How to Make $500 Fast: 10 Proven Ways to Earn Quick Cash

Sometimes, life throws unexpected expenses at us, and we need cash—fast. Whether it’s an urgent bill, rent, or boosting your savings, making $500 quickly is possible if you know where to look. The good news? You don’t need a full-time job or a big investment. You just need the right strategy and willingness to take action.

You’re in the right place if you’ve been searching for how to make $500 fast. Here are 10 practical and legitimate ways to get cash quickly, many of which can be done from home or in your local area.

1. Sell Unused Items for Instant Cash

Chances are, you have things lying around your house that you no longer use—electronics, clothes, furniture, or collectibles. Selling them can help you hit your $500 goal quickly.

Where to sell:

• Facebook Marketplace (fastest for local sales)
• eBay (great for valuable or rare items)
• Craigslist (good for furniture and appliances)
• Poshmark (perfect for clothing and accessories)

Pro tip: High-demand items like Apple products, branded handbags, and power tools sell fast. Clean them up, take great pictures, and list them with a competitive price.

2. Offer Freelance Services Online

If you have skills in writing, graphic design, social media management, or even virtual assistance, you can start making money online today.

Where to get started:

• Fiverr (quick gigs for things like logo design or voiceovers)
• Upwork (larger freelance projects)
• TaskRabbit (local gigs like assembling furniture or running errands)

Many freelancers earn $100–$200 per task, making it easy to reach $500 within a week.

3. Do Odd Jobs in Your Community

Sometimes, the fastest way to earn money is right in your neighborhood. People always need help with small tasks.

Jobs to Consider:

• Babysitting
• Dog walking or pet sitting
• House cleaning or yard work
• Moving assistance

Sign up on apps like Rover (for pet sitting) or Care.com (for babysitting) to get started.

4. Rent Out Your Extra Space or Stuff

If you have a spare room, an extra car, or even tools, you can make quick money by renting them out.

How to rent things out:

• List your extra room on Airbnb
• Rent your car on Turo or Getaround
• Offer storage space via Neighbor
• Rent out camera gear or tools on Fat Llama

Many people make $50–$100 per day renting out their assets.

5. Deliver Food or Drive for Ride-Sharing Apps

If you have a car, you can start making money immediately by delivering food or offering rides.

Best apps to use:

• DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart (for food delivery)
• Uber, Lyft (for ride-sharing)

Most drivers make between $15–$30 per hour, so working 20 hours a week could easily get you $500.

6. Take Paid Online Surveys & Microtasks

While surveys won’t make you rich, they can be a quick and easy way to earn small amounts of cash.

Best sites to use:

• Swagbucks
• InboxDollars
• Amazon Mechanical Turk
• Respondent.io (pays up to $100 per survey!)

Some microtasks, like testing websites or watching ads, can add up to $50–$100 per week.

7. Flip Free or Cheap Items for a Profit

Did you know you can find free items and resell them for cash? Many people make hundreds of dollars flipping items they find for free or at a low cost.

Where to find free items:

• Facebook Marketplace “Free” section
• Craigslist Free section
• Local yard sales and thrift stores

Pro tip: Items like wood furniture, bicycles, and vintage electronics tend to resell quickly.

8. Monetize a Quick Skill on Social Media

If you have a skill—like teaching, fitness coaching, or even digital art—you can start monetizing it right away.

Quick ways to monetize:

• Sell an ebook or digital product
• Offer mini-coaching sessions via Instagram or TikTok
• Create and sell printables on Etsy

Many people start making $100+ per day by selling their knowledge online.

9. Earn Money with Sign-Up Bonuses & Cash-Back Apps

Many companies offer free money when you sign up for their services. These bonuses can add up quickly.

Apps that offer bonuses:

• Rakuten – $30 bonus when you make a purchase
• Chime – $100 bonus when you set up direct deposit
• Cash App – $5–$10 referral bonuses
• Honeygain – Earn a passive income by sharing internet bandwidth

Combine a few bonuses, and you can easily make $100–$200 in a day.

10. Rent Out Your Time for Quick Cash

If you have a little extra time, you can get paid to stand in line, run errands, or even test apps.

Ways to get paid for your time:

• Wait in line for concert tickets
• Be a mystery shopper
• Get paid to test apps or websites

Sites like UserTesting.com and Field Agent pay $10–$50 per task.

Bottom Line

If you need $500 today, the best approach is to combine a few of these methods. Sell items, offer a service, and do a quick gig—it adds up fast!

Here’s a realistic breakdown:

• Sell 3–5 unused items: $200
• Do odd jobs or freelance work: $150
• Use sign-up bonuses and cashback: $100
• Complete paid surveys and microtasks: $50

By mixing and matching these strategies, you’ll be at $500 (or more) in no time. Want more ways to make money? Subscribe to my blog for more financial tips!