31 Practical Ways to Make $500 Fast (2026)

If practical ways make 500 is on your radar, this short guide cuts through the noise. Here is what is worth knowing, and how to put it to work today.

Key Takeaways

• 31 Practical Ways to Make $500 Fast A little extra cash never hurt.
• Here are over two dozen realistic ways you can bring in five Ben Franklins over the next seven days.
• Written by Ben Huber Last Updated: February 29, 2024 Reviewed by Jana Lynch Home Side Hustles Some of the links on DollarSprout point to pro...

31 Practical Ways to Make $500 Fast

A little extra cash never hurt. Here are over two dozen realistic ways you can bring in five Ben Franklins over the next seven days.

Written by Ben Huber Last Updated: February 29, 2024 Reviewed by Jana Lynch

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Do you need $500 fast?

I’ve been there. In fact, there have been several times an extra $500 would have made a big difference in my life and prevented me from making some questionable financial choices or taking on debt to get by.

That doesn’t have to be the case for you.

Whether you’re facing a financial crisis, want to jumpstart your emergency fund, or are doing something else, there are plenty of options available.

How to Make $500 Fast

Numerous of the gigs on this list can help you earn that $500 in a week (or less), especially if you’re willing to hustle and work hard.

Pick up a side hustle

Next to selling things, gig jobs and side hustles are one of the best ways to make money fast. Apps can get you connected to people in your area looking for what you have to offer.

1. Test apps

App developers live in a bubble. They come up with what they think is a excellent idea for an app, but need feedback from actual users , at scale. It’s hard for one person or even an entire team to foresee all the issues a user may have when interacting with a new-to-market app. 

By polling thousands of users at once, they get invaluable feedback about what their shopping, fitness, or gaming app is actually like to the lay user who knows nothing about it. 

Are directions simple to understand? Is it fun? Did the checkout process work, or did users encounter frequent errors? What about bugs? They’re all questions that need relevant answers before an app is pushed live, and that’s where you can help. 

Platforms such as Freecash showcase thousands of apps that need testers. Member users can earn anywhere from as little as $0.02 to nearly $200 to test drive one of hundreds of needy apps. 

Plus, users can earn additional income through similar get-paid-to tasks: think playing games, taking surveys, or participating in daily quizzes. 

Get a $5 bonus for creating an account. 

How fast can you make $500?

Variable. Time and eligibility constraints will impact how quickly you’ll be able to accumulate $500 in earnings. Users who are active daily and participate in a diverse number of earning opportunities could earn $500 in a few days or less.

These high earnings are not sustainable, however, as high(er) earning opportunities are not limitless. Users should more reasonably expect to earn $20 to $50 per month with consistent use, which is consistent, if not slightly higher than similar “get paid to” sites. 

2. Become a personal grocery shopper Source: Instacart

If you are at least 18 years old, becoming an Instacart shopper is a excellent way to quickly earn money.

As a shopper, you are responsible for preparing shoppers’ grocery orders that are submitted through the Instacart app. Earning money is as simple as turning the app on and accepting orders. If you have a driver’s license and an insured vehicle, you can earn additional pay by preparing the groceries and then delivering them to the customer’s door.

As long as you can lift 30 pounds, you can fill out an application and get hired within 10 days, or, generally speaking, the time it takes for them to process your shopper background check.

One of our readers, Chris Cucchiara , an Instacart super-earner , recently shared his seven best tips for how he made $4,500 in his first two months with the company.

How fast can you make $500?

How quickly you can earn $500 depends on how numerous orders you deliver per day, the tips you receive, and when you make deliveries. You’ll earn more during peak hours, but it is possible to make $500 in a week.

3. Resell unused phones, tablets, and other tech online

If you’ve got old electronics collecting dust , like phones, tablets, or MacBooks , Gazelle makes it simple to turn them into cash. Just answer a few quick questions about your device to get an instant offer. If you accept it, they’ll email you a free shipping label. Once your device is received and inspected, payment is typically issued within one business day.

When I tested it, I got $79 for an iPhone 8 and was paid via PayPal within 24 hours of inspection , exactly as quoted.

How fast can you make $500?

If you’ve got a few used phones or a family member willing to contribute an old laptop, this method could get you surprisingly close. And even if you don’t hit the $500 mark, it’s one of the easiest ways to turn forgotten tech into real money.

Related: Gazelle Review 2025

4. Walk dogs or pet sit Sites like Rover.com allow you to set your own rates for dog walking, pet sitting, and more.

Pet sitting is one of the best side hustles for animal lovers.

If you live in an urban area, you could easily pick up several dog walking shoppers or cat sitting gigs per week. Even in smaller cities or the suburbs, people still travel during the summer or on holidays and need someone to watch their pets.

Earnings for Rover pet sitters and walkers are set up as flat fees for specific services rather than hourly rates. That means you get to set your rate and charge what your services are worth. Check out the competition in your neighborhood to see how much you could make working with Rover.

For example, to hire a Rover dog walker in my area to come to me and take my dogs for a walk would range from $8 to $28 per dog. For overnight pet boarding, rates frequently fall in the $25 to $90 per night range.

How fast can you make $500?

At an average of $20 per visit, you’d need to make 25 visits to earn $500. If you offered pet boarding and charged $50 per night and watched one dog, you could make $500 in as few as 10 days.

Related: How to Make Money Dogsitting with Rover

5. Babysit A timeless classic, babysitting is no less relevant in today’s (frequently remote) work environment.

Although we typically think of babysitting as a job for teenagers, it’s a excellent option for adults who want to earn extra money. Parents might trust an adult more than a teenager, and the extra years of experience , especially if you’re a teacher or have kids of your own , mean that you can charge more.

You can advertise locally, post on your social media, or register with a company like Care.com to find clients. If babysitting kids isn’t your thing, you can also use it to find gigs cleaning houses, pet sitting, and tutoring.

How fast can you make $500?

Like numerous of the other options on this list, how quickly you earn money depends on how much you charge and how much you work. If you charge $20 per hour and babysit three kids per week for five hours each, it would take you just under two weeks to earn $500.

6. Rent out your space

If you have unused space on your property, like a basement, garage, or shed, consider renting it out to earn some extra cash. Sites like Neighbor.com make it simple for you to create a free listing to advertise to people in your community about your available space.

Source: Neighbor.com

Take Justin, for example. He transformed his backyard into a lucrative RV storage space using Neighbor.com, earning $1,200 monthly with minimal effort. This extra income has allowed him to pay down debt and reinvest in real estate. 

Final Thoughts

Before you check out, double-check practical ways make 500 against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.

Originally published at dollarsprout.com.