How To Make $200 Dollars Fast – 18 Realistic Methods To Try
Maybe you need some extra cash to pay off upcoming bills. Or, maybe you need the money to treat yourself or someone special in your life.
Whatever the case, it's important to know how to make quick money when you need it most. So in this post, I'm covering some realistic ways to make $200 fast that you can use when money is tight and you're in a pinch.
I've personally used many of these fast money-making methods in the past, especially when I was still in college. And many of the other methods are time-tested, legitimate ways to make a bit of money on the side.
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How To Make $200 Fast
1. Sell Unused Stuff
One of the most straightforward ways to earn $200 fast is to sell stuff you don't need anymore for some quick cash. I did this numerous times throughout my life and in college. For example, I've sold furniture, an old acoustic guitar, clothing, and shoes before for some extra cash.
Personally, my favorite way to sell stuff is to use local selling websites like Facebook Marketplace. This is because you don't have to deal with shipping costs, and you get paid with cash from local buyers.
I made a YouTube video on five of my favorite selling apps you can also consider, including options like eBay or Mercari and apps like OfferUp. Overall, there are plenty of popular local and online marketplaces where you can find buyers.
As for what you can sell to make 200 dollars fast, you have plenty of options like:
- Apparel
- Collectibles like coins, cars, Pokemon cards, and anything serious fans might love
- Electronics
- Furniture
- Instruments
- Jewelry and watches (you can use Worthy to safely sell them)
- Sneakers and other shoes
- TVs
- Watches
You get the idea. Anything that's in good condition and popular probably has some resale value. And you can always try options like pawn shops as well if you don't find buyers quickly.
2. Play Games For Money
Playing video games is one of my favorite hobbies. But did you know you can also make money by playing games?
That's right: there are actually plenty of gaming apps and websites that let you earn cash or gift cards by gaming. Some of my all-time favorites include:
- Cash Giraffe (Android)
- Bingo Cash (iOS)
- Bubble Cash (iOS)
- Rewarded Play (Android)
- Solitaire Cash (iOS)
- Mistplay (Android)
- Scrambly (PC & Android)
Cash Giraffe is our favorite Android option, while Bingo Cash reigns supreme for iOS. Between these platforms, you can start exploring new games to play while getting paid at the same time.
3. Paid Survey Sites
I've been testing out survey websites and apps ever since 2018 when I was in college. And this is one of the easiest side hustles to start since brands are willing to pay you for your opinions.
However, a lot of survey sites aren't worth it or are downright scams. So, stick with some legit options, including sites like:
Between these sites, you can earn some extra cash or a gift card every day without needing any skills. I suggest stacking it with another hustle idea on this list, however, so you can reach the $200 goal.
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4. Borrow The Money
If you're in a bit of a financial pickle, you can always consider borrowing the money from someone. You also have a lot of options here, including:
- Asking friends and family for help
- Using companies like LoanForPersonal to borrow the money
- Using your credit card
- Using cash advance apps like EarnIn or Brigit to spot you the money
- Asking a roommate for the cash
- Pawning stuff for cash
You have to consider what you're comfortable with if you decide to borrow money. And you can always speak to a financial professional as well if you need specific advice for your situation.
Extra Reading – How To Get $500 By Tomorrow.
5. Use Sign Up Bonuses
If you're like me, sign up bonuses are one of your favorite things. But who wouldn't like getting free money just for signing up for different products or services?
Luckily, I've tried out plenty of sign up bonus apps and websites over the years. And it's possible to get $200 dollars fast if you leverage enough of them.
Some excellent bonuses you can take advantage of include:
- Rakuten ($30): This is my favorite cash back shopping extension, and it pays you $30 when you sign up and spend at least $30 on a qualifying offer.
- Nielsen Panel ($50): Get $50 or more per year for sharing your data with Nielsen's Mobile & Computer Panel.
- Swagbucks ($10): You can get $10 from Swagbucks if you sign up and spend at least $25 on a shopping offer.
- Current ($50): Earn 4% APY on your cash and get a nice $50 sign up bonus with Current!
The bonuses above are over $200. And some of them, like Nielsen Panel and Fundrise, are also easy passive income sources you can add into your life.
6. Deliver Food
Driving apps are a common way to make extra cash. And out of all the categories of driving apps, food delivery apps are some of the highest-paying options.
Uber Eats is the perfect example. It lets you make money on your own schedule by delivering food and everyday essentials to people. And I like that you can deliver with your car, bike, or scooter.
My good friend Grant actually made a lot of money during school by delivering with Uber Eats and DoorDash. In fact, making $15 to $20 per hour was pretty standard:
At this rate, $200 is pretty easy to reach. And you can always try similar gigs like delivering groceries with Instacart or Shipt. And if you have a vehicle, you can also deliver packages and groceries with Amazon Flex.
Just make sure you track your income and expenses. These roles are independent contractor positions, so you need to report income accurately when filing taxes.
Start making money with Uber Eats!
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7. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing involves selling products and services on behalf of other people. When you make a sale, you earn a commission, so it's sort of like being an online salesperson.
Affiliate marketing is also how I make $20,000 a month, or even more. This is because I promote a variety of services on apps on WebMonkey and on my YouTube channel, and brands pay me when people sign up through my links.
I think starting a blog or branching into social media content creation is the best way to make money with affiliate marketing. And the best part is that this business can scale way past $200 as you grow your audience.
8. Use Cash Back Apps
So many apps these days pay you with automatic cash back when you shop with a linked card or simply scan your receipts. And in my experience, this is an easy $10 to $25+ per month in your pocket, which all adds up.
Several leading reward apps I recommend using include:
With this stack of apps, you can earn cash back whenever you shop for groceries, gas, and everyday products.
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9. Make Money Freelance Writing
A few years ago, I started freelance writing and blogging on the side while I had a day job at a digital marketing agency. And after a few months, my freelance writing income was growing pretty steadily. I had a few clients who paid me $0.07 to $0.15 per word, so I could easily make $200 a day by completing an article or two.
So, I eventually quit my day job, got a one-way ticket to Colombia, and then spent 100% of my time blogging and writing while starting to travel.
It was such a life-changing experience. But it also taught me how much money you can make selling skills online as a freelancer.
And a single ghost writing gig can get you started. As you hone your craft and land better clients, it's not unrealistic to get $200 for a single article, or even more.
To find your first gigs, you can ask your network for any opportunities. You can also look on remote job sites like FlexJobs or find jobs on Upwork to get the ball rolling.
10. Sell Other Freelance Skills
Freelance writing is how I make a lot of my income. But there's no reason you can't make $200 fast by selling other types of skills as a freelancer.
Some popular freelancing careers and gigs include:
- Accounting and bookkeeping
- Coding
- Graphic design
- Email marketing specialist
- SEO
- Social media management
- Tutoring
- Video editor
- Virtual assistant
- Web designer
Hourly freelancer rates can easily reach $25 to $50+ per hour, or even more if you have a lot of experience. This means you can earn 200 dollars in just a few hours of work. And you have the flexibility to make money with a laptop from anywhere in the world, which I think is awesome.
Pro Tip: Find high-paying, flexible freelance gigs with FlexJobs!
11. Use Microtask Websites
If you want to make money from home, another option is to use different microtask websites. Microtask sites pay you for completing short online jobs like:
- Data entry
- AI training help
- Image tagging
- Social media management
- Search engine evaluation
Generally, you claim a task with these sites, complete it, and then earn $0.25 to a few dollars for your time. Clickworker is an example of a global, popular site you can make money with. And it lets you cash out with PayPal money and has plenty of work to go around.
Sites like Amazon MTurk are also an option, and same with sites like Appen. These companies and similar sites all let you complete online tasks to earn some extra money on the side.
You won't get rich with these sites. But for making $200 fast online, they're a reliable option.
12. Collect Bottles & Cans
This idea is simple, but it works: take an afternoon to walk around your city collecting bottles and cans and return them to the store for quick cash.
In my city, bottles go for $0.15 and cans go for $0.05. This is how my friends and I made some decent money in college since we collected empties from house parties.
You can also do this with ideas like collecting scrap metal or finding free stuff people are throwing out and then flipping it.
13. Do Odd Jobs For Cash
Doing odd jobs for cash is another realistic way to get $200 dollars fast. And I like this method since you can often get started in just a few minutes if you know where to look.
For example, my friends and I have made money in the past by shoveling people's driveway of snow or doing some basic lawn work. All we had to do was knock on a few doors and offer our services.
You can also find plenty of cash gigs in your area on websites like Craigslist. For example, my area has plenty for gigs like moving help and junk removal.
Lots of these jobs are ideal if you have a cargo van or truck. But you can still find lots of manual labor jobs to make $200 fast.
And if these methods fail, you can use apps like Wonolo or Instawork to find nearby companies that need short-term labor help to get paid in a day or two of work.
14. Become A Rideshare Driver
Do you enjoy driving? If so, you can always make extra cash by becoming a rideshare driver for companies like Uber or Lyft.
The idea here is pretty simple: just sign up, start accepting riders in your area, and work every day until you make $200. According to Salary.com, Lyft drivers earn $15 to $22 per hour on average. This means you can make $200 in a day or two of driving.
You have to factor in fuel expenses, and I suggest using a mileage tracking app like Hurdlr so you know exactly what your income and expenses are.
15. Join Paid Focus Groups
Focus groups and paid market research companies are willing to pay good money to hear from consumers. And if you find a decent study in your area or online, it's definitely possible to earn some serious cash.
FocusGroup.com is one great place to start if you live in the United States. This focus group company pays you for completing tasks like:
- Answering paid surveys
- Participating in webcam focus groups
- Participating in in-person focus groups
- Having phone calls with researchers
- Completing product reviews
You can also find focus groups and study opportunities with companies like Apex Focus Group and Respondent.io.
A lot of studies only pay a few dollars if they're online. But some interview-based studies can pay $50 to $150+ for an hour or two of your time.
16. Lower Your Bills
Sometimes, learning how to save more money is more impactful than making more money.
For me, taking a hard look at my monthly budget and trimming some bills made a massive difference to my monthly finances. Some of the main areas I've reduced spending include:
- Cable and internet bills
- My phone bill
- Eating out at restaurants
- Streaming services
- Alcohol
Learning how to cook and making most of my meals at home has also made a massive difference. And I'm definitely saving way more than $200 with all of these reductions.
Pro Tip: You can use tools like Rocket Money to track your spending, cancel unused subscriptions, and even negotiate lower bills automatically!
17. Start A Service-Based Business
This side hustle idea is similar to doing odd jobs for cash, and it's an excellent idea if you're particularly handy or have a unique skill you can sell.
Examples of some services you can offer include:
- Haircuts
- Pressure washing
- Landscape work
- Car repairs
- Painting
- Dog grooming and washing
- Pet sitting
- Babysitting
- Gutter cleaning
- Window washing
- Cleaning
You get the idea. Think of a service you can do well, and then go door to door to market it!
Using apps like TaskRabbit and Handy can also help you find your first clients, and you get to set your own rates and availability with these apps.
18. Make Money Renting Things
If you want a low maintenance business idea, you can always try renting things out to make money.
People do this all the time by renting out spare rooms with platforms like Airbnb. You can do the same thing by renting out storage space with Neighbor, or by renting out your car on Turo.
Depending on the asset you're renting, you can easily make $200 in a few hours or days. And the best part is that this is semi-passive!
Tips For Getting Started
Now that you know some of the best ways to make $200 fast, I want to cover a few tips that I've found helpful whenever I need to hustle for extra money.
- Set A Specific Goal: How fast do you need the 200 dollars? If it's a day, you need to find a same day job that pays. But if you have a few days, you can break up your goal into smaller chunks.
- Try Several Ideas: Test a few side hustles so you find what works best for you. This could mean delivering for Uber Eats, trying freelance writing, and using microtask sites. Eventually, you'll find the hustles that are enjoyable and make you the most money.
- Stick To Your Skills: I use freelance writing and blogging to make most of my income because I find writing is my best skill. Think about what your skills are, and then play to your strength with hustles that make sense.
Extra Reading – How To Make $100 A Day Guaranteed.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide on how to make 200 dollars fast helps you reach your financial goal and pad your savings a bit.
I've tried so many hustles over the years, so I like to think I've found some pretty reliable ways to make money in a pinch. Just pick an idea or two from this list, and give it your best effort. You might find you make more than $200 and even find a new, fun side hustle along the way.
Looking for even more fast money-making ideas? Checkout:
