How to Make Money FAST

I feel everyone has been in a position where they needed money and they needed it FAST. Whether it's a large unexpected bill, an insurance claim and you need to come up with the excess, medical issues, job loss or anything else, it is stressful trying to work it out.

How can you get money fast?

It depends on your situation, the reason you need the money and where you are located can impact some of the options.

Go on a money hunt: Look under all the furniture, lounge cushions and appliances. Check your bags, purses, pockets of all clothing, drawers and anywhere else you have ever stored money. Clean out your car and look in all the little storage compartments, under the seats, mats and even near the spare tyre. In your emails, search the terms gift card, discount, gift certificate etc. to see if you have any unused discounts and gift cards you could utilise.
​Bank Bonuses: Get $15 instantly from Up Bank with no ongoing account keeping fees or expectations.
​Pantry Cleanout: This week, do everything you can to eat what you have, use up those random ingredients and save on your groceries. Use the tips in this article for recipe ideas to reduce waste, turn leftovers into something new and use all of the items instead of just certain parts.
​Cash Out: Check your cash back accounts, online survey accounts, reward points and everything you're a member of to see if you can access anything right now. E.g. CashRewards is closing so you need to cash that out now. Shopback is my favourite cashback program. Octopus Group is the highest paying online survey site.
​Sell: Look around your home and sell off anything you can then consider reselling other items. Check out my ebook with all my tips here.
​Services: Cleaning, babysitting, yardwork, odd jobs etc. All of those services can be done for a short period of time and generate decent money either through being employed by someone else, using Airtasker or similar sites to pick up odd jobs.

Articles to Make Money

Here are a few of my favourite articles to make money:
​43 ways for single mums to make money​
​5 of the easiest ways I've made money​
​How to make money with medical/clinical trials (I made $4,050 with this)
​10 ways to make $1,000 this month​
​19 ways I've made money remotely/around the kids​

If you have more time to make money look at these 20 ways to make $1,000 and these tips to double your income.
​How to make $100hr with market research and check out Octopus Group (Australia's highest paying online survey and market research site). Also these online survey sites that we test regularly.
​How to make and save an extra $10,000 in a year​

How to Deal with Those Expenses

Here is what I have done or would do for different scenarios where you might need money fast.

A Large Unexpected Bill

Firstly, I'd check the bill was accurate because sometimes they estimate and it is way off. If it's correct, I'd check for leaks and issues immediately to see if that's a reason for the large bill.

Next, I'd check my budget to see what I can afford and how I can pay off this bill then I'd contact the company and ask for a payment plan.

With that plan in place, I'd do what I can to make extra money and save in every area of my life if possible to throw at the bill and get it paid off sooner.

Medical Issues

Medical issues are difficult because not only can they add extra expenses but they can also reduce your income or ability to work for an unknown period of time. This can then lead to mental health issues and made getting on top of finances feel impossible.

Read how to afford medical expenses on a low income and how to manage your health and wealth when sick.

Look for a doctor who bulk bills or discuss your options with your medical centre. If you have to see a specialist, ask for payment options, if there are discounts available etc.

Check your health insurance to see what is covered and make sure you claim accurately.

Ask your GP and local community centre what help is available too.

Make sure you are utilising your health care/pension/seniors card fully. Check this list to find out.

If it is your mental health, read these 7 tips to help manage finances when struggling with your mental health.

Planning for Future Emergencies

Life will throw curve balls so the best thing you can do is plan for them. Read my tips for how to handle emergencies, find the money you need and plan ahead when you can.

Clearing debt makes any future emergency much easier. Here are 6 tips to easily reduce debt.

Another thing for the future is to do what you can to increase your net worth and cash flow. This way, if you were in a really tight spot you might have resources to help e.g. redraw on the mortgage, sell something from a collection etc.

Our Meal Plan

We are trying to use everything up over the next few weeks as we leave for Tonga on November 11 and are moving states when we return.

This weeks main meals:
​Chicken enchiladas: This is a modified recipe and I don't have photos. I had 4 leftover flatbreads and a reduced to clear roast chicken. Shred the chicken, add cream and a tin of cream of chicken soup. Add grated carrot and any other vegetables e.g. diced onion, capsicum, tinned corn etc. Mix it together. Separate each flat bread so it is 2 circles instead of 1 and place some mixture in the middle of each one then roll it up and place each roll in a lasagne dish. Rip some holes in the top of each. In a separate bowl mix a can of evaporated milk with 2 tablespoons of cornflour and a teaspoon of paprika. Pour that into the holes on the top of each and top with grated cheese. Bake for around 20 minutes in a medium oven.
I hope that makes sense, if you have any questions, let me know! It is a favourite with my kids so I might try to do a video next time.
​Mexican: We had slow cooked Mexican beef in the freezer. Add black beans, corn, rice, capscium, onion, garlic, cheese, sour cream, salsa and we serve it on lettuce.
​Dhal: Another favourite in our house, dhal is an Indian lentil dish you can add vegetables, rice, naan bread and things to.
​Lasagne: I had frozen bolognese, fresh lasange sheets and some pepper cheese so we made a slightly different flavoured lasagne for tonight.
​Sushi and rice paper rolls: I have had sushi rice and seaweed in the cupboard for ages so this week instead of pizza on Friday, everyone is making their own rice paper and sushi rolls.
​Miso Soup: I love this and we had miso so it's an easy one.
​Fried Rice: We cook rice then add any vegetables to it and sometimes ham or leftover meats.
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I have 20+ tips to reduce the cost of groceries plus how to reduce waste/what to do with scraps and leftovers.

Our breakfasts are usually eggs, toast, cereal or smoothies. Lunches are leftovers, sandwiches, rice dishes etc and snacks are mainly fruit and veg, sometimes crackers.

What I Am Reading

This week I am reading something a little different before we travel. Unfortunately, a few people we have to deal with in the islands are a little difficult. The Highly Sensitive Person's Guide to Dealing with Toxic People: How to Reclaim Your Power from Narcissists and Other Manipulators is being read to prepare me.

Previously I read Magic Words and applied that to these people and it worked wonders! It made things much easier so learning more along these lines is important to me.

Discounts For You!

I put all the October discounts in one place to make it easier for you to sort through and grab your bargains.

The Thrifty Issue Community

For more and to connect with others check out The Thrifty Issue Facebook group, Facebook page, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.​