When you’re broke and need to make fast cash, an extra $20 in your pocket can feel like a small fortune.
I remember the days when I desperately needed to get $20 now, as in make $20 instantly, just to put gas in my car.
Sometimes, that $20 was the difference between making it to work or missing a shift. Can you imagine that?
I needed money just to be able to go out and make more money!
At that time, my life revolved around the daily grind and relentless hustle to earn extra money alongside my regular job.
That all changed when I discovered how to create passive income through automated businesses.
From then on, I started making $300 a day, sometimes even $500, without the constant struggle.
I know what it’s like to need extra cash, and I’m here to help by sharing legitimate ways to make $20 dollars fast.
Simple Ways to Get $20 Now
I hear you. You need $20 right now.
And while it’s possible to make $20 today, the options are pretty limited, and it’s not always easy to pull off.
But it is possible.
Here are some ways to make $20 right now.
1. Sell Something You Own
Selling something you already own and paid for is probably the fastest way to make $20 instantly.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to grab some clothes you no longer wear and take them to a nearby thrift or consignment store.
Stores like Uptown Cheapskate pay cash on the spot for lightly worn, trendy clothes geared toward teens and young adults.
Some shops will even pay top dollar for vintage pieces. You might be surprised at just how fast those old jeans or jackets can put cash in your pocket!
Other sites where you can sell something quickly and potentially get cash today:
- Facebook Marketplace – List items for local pickup and get paid in cash directly by the buyer. Fast and easy for things like electronics, furniture, or clothes.
- OfferUp – Sell locally by meeting buyers in person for cash. It’s great for selling small household items or gadgets quickly.
- Craigslist – Post an ad in the “For Sale” section and arrange for local pickup with cash payment. It’s an old-school option, but still effective for fast sales.
Parting with your stuff isn’t always easy, but if you need to make $20 quickly, this is a solid option worth considering.
2. Borrow Money
This may not be the most desirable method, but borrowing $20 from a family member or friend is often the fastest and easiest solution.
Be upfront about when you can pay them back.
Let them know why you need the money and keep it simple and honest.
Try saying something like, “Hey, I’m in a pinch. Could I borrow $20? I’ll pay you back by the end of next week.”
Most people are more willing to help if they know you’re responsible and plan to follow through.
Once you repay them, even tossing in a small thank-you (like buying them a coffee) helps keep that trust strong.
3. Recycle Bottles for Cash Refunds
In some states, you can recycle bottles and cans for money.
For instance, the bottle deposit program here in Massachusetts offers a 5-cent refund for every eligible bottle or can you return.
It might not seem like much, but collecting cans from home, your church, friends, or during trash pickup days adds up fast.
My mom does this every week.
After Sunday service, her church hands out snacks and drinks, and she gathers the empty cans.
By the time she leaves, she’s got a trash bag full and ready to cash in!
Recycle 400 bottles and get cash refunds to make $20 right now.
Suggested Read: Jobs that Pay Cash on the Spot!
4. Find Small Jobs in Your Neighborhood
The Nextdoor app is a social platform that connects people within the same neighborhood to share local news, recommend services, and find help.
You can sign up and create your account for free.
Then head over to the “General” section where people often post small tasks they need help with.
Look for jobs like raking leaves, walking dogs, or moving light furniture.
You can also create your own post offering to help with quick tasks for a small fee, and try the same in local neighborhood Facebook groups.
Just be polite, reliable, and respond quickly to increase your chances of getting a same day paid gig today!
5. Pawn Jewelry
Do you own gold or any other jewelry of value?
If so, then pawning your jewelry for fast cash is another way to get $20 now.
Just be sure to visit a reputable pawn shop and compare offers from multiple places to ensure you get the best value for your items.
That way, you’ll walk away with the most cash in hand.
Even small pieces like rings, earrings, or broken gold chains can get you quick money. Just remember, you can always buy your items back later if you decide.
6. Find Same Day Pay Gigs on Craigslist
This might sound old school, but finding same day pay gigs on Craigslist is still a good way to make extra money.
You can find quick tasks like yard work, moving help, or handyman jobs that pay cash on the spot.
Many people post last-minute gigs when they need urgent help, which means less competition and faster cash in your pocket.
Just be sure to check listings frequently and respond quickly to increase your chances of finding a gig today.
And remember to meet in safe, public places and trust your instincts when accepting jobs on Craigslist.
7. Donate Plasma
You can also donate plasma to get a prepaid card worth $20 or more. You can use it just like you would a regular debit card!
Places such as CSL Plasma give you the card immediately, and once you’re done donating, the money is loaded onto it right away.
There’s no waiting period. You leave with cash in hand, ready to spend.
Plus, many centers offer bonus payments for new donors or during special promotions.
The process typically takes about 1-2 hours, and you can donate up to twice a week. Make sure to stay hydrated and eat a good meal beforehand to feel your best during the donation.
Suggested Read: 13 Ways to Make $100 a Day!
Other Ways to Make $20 Dollars Fast
If you have some extra time, there are even more ways to make $20 dollars fast, like using gig apps or completing online surveys.
8. Get Instant $20 Sign Up Bonus Offers
One quick way to make $20 fast is by taking advantage of instant $20 sign-up bonus offers.
Many companies will give you free money or a free $20 credit when you sign up for their newsletter or try out their product or service.
Here are some companies that offer a $20 sign up bonus:
- Netspend – Earn a $20 activation bonus when you deposit $40 and enter Netspend referral promotion code: 4238379702 at sign up.
- Varo Bank – Get $25 dollars now when you open a Varo account using a promotional link and spend $20 within 30 days of account opening.
- Current Bank – Get a $50 sign up bonus when you open a Current account using code PILARN382 and receive a direct deposit of $200 or more.
- SoFi Bank – Get a $25 sign up bonus instant withdraw when you open and fund a new checking and savings account with $50 or more within 21 days.
Here’s the list of $20 and $25 sign up bonus offers.
9. Online Surveys
The easiest free $20 online activity that you can do is to complete online surveys with sites such as Swagbucks, InboxDollars and Branded Surveys.
It might take you all day to make $20, but it’s definitely possible.
Many of these sites also provide other ways to earn, like watching ads, browsing the internet, or downloading apps.
Redeem your rewards for free gift cards or PayPal Cash.
10. Play Games on Your Phone
Earn $20 right from your phone just by playing games. These game apps reward you with free gift cards or cash for your time and skills.
I’m not much of a gamer, so I usually skip this. But if gaming is your thing, it’s a fun and easy way to make money from home!
Here are gaming apps to make an extra $20 today:
- FreeCash – is an app that lets you earn money by playing games, completing surveys, and trying out new apps, with rewards paid in cash or gift cards.
- Bingo Cash – is an app where you can win real money by playing bingo and competing in cash tournaments on your phone.
- Mistplay – is a rewards app that lets you earn points for playing and testing new mobile games, which can be redeemed for gift cards.
11. Scan Receipts for Free $20 Gift Cards
I regularly earn free Starbucks gift cards and even $50 Amazon gift cards from simply scanning my shopping receipts.
If you’ve got a kitchen drawer full of receipts, this is your chance to scan them and get $20 now free!
These receipt reward apps will pay you for your receipts:
- Fetch – is a rewards app that lets you earn points by scanning any receipt, which can be redeemed for gift cards and other rewards.
- Ibotta – is a digital couponing and cash back app that rewards you with money for purchasing everyday items and scanning your receipts.
- Receipt Hog – is a cashback app that lets you earn rewards by snapping photos of your receipts from everyday purchases.
I’ve scored thousands of dollars in free $20 gift cards by stacking receipt apps and cashing in on bonus offers during special promotions!
12. Complete Gigs on Field Agent
Field Agent is a gig app that I’ve been religiously using for the past few years to make side cash.
If you’re in a city or metro area, you’ll find plenty of small tasks that pay $6, $10 or even $20 for 15 minutes of work.
What I really love are the ‘buy and try’ gigs. You get paid to try out new products, give your feedback, and keep the item.
Not long ago, I was able to score a free $70 queen air mattress and free $100 Navage nasal irrigation system!
And hey, if you don’t need the products, flip them! Selling the freebies is an easy way to pocket a quick $20 (or more).
Read my complete Field Agent App Review.
13. Deliver Food for DoorDash
One of the best things about delivering for DoorDash is that you don’t need a car to make money.
If you live in a city where bike deliveries are allowed, you can make $20 just by delivering takeout.
There is no need to worry about gas or parking. You just pedal and earn.
The best part is that new drivers often receive sign-up bonuses of $75 or even $100 through Swagbucks. It feels like getting paid just to get started.
14. Share Your Internet for $20
Did you know you can make money just by sharing your unused internet?
Honeygain is an app that lets you turn the extra bandwidth you’re not using into easy cash.
For every 100GB you share, you can pocket around $20.
If you connect a few devices, you’ll rack up that money even faster.
The best part?
It runs quietly in the background without slowing down your internet, so you won’t even notice it’s there.
It’s a great passive income app to earn $20 with little to no effort.
Suggested Read: Get Paid to Search the Web
15. Find Mystery Shopper Jobs Near You
Mystery shoppers are undercover evaluators who get paid to assess businesses, review products and services, and overall experience.
I made $500 my first month as a mystery shopper.
Plus, I get tons of free food, free movie tickets, and free products with my secret shopper jobs!
Read more about how to become a mystery shopper to earn side cash.
16. Get Paid $20 with Referral Apps
Almost everyone has apps on their phone, but did you know some of them will pay you just for inviting friends and family to join?
Referral apps let you make easy money just by sharing the companies and services you already use with others.
All you have to do is send them your app referral link, and when they sign up, you get paid.
For example, the real estate crowdfunding app Fundrise gives you a $25 bonus when someone opens an account using your unique referral link.
In only a few days of sharing my referral link, I was able to earn $100!
Fundrise is just one referral app to consider. Here are 30+ apps that pay you to refer friends.
How to Make $20 Dollars Fast as a Kid
When I was helping my 6-year-old nephew brainstorm ways to save money to go to Disney, the first idea that came to mind was setting up a lemonade stand.
I talked to his mother about it when she picked him up after work, and by the next afternoon, we were setting up shop on the corner of our street.
In just a few hours, my nephew had made $254.70 in profit!
It was way more than just making $20 fast as a kid, and it gave him a great head start on his Disney savings challenge.
If you want to try the same strategy that helped my nephew make $200 in one day, then read about our budget-friendly lemonade stand ideas.
How to Get $20 Now Final Thoughts
If you need to get $20 now then this list shares all the necessary information you need to get there!
