Want to Make Extra Money Now?
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In a bind? Need to learn how to make 500 dollars a day fast? We're talking about quick cash infusions so you can get your bills paid.
When you're looking to make money fast — it's important to stay level-headed and be wary of get-rich-quick schemes and scams.
None of the ways to make 500 dollars fast here will make you next Warren Buffet. Some of them are pretty easy, just watch a video or tap a few buttons on your smartphone and collect your money. And some of these $500 money-making strategies can get you through the tough times.
That's why we are sharing them — we love making money here at Finance Blog and the ideas we are sharing are all professionally vetted by experts in the industry. Plus, they're all free ways to make $500 fast.
How To Make $500 A Day
To get you started, here are some of our favorite ways to make money fast with proven strategies on how to make 500 dollars fast:
Here are some more of my favorite ways to earn money fast in more details:
1. Take online surveys
You may not be fond of survey sites (who is, really?) but there is one thing that is true — they are an easy way to help you make money in your free time. Websites like Survey Junkie can make you quick money for passively sharing your opinion and trying new products. It is 100% legit and simple: companies pay you in cash via PayPal so they can understand consumers better and survey takers can benefit.
The number one survey site is Survey Junkie, which has an 8.9/10 on Trustpilot, the highest of any survey site. Expect to make between $1 and $50 per survey, it varies but most surveys take under 5 minutes to complete.
Knowing that companies are using your opinions to make decisions about restaurants, consumer products, movies and a lot more is oddly satisfying. They also have plenty of high paying surveys to choose from, so you don't have much to lose. You can get started with a registration bonus here.
It obviously depends on the survey you are taking. Most surveys take under 5 minutes to complete and pay between $1 and $50 per survey. You'll only want to focus on the higher-paying surveys so you can make an extra $500 as soon as this month if you are able to take a bunch of surveys each day.
- Online survey site with a large number of surveys
- Can earn up to $50 per survey
- Additional ways to earn up to $100
- Install Survey Junkie extension for bonus
2. Invest in real estate
Wouldn’t it be great if you could invest in commercial real estate and apartments without dealing with all the hassle of buying, improving, and re-selling real estate? You don't have to be a millionaire to invest in these types of properties. You can now invest in large-scale real estate for as little as $10 with Fundrise.
Through their real estate investment products, investors earned an average of 8.7 – 12.4 percent on their money last year, and all without painting a wall or dealing with unruly tenants. There is a reason why they currently have over 500,000+ users, this app really pays you!
How fast can you make $500?
Depending on how much you are investing, you can expect to make 8.7 to 12 percent back on your money each year. So if you invest $4,190 into Fundrise, you can earn $500 in 12 months. While not exactly fast, it is a passive way of making $500 with money you may have just sitting in a checking account not earning anything.
3. Rent out your room
There is a company out there called Airbnb that can net you over $500 a month just by listing your spare room just a few nights out of the month. Plus, you can even showcase your place using property virtual tours to get even more bookings. Are you interested in seeing what your income potential could be by listing a spare room on Airbnb?
It's easy to use, just sign up for Airbnb (you just need to give them a name and email address), list your spare space in under 5 minutes and you can get paid when somebody books your spare room and you can charge whatever you want. Remember, it is a free room booking app for your phone. I really mean free all around – free to join and they don’t charge any fees for you to list your spare room. See how much people are making from listings in your area, then make your own!
How fast can you make $500?
Airbnb earnings can range drastically, with some hosts making more than $10,000 per month, while others still making more than $500-$1500 on average. Still, even with the wild discrepancies, nearly 50 percent of all Airbnb hosts make more than $500 per month.
4. Teach English online
Want to choose your own schedule, on your own time to make money teaching English from home? Seriously — all that is required is that you're fluent in English, have a college degree, and you're eligible to make up to $20 per hour teaching English from the comfort of your home.
How fast can you make $500?
In order to make $500 fast by teaching English from home, you'll have to sign up and classes are available to start teaching within 2 weeks of signing up and getting approved. You can earn up to $20 an hour to start and work 25 hours to earn $500 before taxes. You can likely work 25 hours in less than a week.
5. Get paid for your gas receipts
Have you ever dreamed of paying less for gas each week? Well, that time has come, with GetUpside you can earn money by sharing your purchase receipts and shopping at local stores. I heard about this app on the radio and decided to try it out for myself.
The system is simple: you take a photo of your gas receipt and upload it. Then the app will digitize the receipt information and you'll get up to 25 cents off each gallon. I'm surprised I don't hear about this app more often though, I make a killing with it:
You can likely rack up an extra couple hundred this year by using it. And you can also save up to 35% at restaurants and 15% at grocery stores near you. The money you earn can be transferred to your Paypal account or redeemed for gift cards to buy at Amazon and other stores.
How fast can you make $500?
GetUpside is an app to use to save money passively on your gas receipts. While it won't make you $300 fast by itself, downloading the app and using it with the combination of these other strategies can get you there.
6. Get free money
There are a few ways to potentially get “free” money, although most require some effort or eligibility criteria:
1. Scholarships or Grants: For educational purposes.
2. Sign-up Bonuses: Some banks, credit card companies, and apps offer money instantly for signing up.
3. Rebate Apps: Cashback for purchases.
4. Government Benefits: Depending on eligibility.
5. Contests or Sweepstakes: Participation might win you money.
6. Found Money: Like finding change in public places.
How fast can you make $500?
Earning $500 through free money opportunities can take anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on the method and individual circumstances. Quick options include sign-up bonuses or selling items you own, while methods like scholarships or cashback rewards may take longer.
7. Get $500 now
If you actually need money now, then you can opt for a personal loan. When you need money in a hurry ZippyLoan is where to go. You apply for a loan through the ZippyLoan site, if approved they send your loan application to one of many loan providers. You review the loan details and e-sign if you like what you see. No risk in checking what offers you'll get.
You can borrow between $500 and $15,000 as soon as tomorrow. Loans service for up to 60 months. ZippyLoan connects borrowers to lenders through their network of lenders. They'll find you the lowest interest rate and is one of the best no credit check loan. You can visit ZippyLoan here.
How fast can you make $500?
ZippyLoan is a legit company with a BBB rating and uses industry-standard protocols on its site. You can get $500 fast as soon as tomorrow through the Zippy Loan site.
Zippyloan is a fast, simple, secure and completely free service that connects prospective borrowers with lenders who offer personal loans. Borrow between $100 and $15,000 as soon as tomorrow.
8. Use Shopkick
Shopkick is an app that rewards you for walking into stores. You don't have to do anything else, just physically walk into a store nearby. You can earn reward points (they call them kicks), then redeem for a wide selection of free gift cards! So whether you have any stores you can walk by on your lunch break, or go shopping now and then, you can make some quick cash with this app
How fast can you make $500?
According to The Penny Hoarder, one woman made $1,200 by using Shopkick and lost around 23 pounds using it walk into a ton of different stores near her. While you may not make that amount, you can use it as another way to work towards your goal of making $500 fast.
9. Find savings
BILLSHARK boasts that new users are eligible for up to $500 in lower bills as soon as they sign up. The free app, BILLSHARK, saves you money with automation by showing you where you are wasting your money. It can cancel subscriptions and show you how much you're paying for all of them and can cancel one of them with just one text message.
Simply link your accounts watch it go to work, and it can also negotiate your bills, analyze spending habits, and more. This passive income app is free and worth the 1-minute sign up as it can potentially save you hundreds. Diane Pombo recommends it as she told us, “Can’t recommend BILLSHARK enough. Not only did they get me back $1,200, but they got me back invaluable time I’d have spent pulling my hair out on the phone.”
How fast can you make $500?
BILLSHARK is great at lowering your bills. According to Billshark, they have an 85% success rate and the average customer who gives them two bills to negotiate will save as much as $1,500.
10. Drive for Lyft
If you want to make legitimate money quickly, driving with Lyft is a smart side hustle. With Lyft, you get to drive people around your city and get paid well (I'm talking an extra $500 to $1000 a month with just a few hours on the weekend). Of course, your earnings will vary but you can earn even more now since you get tipped directly and even get a $1,000 bonus in all cities.
The smartest way to earn more is to drive when there is surge pricing. You might have guessed that surge pricing occurs when people are out and about most (weekday & weekend nights). So instead of partying up this weekend, why not make your $500 fast with Lyft?
How fast can you make $500?
Full-time earnings (driving from 45 to 50 hours a week) can reach around $800 per week with Lyft, after expenses. You can also get a $1,000 driver bonus for signing up as a new driver and completing 125 rides.
11. Online trivia
Did you know there are game apps to win real money?
What is the most popular drink in the world that does not contain alcohol? What is the official national anthem of the United States of America? What is the Capital of Australia? If you answered coffee, star-spangled banner, and Canberra, then you may want to look into the new Trivia App called Swagbucks LIVE that pays you huge cash prizes for your smarts. Today’s prize is worth over $500! I'll be playing, will you? Click here to download the free trivia app and start winning cash daily!
How fast can you make $500?
Most games on Swagbucks LIVE have a grand prize of $1,000 worth of SBs, which you can convert to PayPal. The catch is that everyone who makes it to the end has to split the pot between the other winners. So how much you get depends on how many other players make it to the end. If you win a couple times, it's likely you can rack up $500 fast this week.
12. Get paid to watch videos
Many of you have come here by searching “how to make $500 fast.” Well, here you go. This has got to be one of the fastest and easiest ways to make quick money. Did you know you can actually get paid to watch movie previews, celebrity videos, news and all sorts of other videos?
You can sign up for websites like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie that will pay you to watch certain videos. They will tell you how many minutes you need to watch the video for and you might also be asked to like the video.
While you not going to make a career out of it, it’s very easy money for pressing a few buttons on your phone in your free time. There really is no limit when it comes to the question of how to make money online.
You can make around $500 a month by spending 15 minutes a day on surveys. If you wanted to make money by watching videos and other tasks you may be interested in:
✔️ Swagbucks: Watch videos, take surveys, shop and more to earn real money. Join Swagbucks Now to Get $10 Free
✔️ SurveyJunkie: Make up to $50 per survey in your spare time from home to take online surveys, participating in Focus Groups and trying new products. Join SurveyJunkie Now
✔️ InboxDollars: Has so far paid its members over $40 Million. Watch videos, take surveys, shop and more. Join InboxDollars Now and Get Free $5
You should also see over 15 ways to make $10 fast a day online (some instantly!).
13. Use Dosh
Looking for another easy way to make money on your pursuit of earning $500 fast? Dosh is the free cash back app that finds you money for shopping, dining out, and booking hotels and travel activities with more than 100,000 merchants and brands nationwide. You probably already heard about apps that give you cash back.
There are a ton of money-saving apps like Ibotta, however, this new app is giving Ibotta a run for its money, and for good reason. This company not only allows you to get cash back on everyday purchases, but no receipt scanning required!
Heard enough? Click here to get started with Dosh and get a $1 sign up bonus for linking your first card.
14. Download an app and get paid $50
By using the internet as you do every day, Nielsen invites you to make a difference – and you can make money too.
I downloaded this app on my phone and make $50 a year for just having the app on there!
You don’t really have to do anything other than initially registering your devices (phone, laptop, tablet) and they'll pay $50 a year.
This is a smart way to make extra money as even if you just install it on your phone they'll pay you $50 a year to keep their app on it.
They also keep things interesting for me since they give away a modest $10,000 each month if you signup on your PC or Laptop. I like to think I have better chances of getting it than the lottery, so consider it a free lotto ticket each month, too.
If you are interested in getting paid passively, I recommend that you sign up through here for a registration bonus.
- Earn $50 a year just by installing an app
- Earn up to $1000 from sweepstakes
- 15 different types of rewards, including TVs
- Win up to $500 by downloading PC app
15. Try out Rakuten
Another way to learn how to make 500 dollars fast is through cash back apps. You'd be silly not to get cash-back for items you would have bought anyway. You can do this by shopping online with Rakuten.
Rakuten is my favorite way to make money when I shop online and right now they are offering a $10 sign up bonus through this link. Every time I shop online, I start at Rakuten and then I get cash back deposited into my PayPal account. Hello, free money!
Click here to start getting cash back with Rakuten and get a $10 cash bonus.
16. Get paid to use less electricity
If you are still wondering how to make 500 dollars fast then consider getting paid to use less electricity. When you create a free account with Arcadia, this company connects you to clean energy and help you spend less on your power bill.
Do right by the planet and your wallet and they'll even give you a $5 bonus! Once you're in, you'll get a notification every few days to save energy for an hour. You'll make money by doing it.
More Ideas to Make $500 Fast
- Flip bicycles
- Donate plasma
- Become an ordained minister and marry gay couples
- Flip thrift store finds
- Audio transcribing
- Freelance graphic design
- Take paid online surveys
- Deliver pizzas
- Uber
- Claim class-action lawsuits
- Power washing
- Wait tables / bartend
- Sell drugs
- Stream on Twitch
- Use free money making apps
- Make fake and real moonshine then sell it
- Flip electronics
- Freelance web design
- Become first aid instructor
- Do cam shows
- Make money trading forex
- Cat / House sitting
- Write freelance articles for various magazines
- Dog walking
- Officiating sporting events. Requires license
- Tutoring
- Trade stocks on leverage
- Sell semen
- Mow lawns
- Detail cars
- Get a job at one of the highest paying internships
- Narrate audio books
- Rent out inflatable moon bounces
- Use beer money apps
How to Invest $500 Wisely
To get more out of that $500 check, you have to invest it properly. Here are smart ways to make that money grow.
16. Invest $500 in your Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
Most people who have $500 should think about what other wise investors would do with those funds. Most people would think funding your IRA account would be ideal.
It's wise to try and max out your IRA.
For 2021, the total contributions you make each year to all of your traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs can't be more than $6,000.
These accounts offer valuable tax advantages: Money and investment earnings grow tax-free, and there's no income tax on withdrawals during retirement.
Let's say you invest $500 today, in 10 years it'll grow to $21,283.26, that's the power of compound interest. And that's only assuming a modest 10.00% rate of return and only contributing $100 per year! Imagine investing more, the returns will be much higher.
That is if you open an account with a broker that charges no fees. I currently use SoFi Invest because it offers a range of retirement accounts and 401k rollover options. They offer Traditional, Roth, and SEP IRAs, and can help with the rollover process.
17. Invest $500 in mutual funds and index funds
In case you already have a brokerage account, which most people do, you can invest your $500 in mutual funds and index funds.
Investing in index funds is better than investing in individual stocks because it keeps costs low. And you don't have to worry about staying current with each company you are invested in. The downside is that your returns will likely be average, which is better than being in a bad investment.
Investing in mutual funds and index funds are smart choices for those who have a low-risk tolerance and want a diversified portfolio. So when you get your $500 paycheck, keep on buying these assets in order to invest your $500 in a smart way.
If you want to invest in mutual funds like Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) or index funds like Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), try M1 Finance.
They offer free automated investing where you can create your portfolio with any stock and/or mutual fund or etf, for free. Users can also get access to lines of credit and you can try it for free.
18. Open a high yield savings account with $500
Do you need your money to be liquid? If so, then a high-yield savings account is your best option to make passive income. These types of accounts offer higher interest rates than what you get at your regular bank. They are also FDIC insured so you won't lose your money and you can withdraw at any time.
Where should you get started? I would suggest opening an account with an online savings account since they offer the best benefits for users. Here are the best high yield online savings accounts that are currently offering welcome bonuses:
19. Open a robo-advisor account with $500
Robo-advisors are a great option for entry-level investors because of their low fees, low-cost threshold, and ease of use. If you have $500 to invest, robo-advisors may be a great option to help you get started because they provide an excellent starting point to building wealth.
The most popular robo-advisor to invest small amounts of money like $500 is Acorns. You simply link your checking account, and each time you make a purchase, Acorns uses a process called “Round-ups” to help you save money to invest.
For example, if you purchase a sandwich from Subway for $7.25, Acorns will round up the purchase to an even $8. $7.25 will go to Subway, and $0.75 will be held towards investing. Once you accumulate $5 in round-ups, the money will be moved to your Acorns investing account.
It's really simple and there's no catch. It's one of the best ways to grow your initial $500 investment since it will all happen without you having to lift a finger once set up. You can invest your $500 with Acorns here.
20. Invest $500 in cryptocurrencies
With the price of Bitcoin swinging up and down, if you can buy now and hold for a while, your $500 can really grow. I haven't even covered all the other coins that you can buy and potentially double your $500. You can check them out easily on Robinhood, the investing app also allows you to buy cryptocurrencies.
With Robinhood, you can buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and other cryptocurrencies 24/7 and commission-free with Robinhood Crypto. You can even get started with a $225 free stock here just for joining.
21. Invest $500 in real estate
Wouldn’t it be great if you could invest in commercial real estate and apartments without dealing with all the hassle of buying, improving, and re-selling real estate?
You don't have to be a millionaire to invest in these types of properties. You can now invest in large-scale real estate for as little as $10 with Fundrise.
Through their real estate investment products, investors earned an average of 8 – 11 percent on their money last year, and all without painting a wall or dealing with unruly tenants.
There is a reason why they currently have over 500,000+ users, this app really pays you!
Depending on how much you invest, you can make $500 in returns this year.
22. Use your $500 to pay off debt
Effectively managing debt is important for staying in control of your finances and building credit. Managing your debt starts before taking out a loan or getting a credit card. Here are four steps for managing your debt:
- Analyze your financial status using budgeting tools before taking on debt
- Research interest rates and compare them across banks
- Stick to your budget and be aggressive
- Use your $500 or any other windfalls towards high-interest liabilities
If you missed these steps, you can take the following steps to understand your debt and take control of your finances:
- Figure out exactly how much you owe—including interest rates and loan terms
- Create your own debt management plan
- Consider debt settlement
23. Peer-to-peer lending
Another form of investing that is relatively new, peer-to-peer lending is a significant change in the way that average people get a loan for a various number of needs.
P2P lending platforms provide an opportunity for consumers to borrow money for personal loans. These loans can be used for any purpose, and the amount borrowed is up to $40,000. The interest rates on these loans vary depending on the borrower's credit profile.
The benefits of peer-to-peer lending are that you don’t have to offer up a huge sum of money to a single person or business which would create a high risk for you. Instead, you can create an account and fund it with $500 for example, and then loan out $20 to 10 different borrowers. Your return on investment will depend on the number of those loans that default and the average interest rate for all of the loans.
How to Make 500 Dollars Fast FAQs
When you need more money, times can get difficult or even depressing. But, there is a way to combat your lack of funds:
How do I make money now ASAP?
If you need to make money now ASAP do the following: Find ways to get paid on your lunch break by taking top paying surveys with Swagbucks, join an online rewards club like Drop, use Truebill to detect potential savings in your current bills, score beer money with gaming apps like Mistplay, and earn free gift cards with InboxDollars.
How can I make money in one hour?
If you want to make money in one hour, do the following: Join a rewards site like Swagbucks or InboxDollars where you can make money consistently. Or you can earn money playing games on apps like Blackout Bingo. This app lets you play bingo for money — make $500 fast today. It is absolutely free to play Blackout Bingo and earn real-world rewards and cash prizes when you download through this link.
How can a beginner make money online?
Beginners can use the best survey sites to make money fast on PayPal. Free cash or free money is hard to come by but you can earn money on sites like Survey Junkie by referring friends and answering surveys to earn money online fast. You’ll never need to enter your debit card or credit card either, these paid survey sites are free to use with no broker or platform fees.
Other Ways to Make $500 Fast (Without a Job)
Whether you're looking to make some fast cash, or you're after long-term, more sustainable income-producing results, there are certainly ways you can use. Try these money making ideas:
✔️ Survey Junkie: Earn up to $50 per survey in your spare time from home to take online surveys, participating in Focus Groups and trying new products. Join Survey Junkie here.
✔️ Swagbucks: Similar to Survey Junkie, but you can earn more ways (such as watching videos, playing games and using their search engine). Get a $10 signup bonus for joining.
✔️ InboxDollars: Has so far paid its members over $40 Million. You can earn by watching videos, taking surveys, shopping and more. Get a $5 signup bonus for joining.
You can see the entire list of little-known ways to make money online here.
There you have it. If you’ve finished the list, you’ve just made at least $500 in free money with this list that teaches you how to make 500 dollars fast.
