You woke up this morning and thought: I need to make $1000 fast! Whether you’ve got an unexpected expense or want to pay off a nagging debt, the good news is that there are countless ways to make extra cash today — and without breaking the law. All you have to do is recognize your value, get creative, and know where to look for opportunities.
If there’s one thing I must say before moving forward, it’s this: never lose your desire to make money.
If you can make $1000 in your spare time, why not make $1 million? Your goal should be to hit $1,000 and keep going. The sky’s the limit when you have the right mindset.
24 Ways To Make $1000 Fast
Here are some great ways to make $1000 fast, in a week or less:
- Make Deliveries
- Drive for Uber or Lyft
- Take Online Surveys
- Start Freelancing
- Earn Cash Back When You Shop
- Sell Stuff
- Sell Jewelry You Don’t Want
- Maximize Bank Bonuses
- Rent Out Your Home or Car
- Babysit or Petsit
- Take out a Loan
SHOW ALL
1. Make Deliveries
Delivering food or groceries is in high demand. If you are between full-time jobs or have a good bit of free time, you can make $1000 a week pretty quickly by working with a delivery service like DoorDash, Instacart, or Postmates.
To achieve this goal, you will have to work during peak hours, so this might be best in the short term so that you do not burn yourself out.
With DoorDash, customers place an order at a restaurant, and then the DoorDash app sends the orders to active “Dashers.” If you accept the order, you go pick it up and deliver it to the customer’s location.
Learn More:
- DoorDash Driver Review
Instacart customers order items from numerous retailers – such as Aldi, Publix, CVS, or Target to name a few – through the app. Instacart shoppers go get the items and deliver them to the customer’s location.
Learn More:
- Instacart Shopper Review
One of the easiest ways to make money fast is to drive for Uber. The average Uber driver makes $19 an hour. The gig is incredibly flexible and will only cost you gas, insurance, and wear and tear on your car.
The best part about driving for Uber or Lyft is that there is no minimum commitment. You can pick people up and earn money on your daily commute (covering your weekly gas or parking fees) or even on the way to the grocery store.
In my opinion, driving people is a no-brainer if you want to earn extra income and can incorporate it into your daily routine.
Here’s something to consider: Driving is an excellent way to make interesting and profitable connections. You never know when you might meet someone offering you more money to drive privately — or even someone who may become a great business partner.
Learn More:
- Uber vs. Lyft
3. Take Online Surveys
You may roll your eyes at the suggestion of getting paid to take surveys. After all, it seems like a scam — but it’s not.
There are tons of survey sites that offer cash back via bank transfer or PayPal Cash, free gift cards from major retailers like Amazon, and other rewards for your help with market research. The only thing is it takes a little bit of time.
But if you are sitting around waiting for your next DoorDash order to come in, why not?
Of course, many services offer money for your input, and it’s important to be discerning about the ones you choose.
There are numerous companies that I recommend, such as Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, LifePoints, InboxDollars, and Survey Junkie.
With most of these survey sites, you can earn extra points quickly by sending referrals to friends.
Learn More:
- Branded Surveys Review
4. Start Freelancing Online
Whatever you do for work, you can probably do it on the side as a freelancer as long as there is no direct conflict with your job. I absolutely love being a freelance writer.
Skills like accounting, bookkeeping, consulting, graphic design, writing, proofreading, and editing are all in high demand right now. Look for opportunities to make money online on job boards by scouring LinkedIn for opportunities. They are out there. You just need to be patient and determined.
You can search for online freelancing gigs through sites like Fiverr and Flexjobs.
Learn More:
- Fiverr Gigs for Freelancers
5. Become a Virtual Assistant
Many businesses seek virtual assistants who can provide administrative and technical support.
Virtual assistants can perform various tasks, from calendar management and meeting coordination to social media management and communication support.
Hiring a virtual assistant on a freelance basis is far more cost-effective than hiring someone full-time.
Now is a great time to explore virtual assistant opportunities, with most companies operating remotely. It can become a pretty lucrative and easy side hustle from home.
6. Earn Shopping Rewards
Making extra money through cash back apps is one of the easiest ways to get more money. We all need food and clothing, but you can soften the expense using the best cashback apps.
Each time you make a purchase, you earn a percentage of the amount spent in your account. You typically need to purchase certain items or shop at certain stores to earn cashback.
I recommend several great sites that offer shopping rewards: Honey, Rakuten, and Capital One Shopping. While you will not earn cash back from Capital One, you will earn shopping rewards that you can redeem for gift cards.
Combine multiple shopping rewards sites to maximize your savings!
Learn More:
- Capital One Shopping Review
7. Sell Stuff You Don’t Need
Take a look around your house, and take inventory of the items that are sitting around. I’m willing to bet there are items like old books you will never read again, outdated devices that are collecting dust, and guitar amplifiers that will never make you famous.
This is a great opportunity to clear some floor or shelf space and sell unused objects at a yard sale or on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay to make $1000 fast.
Learn More:
- Decluttr Review
8. Sell Jewelry You Don’t Want
Have jewelry from a previous engagement, an old high school class ring, or other items you no longer wear? Sell it on Worthy.com, a jewelry auction site.
Anyone can sell jewelry online, including diamond rings, gold, platinum, gemstone earrings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, and other valuable jewelry.
Many people use Worthy as a place to sell an old engagement ring. They’ll even provide you with a GIA-certified appraisal completely free.
If you have gold or silver items you no longer want, you could be looking at some serious cash at over $2,000 an ounce for pure gold! Sell on sites like CashforGoldUSA.com, and they’ll even throw in a 10% first-time bonus! That’s a truly lucrative money-making strategy.
Learn More:
- Worthy.com Review
9. Maximize Bank Benefits
Many banks will pay a sign-up bonus for opening a bank account and parking your money there for a specific period.
Keep in mind that this is a fast way to earn a few hundred dollars, but it’s not a fast way to actually receive the money. Typically, you’ll have to play the long game to receive your payment.
Learn More:
- Best Chase Bank Promotions Right Now
10. Rent Out Your Home, Extra Space, or Car
If you own a home or car, you could consider renting your assets to make some extra money.
- Rent Your Home: For example, services like Airbnb or TripAdvisor Rentals can make it easy to rent a spare room for short periods.
- Rent Your Extra Space: If you have a garage or building you never use, rent that extra storage space for extra cash with an app like Neighbor.
- Rent Your Car: You can also rent your car using an app like GetAround or Turo. This is a great option for people who are now working from home.
Next Steps:
- Rent Your Extra Space with Neighbor
11. Babysit or Petsit
Nothing is more frustrating than canceling plans at the last minute because you can’t find someone to watch your kids or pets.
Make no mistake, people are willing to pay top dollar for these services.
The best part is that if you do it consistently and prove that you are reliable, you can build up a steady clientele for recurring income — getting paid to watch movies or play with dogs instead of doing hard labor — while also giving your friends, family, or customers some time to themselves.
The average hourly rate for a babysitter is now $22.68 for one child and $25.37 for two kids. Believe it or not, this is more than twice the federal minimum wage requirement.
Pet sitting or dog walking typically yields $25 to $30 per day, $25 for a 30-minute visit, and $75 to $85 or more for an overnight stay or longer care. Not too shabby. You can find some great petsitting or dog-walking jobs on the Rover App.
Learn more:
- Care.com review
12. Sell Your Photos and Graphics
Becoming a photographer requires years of training, an eye for design, and expensive equipment.
However, it doesn’t take much talent or money to take a picture and sell it online for use as a stock photo or for use on a website, blog, or sales document.
The same is also true for graphic design.
Companies like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock will pay you royalties for your photos while helping you connect with businesses and creative professionals across the world. You can also hop on sites like Fiverr and Upwork to see your graphic design creations.
Next Steps:
13. Help Others with Small Tasks
Another way you can make $1000 is to help people with specific tasks in exchange for money.
Sites like Craigslist and TaskRabbit can help you connect with people who need help moving, gardening, shopping, and cleaning. Even little handyman jobs — like mounting a TV or setting up a table — can earn you a decent hourly rate.
Always be smart about working for strangers, though — especially when entering other people’s homes. In most cases, task apps do not offer insurance and will require you to enter into unknown situations.
And as you probably already know, Craigslist is like the Wild West of the internet. In addition, some apps can charge a high fee for work that you do. You’re much better off building a trusted network of personal contacts and letting them know you can help when needed.
Cut out the middleman and put those profits where they belong: in your pocket.
14. Work as a Guide
If you happen to live in a big city or an area with abundant natural resources (like mountains, trails, or rivers), you may be able to pick up a part-time job as a tour guide.
For example, REI often looks for single and multi-day tour guides in states like Arizona. In this type of role, you will take guests out for a specified period to local destinations, helping them get there safely while teaching them about the local area.
You can do this through a company (like a local outfitter or travel agency) or on your own if you advertise your services.
Some outdoor outfitters may also pay you a commission for bringing tourists into their shop to buy gear like tents, backpacks, or rock climbing gear, among other items.
15. Revisit Your Budget
As they say, money saved is money earned — and chances are likely you’re throwing cash away daily.
Take a hard look at your budget and determine where you’re losing money.
For example, if you’re like many people, you’re still spending money on a gym membership. But when was the last time you went? Now may be a good time to cancel and save money.
You may also determine you’re spending too much on luxuries like food delivery, entertainment, alcohol, or your phone bill. Figure out where your money is going, and trim where appropriate.
Learn More:
- Trim Review
16. Be a Personal Chef
Not everyone has the time, desire, or ability to cook — especially working professionals who are stressed and overloaded. Many people would prefer to spend their free time doing things other than going through the arduous preparation process of daily meals.
You can make $1000 shopping for groceries, cooking, serving, and cleaning for other people. Other opportunities may include preparing school lunches or even private dinner events.
If you’re handy in the kitchen, this could be a great opportunity to help friends, family, and community members.
Don’t be dismayed if you lack formal culinary training, either. Many people would be willing to pay for food that tastes good and enjoy the freedom of not having to deal with any of the preparation or clean-up work.
17. Offer IT Support
Many people still work from home even after the pandemic and struggle with daily network and computer issues.
Even seemingly simple tasks — like setting up Zoom meetings or managing accounts — can be difficult for people who are not good with computers.
So, if you have technical skills, consider offering on-demand tech support for people in your community, helping with tasks like connectivity, cybersecurity, and Windows or Mac support.
Charge an hourly rate or a monthly retainer for virtual tech support. According to recent research, you may be able to earn anywhere from $80 to $150 per user — and even more for on-site service. That’s a lot of money.
18. Become an Influencer
It’s a misconception that you need over 20,000 social media followers to be an influencer. Brands sometimes prefer to work with micro-influencers and bloggers who can persuade a particular niche audience.
Recent advancements in influencer marketing and blogging software make it easy for influencers to be discovered, recruited, and compensated for their advertising efforts. Almost anyone can become an influencer with the right skill, product, or marketing strategy.
For example, “skinfluencers” can get paid to showcase their progress using skin medications or beauty products. There are also many creative pet owners who like to personify their dogs and cats. Take a look at Dean the Basset Hound on Instagram for inspiration.
19. Bartend
If you’re looking for a more traditional way to earn $1,000 fast, you should strongly consider bartending.
Like driving for Uber, bartending is a great way to make connections that can lead to other lucrative opportunities — especially if you tend to bar in a high-end establishment.
As for compensation, the average bartender makes $48.391 per year. But your salary may be even higher, depending on your tips. If you pick the right place on a decent weekend, you could easily make a few hundred or even make $1000 dollars.
20. Tutor
Parents often seek support outside of school to help with their child’s academics. This creates a great opportunity for people with degrees and a penchant for teaching and working with youth.
If you can speak Spanish fluently, are a gifted artist or musician, or are good at math, English, or science, consider becoming certified, advertising your services, and setting rates. A little bit of groundwork could help jumpstart a flexible and lucrative business.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll find out that teaching is your life calling. What’s better than helping the future generation prepare for tomorrow?
21. Work as a Trade Show Professional
Companies often look for ways to maintain a presence at events with as few team members as possible — for liability reasons. As a result, people who are willing to sit in front of a booth and engage with attendees will have plenty of opportunities to find work.
Working as a trade show professional is a great way to earn income. All you have to do is know enough about the company to hold a conversation and steer people to the right contacts within the organization.
And when the show ends, you are free to move on to another gig.
Plus, if you can earn a reputation as reliable and engaging, you can earn future gigs and be recommended to other companies. Booth assistance is always in high demand. And right now, there are also opportunities for part-time assistance helping with virtual trade shows and events. Check ‘em out.
22. Sell as a 1099 Employee
Poke around and look for companies with strong products that are easy to sell that may be willing to take you on as a 1099 sales associate.
Selling is hard. But it can also be financially rewarding — especially if you can land a gig that will compensate you while letting you work at your own pace.
If you’re good at talking with people and you’re persuasive, a freelance sales gig could help you earn quick money without requiring much work or responsibility.
Plus, it could also lead to a high-paying role or even a future leadership position if you’re successful.
23. Ask for a Raise
Here is a crazy statistic: Only 37% of people have asked for a raise from their current employer.
In most cases, this is because people are either afraid to ask, or they don’t want to go through the hassle of a performance review.
In my opinion, both excuses are lame.
Determine your market value and compare it to the industry average. Then, benchmark your performance and do it honestly to make sure you can justify asking to make more money.
If you find that you’re several thousand dollars away from what you should be bringing in, you shouldn’t feel bad about asking for more — or going to another company that can give you a bigger bump.
24. Take Out a Loan
If you are in a bind and need quick cash, and are good at making payments, you should consider taking out a personal loan.
I should caution you against doing this if possible, as you will wind up paying more in the long run.
However, these services usually provide large sums of money, sometimes within 24 hours.
Instead of relying on others when you need a loan, use the above tips to build a nest egg and start a high-yield savings account (HYSA) at a bank like Amex, Vio, or Ally.
Learn More:
- Best High-Yield Savings Accounts
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do to make $1,000 in one day?
If you want to make $1,000 in one day, one of the quickest ways to do so is by selling high-value items like jewelry and electronics online through sites like Worthy and Facebook Marketplace.
You may also want to consider applying for high-paying and in-demand freelance gigs through Fiverr and Upwork.
How can I make $1,000 this week?
One of the best ways to make up to $1,000 in a week is by working for delivery companies like DoorDash and Instacart. Keep in mind that making $1,000 a week by delivering food or groceries will require you to put in a lot of free time, particularly during peak delivery hours, but it’s a good solution if you need to make a lot of money quickly.
How can I make $1,000 quickly without a job?
If you don’t want to commit yourself to delivery service apps like DoorDash or Instacart, you can make passive income by selling items of high value you have sitting around your home. Jewelry, electronics, furniture, and name-brand or designer clothing can bring in a lot of extra money with little effort on your part.
You might also consider taking on some short-term work as a tutor, babysitter, or petsitter, or market your skills on one-off projects like freelance writing or graphic design.
Are You Ready to Make $1000 Fast?
We’re all looking for the fastest ways to make money. But we can’t snap our fingers and expect it to stack up overnight.
In today’s digital age, finding some extra ways to make quick cash is easier than ever. That’s what I love about being alive during this time. Everything is at our fingertips, and the possibilities are endless.
At the end of the day, you know your interests, your talents, and how hard you’re capable of hustling. No one else does.
It’s up to you to prove yourself to everyone else and show what you bring to the table.
If you’re determined to make $1000 doing what you do best and are ready to work hard to make it happen, you can end up in a place you didn’t even know was possible sooner than you think.
Take my word for it. Yes, it could and most likely will take a lot of time. But it’ll be worth it. And, let’s be honest, what’s the alternative?
Good luck. I’m rooting for you.
