53 Realistic Ways to Make $500 Fast (In Less than 1 Week)
by Fiona Smith
- Updated August 16, 2023
Disclosure: This post may receive compensation from partners listed through affiliate partnerships, at no cost to you. This doesn’t influence our ratings, and the opinions are our own. Learn more here.
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.
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. 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.
Thanks to the Neighbor app, you can turn that empty space into CASH.
Seriously, this is one of the best passive income apps and you should download it now (it’s free).
It doesn’t even matter where you’re located (as long as it’s in the US).
Of course, if you’re living in the top cities, then you’ll probably make more money.
This app is a NO BRAINER.
Who wouldn’t want to turn empty space that’s collecting dust into a passive cash cow?
I know I would.
2. Become a Personal Grocery Shopper
If you’re 18+ and want to make an extra $500 fast, then consider joining Instacart.
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.
3. 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.
4. 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:
- Sign up to Uber Driver
- Open the Uber app
- Accept a ride offer
- Pick up your customer
- Drop off your customer
What I like most about Uber is that riders can rate drivers AND drivers can rate riders.
5. 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.
6. 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 Create 24/7.
Create 24/7 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.
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.
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:
- 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.
Want to Make More Money?
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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.
Recommended Reading: Survey Junkie Review
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 Ibotta came onto the market.
Ibotta is an app where you can earn cash back on EVERY DAY purchases.
In fact, you can earn up to 30% cash back on partner stores.
And Ibotta is partnered with 300+ retailers in 500,000+ locations.
Ibotta’s target retail partner is in the grocery and grocery delivery industry.
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.
If you’re shopping in-store, just snap a picture of your receipt and upload it to the app.
If you’re shopping online (either via desktop or mobile phone), the app will calculate your savings, if you shop at partner stores – all while you shop.
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 and ySense.
These two websites (which also pay you to take online surveys) are 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.
Trust me, there are MANY of them like:
All you do is download the apps and continue shopping as you normally would.
Whenever you shop at a partner brand or retailer, you’ll earn up to 10% in cash back rewards (or up to 30% if you’re shopping with Ibotta!).
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.
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.
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