earn Extra Money When You Need It
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With inflation reaching a 40-year record high of 8.5% in March, and the cost of everyday essentials like food and gas continuing to skyrocket, making some quick money is more important than ever. Whether you’re looking to make extra money online to pay your bills, reach savings goals, or just build up a reserve of extra cash, a side hustle might be your best path forward.
One in three Americans now has a side hustle, which is a gig in addition to their primary job. Side hustles can help you better make ends meet or save money for loftier goals. If inflation is eating into your budget, a second job might be the answer.
The good news is, in order to make an extra $2,000, you don’t have to work another 40 hours a week. Just five or 10 hours extra a week can help you chip away at this goal. And over time, you can earn a lot of money that could benefit your finances in the long run.
If you’re interested in side hustling, here are some great options to try.
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1. Food delivery
Although gas prices are climbing, you can still make good money delivering food from restaurants to hungry orderers — especially if you’re in a city. This side hustle offers flexibility, allowing you to only work the hours that make sense to you, so you can clock in and out as you please.
Companies to consider include Uber Eats, GrubHub, Postmates, and DoorDash. You can also opt for grocery deliveries (and may be able to pick up a few orders from the same store, saving you time and doubling your tip potential). DoorDash offers some grocery delivery options, as does Instacart. It’s one of the quickest ways to make extra money.
2. Rideshare driver
While this popular side hustle may not make sense for everyone, particularly with fuel costs as high as they are, if you have a car, extra time, and enjoy driving, working as a rideshare driver could be right up your alley. Similar to food delivery drivers, you’ll be able to clock in and out as you please — and only accept the rides you choose.
Some ridesharing services have stipulations about the type of vehicle you can have (generally two-door vehicles are prohibited), so check out the rules before diving in. If interested, check out Uber or Lyft, two of the most popular ridesharing services.
3. Freelance writer
If you have a knack for words, love learning about different subjects, and really know how to tell a story, you might consider working as a freelance writer. You’ll often have the flexibility to work from wherever at the hours you choose. You can also select different industries, including those you’re interested in or well-versed in.
There are different ways to get started here. You could sign up for a freelance site like Fivver or Upwork and create a profile. Or, you can apply directly for job postings online through LinkedIn, Facebook, or other job hiring sites (Indeed, Monster, Remote.co, etc). Lastly, you can try applying directly with online publications you respect. Just be sure you have clips ready in the form of an online portfolio (build one quickly and for free with Squarespace).
Related: How to Make $10,000 Fast
4. On-demand handyman
Those who prefer a more hands-on type of job might enjoy getting hired to fix or build things around the house. You can work as a part-time handyman to help people with everyday tasks, from building furniture from Ikea to moving or even cleaning.
One of the best ways to select jobs you’re interested in tackling is to sign up to work through TaskRabbit. This digital service matches people with handyman needs with talented, available professionals nearby. You don’t need a specialized focus like plumbing or electrical to sign up — but if you have one, you may have access to higher-paying jobs.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
5. Virtual assistant
Thanks to the rise in remote work, there are plenty of side hustles you can tackle without ever leaving your home. If you’re organized, diligent, and love to help, you may enjoy working as a virtual assistant. Tasks can range from preparing presentations to scheduling meetings or may be more focused, depending on your specialty. Some project management know-how may also be helpful.
In most cases, you may need to be available during normal business hours, but not always. Plus, if you live on the east coast, you may be able to work from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to make this schedule work. You can look for virtual assistant jobs on online job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed.
6. Sell stuff online
Forget the days of the garage sale or running to a pawn shop — now you can sell any unwanted items directly online. It may not sound as glamorous as other side hustles, but you can make quick cash selling furniture, clothing, and home decor you no longer need. This can help you downsize and declutter your house as an added bonus. If you’re handy, you may also enjoy making items and selling them online. Alternatively, you can scour thrift stores for high-end clothing and furniture that you may be able to upsell online for a profit.
You can sell items on websites like Facebook Marketplace, Decluttr, Mercari, eBay, or Craigslist. If you’re creating items, you might have better luck on sites like Etsy or even Amazon. If you do well, you could even turn this into your own online business.
7. Consider selling real estate
If you’re looking to break into a new industry or maybe just have a passion for the housing market, working in real estate might be the side hustle you’ve been craving. While you’ll likely want to look into getting your real estate license, this side career can provide a lucrative way to earn a great commission, while only taking up minimal time.
Of course, the more you sell, the more you earn. You may even find this side hustle transitions into a full-time job that pays more than your current gig. And with housing in high demand, this is an industry that’s sure to keep you engaged and growing fast.
8. Become a blogger
Contrary to popular belief, blogging isn’t dead — but it may be taking a new format. We’re ingesting more content than ever, but how we read it may have changed. Blogging today requires not only running a blog website, but also a social media presence that breaks your blogging into bite-sized content that can easily be understood while scrolling on a smartphone. Vlogging, or video blogging, can also be done on larger media sites like YouTube but can be done on a micro-level through Instagram Reels or TikTok.
This is a side hustle worth pursuing if you’re passionate about a subject matter and have a lot to share with the world. However, many have made extra money through lifestyle blogging, with themes of what they ate in a day, their morning routines, and vacation blogging often frequenting their social media profiles.
You may not make the amount of money you’re expecting right away, but signing up for affiliate marketing services that pay you to promote their products (particularly if you have a large social media presence) can help.
9. Rent out your home or spare room
If you have a vacation house, an extra room, or another property you don’t use often, consider making extra money by renting it out. If this property is in a desirable area, like a city or key vacation spot, you might find it simple to attract renters. Decide if you’re interested in short-term rentals (anywhere from one day to 30 days) or more long-term, year renters.
You can use sites like Airbnb to list your home or space to attract buyers. Keep in mind that Airbnb does take a share of your profits — but also offers you some protections as a landlord that you might not get if you rent outside the app.
10. Don’t knock tried-and-true methods
Sure, the internet has changed the way we work and think about working tremendously. But that doesn’t mean the traditional methods to help you make money fast aren’t worth considering. For instance, babysitting (word of mouth works great, though Care.com can also connect you) or dog-walking and petsitting (Rover offers a great way to connect with neighbors needing your assistance) are two more traditional side gigs that can now be leveraged through digital apps.
You can also try tutoring (talk to local schools or look for online tutoring services to sign up with), mowing lawns, or even shoveling snow. Be sure to ask friends and family if they know of any part-time jobs, too.
Or, try the traditional route of applying at historically popular part-time jobs: restaurants, grocery stores, and retail stores.
Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!
- Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
- Earn points for taking surveys
- Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
- $55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
- Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.
11. Get creative
You can earn passive income with just a little creativity. If you don’t have time to dedicate to particular side hustle, try signing up for sites like Swagbucks that can help you make the extra dough by taking surveys. You can even earn gift cards, which could help you keep more money in your pocket.
The bottom line
Side hustles can help you earn extra cash fast, but can also teach you a new skill, introduce you to a different industry, and offer you more personal financial flexibility. A side hustle can often be done remotely and on your own time — though there are other options.
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Writer
Courtney Johnston is a freelance writer, specializing in finance, travel, and health. She has written for The Chicago Tribune, Benzinga, BestReviews, Mashvisor, Fundera, MoneyGeek, and The Culture Trip. She also teaches writing instruction at the University of Indianapolis. Courtney currently resides in Indianapolis.
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