37 ways to make money in a day

Edited by: Mónica Camargo
• Updated •9 min read
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
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Whether you’re trying to pay off your debt faster or need some extra income for the month, there are several side gigs you can consider to help make quick money in a day.

Learn more about what you could do to earn an extra income in a day with these 37 ideas.

1. Drive with rideshare

Work around your own schedule and drive for an app-based rideshare service. Your earnings are calculated based on the base amount, time and distance of the ride. You can earn even more if there is a high demand for drivers in the area, whether it’s a sought-after location or the day of an event, so keep that in mind when selecting an area to drive in. Minimum requirements may include the following:

  • You must meet your state or city driver age requirements
  • You must have a valid driver’s license
  • You may need to have at least one year of licensed driving experience
  • You must have an eligible four-door vehicle
  • You must have proof of vehicle registration and auto insurance

Once you apply, you’ll likely undergo a screening to review your driving record and criminal history.

2. Presell your labor

Even if your family, friends or neighbors may not need work done, you can sell your labor before completing it. Make it official by printing out a certificate that promises you’ll mow their lawn, shovel their driveway, water their garden or complete another chore they’d need. Once they require the service, you can set up a time to get the job done.

It’s important to be reliable and keep your word on the job you promised. If you build up trust, these jobs could become a regular option for earning extra cash.

3. Perform seasonal jobs

Take seasonality into consideration when offering paid labor. Are any of these seasonal options viable in your area?

  • Winter — Shovel the driveway or roof
  • Spring — Fertilize the grass
  • Summer — Mow the lawn or landscape the yard
  • Fall — Rake the leaves

4. Sell your clothes

Try purging your closet of clothes that you don’t wear anymore. You may have luck selling items that are on trend, so consider items that are still in style but that you don’t wear anymore. Head to a local thrift shop or consignment shop to see how much your clothes are worth!

Try selling through an online or app-based marketplace.

5. Become a tutor

Are you a math expert? Fluent in another language? Use your skills to your advantage by becoming a tutor. Reach out to the schools in your community to connect with parents of students looking for extra help.

There are also online communities that allow you to find tutoring gigs in your area. Be aware that you may need to undergo an application process before landing a gig.

6. Sell your furniture

Do you have an old couch in your garage or a hand-me-down piece of furniture in your attic? You might be surprised by the value of your unused items.

Turn to re-sell apps or online marketplaces to try selling your furniture. Before listing your item, consider giving it a good cleaning. It may help you get a better price. 

7. Have a yard sale

Peruse your home for items you don’t use, like books, clothes, records and furniture. If you don’t have enough for a yard sale, reach out to your neighbors to see if they’re interested in a joint yard sale.

Check out our three tips for hosting a successful yard sale.

  1. Get a permit. Some cities require that you have a permit to host a yard sale, so check with your city clerk or town hall to find out. If you hold your yard sale without a permit, you might be at risk of getting shut down or fined.
  2. Find a convenient time. Saturday or Sunday mornings are usually ideal for a yard sale, since most people don’t work then. If you have enough items, you might attract a larger crowd by holding a multiday yard sale.
  3. Advertise. You can advertise in your local newspaper or online, or make yard sale signs and post them around your neighborhood. The more people that know about your yard sale, the better.

8. Sell your books

Whether you have textbooks or books for pleasure reading, they may hold some cash value. Try selling used textbooks at a local college or university — you may have even better luck if their current course offerings use the same textbook.

You can also sell used books online through re-sell sites.

9. Deliver food

Opportunities to deliver food have been taken to a new level thanks to app-based devices. There are numerous food delivery apps that may help you make some extra cash.

With the flexibility to select when, where and how much you want to work, food delivery apps make it possible to make quick side money.

10. Get a roommate

How important is it to you to live alone? If you have an extra bedroom or two in your house, you may be missing out on some extra cash. Check apartment search apps  and online listings to see what other rooms in your area are going for.

11. Find quick jobs on Craigslist

If you’re looking for a quick side gig, you may find new opportunities through a catchall marketplace like Craigslist. You can find a job that matches your strengths or unique skills. If it’s the first time you’re meeting about a gig, be sure to meet up in a well-trafficked location and practice good safety.

12. Become a pet sitter

According to the ASPCA, approximately 44% of households in the U.S. have a dog and 35% have a cat. There is a big opportunity for you to make money from pet sitting, whether overnight or during the day.

With pet-care apps like Rover, you can create a profile to get matched with pet owners in the area. You may even be able to get recurring gigs if you over-communicate and provide excellent service during your first pet-sitting gig.

13. Do freelance work

Do you have a knack for writing or a background in development? There are thousands of freelance jobs available for people of all different areas of expertise. Sites like Upwork or Freelancer allow you to create a profile of what you bring to the table, and you can either apply for applicable jobs or get sought out by people looking for freelancers. Remember to learn how to handle your taxes as a freelancer.

14. Clean houses

Try looking for housekeeping and cleaning jobs online or on local job boards. Sites like Care or Indeed may have opportunities in your area.

Be proactive and apply for jobs as soon as the company posts them. If you have a background in cleaning, include that in your response — it may increase your likelihood of getting hired.

15. Participate in research studies

Programs such as NIH Clinical Center and ITHS offer opportunities for people to participate in research studies if they meet certain requirements. Search for studies in your area and research the effects of participating to see if it’s something you want to follow through with.

16. Wash or detail cars

Offer your services online or reach out to local dealerships to see if they have any opportunities available. Some dealerships rely on car washers to spruce up their cars for showrooms to intrigue potential buyers, so you might find part-time or full-time work washing, waxing and detailing their cars.

17. Review music

Get paid for your opinion by signing up and engaging in sites like Slicethepie. Not only does the site give you the chance to hear new music, but it allows you to give a rating and feedback to artists for some extra cash.

18. Lower your bills

It can be easy to put your bills on autopay and forget about the cost associated with them. But you might be surprised by how much you can deduct from your monthly payment simply by taking stock of your spending habits.

Do you need your own video-streaming and music membership? Or could you split them with someone to save on costs? If you split that $10 per month, you could end up saving $60 annually.

19. Be an extra

You don’t always need to live near Los Angeles or New York City to land some extra cash on set. Sites like Backstage and Central Casting can help you find extra casting calls in your area.

Be prepared to provide a headshot when you apply for a gig where you meet the requirements.

20. Find unclaimed money

Did you know that states return more than $3 billion in unclaimed property annually?

Find out if some of it’s yours by searching for unclaimed money or property in every state you’ve lived in. You can get started online with the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.

21. Rent out your parking space

If you live near an event venue or parking-poor area in your city, rent out your parking space when it’s in high demand. Encourage people to park in your driveway or even in your yard for some extra cash. If you have limited space, park your car at a friend’s place or on a distant side street.

22. Babysit

There may be families in your area seeking out an experienced and trustworthy babysitter. Use sites like Care or SitterCity to find babysitting jobs that fit your schedule.

23. Negotiate a pay raise

It can be daunting to request a raise at work, but being proactive might result in more money in your paycheck. Prepare an argument about why you deserve a raise and bring it to your boss. Even if they don’t accept immediately, it will show your company that your asking salary is a request that you’re working toward.

24. Flip free stuff

As people move out or change their lifestyles, they may offer to give some of their stuff away for free. Peruse marketplace sites and stop to check out items that you see marked as “free” on the side of the road. With a little elbow grease, you might be able to spruce up the item and sell it for a profit.

25. Participate in focus groups

Get paid to share your opinions by joining a focus group in your area. Sites like FocusGroups can help connect you with available studies.

26. Sell gift cards

Have you received a gift card for a birthday or holiday to a store or restaurant that you’re unlikely to visit? Sites like GiftDeals or CardCash allow you to earn cash for those gift cards. The process begins with a quote, after which, you’ll send your gift cards in for payment.

27. Become a mover

Moving companies can be expensive, so sometimes people will look for independent contractors to help them with their move.

You can find opportunities to help people move in and out with sites like TruckPlease or Dolly. You may even be able to find a gig last minute that fits your schedule.

28. Do photography

If you have an eye for photography, you can try selling your photos as stock photography through sites like Shutterstock or Getty Images. Finish applying as a contributor and you can list your images for sale. To date, Shutterstock has paid out over $1 billion to its contributors.

29. Help with gardening or landscaping

Whether your neighbor or friend is going out of town or simply needs an extra hand in the yard, offer your services as a gardener or landscaper. You can agree upon a fee in order to mow their lawn, water their garden, plant flowers or help with anything else they need.

Additional ways to make money in a day

If you need more ideas on how to make some extra cash, check out these additional strategies.

  • Deliver groceries. With Instacart, you can get paid to grocery shop on behalf of people in your community.
  • Rent out your car for a day. If you don’t use your car every day, consider renting it out to make some extra cash? You can list your car for rent on sites like Turo.
  • Use a paid survey site. Sites like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks want your opinion and will pay you for it. Each survey pays a certain amount, which may come in the form of cash or gift cards to popular retailers.
  • Transcribe video and audio. Sites like Rev and GoTranscript pay for people to listen to video and audio and type out the text. You’ll get paid by the minute for each video or audio. 
  • Do someone’s chores or handiwork. Apps like TaskRabbit make it easy to find people in your area that need assistance. From doing basic chores to building furniture, TaskRabbit is a marketplace of people who are looking for someone else to do small jobs here and there.
  • Sell your craft. Whether your craft involves pottery, woodworking or something else, you can list your handiwork for sale on sites like Etsy. You can also search for local art fairs or markets that may be open to selling your items. 
  • Become a delivery driver. Did you know you can become a flex driver for Amazon and only work when you want? Most drivers make $18–$25 per hour.
  • Test and review websites and apps. Apps like UserTesting and Beta Testing offer payment for using apps or websites and providing feedback on their functionality.

What’s next: Master budgeting and saving

Once you start earning money, make it stretch further by learning to budget effectively. A budget can help you get out of debt, build an emergency fund or save up for a big purchase like a house.

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