Whether you’re stuck in a financial rut, have to pay some unexpected bills, or are looking to build up your emergency fund, you may be in need of some fast cash.
With more than half of Americans unable to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense from their savings account, many are searching for ways to make extra money.
Fortunately, there are an unlimited number of ways for you to make money, particularly for those who have the drive to do so.
10 Legit Ways to Make $1,000 in 24 Hours
Here are the ten most effective strategies to make $1,000 in 24 hours and increase your income:
- Sell Your Stuff
- Freelance
- Get a Side Hustle or Part-Time Job
- Start a Blog
- Start an E-Commerce Store
- Invest in Real Estate
- Set up Passive Income Streams
- Make Money Online
- Work as a Virtual Assistant
- Ask for a Raise
1. Sell Your Stuff
I’m sure there are plenty of areas in your home (basement, attic, closets, or storage spaces) that hold a ton of items you’re not using—these things could be useful to someone else. Turn these unwanted, dust-collecting items into $1,000 by selling them, either in-person or online.
When deciding what to sell, you’ll need to think about which belongings you’re willing to part with, and research if these items have any potential value. Start by looking around your home and making a list of what you no longer use or need. Check for items that may have a wide appeal or are considered collectibles. Research online marketplaces to see what other people are selling and at what price point.
Some worthwhile online marketplaces for selling your stuff include Decluttr, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, and eBay. For selling jewelry, look into Worthy, and for clothing, look into ThredUP, Flyp, or Poshmark. You’ll need to create a listing for each item, including a detailed description (reference the item’s condition here), pictures of the item from different angles, pricing, and shipping information.
If you prefer to sell stuff in person, consider holding a garage sale in your driveway or front yard. A quick tip: don’t put price tags on anything—ask for the best offers. Chances are, your customers will name a higher price than what you would’ve asked.
2. Freelance
Freelancing is an excellent opportunity to make a lot of money, whether you do it on the side or want to replace your full-time job. With freelancing, you can make money by offering services such as:
- web design
- graphic design
- writing
- transcription
- data entry
- video editing
Primarily, freelance writing is the best option to make money in 24 hours. Freelance writing is an excellent opportunity to use your creative skills in your particular niche or area of expertise. Freelance writers are being hired for writing in various formats, including web content, emails, blog posts, social media content, and so much more.
You can offer your freelance services on job sites such as Fiverr or Upwork and bid on projects you align with. You can also use social media and job boards like ProBlogger or Craigslist to find freelance writing opportunities.
3. Side Hustle or Part-Time Job
Getting a side hustle or second job is a surefire way to make a quick $1,000, and countless options are available.
Here are my recommendations for side hustles that will make you good money:
- Make deliveries with DoorDash, UberEats, or Grubhub
- Become a shopper for Instacart of Shipt
- Drive with ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft
- Pet sit or walk dogs through Rover.com
- Babysit or tutor through Care.com
Many side hustles can be found through an online website or app, in which you’ll need to create an account and profile in order to offer your services.
You can also market your services to businesses and individuals through word-of-mouth, social media, or online listings. As with any service-based side job, be professional and provide excellent service—that way, you will always get repeat customers.
4. Start a Blog
If you really need $1,000 in 24 hours right now, this isn’t for you, but if you want to begin your journey to financial freedom and be able to consistently make $1,000 in 24 hours, I would have to say, this is definitely for you.
If you enjoy writing and feel called to share your expertise with others, you can start a blog. Popular, trending niches have the potential for a lot of traffic, such as finance, health and fitness, travel, lifestyle, and fashion. Use your blog to establish yourself as an expert in your field and attract more traffic from search engines.
Bloggers can monetize their content in a few different ways:
- Affiliate marketing, or promoting another person or company’s products or services and earning a commission when someone clicks or purchases something through your unique referral
- Sponsored posts, or when a company pays a blogger to write about their products or services
- Google AdSense, which displays ads on your website, and you earn money when users click on those ads
- Digital products such as eBooks, courses, or templates
- Your own products and services
Use your blog to network and build relationships with other businesses in your niche. From there, you can open the door for guest posts, backlinks, and other opportunities. If you have another online business, like an e-commerce store, you can use your blog to drive traffic there and grow both businesses.
Keep in mind that being a blogger will not make you $1,000 overnight. It takes a lot of time and effort before it starts paying off.
Starting Millennial Money changed my life, but I was able to make it a success because I wanted to help people change their financial situations. Choose a niche or topic you’re passionate about that will keep you locked in and motivated for the long haul.
5. Open an E-Commerce Shop
Thanks to the internet, it has never been easier to start a small business from the comfort of your home has never been easier.
Like blogging, e-commerce has the potential to make you money, but you have to dedicate your time to it. Luckily, there are plenty of platforms to choose from and products and services to sell.
First, decide what type of shop you want to have and what you want to sell to your target audience. You can resell items you purchase at a wholesale cost, or you can create your own products to sell.
A few common options for e-commerce include:
Dropshipping
Dropshipping is an ideal e-commerce model for those who don’t want to hold inventory or handle shipping. With Dropshipping, you can sell products through your online store from a supplier or manufacturer, and they will package and ship them directly to your customers.
While dropshipping is more manageable for the sellers, the profit margins tend to be low, as you’ll need to factor in the costs of your wholesale inventory, processing and shipping fees, and marketing costs.
Print-on-Demand
If you have a gift for graphic design, but still don’t want the burden of storing and shopping inventory, consider print-on-demand, or POD.
POD is similar to Dropshipping, but instead of reselling products from a supplier, you create unique designs for certain products (mugs, shirts, keychains, etc.), and the POD service will print and ship products when they are ordered from your shop.
It’s ideal for those who want to express (and profit) from their creativity, and it’s easy to get started with a POD service and online shop, like Etsy.
Etsy
Etsy is another online marketplace for those with a knack for creativity who want to share it with others. With Etsy, shop owners can sell their handmade or vintage items to a large, active customer base.
Unlike the first two options, running an Etsy shop is not just about designing and creating your products—you also need to build your inventory, market your store, and manage packaging and shipping. It’s a lot of work, but it can be a great source of daily income over time.
Note that Etsy charges sellers a $.20 listing fee for every item you put up for sale and a 6.5% transaction fee when someone purchases something from your shop. If you plan to use a POD service with your Etsy shop, consider all the expenses involved before taking the plunge.
Amazon FBA
With Fulfilment by Amazon, or Amazon FBA, you can list your products on the Amazon marketplace, and Amazon will handle the fulfillment, shipping, and tracking for you. You can offer Prime shipping as an FBA seller, which may bring in more customers who want an item fast. Sellers must store their products in one of Amazon’s warehouses so they can be easily packaged and shipped out.
Whichever route you take, you will need to factor in the costs of marketing your shop to a specific audience, usually with SEO strategies in your listings, email marketing, and online or social media ads. You can also implement an affiliate program, encouraging others to promote and sell your products.
Over time, with the proper time and effort given to your shop, more customers will be reached, and more purchases will be made.
6. Invest in Real Estate
As with blogging, if you need $1,000 in 24 hours right now, this might not be for you, but if you want to consistently make $1,000 in a day, real estate investing is a great approach.
Investing in real estate can be a great way to make money quickly, and there are a few different approaches, whether you want to be hands-on or hands-off with your investment.
One method of real estate investing is to purchase a property and rent it out to generate income. With this method, you would need to be an active property manager (aka a landlord) and should be prepared to take on the responsibilities that come along with it. This can include screening and approving tenants, fulfilling maintenance requests, handling complaints, and supervising the property.
If you prefer a passive approach, you can invest in real estate through REITs (real estate investment trusts) or crowdfunding without purchasing a property. REITs are companies that own and operate real estate properties and pay 90% of their income out to shareholders as dividends. Many REITs are traded publicly on the stock market—all you need is a brokerage account.
Real estate crowdfunding is a way to pool your money with other investors and choose the properties you want to invest in (apartment complexes, commercial buildings, etc.). With apps like Funrise, you can invest today for as little as $10.
Take note that while real estate can be a lucrative investment, it also carries a degree of risk as the value of real estate can constantly fluctuate.
7. Set up Passive Income Streams
Make money while you sleep? With passive income, it’s possible. Setting up passive income streams will require a lot of work at the front end, but the payout can be big.
Like e-commerce or side hustles, there are plenty of ways to earn passive income—you just have to decide which path you align best with.
Here is a short list of possible passive income stream options:
- Create a niche site: Build a website geared toward a targeted audience and incorporate affiliate links to monetize
- Digital products: Create and sell an online course, ebook, templates, stock photos, and more
- Dividend investing: Invest in stocks that pay dividends (or a portion of the company’s profits) regularly
- Rent a room on Airbnb: Rent out your space to people who need a place to stay
- Rent out storage space: Your basement, garage, spare room, or closet can bring in hundreds in monthly rent payments
That’s just a small taste of what is possible. If you’re a beginner, I advise sticking with two or three passive income streams at first. Remember, they will take time (and possibly money) to implement, so be realistic about the time you have to dedicate to each one.
8. Make Money Online
While similar to passive income, there are ways to actively make money online, including taking online surveys, teaching English, coaching, starting a podcast, or starting a YouTube channel.
If you’ve got an outgoing spirit and can speak about one topic fairly confidently, you may find success starting a YouTube channel. The goal is to attract viewers, so you’ll want to create original and engaging content. Make videos about trending topics.
Once you start getting views, you can monetize your YouTube videos with ads or sponsors, promote your own products, or join an affiliate program to promote others’ products or services in your videos.
Another popular way to make money online is by taking surveys. With apps like Survey Junkie, you can earn money by providing your opinions and feedback as a consumer.
Usually, you’ll be rewarded with points that you can later redeem for cash or gift cards. While it’s unlikely you would earn $1,000 in a single day with this method alone, you can pair it with a few other options listed here to earn extra cash.
9. Work as a Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants (VAs) provide a range of remote services, from basic administrative tasks, such as data entry and customer service, to more complex assignments, such as web design and social media management.
To get started as a VA, create a profile on a freelance website (like Upwork or Fiverr), and list the services you want to provide. Be sure to highlight your skills and experience in your online portfolio, as this will attract the clients in need of what you have to offer.
Like freelance writing, you can search for virtual assistant jobs on job boards or directly contact the business you’d like to work for.
Once you’ve landed the job, make sure to deliver quality work on time to ensure that your clients keep coming back and the money keeps rolling in.
10. Ask for a Raise
If you have full-time employment, asking for a raise won’t immediately put $1,000 in your pocket, but it can effectively increase your overall annual salary.
It can be intimidating to ask your boss for more money, and you will need to be prepared with solid reasoning for why you deserve a bump in salary. Consider your current workload, responsibilities, and achievements.
If you can clearly show your valuable contributions to the company, then you should absolutely ask for a raise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the quickest way to make $1,000 online?
One of the quickest ways to make $1,000 online is to sell high-value items through an online marketplace like eBay, Mercari, or Facebook Marketplace. You could also apply for high-paying freelance services such as graphic design, web development, and writing services on Fiverr and Upwork.
How do I get $1,000 immediately?
The fastest way to earn $1,000 is to sell something of high value like a laptop, an old car, or jewelry; however, I advise you only to sell items you’re ready and willing to part with.
If you’re in a tight spot financially and need $1,000 immediately, your best options are to ask a family member or trusted friend or see if you can get a cash advance on your next paycheck.
Steer clear of payday loans, as the interest rates are ridiculously high, and so it can be overwhelming for you to pay back.
How do I make $2,000 in a day?
Earning $2,000 in a single day is even more daunting of a task than $1,000! It will absolutely require all of your focus, effort, and skills. Potential options to rake in that amount of money in 24 hours can involve selling a valuable item or piece of property, making a sizeable profit off an investment, or landing a high-end freelance client.
Some who make that kind of money in a day may be taking part in high-stakes gambling or playing the lottery; however, these are not advisable or sustainable methods for earning money in the long term. Find your passion, put in the work, and earn money by helping others.
What is the biggest obstacle to making $1,000 in a day?
The biggest obstacle you’ll face when trying to earn $1,000 is YOU! You have to stay focused and motivated, and you really have to want it. That desire is what will drive you to do the work necessary to reach your goal. Keep going!
How do I handle an unexpected $1,000 expense?
Considering that roughly 56% of Americans can’t cover an unexpected $1,000 bill with their savings, it is a good idea to prepare now for a circumstance like that. If you align with any of the strategies I’ve mentioned, today is the day to start.
Put the money you make into a high-yield savings account, and don’t touch it until you need it. However, if you have any debt (particularly high-interest credit card debt), put it toward paying that off before anything else.
It is always a good idea to have an emergency fund with three to six months of living expenses so you are prepared for a financial emergency, so the sooner you can build that up, the better.
Can I Make $1,000 in 24 Hours?
There are countless ways to make $1,000 fast, whether you choose an online business, freelance writing, or even a yard sale. Choose an option that best fits your skillset and situation to make money fast.
Remember, there is a difference between making $1,000 in 24 hours and getting free money now. Some of these strategies require time, money, and effort to get rolling, but once you set yourself on a money-making path, the outcome will make it all worth it. So, get started today!
It may feel unachievable at first, but stick with it, and it will happen for you.
Good luck. I’m rooting for you.