A cash emergency is an unexpected expense that needs to be paid for immediately. These can be big or small, but if you don’t have the money available to pay for one of them, you may need to borrow money quickly. It’s a good idea to have an emergency fund, but what if you need money right away?
How To Get Cash Quickly And Easily
Cash emergencies happen when you need cash in a hurry. Unfortunately, most traditional lenders are not open 24 hours a day and require an extensive application process that can take weeks or months. This is especially true for people with poor credit who have been turned down by banks in the past.
Fortunately, there are several other options for getting cash quickly without having to wait around or fill out paperwork:
1. Sell your stuff
If you’re in need of cash, your first step should be to sell some of your belongings. Whether it’s a car or a couch you no longer use, selling some of your stuff can help you get cash in a hurry. Just make sure that whatever you’re selling is worth more than its true value before you sell it — otherwise, you’ll just be losing money.
How to sell your things fast? Post them in an online marketplace.
Sites like eBay and Amazon make this easy with their simple listing tools and convenient payment options. You can also sell items on Craigslist or directly through Facebook Marketplace — these sites offer similar convenience to auction sites like eBay while offering more control over who buys your items and how much they pay for them (and the added bonus of being able to set up direct communication with interested buyers).
2. Find a pawn shop
A pawn shop like Value Pawn and Jewelry is a good option for people who need money fast. You can get cash for items you already own. The best part? The pawnbroker will buy your item no matter what condition it’s in. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself first with what pawn shops offer, how much they charge and what the process is like. Plus, you can easily find a pawn store since they are almost everywhere!
Here’s how it works:
You bring an item to the pawn shop, and they’ll give you an estimate of how much money they’ll give you if they decide to buy it. If they do decide to buy it, they’ll keep the item until you’ve paid back the loan plus interest (usually around 10%), plus any fees associated with selling the item (optional).
The amount of interest varies depending on the quality of the item and where you live, but it’s usually around 10% per month, which is pretty high. But if all else fails, at least you have some cash to live on while you look for a better solution.
3. Borrow from friends and family
Friends and family are great resources when it comes to borrowing money. They may even lend you the money without charging interest or asking for collateral. However, if they’re not comfortable doing so, then consider offering something of equal value as collateral (such as your car). If they still decline, ask them for advice about other sources of funding that may be more suitable for your needs.
4. Get a payday loan
Payday loans are short-term loans that help people who don’t have a lot of money get through a rough patch. It works like this: You take out a loan from a payday lender and pay back the amount borrowed plus interest at your next paycheck. If you can’t make your payment, you’ll be charged additional fees for late payments. Payday loans are expensive — typically ranging from $15-$30 for every $100 borrowed — but they’re better than some other alternatives, such as overdraft fees or bounced checks.
5. Cash advance from credit cards
If you have a credit card, you can use it as collateral with peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sites like Lending Club or Prosper. However, keep in mind that these loans usually come with high interest rates (around 20%). They also require excellent credit scores and low debt-to-income ratios (DTI). If your DTI is too high or your credit score isn’t good enough, then you won’t qualify for these types of loans at all.
6. Opt for collateral loans
Many people have emergencies where they need cash fast. If you have access to some collateral, it’s possible to get an emergency loan with no credit check or income verification. Collaterals are valuable items like property title, cars, boat, jewelries like gold and precious stones. This is also the type of loan you can secure on a pawn store. When looking for a fast loan and don’t have good credit history or steady income, then collateral loans may be your best bet when trying to get quick cash right away.
7. Redirect your budget
Delay paying bills until your next paycheck arrives and use that money to cover what you owe now. This is risky because it can cause late fees and damage your credit score, but it’s better than not paying at all.
Call your creditors and ask for a payment extension or reduced interest rate. This will only work if you’re able to show that you’re making an effort to pay off your debt. If your credit score is low or you don’t have a job, this option probably won’t work for you.
Make sure you have an emergency fund
In general, the best way to deal with unexpected expenses is to keep an emergency fund on hand. You should have enough money in your account to cover at least three months of expenses. This way, if you lose your job or get hurt and can’t work, you’ll still be able to pay your bills and other expenses without going into debt. You don’t need to turn to credit cards or loans when something unexpected happens. But it’s not always possible to keep a thousand dollars in the bank as a precaution—and that’s okay! There are still options for handling unexpected expenses. You just have to get creative about how you do it.
If you want to build an emergency fund, it’s important that you make saving a priority. It will take some time — especially if you don’t have much saved up yet — but it’s worth it in the long run.