53 Realistic Ways to Make $500 Fast (In Less than 1 Week)

The Millennial Money Woman blog post "How to Make 500 Dollars Fast"

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Do you want to know how to make 500 dollars fast?

Believe it or not, it’s easier than you think.

And in this post, I’m going to show you 53 realistic ways to make $500 fast.

Let’s dive right in.

In this article

How to Make 500 Dollars Fast

When an emergency pops up, it’s up to you to protect your finances and family.

That’s why making 500 a week extra could help you ease your financial stress.

So here are 53 ways to make $500 fast:

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Make $500 Fast with a Side Hustle

One of the best ways to make 500 fast is by starting a side hustle.

Not only can you increase your income, but you can also add an extra income stream.

Here are some of the best side hustles:

1. Become a Personal Grocery Shopper

If you’re 18+ and want to make an extra $500 fast, then consider becoming a personal grocery shopper.

Instacart is an app where you can become a personal shopper.

Here’s what you would do:

  • Accept a customer’s order
  • Shop for the orders
  • Deliver the order

You could either become:

  • An in-store shopper
  • A full-service shopper

The difference is that a full-service shopper would also deliver orders.

As long as you can lift 50 pounds, you should be good to go.

The best part?

You can set your own schedule.

2. Walk Dogs or Pet Sit

If you’re wondering, “how can I make 500 dollars fast,” and you LOVE dogs (like me), then consider joining popular dog sitting apps like Rover.

With Rover you can be with dogs (or cats) AND make money (sometimes up to $1,000 a month!).

Here’s where you make the most amount of money:

  • You live in a city
  • You have high ratings
  • You offer multiple services

Rover is very popular in the United States.

But (and much to my surprise), the app is also available to places around the world like Italy and Sweden.

On average, you’ll get paid $20 per pet visit.

Here’s how you’re typically paid:

  • Tips
  • Flat fee

You can select which types of services you offer, ranging from dog boarding to dog walking:

If you’re just starting out on Rover, then I’d suggest that you first check out how much people are charging in your area.

Pro Tip: After each successful stay, ask your customer if they’re willing to post a brief review and leave a rating.

The more reviews and ratings you get, the more money you can charge.

3. Make Money Through Social Media

Social media can change your life – for better or worse.

If you’re already using social media, then why not try to leverage it to help you make $500 fast?!

I did, and I earned my first $500 in less than a WEEK after applying the principles taught in X Mastery.

X Mastery is the guidebook I used to make money on Twitter and grow my Twitter audience from 4,000 to 200,000 in 2 years.

Here’s how you can do it too:

  • Find a social media platform you LOVE
  • Find a niche you’re passionate about
  • Clean up your profile bio & picture
  • Start creating AMAZING content

The key to building my following and making money is providing VALUABLE and CONSISTENT content.

If you do this for 12+ months, there is no way you cannot grow.

4. Rent Out Your Space

If you’ve ever wondered, “how can I make 500 fast,” then check out the place you’re living in.

Do you have ANY free space at all?

By free space I mean:

  • A free garage space
  • An empty guest room
  • An empty desk drawer
  • A free space on your front lawn

…Even an empty square foot of space in the corner of your room?

The answer is probably YES.

It doesn’t even matter where you’re located.

Of course, if you’re living in the top cities, then you’ll probably make more money.

Who wouldn’t want to turn empty space that’s collecting dust into a passive cash cow?

I know I would.

5. Deliver Food

If you’re looking to make 500 dollars fast, then consider delivering food with apps like DoorDash.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Good car
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Pass a background check

Here’s how you earn money:

  • Tips
  • Flat fee
  • Bonus pay

And you get to keep 100% of the tips that you make.

Depending on whether you use DoorDash or other food delivery apps like UberEats, you might even get access to “Peak Pay”.

Pro Tip: Peak Pay are bonus pay incentives to motivate drivers to make more deliveries.

The best part about delivering food?

You set your OWN schedule.

6. Start a Ridesharing Gig

One of the most OBVIOUS ways to make $500 fast is by becoming an Uber driver.

Did you know Uber has about 93 million MONTHLY users?

About 1.44 billion rides are completed on Uber each QUARTER.

That means over $26.6 BILLION dollars worth of Uber bookings a year.

Clearly, Uber is both popular and can be profitable.

Here’s how you get paid: 

  • Tips
  • Bonuses
  • Flat fee for rides

Typically, you can earn up to $50 per hour.

So in an average-sized city, you could earn about $1,000 per week as a driver.

But, this number also heavily depends on:

  • Your location
  • The time of day
  • The time of year

Becoming an Uber driver is actually pretty simple.

Here’s how the process works:

  1. Sign up to Uber Driver
  2. Open the Uber app
  3. Accept a ride offer
  4. Pick up your customer
  5. Drop off your customer

What I like most about Uber is that riders can rate drivers AND drivers can rate riders.

7. Rent Out Your RV

Do you own an RV?

If yes, read this section.

You can make $40,000+ passively per YEAR by renting out your RV on the app called RVShare.

While owning an RV might be a great way to make family memories, you’re probably not going to use your RV all day, every day.

There’s a high chance that your RV will sit in the driveway.

Don’t let your RV just sit there. 

Instead, turn your RV into a cash cow and make 500 dollars fast by renting it out on RVShare. 

RVShare is JUST like Airbnb or VRBO.

Here’s what you do:

  • List your RV
  • Post pictures
  • Connect with renters
  • Collect the security deposit

Check out what others on RVShare charge customers PER NIGHT:

So you could make $500 in a week easily by renting out your RV on this app.

Pro Tip: RVShare even offers up to $1 million in liability insurance and $200,000 in comprehensive and collision insurance, which lifts another weight off your chest.

Some people have expressed they’ve made $40,000+ in 1 year just by renting out their RV!

8. Rent Out Your Car

If you have an extra car and are wondering how to get 500 dollars fast, then consider renting out your vehicle!

Your car is a depreciating asset anyway, right?

So why not get some extra bang for your buck while it’s sitting in the garage collecting dust?

With popular car rental apps like Turo or HyreCar, you can:

  • Snap some pics of your car
  • Upload your car’s information
  • Rent out your car via the app

Turo is an app where you actually rent out your car for the day or for several days to customers for driving.

HyreCar is an app where you rent out your car to future Uber and Lyft drivers.

The cons to renting out your car include:

  • Wear and tear
  • Add extra miles 
  • Increased liability exposure

Just make sure you weigh the pros with the cons.

9. Teach Kids English

If you know – or even somewhat know – the English language, then you can make $500 fast just by teaching other kids English!

And the best part?

Teaching English can be done ALL online. 

You can set your own hours, own curriculum, and teach right from the comfort of your own home.

10. Become a Freelance Writer

If you want to learn how to make 500 dollars fast, then consider becoming a freelance writer.

All you need is your laptop and an internet connection.

Becoming a freelance writer means you’ll get paid for:

  • Writing emails
  • Writing new blog posts
  • Writing sales copy for products

…and more!

One skill that I find really POWERFUL is becoming an expert email writer. 

Why?

Because when you have a product (like an ebook) and you have an audience, how can you best sell?

Via Email.

That’s why I recommend checking out the Write Once Sell Twice course.

I learned how to make $500 instantly from sending 1 email and selling multiple products online.

11. Become an Affiliate Marketer

If you want to make $500 from home, then consider becoming an affiliate marketer.

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to make money online.

An affiliate marketer is someone who promotes another company’s products or services.

You make money when you:

  • Get link clicks
  • Get email sign-ups
  • Sell a product/service

The amount of money and how you make it depends on your contract.

Let me explain:

The very first week after I implemented the tips in the Affiliate Mastery Guide, I made just over $49.

Now, I make THOUSANDS per month.

Passively.

Pro Tip: Building a solid affiliate marketing income stream can take some time.

You can become an affiliate marketer on:

  • Email
  • Websites
  • Social media

…It really doesn’t matter WHERE you sell.

Just start, and learn as you go.

12. Create & Sell an Online Course

If you want to learn how to get $500 dollars in an hour…

And you’re REALLY good at a niche topic…

Then create and sell your own online course. 

Let me explain:

You could ACTUALLY get paid $500 an hour by selling your expertise.

Your expertise can literally be in ANYTHING like:

  • Finance
  • Gardening
  • Photography
  • Computer coding
  • Web development
  • Social media management

The list honestly goes on and on and on…

If you know a topic and want to make $500 fast, then start your own account on Teachable.

Teachable is THE top online platform for teachers to build their courses. 

Here’s what you’re charged:

  • A flat fee (monthly or annual)
  • Transaction fees on sales

Most transaction fees are 5%.

The rest of the profit, you get to keep. 

Seriously, Teachable is one of the best apps that pays you real money. 

I’ve seen creators sell their courses for up to $5,000. 

That’s not a type-o. 

Just ONE sale and you’ve made the average American monthly income. 

This is a no-brainer.

13. Babysit

While babysitting is often a job for teenagers, anyone can take this up.

In fact, I know many parents who would prefer to have an adult babysit their kids over teenagers!

If you like working with kids (or even have kids of your own), then check out Care.com.

Care.com is a website that helps job seekers find clients. 

Not into babysitting and the whole kid thing?

No problem.

Care.com can also help you find gigs for:

  • Tutoring
  • Elder care
  • Pet sitting
  • House cleaning

And on average, you can charge about $20 per hour for your services.

14. Housesit

Do you want to make $500 fast but DON’T want to work with people?

If yes, then housesitting might be right for you.

Check out Care.com, which can help connect you with people who are looking for housesitters. 

And I kid you not – in Miami, housesitters make around $5,500 per month (or about $66,000 per YEAR).

For house sitting. 

No joke. 

Here’s another trick:

When you’ve landed your housesitting gig, make EXTRA cash by learning affiliate mastery for example.

Then you make TWICE the amount of money!

15. Use Your Car as an Advertising Billboard

Another way to make $500 fast is by wrapping your car with advertisements.

You can:

  • Wrap your car in an advertisement
  • Get paid for the time the ad is on your car

Generally, you don’t even have to change your driving route or anything.

Just drive as you do.

There are generally 2 campaign types:

  • Partial campaign zone coverage
  • Full campaign zone coverage

You’ll get paid more if you have the full campaign zone coverage.

And once the ad campaign ends, your wrap will also be removed from your car.

Make $500 Fast Selling Your Stuff

If you want to learn how to get 500 dollars fast, then you can also start selling your stuff.

From selling used CDs to hand-made earrings, thanks to modern technology, you can start making 500 a week fast.

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16. Sell Unused CDs, DVDs, and Other Tech Online

Look around you.

Do you have any old technology that’s collecting dust? 

If yes, check out Decluttr.

All you have to do is:

  • Get an offer from Decluttr for your clutter
  • Accept Decluttr’s offer to buy your stuff
  • Get a free shipping label from Decluttr
  • Ship your stuff to Decluttr
  • Collect cash

How does Decluttr estimate your offer?

You simply scan or manually type in the barcode of each item you’re looking to sell.

Pro Tip: Don’t lie about the condition of your stuff. Decluttr can reject orders if they want.

You can get paid via direct deposit, PayPal or a check.

17. Sell Your Jewelry

Do you have any old jewelry that you want to get rid of?

Maybe it’s from an ex or you just don’t like it anymore.

If yes, then it’s time to join Worthy.

Worthy is an app that will:

  • Appraise your jewelry
  • Verify its authenticity
  • Post your jewelry for auction
  • Send you the proceeds of a sale

Yes, Worthy will take a small percentage of any sale proceeds.

But you get to keep the rest.

18. Sell Gently Used Clothing

Having old stuff clutter up your space is NEVER fun.

Stuff can:

  • Cost energy
  • Clutter your mind
  • Clutter your space

So why not get rid of it – for CASH?!

Do you have any quality clothes that you don’t see yourself wearing anymore?

If yes, then check out Poshmark.

Poshmark is a high end clothing reseller.

Believe it or not, Poshmark pays $100’s to people with gently used, quality clothing.

To get the biggest bang for your buck, sell clothes to Poshmark that are:

  • Unique
  • New-ish
  • Designer
  • High quality
  • Gently used

You can literally create a listing in 60 seconds, share it with your own network and make $500 fast!

19. Sell on Online Marketplaces

Old stuff just clutters your mind and your physical space.

So why not sell it?

You can easily sell your old stuff on websites like:

  • Craigslist 
  • Nextdoor
  • Facebook Marketplace 

Depending on where you live (urban versus rural), you could even sell your stuff the same day!

20. Flip Items on Social Media

While it might not be everyone’s dream, you could flip trash for cash and get $500 fast.

So, if you love working with your hands and want to make $500 in a week, read this.

All you have to do is check out the free section on social media platforms like:

  • Craigslist
  • Nextdoor
  • Facebook Marketplace

Maybe you’ll find something that you think can be flipped!

Don’t know where to start?

Then check out the Trash to Cash Guide, which will give you the EXACT step-by-step guide to building a flipping empire.

21. Sell Crafts Online

If you want to learn how to make 500 dollars quick, then consider selling your own crafts online!

The best part?

You get to work FROM HOME.

I would join Etsy, which is an online platform that connects you with customers worldwide.

You can sell virtually anything on Etsy, like:

  • Jewelry 
  • Handmade crafts
  • Customized clothing
  • Customized pet wear

You’ll probably find that selling on Etsy can be a little more cyclical. 

That means you can expect to make more during the holiday season than in summer time, for example.

Make $500 Fast Doing Odd Jobs

Wondering how to make $500 a week?

There are always odd jobs out there that can pay enough money to cover emergency expenses.

Check out some options below.

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22. Become a YouTube Editor

If you want to learn how to get $500 dollars in an hour, then consider becoming a YouTube Editor.

Seriously, YouTube editors make BANK.

In fact, one of my good friends is a well-known YouTube editor and he charges anywhere between $500 to $1,000 PER HOUR for a consultation.

Of course, it took him some time to build the reputation he has.

But trust me, it’s worth it.

Even if you’re just beginning your YouTube editing career, you can probably make $500 to $2,000 per month.

And in 2023, over 54% of active social media users in the WORLD access YouTube.

However, It’s probably going to take you a few months to build trust with your audience.

But when you do, you can make A LOT of money on YouTube.

And the best part?

As a YouTube editor, you could easily make $500 a week from home.

23. Do Handyman Work

If you want to learn how to make $500 a day, then consider doing handyman work!

The best part is you don’t even have to advertise your own services.

If you join the Thumbtack app, it will do it all for you.

Thumbtack is a handyman app where you can advertise services like:

  • House cleaning
  • Appliance repair
  • Personal trainers
  • Lawn care services
  • Home improvement
  • Bathroom remodeling

…And the list goes on.

Pro Tip: The key on Thumbtack is requesting reviews from your happy customers.

Thumbtack will match you with a service that a customer is looking for, in your area.

The customer will likely then send you a quote request, to which you should respond immediately. 

Once you provide a quote, it’s up to the customer to decide if they’d like to proceed.

24. Pick Up Freelance Gigs

If you’re wondering how to get $500 dollars in an hour, then consider picking up freelance gigs!

The 2020’s are known as the “Gig Economy” after all!

Check out apps like Fiverr, where you could potentially make $500 fast.

Fiverr is a marketplace for freelancers.

On Fiverr, you can promote your gig work like:

  • Video editing
  • Graphic design
  • Digital marketing
  • Web development
  • Social media marketing

Don’t know one of these skills?

Learn a skill using Udemy! 

Depending on your skill set and your experience level, you could make $500 an hour! 

Pro Tip: To get the biggest bang for your buck, accept only big projects with a high payout.

And always make sure to get good reviews from your customers!

Other Ways to Make $500 Fast

If you’re looking for extra ways to make $500 fast, then check out these additional tips.

You might not make $500 this week with some of these ways, but combining several of these ways could help get you there.

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25. Get Paid to Take Online Surveys

If you’re wondering how to make $500 fast, then this strategy probably won’t get you there…

But it’s a step in the right direction.

Believe me when I say that companies are willing to pay money for market research.

That’s where online surveys come into play.

Online sites pay you money for:

  • Surveys
  • Feedback
  • Shopping online
  • Watching videos
  • Testing new products

That’s because these companies want to gather data on customer demographics.

If you want to get paid to take surveys online then check out:

And you know what?

You get to take ALL of these surveys right from the comfort of your HOME.

Pro Tip: To get the biggest bang for your buck, sign up to ALL survey websites.

That’s because each website will probably have different surveys, so you have more opportunities to earn more money.

26. Negotiate Your Bills & Subscriptions

If you want to make $500 fast, then you have to trim the fat.

How?

By cutting off excess spending. 

You can start by registering (it’s free!) with the Rocket Money app.

Rocket Money helps you save money by:

  • Scanning your current subscription accounts 
  • Searching for ways to save you money

And believe it or not, forgotten subscriptions can cost you A LOT of money.

In fact, the average person spends about $219 per month on subscriptions!

If you lose track of your subscriptions, you waste money.

Rocket Money can:

  • Cancel subscriptions for you
  • Negotiate lower prices
  • Send late fee alerts

Rocket Money is best for saving money with your utility, internet, television, or even cell phone subscriptions.

27. Earn Cash Back on Groceries

Who likes grocery shopping?

I didn’t like grocery shopping until cash back apps like MyPoints were invented.

MyPoints is an app where you can earn cash back on EVERY DAY purchases like groceries.

However, the app also works in other industries such as:

  • Travel
  • Beauty
  • Grocery
  • Clothing
  • Online Stores
  • Health & Beauty
  • Coupons & Savings
  • Beer, Wine & Spirits

…And the list goes on.

28. Get Paid to Watch Videos Online

Isn’t it nice to watch movies while you’re having a lazy Sunday morning?

What if I told you that you could watch videos online AND get paid?

Well, it’s possible!

Check out Inbox Dollars.

Inbox Dollars (which also pays you to take online surveys) is LEGIT and you can make money by literally watching movies.

29. Earn Cash Back on Everyday Purchases

If you’re wondering how to get $500 fast, start using cash back rewards apps like Capital One Shopping.

All you do is install the app and continue shopping as you normally would.

Capital One Shopping’s magic works quietly in the background, searching for discounts on your purchase.

The best part?

It’s 100% free.

30. Get Paid to Browse the Web

You read that right…

…You can actually make money just by browsing the internet!

The 2 sites that pay you to browse the web are:

All you have to do is make Swagbucks (for example) your default search engine in your browser.

As you start browsing the internet, Swagbucks will take note of your search options.

If you see Swagbucks as an option in the resulting list, just click on the search option and your browser search will automatically be updated to Swagbucks.

And that’s how you make money browsing the web!

31. Get Paid to Play Online Games

Who likes playing online games?

I sure do.

So when I found out that you can make actual money by playing games through Mistplay and Cashyy, I jumped on the bandwagon.

Mistplay, for example, has 5+ million downloads.

All you do is download the app, give Mistplay access to monitor your usage, and start playing games. 

As you play (and progress) in the games you play, Mistplay will reward you with points.

Mistplay Rewards

The points then can be exchanged for:

  • Visa gift cards
  • Amazon gift cards

You could even make money by referring friends.

32. Get Paid to Share Your Internet

One easy way to make a quick $500 is by sharing your internet.

Believe it or not, sharing your internet is:

  • Easy
  • Passive
  • Lucrative

How can you start?

Start by checking out the Pawns App.

The Pawns App is a passive income app that allows people from all over the world to share their internet connection with global companies.

All you do is download the app and then allow the app to share your internet.

You have total control over the number of unique IPs that can access your internet and for how long.

The most amount of money you can make per month is around $96.

So, to make $500, you’ll probably need about 5 or 6 months of internet sharing.

But why not?

It’s COMPLETELY passive!

Is it safe, you might ask?

And the answer is yes.

Pawns does not release any of your personal information.

Any searches or other data on your network is completely encrypted and is not shared with those who are using your internet connection.

Sharing your internet might be useful for companies to:

  • Test new markets
  • Research new data
  • Expand in new geographic areas 

I’m a fan because it’s passive income that can be earned monthly.

33. Take Advantage of Credit Card Bonus Points

If you’re wondering how to make $500 fast, then start taking advantage of credit card bonus points. 

In fact, if you’re really really savvy with credit cards, you could make THOUSANDS with:

  • Bonus points
  • Sign-up bonuses

Some credit card companies have intro offers of 60,000 bonus points (that’s $600!). 

Yes, you’ll need a good credit score, and yes there is often an annual fee associated with that, but still!

You’d literally get 500 dollars today if you signed up.

One of my favorite cash back bonus cards is the M1 Owner’s Rewards Card.

While the M1 card might not give you a 60,000 intro bonus, you do get up to 10% cash back when you buy stuff at partner companies. 

M1 is partnered with over 70 brands to give you the biggest bang for your buck. 

Partner brands include:

M1 Owners Rewards Card Cash Back Brands

Now why do I like the M1 card?

Because when you earn cash back bonuses, you can actually reinvest ALL of your rewards into your M1 Finance investment portfolio.

If you don’t have an M1 account yet, open one here. 

It’s free, easy, and you can start building your wealth fast.

Now, every time you shop, you earn cash, which you can easily reinvest and grow.

34. Make Money from Gas Receipts

While this might not be one of the quick ways to make $500, you can rack up money rewards over time when you use the Upside App.

With the Upside app, you can earn cashback rewards when you:

  • Eat at partner restaurants
  • Fuel up at partner stations
  • Shop at your grocery stores

Once your shopping trip is done, all you do is snap a picture of your receipt and upload it to the app.

From there, you’ll start earning cash rewards.

Pro Tip: Within 3 to 10 business days of uploading your receipt, you’ll start earning rewards.

Making money with UpSide might be easy but it’ll take some time:

  • You can earn up to 30% cashback at grocery stores
  • You can earn up to 25 cents per gallon at gas stations

So if you shop a lot for your family or if you travel a lot for work, then getting the UpSide app might make sense.

But otherwise, don’t expect to get 500 dollars in an hour with this app.

35. Learn a New Skill

The best way to make a quick 500 dollars is simply by learning a new skill!

You know what they say:

The best investment is in yourself.

And I truly believe this as well.

In fact, I go so far and invest AT LEAST 5% of my net income each year back into myself.

Why?

Because the upside potential is 100% unlimited. 

Plus, NO ONE can EVER take away your knowledge.

They may be able to take your money or your physical things, but they can NEVER take away what you know.

The best part?

You can learn from the comfort of your own home through popular online learning platforms like Udemy.

With Udemy, for example, you could buy an ENTIRE MBA course for about $100.

How cool is that?

You get a world-renowned professor teaching you everything from starting up your own business to eventually bringing your company to an IPO.

Not interested in the MBA course?

No problem.

Udemy offers classes ranging from A to Z like:

  • Music
  • Python
  • Marketing
  • Photography
  • Web Development
  • Personal Development

You never know how much investing in yourself will benefit you.

Trust me, you will thank yourself later.

36. Make Money in the Stock Market

If you’re a savvy stock market trader, you could make 500 dollars today and not look back.

The first step to making money in the stock market is learning how to build a stock portfolio.

Each stock portfolio is different because it is based on your: 

  • Risk tolerance
  • Investing style
  • Stock preference

However, when you start tracking the markets and get advice from experts like those featured in Seeking Alpha, you can make A LOT of money in the stock market.

In fact, stock market information platforms like Seeking Alpha offer plenty of qualitative and quantitative insights into THOUSANDS of different stocks and funds.

Tesla Stock Price Overview

Actively tracking market data and trading based on this information is called active investing.

Active investing can be risky and volatile, but when it’s done right, you can even make a quick 500 dollars in a single day!

37. Pick Up Work as a Virtual Assistant

An easy way to make $500 a week from home is by working as a virtual assistant.

VA’s typically:

  • Organize your emails
  • Schedule appointments
  • Arrange your travel plans
  • Make phone calls on your behalf

On average, VA’s make around $24.93 per hour in the US.

So you can definitely make 500 a week as a part-time VA.

The best part?

You’re working remotely, in the comfort of your own home!

38. Make Money Exercising

Believe it or not, a quick way to make $500 is by exercising!

Thanks to modern apps like HealthyWage, you can bet on yourself by:

  • Selecting your weight loss goal
  • The timeframe to complete this goal
  • The amount of money you’re willing to bet

With HealthyWage, winners can actually make $500 quick – and some have made up to $10,000!

Here’s how it works:

Let’s say you want to lose 20 pounds over 9 months.

With HealthyWage, you’ll bet $50 (for example) per month for 9 months (so $450 total) of your own money.

If you actually lose the 20 pounds, then HealthyWage will give you another $50, so you would get $500 instantly, after your bet is over.

I know what you’re thinking:

Can I cheat?

Well, the answer is technically no.

That’s because the app asks you to send in a video, before and after pictures, and also weight verifications from experts (like health professionals or Weight Watchers professions).

39. Make Money Moving

If you want a quick way to make $500 and are physically strong, then you might want to consider checking out the app Bellhop.

Bellhop is a mobile app where you can:

  • Be your own boss
  • Accept & decline jobs
  • Create your own schedule
  • Make more money as you go

So as long as you don’t mind physical labor, this app could be for you.

On Bellhop, you can either elect to be:

  • A truck driver – responsible for transporting the furniture
  • A Captain – the main point of contact with the client
  • A Wingman – will assist with the delivery of the items

While you probably won’t make 500 a day with Bellhop (most movers earn between $13 to $15 per hour), you could make $500 in a week.

Pro Tip: If you’re a driver, you can also earn $0.30 per mile after the first 15 miles. 

You’ll also keep 100% of the tips.

40. Rent Out a Room in Your House

If you’re wondering how to make $500 a week, then consider renting out that spare bedroom in your home. 

In fact, with the increase in rental prices, you could probably make $500 fast by finding a roommate. 

The average monthly rental cost in the United States in late 2022 was around $1,295 and rising.

If you live in a hot spot like:

  • Miami
  • Chicago
  • Las Vegas
  • Los Angeles

Then you could even make 500 a day by using platforms like Air BnB or Vrbo by renting out your place during busy season.

One of my good friends rented out their space in downtown Miami during New Years for $584 – and people actually paid for it!!

If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

41. Donate Plasma

If you’re wondering how to make a few hundred dollars fast, then consider donating your own plasma (not blood).

When you donate plasma, your blood is actually routed into a special machine that separates out the individual components of your blood. 

On the other hand, when you donate blood, all of the blood goes straight into a collection bag. 

Pro Tip: Plasma is often used to treat very serious health issues like cancer, hemophilia and transplant surgery.

Before you donate your plasma, there may be some requirements that you might have to meet such as:

  • Age (between 18 to 69)
  • Weight (must weigh 110+ pounds)
  • Physical aptitude (must pass basic physical exam)

You probably won’t make 500 dollars today if you donate your plasma, but over time you could get there.

That’s because you’ll typically get paid between $20 to $50 per donation. 

Your very first plasma donation could take up to 3 hours.

However, donations afterward should only take up to a maximum of 1.5 hours.

42. Save Money on Your TV & Internet

You can watch your money go down the drain every time you pay for the cable or internet bill.

By cutting the cord, you could get $500 instantly back.

In fact, the average monthly cost of the cable bill is about $217.42.

If you cut the cord NOW, you can make 500 dollars fast – in less than 3 months for doing NOTHING.

43. Write an eBook

Understanding how to make $500 a day can be made easy when you learn how to write an eBook.

There’s literally NO cost on you – from the beginning to the end. 

In fact, I used the EXACT steps that are outlined in the guide called How to Create eBooks for a Living.

After carefully following each step, I made over $2,000 in a WEEK selling my own eBook.

And the best part?

You can write your eBook about anything:

  • Art
  • Finance
  • Childcare
  • Gardening

I’m serious when I say that eBooks are one of the best ways to make money while you sleep.

44. Have a Yard Sale

If you’re wondering how to make 500 dollars quick, then look around your own house.

Are there any belongings you can sell?

Some of the best belongings you can sell include:

  • Old books 
  • Old clothes
  • Old furniture
  • Old video games

While you probably shouldn’t expect a whole lot of money from selling these used items, you could make a few 100 dollars fast.

Of course, you could also sell your used technology gadgets on apps like Decluttr.

45. Rent Out Your Parking Space

If you’re wondering, “how can I make 500 dollars fast,” then look no further than your parking space.

In fact, if you live close to – or better yet, IN – a city, your parking space might actually be worth A LOT of money.

Pro Tip: Check out similar listings near you to make sure your price is competitive.

To do so, just check out the Neighbor app and type in your zip code.

The process is simple, fast, and you can easily make passive income.

46. Sell Food You Made

If cooking is your passion, you could make 500 a day – or more – by simply selling your own food.

I have a friend who is a great pastry chef, and she made about $800 to $1,000 PER DAY selling her baked goods.

Of course, those numbers are gross and not net, but that’s still a lot of dough (no pun intended!)!

Pro Tip: You can make a lot of money selling your food if you have a large audience following on social media.

That’s what my friend did:

She built a solid following on social media and started advertising her baking skills online.

Before she knew it, orders started flooding in.

47. Sell Your Gift Cards

You could even get 500 dollars in an hour by searching through your old gift cards.

You might especially want to keep gift cards from:

  • Holidays
  • Birthdays
  • Office parties

When you find your old gift cards, you could either go online or in person and sell your cards.

When you sell your gift cards, you typically receive only up to 92% of the card’s value.

If you decide to sell your cards online, you should consider going to sites like CardCash, GiftCash, or Raise. 

I prefer making these exchanges in person, however.

48. Check for Unclaimed Money

If you’re wondering how to make a few hundred dollars fast, then check out the state registry.

The state registry is a place where unclaimed inheritances are deposited.

Pro Tip: Typically, each state has its own registry.

For example, Florida’s state registry is called the FL Treasure Hunt.

You might also find a long, lost inheritance on unclaimed.org.

Who knows… you might have inherited money that’s just waiting for you to claim it!

49. Cash in Your Recycling

Check out your recycling bin from time to time.

Do you recycle a lot of bottles and cans? 

If yes, then maybe take them to a recycling facility to earn some quick cash. 

Some other things to recycle include:

  • Tires
  • Glass
  • Paper
  • Batteries
  • Scrap metal
  • Plastic bottles
  • Aluminum cans

You might not make $500 with your recyclable products, but a little extra cash won’t hurt.

50. Save with Insurance

You can make $500 in a week by saving money on your home owner’s insurance!

Especially if you live in catastrophe-prone areas like Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and California, insurance prices are probably sky-high.

Ask me.

Because I know.

I live in Florida, and EVERY time a hurricane pummels the Floridian coast, my home owner’s insurance rates go up by $200 A MONTH.

It’s not fun.

If you find yourself in the same situation, then check out insurance companies like Insurify.

You can get a customized free quote with Insurify to see what’s actually out there for you. 

For a better price.

51. Sign-Up Bonuses

If you’re looking to make 500 dollars today, then you might want to check out some of the online sign-up bonus offers!

For example, check out:

  • Credit card sign up bonuses
  • Travel websites with intro offers
  • Investment platform sign up bonuses

You can easily make $500 fast just by taking the time to see what deals are out there for first time buyers.

52. Ask Your Boss for a Raise

An easy way to get $500 instantly is simply by asking your boss for a raise.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

So why shouldn’t you ask your boss for a raise?

The worst thing they can say is “no.”

Pro Tip: When you ask your boss for a raise, come prepared to the conversation with reasons WHY you should receive a raise.

I did this myself back when I was working in corporate America. 

Here’s what I prepared:

  • Specific projects that required me to lead my team 
  • Comparisons of the typical salary of my position in the state of Florida
  • Sample statements from my direct bosses explaining how my job helped them

And you know what? 

My boss agreed to give me a $15,000 raise!

On the spot.

That equates to about a $288 raise per week!

53. Work Overtime

If you’re wondering how to get $500 fast, then you might just want to focus on your current job.

Perhaps you could make $500 quick by working overtime?

I had a friend who was a nurse and made an extra $680 by working overtime in just 4 days!

Talk about making $500 fast!

How to Best Use the $500

When you learn how to make 500 a week, it’s also important to understand how to use the $500.

Below are 5 financial principles you need to know when you start making 500 a week.

Take Care of Your Emergency

When you learn how to make a quick $500, the very first thing you should do is to take care of your emergency.

DO NOT, I repeat do not use your $500 cash for other expenses.

You might be tempted to us the cash for other things.

But don’t.

Earmark your $500 for JUST the emergency.

Pay Off High Interest Debt

When you start making 500 a week, you need to use your extra cash to pay off high interest debt.

You want to get rid of high interest debt ASAP.

High interest debt will only nibble away at your net worth.

Put Money Away in an Emergency Fund

If you took care of your emergency and paid off all your high interest debt, now is the time to put money away in an emergency fund.

An emergency fund is a liquid, readily accessible cash account used strictly for emergency expenses.

Typically, it’s advised to save between 3 to 6 months’ worth of living expenses in cash.

Open a High-Yield Savings Account

When you find a quick way to make $500, it’s important you start saving that extra money in an emergency savings account.

But don’t just open a regular savings account.

To get an extra bang for your buck, open a high yield savings account. 

Why?

A high yield savings account gives you a higher interest rate than a regular savings account. 

A regular savings account typically offers you just over 0% in interest.

Compare that 0.04% interest rate to the 4.05% interest rate that you could be getting with high yield savings accounts like CIT Bank.

So on a $10,000 investment you’d be getting $450 versus the $4 in interest you’d be paid from a regular savings account.

Invest

Investing and building a stock portfolio is one way you create long term wealth.

So, when you’ve finished building up your emergency savings account, it’s time to invest your money. 

One of the best apps is M1 Finance.

Once you’ve started investing in the stock market, it’s also important to consider other investment vehicles.

Some examples include:

  • Crypto
  • Fine wine
  • Farmland investing

Always make sure to do your research first, though.

Avoiding This in the Future

While there are quick ways to make $500 to cover an emergency, don’t let this become a habit.

Below are 3 steps you can take today to avoid a future financial emergency and become financially independent.

1. Create a Budget

Creating a budget can help you better understand your current financial situation.

When you know your current situation, you can better prepare for future unexpected expenses – and avoid money shortfalls.

Remember that a budget should have the following sections:

  • Income
  • Expenses

You can use your own Excel spreadsheet to create a budget, or if you’re serious about turning your budgeting life around, check out YNAB.

YNAB (aka You Need A Budget) is an app (it’s free for the first month) that you can download and track your income and expenses. 

Many people have reported to save $600 in just their first 2 months of using the app.

To learn more about it, check out my latest YNAB Review.

2. Don’t Use Credit Cards

The famous US Billionaire, Mark Cuban, famously said that if you use credit cards (and have credit card debt), then you don’t want to be rich.

And I think he’s right to some extent.

Credit card debt is high-interest debt, which nibbles away at your net worth. 

Pay off your credit card debt ASAP.

And next time, make sure you have enough saved so you DON’T resort to credit card debt.

3. Automate Your Savings

When you make 500 a week, it’s also important you start saving that extra cash – and not just spend it.

Pro Tip: The best way to save your $500 is by automating your savings.

When you automate savings, it’s out of sight and out of mind.

If you don’t automate your savings, life might get in the way and you might miss saving your extra $500, which can cost you money!

In fact, automating your savings is SO important because it is a way to build generational wealth. 

So what if you’ve saved enough cash?

The next step is automating your INVESTMENTs.

Enter Acorns.

If you haven’t downloaded the Acorns app yet, then do it.

Acorns has 10+ million users and it’s free to download.

It doesn’t matter how much money you have.

It could be $1 or it could be $1,000.

The key is to start building your wealth NOW.

FAQs

Yes! It’s absolutely possible to make $500 in a week or even in a day. But, you have to work hard. You also can’t just rely on 1 income stream. Start diversifying your efforts. For example, build your own business, do jobs online, ask for a raise, or simply get cash back rewards.

You don’t need a job to make $500 every day. If you build your own business from home, you can make $500 daily. Check out gigs like freelance writing, website design, YouTube editing, etc. Because you are your own boss, you get to choose your own rates. And the bigger your audience, the more money you get.

Look around you. You can earn $500 just by selling the things you don’t need anymore like old technology, jewelry, or luxury clothing. Consider starting a yard sale or selling your items online via Facebook Marketplace or Etsy for example.

You can make $500 in a day if you run your own business. But that takes time and effort. If you don’t run your own business you can still make $500 in a day but you might have to diversify your efforts. For example, do online surveys for cash, work overtime, sell your old stuff, or become a food delivery driver.

Closing Thoughts

When life gives you lemons, you can always make lemonade by learning how to make 500 in a week.

You can make $500 fast by:

  • Doing odd jobs
  • Selling your stuff
  • Starting a side hustle
  • Participating in the gig economy

If you want to get 500 dollars today, you probably can – thanks to modern technology.

While some of these money making strategies might take longer than getting a payday loan, they are always better than going into debt. 

And remember:

Build up your emergency savings fund so next time, you can stop worrying about money and so you don’t hustle when you face an emergency.

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