20 Ways to Make $500 Fast (Even in a Week!)

We’ve all been there—you need some cash, and you need it fast.

Whether it’s an unexpected bill, a repair, or you just want to save up for something special, $500 can make a big difference.

The good news? You can make $500 in a week.

No, not overnight, and it’s not magic, but with a little hustle and the right methods, it’s totally possible.

Now, you could borrow money if you need it today…

But it’s better if you earn it, so you don’t have to owe it eventually!

Let’s dive into some realistic, proven ways to hit that $500 mark, starting today.

1. Rent Out a Room on Airbnb

If you have a spare room in your home, you can quickly turn it into extra income by renting it out on Airbnb.

Travelers often look for short-term rentals that offer a more personal and affordable option than hotels, making Airbnb a perfect platform to meet that demand.

How it works: Create a listing on Airbnb, complete with photos and a description of your space.

Set your nightly price and availability, then wait for guests to book.

If you live in a popular area or during peak travel seasons, bookings can come in fast.

How to make $500: Depending on your location, renting out a room can bring in anywhere from $50 to $150 per night.

Rent your room for 5-10 nights, and you can easily make $500 within the week.

2. Walk Dogs or Pet Sit with Rover

Got a soft spot for animals?

Rover lets you earn money by hanging out with dogs!

You can walk them, pet-sit for the day, or even offer overnight stays. And if you’re already home a lot, you can double up and babysit multiple dogs.

How it works: Set up a profile on Rover, list your services, and start accepting clients.

You can decide when you’re available and what kinds of pets you want to work with.

How to make $500: Walking a few dogs each day or hosting one or two overnight pet-sitting gigs can bring in some serious cash.

Depending on where you live and what services you offer, you could make up to $30 per walk or $50-$70 per night for pet-sitting.

It adds up fast!

3. Deliver with DoorDash

DoorDash is another great way to make money quickly, especially if you enjoy driving around.

With folks ordering food delivery like never before, you can easily find plenty of opportunities to dash.

How it works: You sign up, get approved, and start accepting delivery jobs through the DoorDash app.

You’ll pick up food from restaurants and deliver it to customers. Simple, right?

How to make $500: Just like Instacart (below), peak times are key here.

Aim to work during lunch and dinner rushes, and focus on areas with high restaurant density to maximize the number of deliveries.

A lot of dashers report making $100 a day (or more), so within a week, $500 is very much within reach.

4. Rent Out Your Car with Turo or HyreCar

Have a car that sits idle most of the time? Why not let someone else use it and get paid in the process?

Turo and HyreCar allow you to rent out your car when you’re not using it.

How it works: You list your car on the app, set your rental price, and when someone wants to use it, you arrange for pickup or delivery.

Turo is great if you’re renting to everyday people, while HyreCar is more focused on renting to delivery or rideshare drivers.

How to make $500: Depending on your car and location, you could make between $30 to $100 a day renting it out.

If you rent your car for five or more days in a week, you could easily hit that $500 goal.

5. Babysit or House Sit with Care.com

If you’re good with kids (or even just good at keeping a house in order), Care.com is a solid option.

You can offer babysitting, house-sitting, or even pet-sitting services.

The flexibility is perfect if you want to take on jobs as they fit into your week.

How it works: Create a profile, list your services, and wait for job offers to roll in.

Parents and homeowners often need last-minute help, especially on weekends.

How to make $500: Babysitting gigs can pay $15-$20 an hour or more, depending on your area.

So if you’re available to babysit for a few hours a day or take on an overnight house-sitting job, you can reach $500 quickly.

A couple of well-timed gigs and you’re set!

6. Sell Your Old Tech on Decluttr

Got an old phone, tablet, or gaming console gathering dust?

Decluttr makes it super easy to sell your used electronics and other gadgets. No haggling or meeting up with buyers required.

How it works: Scan your items, get a quote, and ship them for free. Once Decluttr receives the items, you get paid.

How to make $500: If you’ve got a few old tech items lying around, selling them on Decluttr can bring in some quick cash.

Big-ticket items like smartphones or gaming consoles can get you close to your goal in one go.

7. Sell Jewelry with Worthy.com

Have some jewelry you no longer wear?

Worthy.com is an auction platform where you can sell diamonds, rings, watches, and more.

If you’ve got something valuable, this could be a great way to bring in extra money.

How it works: Worthy appraises your jewelry for free and puts it up for auction.

You get to set a reserve price so you’re not selling for less than you’re comfortable with.

How to make $500: Depending on the value of your jewelry, one sale could bring in the $500 you need.

Even if you have smaller pieces, you could still make a decent chunk of cash.

And jewelry is just one item you can sell to possibly make that extra $500.

Want more ideas? Watch this video (or click below!).

8. Sell Clothes on Poshmark or ThredUp

If your closet is bursting with clothes you no longer wear, consider selling them on Poshmark or ThredUp.

It’s a quick way to make extra money while clearing out space at home.

How it works: You list your gently used clothes on Poshmark, or send them to ThredUp where they’ll do the selling for you.

When the items sell, you get paid!

How to make $500: High-quality or designer pieces tend to sell quickly and for a decent price.

List a few items at a time and watch the cash roll in.

If you have a lot of clothing, you could easily reach $500 weekly.

9. Sell Crafts or Printables on Etsy

Are you crafty?

Etsy is a great platform to sell handmade items, especially if you already have some creations ready to go.

Whether it’s jewelry, home decor, or personalized gifts, there’s a huge audience on Etsy.

How it works: Set up a shop, list your items, and promote them. With the right products, you could make sales within a week.

How to make $500: If you have existing inventory or can whip up some best-sellers quickly, Etsy could help you reach your goal.

Personalized or seasonal items often sell the fastest!

Want some extra help on Etsy training?

10. Take on Work on Fiverr

Have a skill like graphic design, writing, or voiceovers?

Fiverr lets you offer your services and get paid quickly. It’s one of the fastest-growing platforms for freelancers.

How it works: Set up a profile and create “gigs” that showcase your skills.

Clients place orders, and once you complete the work, you get paid.

How to make $500: By offering services with quick turnaround times, you could take on multiple gigs in a week.

Prices start low, but once you build a reputation, you can charge more. Consistent gigs can help you reach $500 in no time.

Or if you’ve got a highly-prized skill and you’re willing to work with a quick turnaround, a few gigs should do it!

11. Grocery Shop on Instacart

If you’ve got a car and some time, you can make solid money by shopping for and delivering groceries with Instacart.

It’s flexible, and you get to choose your hours, which is perfect if you need something you can fit around your schedule.

How it works: You sign up, get approved, and start accepting orders.

Once you’re live, you pick up grocery orders from customers, shop for their items, and then deliver the goods straight to their door.

Easy enough, right?

How to make $500: The trick is to work during peak hours—early mornings, evenings, and weekends when people are more likely to order.

Some shoppers report earning $100 to $150 a day when they hustle.

So, if you can put in the hours, hitting $500 in a week is absolutely doable.

Plus, if you’re quick and efficient, you can knock out multiple batches in one day.

12. Rent Out Your Parking Space with Spacer or Neighbor

If you live in a busy city or near a popular venue, you can make easy money by renting out your parking space.

Platforms like Spacer and Neighbor connect people with extra parking spots to those in need of a place to park.

This option is particularly good if you have a driveway or unused garage space.

How it works: Sign up on Spacer or Neighbor, list your parking space, and set your price.

Renters looking for daily, weekly, or even monthly parking will book your space.

You can communicate with them through the platform, and the whole process is handled online.

How to make $500: Parking spaces can rent for $10-$30 per day, depending on your location.

If you live in a high-demand area (like near a city center, stadium, or airport), renting out your spot for just a week could help you earn $500 or more.

You could reach your goal even faster if you’ve got multiple spaces available.

13. Flip Furniture on Facebook Marketplace

Got an eye for design and some basic DIY skills?

Furniture flipping is a great way to make extra money fast. You can buy inexpensive pieces, fix them up, and sell them for a profit.

How it works: Find used furniture on Craigslist, thrift stores, or even from free giveaways.

Fix it up—whether that means sanding, painting, or adding new hardware—and then list the refurbished item on Facebook Marketplace (or even Craigslist).

How to make $500: Depending on the piece, you can make $100-$300 per flip.

If you can flip a couple of pieces in one week, reaching $500 is absolutely doable.

14. Teach English Online with VIPTeacher

If you enjoy teaching and have a good grasp of the English language, VIPTeacher allows you to teach English to students in China.

The hours are flexible, and it can be a rewarding financial and personal experience.

How it works: You sign up, complete an interview process, and get approved to teach English online.

VIPKid provides you with lesson plans, and all you need is a computer and a reliable internet connection.

How to make $500: VIPKid teachers earn approximately $14 per hour.

You can easily make $500 with less than 40 hours of work.

15. Rent Out Tools and Equipment on Fat Llama

If you have tools, camera gear, or other equipment sitting around, you can rent it out through Fat Llama.

It’s a peer-to-peer rental marketplace that lets you turn your unused items into extra cash.

How it works: Create a listing for your item, set your daily rental rate, and wait for people to request to rent it.

You can meet with renters or arrange a drop-off/pick-up location.

How to make $500: Depending on what you’re renting, you could make $50-$100 per day.

Renting out your items for several days in a row can easily bring in $500 by week’s end.

16. Drive for Uber or Lyft

If you have a car and some spare time, driving for Uber or Lyft is one of the quickest ways to make extra cash.

With demand for ridesharing services high, you can easily fill your week with rides and earn good money.

How it works: Sign up with Uber or Lyft, complete the background checks, and start accepting ride requests through the app.

You drive passengers to their destinations and get paid for each ride, plus any tips you earn.

How to make $500: Many drivers make between $15 and $25 per hour.

If you drive during peak hours, such as mornings, evenings, or weekends, you can quickly rack up enough rides to hit $500 within a week.

But we’re certain you’ve heard of both Uber and Lyft as potentials.

Well, we actually have a video sharing the top 20 driving apps for you to make that extra $500 using your vehicle.

17. Freelance on Upwork

Upwork is a freelancing platform where you can offer a variety of services, from writing to graphic design, web development, and more.

If you have a marketable skill, you can start making money on Upwork almost immediately.

How it works: Create a profile showcasing your skills and previous work. Browse available jobs and submit proposals to potential clients.

Once you’re hired, complete the work, and get paid through the platform.

How to make $500: Depending on your skill set, freelance jobs can range from $50 to $500 or more.

Completing a few small projects or landing one larger gig can get you to $500 in no time.

18. Offer Cleaning Services on TaskRabbit

If you don’t mind cleaning, you can make quick money by offering your services on TaskRabbit.

Whether it’s helping someone tidy up their home or doing a deep clean, TaskRabbit connects you with people in need of various tasks.

How it works: Sign up for TaskRabbit and create a profile detailing the services you offer.

You can choose the tasks you want to complete, and clients hire you for the job.

How to make $500: Cleaning gigs can pay anywhere from $20 to $50 per hour, depending on your location.

A few jobs over the course of a week can easily bring you to $500.

19. Become a Virtual Assistant

As more businesses and entrepreneurs operate online, the demand for virtual assistants has skyrocketed.

Virtual assistants help with tasks like managing emails, scheduling appointments, and data entry.

How it works: You can find virtual assistant jobs on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, or by joining virtual assistant-specific sites like Belay or Time Etc.

Once hired, you’ll work remotely, handling administrative tasks for your clients.

How to make $500: Virtual assistant jobs typically pay between $15 and $30 per hour.

With a few clients, you can reach $500 quickly by putting in just a few hours each day.

20. Donate Plasma: Up to $300 a Month

Donating plasma is a way to make money fast, with many donation centers paying $50-70 per donation and offering bonuses for new donors.

Bethany Bayless reported earning up to $300 a month donating plasma when she was in college.

She tells her story here (or watch below).

You can easily see how this can add up to $500 pretty quickly.

This can be a time-consuming process but can help save lives.

How to Make $500 Fast: Your Turn

There you have it— real, practical ways to make $500 fast!

Whether you’re driving for Uber, delivering groceries with Instacart, or flipping furniture, you can hit your goal if you’re willing to put in the work.

The key is finding what fits into your schedule, using what you already have, and working smart.

With a little hustle, dedication, and creativity, you can reach that $500 mark in no time. Ready to start?

Pick one (or more!) of these options, and get to it!

Serious About Making More Money?

Start Your Free $500 Challenge. My free 5-day email course shows you how to add $500 to your bottom line.
Join the free Side Hustle Nation Community. The free Facebook group is the best place to connect with other side hustlers and get your questions answered.
Download The Side Hustle Show. My free podcast shares how to make extra money with actionable weekly episodes.