Whether it’s an unexpected family emergency or just an oversight in your monthly finances, we all run into times when we need cash in a hurry. In fact, most people find themselves in a position where there seems to be more month at the end of the money, rather than money at the end of the month – which is synonymous with the 9-5 lifestyle known as the “rat race”.

In times like these, it can feel very disconcerting, stressful, and even panic inducing. There are, of course, companies such as OnlineCash4Payday® that can provide a helpful injection of immediate term funds to help bridge the financial gap, yet many people prefer to look for ways to dig themselves out of a financial shortfall, in the first instance.

In this vein, we’re going to take a look at some of the many ways you can help dig yourself out of a financial hole by earning money in a relatively short period of time. Now, this can be a challenge as most jobs tend to pay monthly or weekly in arrears, meaning, even if you were to get a new job or an additional job, you’re unlikely to see the money reach your bank account for some time.

That’s the biggest frustration when you are in a bit of a financial pickle, the one resource you need is money yet there often isn’t enough time to obtain the money you require to make ends meet; which is where short-term loans such as those mentioned above can come in handy.

The other resource you’re going to need, however, is a positive mental attitude in that you need to be able to manage your emotions so that you can respond to the situation effectively rather than react from a place of fear, stress and frustration.

Of course, in an ideal world, we would never get into a situation where we short fall, but in the real world there are unexpected expenses that come up through no fault of your own; and many people, today, don’t have a huge “rainy day fund” lying around waiting to be spent…

This article, therefore, looks at a number of suggestions to make decent chunks of income in a relatively short time frame.

1. BECOME A MARKET RESEARCH PARTICIPANT

Being a market research participant doesn’t tend to bring in the big bucks; but it can be an instant way to make some extra cash – it can also have other perks, such as free samples and so on. The reason this is added to the list is because it doesn’t require a long interview and selection process, like most jobs, it’s something you can do almost straight away.

2. BECOME A MEDICAL GUINEA PIG

Becoming a medical research participant is an interesting option, that can be pretty well paid and presuming you fit the criteria they are looking for – there’s not too much waiting around.

There’s something rather ominous sounding about becoming a “medical research participant” as it sounds like you might be cut open, or injected with all sorts of chemicals, yet in reality the majority of participants are given something like a cold and flu remedy to try out – then observed to see if there are any adverse side effects associated with the medicine.

Of course, there are more in-depth studies, and some with a higher risk of discomfort – but you tend to be quite well compensated for your time, and if you are doing a short-term residential stay you are often given your own room with decent WiFi meaning you could be doing other things to make money online… that is, presuming, you’re not feeling unwell as a result of the test!

3. SELL STUFF ON EBAY

eBay is a great marketplace where you can sell items that you no longer need. Indeed, some people have items lying around that have shot up in value due to their collectible status. That said, making money on eBay is not limited to selling your own things – you can purchase items and upcycle them, or simply rewrite the marketing description and take better photos; turning a quick profit that can be sizeable when compounded.

The other trick, albeit a little sneaky, is to look through the “free ads” section in papers and websites that offer unwanted items as free to the collector. In this sense, you can get a free item, for instance, a fridge freezer that somebody no longer needs – give it a good clean, take some nice photos of it, and put it up on eBay or Craigslist.

This way, other than the cost associated with picking up the item, you’re literally able to make money from nothing; as that’s one of the biggest problems when you need money – often, you need to have money in order to make money, when looking at these microventures… which is where the convenience and effortlessness of a second job can come in; it just depends how long it will take to receive your first paycheck.

4. ODD JOBS OR MICRO BUSINESS

You need to think more like a teenager and develop the resilience that teeangers have as they knock on several doors in order to mow lawns, clean windows, walk dogs, chop down trees, clear up leaves, wash cars, do ironing, babysitting, or whatever it takes to make that much needed cash.

It might feel a little humiliating, but when you strip it down to its bare bones – is there really anything humiliating about getting off your bum, addressing a situation head on, and doing something about it.

If anything, that is something to be respected for.

The majority of people resonate with someone that is trying their best to do something about their situation, and therefore, with a good story – providing it’s authentic – you’ll be surprised how many people will be willing to offer you odd jobs. Just remember, that whilst you can share the reason for doing what you’re doing, nobody likes a sob story, and therefore, it’s much more to position it in an empowering way rather than coming across as a victim.