How to Make $100 Fast

1. Sell Unwanted Items

Selling things you no longer use can be one of the fastest ways to make money. You can host a garage sale by yourself or with your neighbors, or post items for sale on Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor. If you're selling a lot of items in the same category, consider listing them on a specialized site, such as Thredup, Poshmark or Depop for clothing; BookScouter for books; or OfferUp for furniture. If you go this route, just don't forget to factor shipping, platform fees and other costs into calculating how much you'll make.

Learn more: Best Places to Sell Your Stuff Online

2. Use Cash Back Apps

You can earn cash back just by shopping online when you sign up with cash back sites such as Rakuten, Ibotta or TopCashBack. Use the cash back browser extension when you shop and you can earn cash back, typically in a quarterly check. While this isn't a quick $100, it can be a good way to earn money on something you're already doing—shopping.

3. Take Surveys

Online survey sites like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie pay you to complete surveys ranging from single-question polls to more complex studies. You'll need to put in some time to earn $100; for example, Survey Junkie says completing three surveys a day for a month might earn you $40. Fortunately, you can usually complete the surveys quickly while doing other things, like watching TV. Online survey sites typically pay out in points redeemable for gift cards or cash.

Learn more: Ways to Make Extra Money From Home

4. Participate in Focus Groups or Research Studies

If you've got a little more time to spare, participating in online or in-person focus groups could earn you $100 or more per event. Sign up on sites like User Interviews, User Research International or Respondent to share your opinions about products, services, ad campaigns and more to help businesses better target customers. Local universities' websites may also list paid research studies.

5. Test Video Games or Websites

Websites like PlaytestCloud, Trymata and UserTesting let you test websites, apps and video games and provide feedback to help companies and developers improve the user experience. You'll typically earn $5 and up per test, depending on the time involved.

6. Provide Audio Transcription Services

Transcribers listen to audio recordings and type them into documents for clients. Because much transcription is done by AI these days, human transcribers typically work on more complex recordings requiring a high degree of accuracy, so you'll need to be detail-oriented. Find transcription work at sites like Rev and Transcribe, where beginners earn $15 per hour of audio.

7. Teach or Tutor Online

If you're knowledgeable in math, a foreign language, chemistry or similar subject that students often struggle with, consider becoming an online tutor. You can sign up at websites such as Tutor.com, TutorMe or Wyzant to get started and tutor adults, children or both at your convenience. For an in-person option, see if local schools are in need of tutors.

8. Take Advantage of Introductory Bonuses

Perhaps you're planning a big purchase like a new appliance, or maybe the holiday season is around the corner. If you're thinking of signing up for a new credit card to cover the cost, consider getting a credit card with an introductory bonus. You'll typically earn cash back, miles or points for spending a certain amount on the card within a certain time, which could help cover the cost of your purchase. Just make sure you don't overspend to earn the bonus.

9. Offer Virtual Assistant Services

​​If you're a multitasking master and a wiz with business apps, you could make money as a virtual assistant. You'll work remotely part time to help businesspeople with all the tasks an in-person assistant would do, such as scheduling, responding to emails, arranging travel, data entry and bookkeeping. Hours are flexible, and you can find clients on websites like Fancy Hands, PeoplePerHour or Time Etc., where pay starts at $17 hourly.

10. Babysit

Babysitting is a time-honored way to make some spare cash. Start with your friends and neighbors, because word of mouth is often the best way to get jobs. You can also widen your net by signing up on a website like Care.com or Sittercity, which usually requires a background check, or promote your services on Facebook or Nextdoor.

11. Pet Sit

Pet parents need reliable care for their furry family members when they're out of town. You can offer services ranging from drop-in visits to feed and play with pets, to staying overnight or even boarding pets in your own home. Pet-specific websites like Rover or Wag are good places to find customers; you can also promote your services on Facebook or Nextdoor.

12. House Sit

Staying in homes while the owners are away often involves pet sitting too, but many homeowners simply want someone to keep the home occupied for security, collect the mail or water the yard and houseplants. Signing up on websites like TrustedHousesitters, MindMyHouse or Nomador can help you find clients. Depending on where you offer services, this could even be a way to travel the world.

13. Offer Organizing Services

If you've got a knack for putting everything in its right place, you could make money helping clients declutter and get organized. Start small by helping someone clean out a room or garage, sort items and haul away the junk. If you like, you can expand to more elaborate jobs such as purging a customer's closet or pantry and setting up a new storage system. Local websites like Nextdoor and Facebook are great places to promote organizing services.

14. Clean Homes

Although you might need to invest in a few cleaning supplies, you probably have most of the equipment you need to transform clients' homes into spotless showcases. Ideally, your elbow grease will pay off in repeat business. You can offer your services through TaskRabbit, local Nextdoor or Facebook groups, or in-home services sites such as Thumbtack.

Learn more: How to Make Money Without a Job

15. Shovel Snow

This is a seasonal business, but if you have a shovel and a strong back, you could make some extra money helping neighbors clear their driveways and sidewalks. Local websites like Facebook and Nextdoor are good ways to find customers, or you can simply let your neighbors know you're available.

16. Offer Handyman Services

If you're handy and have a tool kit, consider listing your services on sites such as TaskRabbit or Thumbtack, or on local Facebook and Nextdoor pages. Word of mouth is another good way to get clients, so let friends and family know you're available. Handyman services are always in demand, and you can choose what projects you want to take on.

17. Deliver Food or Packages

A reliable car, a smartphone and a love of the open road are all you need to start earning extra money as a delivery driver. You can deliver food for Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats or Grubhub, or deliver packages for Amazon Flex or Roadie. You can work whenever you want and generally earn from $10 to $25 per hour, but keep in mind that your earnings could depend largely on tips from satisfied customers.

Learn more: How to Make Money With Your Car

18. Work as a Rideshare Driver

If you'd rather drive people than packages, consider rideshare driving with Uber or Lyft. You can set your own schedule and use your own vehicle, making this a very flexible way to earn money. Once you meet requirements like having a valid driver's license, a year of driving experience and auto insurance, and pass a background check, you're ready to hit the road.

Tip: Whether you're transporting passengers or packages, it's a good idea to get rideshare insurance, which is available from many major insurance companies.

19. Sell Your Plasma

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood and is used in medical treatments. Companies including CSL Plasma, Grifols and BioLife Plasma Services pay donors for plasma. Once you've passed a physical exam and met other criteria, you can donate up to 104 times a year. You'll generally get the most money as a new donor—up to $100 for the first donation and $750 in the first month. After that, pay per donation goes down.

20. Pick Up Shift Work

You can get shift work ranging from a few hours to a few months by signing up at sites like Bluecrew, Wonolo and Instawork. Create an account and get access to available shifts in a wide range of jobs, such as customer support, retail, warehousing, event staff, hospitality and more.

21. Rent Out a Room

Renting out your entire home on Airbnb probably isn't practical, but renting out a room for travelers could be. You can also rent out all or part of your property for film shoots, photo shoots or video shoots by listing it on sites like Giggster, SetScouter or Peerspace. You'll typically earn $100 an hour or more and can stay on the property to observe.

22. Rent Out a Parking Space

If parking is in short supply near you, consider renting out a parking space. Spacer, Neighbor and Vanly are among the websites you can use to find renters. Depending on which app you use, you can rent out your driveway, garage, carport or underground parking spot. Spacer says an average garage rents for $200 to $300 per month.

Learn more: How to Make Passive Income

The Bottom Line

Many of the ideas above can pay off right away. Others take a bit more time to bring in money, but could have long-term earning potential. When evaluating money-making opportunities, be sure to understand how you'll be paid, any requirements you'll need to meet and any fees for listing your products or services on a website.

While you work on making extra cash, look for ways to save money, such as negotiating your bills or switching to cheaper car insurance. Experian's free car insurance comparison tool can help. It gathers car insurance quotes from multiple top insurance companies, so it's easy to see how you can save.