How To Make $500 Fast (12+ Ways To Start Today)

If you wouldn’t be able to pay for a $500 emergency, you’re not alone. According to 2024 research by Empower, a financial services company, 37% of Americans reported they couldn’t afford an emergency expense over $400.

This is nothing to be embarrassed about, but you should know what you can do to get out of these situations as quickly and safely as possible. Whether you need money within days or can wait a few weeks or more, here are proven strategies — including many we’ve tested ourselves — you can try to earn or get $500 fast, potentially even overnight. They include using cash advance apps, borrowing from people you know, and taking out personal loans. 

Featured side hustles to consider

4 ways to get $500 now

Try one or more of these safe and practical strategies to make a quick $500 if you need cash, like, yesterday.

1. No-credit-check cash advance apps

Cash advance apps aren’t so much for making money as they are for getting your money faster. These apps work by giving you an advance on a portion of your paycheck, typically sending your money up to two days before it’s originally scheduled to arrive. Paycheck advances generally come out of your next paycheck, so you’ll receive less on your actual payday. And many cash advance apps use no credit checks, so you may be able to qualify even if your credit score is in rough shape.

There’s no shortage of cash advance apps and services out there — Klover, Empower, EarnIn, and Brigit are just a few we recommend. Different services offer different maximums for paycheck advances, with some paying out up to $200 (Klover, for example) and others offering up to $750 (like EarnIn). Often, the amount you’re eligible to borrow depends on your income and banking history. If it’s your first time using a service, you might not qualify for $500 in one pay period.

Just be mindful of fees with these apps. Some services charge subscription fees, many charge fees for expedited delivery, and a few may ask for tips. 

2. Borrow from friends and family

If you have a friend or family member you think would be willing to loan you some cash, ask them before considering going to a bank or credit union for funding. Borrowing money from someone you know can help you skirt credit requirements that typically come with credit cards and personal loans, which might be particularly beneficial if you have bad or limited credit and want to avoid a credit check.

Borrowing money from someone you know can be tricky, but you can avoid awkward situations and damage to your relationship by setting clear guidelines about how the funds will be repaid. Talk through the following when you ask for the $500: 

• Decide whether the money should be repaid with or without interest.
• Agree on a regular repayment schedule, including how much you will pay each month and when the full $500 will be paid off.
• If you’re comfortable doing so, share details about your financial situation with the person to assure them you’re good for the money.

For extra help setting up an arrangement like this, look into Pigeon Loans. This platform facilitates borrowing between friends and family with payment tracking, reminders, and even contracts to make loans official and serve as a “middleman” between borrowers and lenders.

3. Use a credit card

Using a credit card to cover a purchase when you’re short on cash can buy you time to cover expenses until you have the funds to pay them off in full.

0% intro APR credit cards are the best choice here because they offer a promotional period of interest-free borrowing. Many of the best 0% intro APR cards offer interest-free periods of 12 to 21 months, where all new purchases (and/or balance transfers) made within that period are not charged interest. You only need to make your minimum payments during this time.

Be careful about carrying a balance on a credit card for too long, though, even with a 0% intro APR period. Getting into a habit of spending more than you have can lead to sticky debt and damaged credit. If you only need $500 today, limit your borrowing to that amount and wait to spend more until your balance is fully paid off. If you go with a 0% intro APR card, watch how much time you have left for interest-free spending and know the regular rate that will apply when it’s over.

4. Take out a personal loan

Sometimes, taking out a loan is your best option for getting $500 quickly, maybe even today. Personal loans are one of the safest choices because they have fixed rates, monthly payments, and long repayment periods. These loans can be secured, meaning you need to pledge collateral when accepting them, or unsecured, meaning your eligibility is determined based on your credit, debt, and income (which combine to form your creditworthiness).

Unsecured personal loans tend to offer faster funding than secured personal loans, but they also typically have stricter eligibility requirements. Many lenders provide same- or next-day funding after you’ve accepted a loan offer, such as Upgrade. Personal loan minimums often start at around $1,000, but you might be able to borrow less.

If you can’t qualify for a personal loan at all or aren’t interested in a bad credit loan, consider a small-dollar loan from your bank or credit union. For example, Bank of America offers BalanceAssist short-term loans for up to $500 to customers with qualifying checking accounts who have been with the bank for at least a year. These loans come with flat fees of $5 and are repaid in three monthly installments.

Why we recommend against payday loans

Some types of short-term loans for borrowing a few hundred dollars now can be predatory. Payday loans, for example, are emergency loans that promise fast funding, usually without so much as a credit check. But these can come with fees that would translate to APRs of 400% or more, and you may be expected to pay them back in as little as two weeks. If you don’t have $500 now, you’ll likely have trouble coming up with that money in two weeks. And if you don’t pay a payday loan, many lenders will encourage you to take out another, which leads to some borrowers getting stuck in a cycle of debt.

Same-day payday loans might seem like a good solution when you need quick cash, but this type of loan in any amount isn’t worth the risk.

5 ways to get $500 fast

1. Deliver food and groceries with Instacart or Doordash

If you don’t mind driving, become a delivery driver. DoorDash, Instacart, Uber Eats, and Postmates let you deliver groceries, takeout, and other essentials.

The requirements to drive for these delivery apps are pretty minimal. A background check, a valid driver’s license, and a smartphone to download the apps are generally all you need to begin delivering. If you hustle hard, you may earn a few hundred in less than a month.

Depending on your location, there are likely high and low demand times. Being flexible about your availability allows you to maximize your income since you aren’t paid per hour. You may choose a preferred location based on the most popular places in your area or those closest to your home. My favorite part of these gigs is the tips. You keep 100% of what a customer pays you as a tip, plus the predetermined fee the delivery app pays its drivers. This base fee varies depending on which service you choose, where you drive, and when you deliver. Many delivery drivers accept multiple orders at a time to maximize their potential hourly earnings.

Since tips are the only thing I have control over, I make sure to go above and beyond for customers to increase my income, which includes ensuring the order is correct, delivering promptly, and providing little extras, like condiments or silverware.

Visit Instacart | Visit DoorDash

2. Drive passengers with Uber or Lyft

If you’d rather drive people, consider Uber or Lyft. To qualify, you must meet certain criteria, including having a valid driver’s license and a four-door vehicle. You must also meet the age criteria and pass a background check.

Uber’s driving history requirements vary by age:

• Drivers 25 years and older need one year of driving experience.
• Drivers under 25 years old need at least three years of driving experience.

Turning your Uber or Lyft app on doesn’t guarantee you’ll make $500 fast. Instead, learn the local market and best driving times to maximize your income.

For example, if you live near a busy airport, check peak arrival and departure times and position yourself nearby. If your area hosts many sporting events, concerts, or festivals, know the dates and make sure you’re in the area and available to take rides. Uber frequently offers promotions that boost your base pay, too.

Visit Uber

3. Pet sit

Pet sitting can be more lucrative than you might think, and it’s undoubtedly one of the most fun ways to earn money. You aren’t likely to make $500 in a day, but you can start as early as today. I’ve watched pets while their owners vacation and even have ongoing gigs for daycare.

I like pet sitting as a side hustle because I set the terms of what I will (and will not) do and my hourly rates. You can offer anything from low-commitment dog walks or drop-in visits to extended housesitting and repeat boarding. While I have a few friends who pet sit overnight, I prefer to walk dogs, play with them, and feed them at their homes.

There are many options for advertising pet-sitting services, such as social media, the NextDoor app, or Craigslist. However, I prefer websites dedicated to matching caretakers with pet owners, such as Rover and Care.com, because they offer security and convenience other methods don’t, such as reducing the risk of non-payment and providing a safe space for owners and pet sitters to connect. They may also help you find jobs more quickly since people will search specifically for pet-sitting. Rover screens all potential sitters with criminal background checks.

Visit Care.com

4. Do odd jobs and manual labor

If you’re good with your hands and don’t mind manual labor, check out local messaging and job boards to find people willing to pay for help around the house. You can offer to clean homes, help people move, hang pictures and TVs, build furniture, and just about anything else you think of. If you’re particularly handy, you can provide repairs and tune-ups. If you’re creative, people might hire you to help refinish their furniture or paint a room or two.

You can find these jobs online through Facebook community groups and Craigslist. Dedicated odd job sites like TaskRabbit may help you save time looking for work, but there’s a $25 one-time registration fee to get started. Still, this could easily be worth it for a rewarding hobby.

How much you get paid for each odd job will vary widely based on how much experience you have, where you live, and what services you provide, but you may be able to make some fast cash if you put a little legwork into advertising your skills and spreading the word.

3 ways to make $500 if you have longer to wait

1. Rent out extra space in your home

If you have extra space in your home, you can turn it into regular money. Airbnb and Vrbo let you list your home for short-term vacation rentals and monthly stays. You can also rent a single spare room in your home on sites like Facebook Marketplace or SpareRoom, or even list your garage or attic for storage on Neighbor. Just be sure to check your area’s short-term rental laws to learn about restrictions.

When renting out space, it’s crucial to establish clear and written terms upfront. For instance, I rent out space in my garage for storage. In my lease, I detail when and how tenants can access the space so I feel comfortable, and they have adequate access to their belongings.

2. Become a freelancer

Freelancing offers the flexibility to work when and where you want to, but it can take time to build steady earnings — this isn’t the side hustle we’d recommend for you if you need to get $500 today or overnight. However, you may find you can earn $500 quickly if you grow successful. When I first became a freelance writer, it took me about a month to land my first steady client and about two months after that to fill my plate with regular work. Anyone who’s dipped their toe into the gig economy will tell you that it takes time and persistence to make this side hustle profitable but that the earning potential can be more than worth it.

The list is endless when it comes to freelancing. I suggest you start by identifying your unique skills and areas of expertise, such as writing, graphic design, web design, bookkeeping, or proofreading.

Once you know what you excel at and enjoy, list your services on one of the following platforms:

These platforms give you a way to find potential clients, join professional networks, participate in discussions, and build a portfolio of your work. Just know that they often come with service fees, and be sure to research self-employment taxes before you commit to freelancing.

3. Complete online surveys

I like to use online surveys as a “filler” because they don’t pay a ton of money, but every little bit adds up. I try to look for surveys that pay at least $5 or $10 each, but I don’t overlook the smaller surveys that pay only a couple of dollars if I know they will take 15 minutes or less. If I take lower-paying surveys, I look for multiple to complete within an hour to make it worth my time.

Surveys are easy to complete and can offer faster payouts than some of the other options on this list. Whether waiting in the doctor’s office, watching my kids at soccer practice, in line at the grocery store, or sitting on the couch watching TV, I can turn that time into money by answering surveys.

When choosing survey sites, look for sites with mostly positive reviews, good payment terms, and many surveys. Some of my favorite survey sites include:

Visit Survey Junkie | Visit InboxDollars | Visit Freecash

How to avoid money emergencies

While learning how to make $500 fast is helpful, a sudden need for cash can be stressful, and you may find yourself in the same situation again and again unless you change your habits. Here are some tips for setting yourself up for financial success.

Build an emergency fund

Building an emergency fund to cover sudden or unexpected expenses can give you a buffer when life happens. Most experts recommend setting aside at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses, or the amount you’d need to cover necessities on savings alone. If you can’t put this away all at once, set aside a little each paycheck until you have enough saved.

An emergency fund provides peace of mind and can keep you from turning to debt when you need money fast. To maximize your savings, find a high-yield savings account with a competitive yield to help your money grow and keep it separate from your everyday spending money. 

Create a budget and stick to it

Following a budget is as important as having an emergency fund. Here are some simple steps to create a budget you can follow:

1. Review your monthly income. Include earnings from employment, side hustles, investments, and passive income
2. Record your monthly expenses. Include living expenses like rent or mortgage and groceries, as well as bills for internet, car insurance, and credit cards.
3. Categorize your spending and set limits. Break your expenses down into categories and set a limit for each category. Include savings and debt repayment.
4. Track your spending. Make sure your actual spending matches your budgeted amount for each expense. You might need to adjust limits as you go.
5. Refresh your budget as needed. Your earnings and expenses are likely to change over time, so make sure your budget is always up to date for your goals.

To help you budget more effectively, choose a budgeting strategy that makes sense to you. The 50/30/20 method is a common option that involves setting aside 50% of your income for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and debt repayment. I also recommend downloading a budgeting app to save yourself time and effort.

Track your spending

This important part of budgeting often makes or breaks your ability to spend less than you earn. By pulling a few months of recent bank and credit card statements, you can be more precise when setting up and managing your budget. This step can help you identify areas where you can cut back and find more room for saving. Try a budgeting app like Rocket Money or Quicken Simplifi to track your spending automatically.

As you budget, make adjustments as needed. Set a monthly review date to check in with your budget and decide whether any categories need to be adjusted.

Focus on repaying debt

If you have a lot of high-interest debt and want to focus on debt payoff, try a repayment strategy like the debt snowball method or debt avalanche method to make the most of each payment.

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