Ever found yourself thinking, “I need money desperately!”? You're not alone. Life throws curveballs, and sometimes you need cash—fast.
Whether it's an unexpected bill, a late rent payment, debt payments, or just wanting extra spending money, there are legit ways to get quick cash without the hassle.
For those in the BeerMoney crowd who know the grind of earning a little extra here and there, these tried-and-true methods will help you stack cash quickly. Let’s dive in!
Legit Ways to Make Money Fast When You’re Desperate for Cash
1. Make $15 with Bigcash
Bigcash has over 3,000 app testing offers live right now, with new ones dropping daily. Download a shopping app, play a mobile game to level 10, test a fitness tracker.
The standard offers pay $3 to $15, but the premium tasks hit $50 to $170 when you complete bigger milestones. You get the $15 bonus immediately after your first cashout, and the $1 minimum means you can withdraw within 30 minutes of starting.
What separates this from every other testing app is their support team actually responds in under 12 hours when offers don't track.
You can try it out here and get a $15 welcome bonus
- $15 instant bonus when you sign up
- Verified legitimate platform with thousands of real PayPal payouts
- Earn real money playing popular mobile games
2. Get paid up to $100 per offer
Branded pays you real money to test new games, apps, and complete simple tasks on your phone. Sign up, choose from available offers (like testing a game to level 5), and get paid when you complete them. The more you use it, the more high-paying tasks unlock.
This site is wildly underrated. The higher-paying tasks take time, but the payouts are real. I completed a game offer for $45 in about a week of casual play.
Join Branded and get a $1 bonus
- Get paid to try new apps/games
- Some tasks pay $100+
- Free to join with PayPal cash outs
3. Make $50 in free cash now
Need fast beer money? Freecash has you covered.
This site lets you earn extra cash by completing tasks, surveys, and offers, with some top users pulling in up to $250 a day.
The best part? You can start earning immediately and cash out once you hit just $5, with payout options like PayPal, crypto, or gift cards.
It’s quick, flexible, and super rewarding for anyone looking to make some extra bucks on the side.
If you’re looking to make $50 today, Freecash is a no-brainer. Turn your downtime into beer money in no time!
- Over $50 million paid to over 30 million members—earn in multiple ways
- Cash out easily with PayPal, crypto, gift cards, and more
- Top-rated on TrustPilot & Google Play—trusted by thousands
4. Get $150 per day with EarnIn
What’s better than a side hustle? Getting paid up to $150 a day from your paycheck when you actually need it.
EarnIn gives you access to money you’ve already earned with no interest or fees and it can hit your bank account instantly.
If bills are due, plans pop up, or you’re just running low, this app can be the difference between scrambling and breathing easy. Everyone should have something like this set up just in case.
- Access up to $150 per day from your paycheck with no fees or interest
- Cash out instantly to your bank account whenever you need it
- No credit checks or loans — just your earned money, available early
5. Want real estate cash flow? Start with $10
Ever wanted to get into real estate investing without dropping a ton of cash? Fundrise makes it possible.
For as little as $10, you can start building your own real estate portfolio and grow your money through nationwide property investments.
Even better, new users get a $10 bonus just for signing up and making their first investment. It’s a low-cost, hands-off way to diversify your beer money into something bigger.
Whether you’re new to investing or looking for a way to expand your portfolio, Fundrise is a simple, no-fuss option to start growing your wealth.
- Earn passive income with real estate investing starting at just $10
- Easy-to-use app for seamless access to crowd-funded real estate deals
- Perfect for those who want their money to work for them
We earn a commission for this endorsement of Fundrise.
6. Get $250 regardless of whether you have a job
Cleo is a smart money app that uses AI to help you budget, save, and build credit, and if you upgrade to Cleo Plus or Cleo Builder, you can qualify for up to $250 in instant cash advances with no credit check.
Unlike other cash-advance apps, here you don't need to set up direct deposit or jump any hoops or ladders to get the cash.
It costs $5.99 a month, but many users find the financial tools, spending insights, and occasional cash boost worth it, especially if you need quick access to funds and a little help managing your money.
7. Download an app and earn $60
By simply using the internet as you already do every day, Nielsen gives you the opportunity to not only contribute to valuable research but also earn money passively.
I personally downloaded their app and consistently make around $60 a year with zero effort — it's a completely legitimate way to make extra cash.
All you need to do is register your device (computer or phone), and Nielsen will pay you $60 annually for keeping their app running in the background.
Beyond that, they also run monthly giveaways of $10,000, so you might earn even more!
Sign up through the link here to get started and claim your registration bonus.
- Earn $60/year in gift cards automatically
- Install the Nielsen app and browse as usual
- 100% passive – no surveys, no effort
8. Quick way to make extra cash? Swagbucks has got you covered!
This one is legit. Whether you're looking to earn a little pocket money, grab a coffee, or save up for something special, Swagbucks offers simple and legitimate ways to earn gift cards or cash out through PayPal.
Swagbucks is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to make money online. You can earn money by taking surveys, watching videos, shopping through their portal, or even just searching the web.
I regularly cash out Amazon gift cards:
Swagbucks is free to join, and new members even get a $10 bonus to kick things off.
If you’re looking for a no-hassle way to earn some extra money, sign up now and start making your time online more rewarding!
- Over $627 million paid to users since 2008
- Earn with surveys, cash back, testing apps, watching videos, and playing games
- Get a $10 bonus when you spend $25 in the Swagbucks shop
9. Make $5 fast with InboxDollars
It's been a crazy year, and we're all constantly checking the latest updates — “when will we get our stimulus paycheck?” Probably sounds familiar. It's likely you know a few news junkies in your circle.
And believe it or not, research companies will pay you to keep watching the news. You could add up to $300 a month to your bank account by signing up for a free account with InboxDollars.
It'll show you short news clips to choose from daily, then ask you fun and interesting questions about them. Just answer honestly and you're getting paid.
They've already paid out over $59 million to date.
Just enter your email address here and you'll get a $5 bonus to start.
- Earn real cash for surveys, games, and more
- $5 bonus just for signing up—confirm your email to claim
- Fast payouts via PayPal, gift cards, or Visa
- Trusted for 20+ years with 10M+ members
10. Get paid for your free time
Want $50 fast? Over 3.5 million people are already using KashKick to earn extra cash, and you can too.
Unlike other apps that use confusing points, KashKick pays in real dollars for answering surveys, watching videos, and trying new apps.
Most users reach the low $10 withdrawal threshold quickly and cash out to PayPal with no hassle. It’s straightforward, proven, and an easy way to turn spare time into extra cash.
With thousands cashing out daily, don’t wait—sign up now and start earning today.
- Get paid for surveys, watching videos, and trying offers
- Earn cash—no points, no gimmicks
- Fast PayPal payouts with a low $10 cash-out threshold
11. Start saving for college and get $30
Saving for college doesn’t have to feel impossible—especially with Upromise.
Right now, you can score a $30 bonus just for signing up for a new account and linking a financial account.
Here’s how it works: the money you save goes straight into a 529 college savings plan, which can be used for tuition, books, and other education expenses down the road.
You can stack up even more savings by shopping at participating retailers, answering surveys, and more.
If you’re looking for a way to make saving for the next generation a little easier, this is a no-brainer.
- Earn cash back for college on everyday spending
- Shop, dine, and pay—get rewarded automatically
- Get a $30 bonus when you sign up and link an account
Conclusion: Turn Desperation into Determination
When money’s tight, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or stuck—but you’re not powerless. The truth is, there’s fast cash out there if you know where to look and are willing to take action.
From cash-paying apps and gig jobs to simple side hustles you can start today, you’ve now got a toolbox full of real, proven ways to bounce back financially.
No more sitting around wishing things were different. Pick one method, get started, and build momentum. Every dollar earned is a step closer to breathing room—and possibly your next big break.
So don’t just scroll. Get moving. Your next $50, $100, even $500 could be waiting on the other side of one smart decision.
👉 Ready to make your move? Start here with Freecash
You've got this.
One more thing: I keep a running list of all the best ways to make money from your phone – apps I've actually used and recommend. Check out the full list here.
