Making a fortune takes time. Living simply offers immeasurable gifts. And of course, true joy has little to do with cash. However, most of us have been through at least one crisis that can only be solved by raising money FAST. Here are some steps that can help.
Raise Cash Fast through Selling
Liz Pulliam Weston, personal finance columnist for MSN Money, says that, “the hands-down best way to raise money is to convert stuff you already own into cash.” Most people do have items they could sell without suffering. There are several ways to do this.
eBay is a popular way to sell household items. Skip McGrath, author of “The eBay Power Sellers Manual” recommends selling cleaning house and selling items such as “used goods, small appliances, wedding gifts you never use, old books (non-fiction one are best)” and other less valuable items to start. After gaining experience with eBay’s policies and realities, sellers can consider buying “hot” items in bulk and making real money. eBay pulse, a section of the eBay website, lists “a daily snapshot of current trends, hot picks, and cool stuff on eBay.”
Other options for selling household items are garage sales and Craigslist. Craigslist is a network of local communities featuring online classified ads. Sellers who live near one of these communities can find local buyers for household items. By arranging to meet the buyer at a convenient, public place, sellers can safely avoid paying shipping fees.
Raise Money through a Part-time Job
Many people supplement their income by working evenings or weekends at a part-time job. Tutoring others is a great way to share skills, help other succeed and, of course, raise extra money. To find students, tutors can post or mail fliers or ads on-line; however, many after-school or community centers or parks may be looking for someone to teach academic or recreational classes. Teaching a craft or computer skill through a local park is a great way to earn income.
Further, many part-time jobs are available on-line. Though many sites advertising Internet-based work are expensive and yield few results, there are good flexible jobs available on-line. Many sites, such as Helium, allow writers to post their articles on-line and pay per page view. Others list on-line jobs available.
Financial Help from Friends and Family
One exciting way to make this happen is by hosting a dinner. At its simplest, the plan is to invite several people to a special banquet for a donation per plate. Politicians, charities and other professional fund-raisers do this all the time, and regular people can too. Of course, the more items you can convince your closest friends or local businesses to donate the better. This can include food, the location or various forms of entertainment. Choosing a theme or allowing close friends to sponsor a table of their other friends can also bring in more people. This can be especially effective if you are raising the money for a special cause, such as a medical need, an adoption or a mission trip.
One less exciting way to get help from friends and family is to ask for a loan. This may be painful or embarrassing for some people. However, most people would rather lend the money to a family member or friend than see that person suffer deprivation or stress.
It is possible to earn money fast during an emergency by selling items, taking a part-time job and relying on family and friends for the short-term. Many people experience periods of financial difficulty at some point, so this does not have to be a source of shame. It may even be an opportunity to develop new skills, make new connections or affirm family ties.