Being caught in a situation where your rent is due but your pockets are empty can be a gut-wrenching feeling. This predicament happens quite often, unfortunately.
Even though we all try our best to budget the money we have coming in, unexpected bills happen that can turn our money plans upside down. Finding yourself without money to pay your rent is hard and embarrassing, but it is not something you should feel shame about.
When you are stuck and need help, the people you know and have made connections with in your life will help you find a solution directly or through another source. Your first line of defense is to take a breath, make a plan, and take action. It can be hard to think clearly or see obvious solutions when you are in panic mode.
Some people find they need money to pay rent the next day and aren’t sure what to do about it. Thankfully, they have several options to consider in this emergency. Learn more about those options that can help cover your rent in the shortest amount of time.
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16 Options When You Need Emergency Cash for Rent
When you need money to pay rent tomorrow, it’s important to keep an open mind to possibilities. The following ideas can help you collect all or some of the rent money you need.
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1. Sell Items
Probably the most obvious thing to do is to go through items that you have on hand that you can sell. First, consider items you no longer need. Then, think about items you could live without. Start posting those items for sale on places like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, or throw together a quick garage sale.
One time I listed a Little Tikes playset on Facebook Marketplace for $125 and it received multiple inquiries within 20 minutes. I had the item claimed that day and the money in my hand the following Saturday. It was a great reminder that sometimes the things my kids no longer play with are worth significant and quick cash.
Think about the amount of money that you need to make so that you can price items accordingly. If you have a wider range of items you can sell, then pricing things lower could help quicken the selling process. Post your items for sale on as many sites as you have access to in order to draw more attention to them for quicker sales.
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2. Pawn Items
Pawn shops can be a great resource if you are in a financial bind and need to pay rent tomorrow. Some pawn shops offer loans on your items so you don’t necessarily need to sell your item to get money. The pawn shop will determine how much your item is worth and offer you a loan amount.
This item you are considering will be used as collateral in the event that you don’t pay back your loan. Remember, pawn shop loans generally tack on interest. Be sure you understand the terms before agreeing. In an emergency, this could be a great option to get $500 fast.
3. Ask Friends and Family
There is no shame in going to the people who know and love you most. Your friends and family want to see you succeed and will typically do what they can to help those they love. If you go to them and say you need help paying rent today, chances are they are going to help. Even if they can’t give you a large amount, some money is better than none.
When my husband and I bought our truck, we were offered the best deal as long as we paid in cash. While we had the money, it was tied up in some investments and would take a few more days than we expected. So, we asked my brother for a cash loan to make up the difference–which he happily provided.
Sometimes, you won’t know if your family or friends have your back unless you ask them. Set up a plan to pay back the money when things get better on your end. Your friends and family will understand how hard you are trying to make ends meet.
Related: Get Paid to Refer Friends to Sites and Apps
4. Apply for a Loan
Go to your bank and ask to apply for a loan. If you start with the bank you already have a relationship with, it could be a little easier to get approved since the bank can see what kind of account holder you are. This helps the bank assess the risk it would be taking if it approved your loan. If needed, you can also apply at other banks for a loan.
Consider putting your car up for collateral. If you have a paid-off car, then you can ask the bank to take out a loan against it. This means the bank gives you the money in exchange for the title on your car. Once you pay back the loan, you get the title back. This kind of loan usually offers a lower interest rate than a personal loan.
There are other ways to borrow money through services like Cash App, for example. These services offer more convenient and faster ways of borrowing money, but interest rates may be higher. Be sure to read the fine print and understand all the terms and conditions before you sign up for a loan. And remember to only take out what you can responsibly afford to pay back.
5. Offer Lawn Mowing Services
If you have access to a lawn mower, consider going around your neighborhood offering lawn mowing services. This is a quick way to get some cash in your pocket. You can charge $20 or more per home that you mow. The number of lawns you can do in a day will quickly add up.
You can tack on other lawncare services like weeding, leaf raking, gardening, etc. to add to your income. You might even be able to get an ongoing relationship with your customers if you do a good job. Make sure to make it easy for them to pay, too—cash or Cash App payments are both great options!
6. Deliver With Instacart
Instacart is a popular choice many people use to do their grocery shopping. With Instacart, people can order their groceries online and have someone shop and deliver those items on their behalf.
This is a convenience service you can offer like food delivery. If you become an Instacart Shopper, you can earn tips in addition to your base pay. Start an account with Instacart so that you can make money in time to pay your rent tomorrow. Schedule the hours and days you are available to work.
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7. Take on New Clients
If you are someone who offers virtual services like freelance writing, virtual assisting, proofreading, and/or editing, then take on new clients to boost the money you need for rent. When you sign on new clients, ask for a retainer fee where they pay up to a full month’s worth of work in advance.
You can also ask new clients for a deposit to secure your services, which could be hundreds of dollars depending on how much money you need to cover rent. This option could really make a difference in the amount of money you need to pay for rent.
Anytime you ask for money upfront, treat it as you would a loan. That money belongs to your client until you’ve completed the job to their expectations. Always submit the work on time to keep clients happy. Doing so can lead to future assignments and more money to put toward your rent payment.
8. Offer Babysitting Services
Babysitting is one of the easiest jobs that pay well. You are responsible for caring for another family’s child while the parents are away. This could be an all-day job or a few hours in the evening. Depending on your schedule, you can offer however many hours you are available to watch the child(ren).
Charge a rate that will help you get the money you need. Depending on your experience and qualifications, you could charge around $16 per hour or more depending on the number of kids in your care. Some families even throw in an extra tip. This money could add up quickly for rent.
Care.com is a popular platform that connects babysitters with local parents in need of their services. Set up a free profile and mention any experience you have with children.
9. Offer Day Laborer Services
A day laborer is someone who can do jobs like handyman services, helping people move, putting together large furniture, or helping with landscape projects. You might even find some construction areas are looking for help as well.
Offer your services to those who aren’t physically or mentally able to do them. You can expect to get paid an hourly or flat daily rate. A full day of working as a laborer could yield a couple hundred dollars.
You can often find odd jobs on apps like TaskRabbit or Care.com. You might find better opportunities on niche sites like Lawn Love that are tailored more to your area of expertise. Be sure to negotiate a rate you’re comfortable with before taking any job, and either work through a secure platform that holds the payment, or get the payment upfront if possible.
10. Wash Dirty Laundry
If you’re willing to work a little harder, you can make money from washing other people’s dirty laundry. Look for people who don’t want to spend the time or energy on doing their own laundry and offer your services.
When I worked at a motel one summer, I offered to wash some out-of-town residents’ clothes during their two-month stay. It was a perfect solution since the laundry was coin operated and I had plenty of downtime during my shift.
The most predictable pricing structure is to charge per load. Be sure to factor in transportation costs if you’re offering to pickup/dropoff laundry, or you’re expecting clients do that part. Keep in mind that you’ll need a place to store the laundry, and some customers may require special instructions for certain items.
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Additional Resources to Help Pay Your Rent
When you need help to pay rent tomorrow, sometimes you just need to go straight to asking for help if you can’t find the work right away. In that case, there are some resources you can look into to find quick relief.
11. Check With Your City
Check with the city where you live for any financial resources it may offer its residents. Some cities offer to pay all or part of a resident’s rent based on certain qualifications. You can also ask it to pay a bill for you instead so that you can use that money toward rent.
If your city cannot directly help you, there might be resources you can find there to apply with other organizations or within your state for special funding. Cities often have some kind of knowledge about where people can get free money and other financial resources.
12. Talk to Your Landlord
Landlords are people, too. Just because it’s a business relationship doesn’t mean they are automatically numb to human emotions and predicaments. Talk to your landlord and see if you can come up with an agreement to help with paying rent.
Chances are your landlord has experienced some hardships in their lives at some point or knows someone close to them who has. Communication is the best way people can get what they need in this world. Use your communication skills to ask your landlord for help.
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13. Reach Out to Local Churches
If you need help paying rent today, reach out to churches in your area for assistance. Many churches are linked to non-profit charities or organizations that focus on helping members of the community. You don’t necessarily need to be a member of a specific congregation to apply for assistance.
Simply talk to the church to get the help that you need. There is a good chance that it can help you with some of the money you need. If not, it may be able to connect you with other organizations that can aid you.
14. Apply for a Grant
There are several grant funds available to people who need money now. There are grants for single moms and low-income families. Other government-type grants are also available. Simply fill out the application form(s) for the grants that apply to you.
The best part about grants is that you don’t have to pay them back like you would a loan. Grants are essentially free money that can give you some quick relief. The amount you can receive in grants will vary depending on the organization that is offering them. Make sure you qualify by reviewing the qualifications before you apply.
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15. Government Assistance
There are many options to consider for government assistance to help you pay your rent. Research government programs online with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. These government departments are specific to monetary assistance for rent.
You can also find other assistance programs that help with different parts of life like groceries, utility bills, and more. Use the funds you would have spent on those items toward rent instead.
Check the fine print with government assistance programs. Some require payback while others may not. Make sure you understand the terms before you accept the money.
16. Public Funding
One of the top ways people are able to collect enough money to pay for things like rent is by asking the public to donate to their cause. If you are comfortable sharing your story, consider setting up a donation account to help others send you money to help pay your rent.
People understand that life happens and you will find that there are many compassionate humans out there. Even if they can only donate a few dollars, if you get enough people to contribute, you may get a solid amount of money to apply toward rent.
It can be hard to ask for money, but when you are in desperate need to pay for a roof over your head, it might be a good resource to consider when you need money to pay rent tomorrow.
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Remove the Stress When You Need Money to Pay Rent Tomorrow
The good news is that your situation is not hopeless. Remove the stress from your renting situation by being open minded to ways you can make quick money in one day.
In the event that you can’t find the work needed to make ends meet, consider using the suggested resources available near you. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone and your situation is not unique. There are programs and opportunities designed to help you in exact times like this.
If you need ideas to make more money each month, there are plenty of options available. When you put in the work, you can increase your income so that you won’t have to face a situation of needing emergency money for rent again.
