15 Realistic Ways To Make $100 (Or More) Today

By Zach Buchenau

Last Updated: September 16, 2021

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Are you looking for a few realistic ways to make $100 today? We’ve got you covered.

In fact, for the rest of this guide, I’m going to cover 15 of the best ways to make $100 within the next 24 hours.

Seriously, with just a bit of creativity, courage, and determination, you’d be surprised how quickly you can make some extra money.

Let’s get started.

1. Photography

One simple way you can make $100 today is to offer photography services to those you know.

Photography is a lucrative skill to learn, and it doesn’t require a ton of equipment. All you need is a decent camera, some editing skills, and some basic know-how—all of which you can learn for free on YouTube.

Even if you only have a small portfolio of photos, you’d be surprised how many people will be willing to pay you $100 (or more) to take pictures for all sorts of special occasions.

If you don’t have much experience as a photographer, it’s a good idea to start taking photographs for friends and family at a discounted rate.

Then, after you have some photos in your portfolio and new clients start inquiring, you can charge more money.

But that doesn’t mean you have to wait to start making money with photography – you can do it today!

Think about the people in your life and ask yourself who might benefit from photography services. In particular, consider people who need:

  • Senior portraits
  • Family portraits
  • Maternity photos
  • Graduation photos
  • Newborn baby photos
  • Couples photos
  • Real estate photography for local realtors

Then, pitch your photography services to anyone you can think of.

With a bit of luck, you can land your first paying photography client today.

2. Manual Labor

Many people are willing to pay others for the chores and manual labor they don’t want to do themselves.

That’s where you step in!

There are likely quite a few people in your neighborhood who need landscaping work or tasks done around their houses.

By offering to do these jobs for them, you can most definitely make $100 or more today.

What kinds of jobs should you offer to perform?

Depending on where you live, you could offer to mow lawns, shovel snow, pull weeds, tend to gardens, paint houses, paint house numbers on curbs, or repair fences.

Take a look around your neighborhood and see if you can spot any jobs your neighbors could use help with. Then, if you notice a trend, offer to help as many people as you can with that particular job.

For example, if all of your neighbors’ driveways are piled high with snow, go around and ask people if they’d like you to take care of the shoveling for them. If just a few people say yes, you can make $100 before lunch.

15 realistic ways to make $100 today | Be The Budget

3. Sell Your Stuff

One of the easiest, low-effort ways to make $100 today is to sell belongings you no longer need.

Go through your closet and find lightly worn clothes you no longer wear.

As a good rule of thumb, if you haven’t worn it in the last year, it’s probably time to get rid of it.

Then, go through the other rooms of your house and any storage areas. Gather old appliances, kitchenware, dishes, furniture, and decor.

After you’ve collected some of your old things, choose a platform to start selling them.

Some great options are Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Poshmark. Or, if you’d rather sell your items in person, put on a garage sale.

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4. Wash/Detail Cars

Rather than stopping through the gas station car wash, many people prefer to have their cars hand-washed and detailed.

Not only that, but many people are willing to pay good money for it.

And the best part? You don’t have to have any special skills or experience to clean people’s cars. All you need is an eye for detail, a water source, some car soap, and a vacuum.

To find customers who need their cars washed, you could walk throughout your neighborhood or town, or you can try partnering with local businesses.

For example, some companies might be willing to partner with you to give their employees car washes.

You could even offer a discounted group rate if the company reaches a certain number of car washes.

5. Flip Free Furniture

When people want to get rid of their old furniture, they’ll often haul it out to the curb with a “Free” sign.

This is a prime opportunity for you to make some extra cash.

While most free furniture items aren’t in the best shape to begin with, you could spend some time fixing them up.

That way, people will be more likely to buy them, and you’ll be able to charge more money for them.

To find free furniture that people are giving away, look on the “Free” sections of online marketplaces like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Nextdoor. Then, after you spend some time collecting these free items, get creative and see what you can do to flip them.

After you’ve improved the furniture, list it for sale on your online marketplace of choice. As long as you’ve put some effort into your handiwork and set a fair price, you’re sure to make some quick money.

6. Walk Dogs

Another way to make $100 today is to walk people’s dogs.

 Believe it or not, many people don’t have the time to take their dogs for regular walks.

By selling dog walking services, not only will you make money, but you’ll also make a positive difference in the health and lives of people’s pets.

Dog walking is a great way to make some extra money because you can serve multiple customers at once (as long as their dogs play well with others).

If you don’t know anyone who has a dog or you need help getting started, check out platforms like Rover.

While this platform is known for providing dog sitting services, you have the option to only provide walks or quick daytime visits.

7. Videography

In the same vein as photography, videography services are in high demand from a variety of people.

Businesses often need videos shot to create promos for their products and services. Also, plenty of people need videos made for personal occasions like weddings, engagements, and passion projects.

All you need to start charging people for videography services is a decent camera with video recording capabilities.

You should also have some experience shooting and editing videos.

If you lack this experience, you can always take some time to learn the necessary skills online. Platforms like Skillshare and YouTube make it easier than ever for people to learn practically anything.

And, if you’re not sure where to get your first client, consider signing up for a freelancing platform like Upwork or Fiverr. This is a great way to start earning money, gaining experience, and building your portfolio.

8. Freelance Writing

If you have decent writing skills, put them to good use and start earning some money!

Seriously, writing is one of the most in-demand freelancing services out there.

All kinds of businesses from start-ups to corporations to bloggers rely on a steady stream of high-quality content to market their brands.

However, many people and businesses don’t have the time or skills to produce this content. As a result, they choose to outsource writing to freelancers and independent contractors.

What kinds of writing can you get paid for?

Businesses in practically every industry need high-quality writing to support their marketing efforts.

You could write for companies in industries like finance, technology, beauty, lifestyle, fitness, medicine, news, and more.

Also, there are a lot of different types of content you could get paid to write. Here are some examples of writing services that are in high demand:

  • Blog articles
  • Press releases
  • Video scripts
  • Podcast scripts
  • Product descriptions
  • Advertisement copy
  • Email sequences
  • Website content

Utilize your network to find people in need of writing services, or join a freelancing platform like Upwork or Fiverr to get your first customer today.

9. Teach Music Lessons

Are you musically inclined or able to play a certain instrument? One way you could make $100 today is by teaching music lessons.

If you play a musical instrument, you likely already have all the tools you need to teach music lessons.

Most students interested in learning to play an instrument already have instruments of their own, so you probably won’t need to provide them with one.

To start making money today, all you need to do is find one student who’s interested in learning from you.

Then, you can charge up to $100 for an hour-long session. Or, if you’re uncomfortable charging this high of a rate, find two students and charge them $50 each.

10. Sell Baked Goods

If the kitchen is where you thrive, you may be able to earn some money by putting on a bake sale.

While you won’t be able to transform your baking skills into a full-scale business without the proper permits, it’s usually ok to sell homemade food on a smaller scale.

One way you could sell your baked goods is to partner with a local community or sporting event.

Or, you could even set up shop at a local farmer’s market.

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11. Tutor

Tutoring services are also in high demand year-round.

And the best part about tutoring is that you don’t have to be an expert in a subject to help students learn it. You simply need to have enough knowledge and patience to help children learn.

To quickly find children who need tutoring, utilize your network.

Ask around to find out if anyone you know has a child who is struggling in a certain subject.

To make $100 today, all you need to do is find two or three tutoring clients.

12. Build A Website For A Local Business

If you’re skilled with technology, offer to create or upgrade a local business’s website.

The best way to pitch this service to a local business is to go through their existing website (if they have one) and mention specific changes you can make to improve it.

That way, you’ll be able to clearly demonstrate the value a website upgrade can add to the business. In turn, they’ll be more likely to hire you for the project.

13. Offer Social Media Management Services

Small local and online businesses are often so busy running day-to-day operations they don’t have time to focus on their social media accounts.

One way you can help and make $100 today is to offer to manage a business’s social media accounts.

Start by brainstorming a list of small businesses you already know and love.

Then, go through the list and look for each business’s social media accounts.

If you notice any accounts that could use some help in terms of aesthetics, consistency, or engagement, reach out and offer your social media management services.

14. Clean Houses

Busy families are often eager to have someone clean their homes so they don’t have to worry about it.

Even if you don’t have experience cleaning houses, it’s easy to start earning money this way. All you need is some basic cleaning supplies, a positive attitude, and a willingness to help.

To get your first customers, start by advertising your services around your neighborhood, or post on a platform like Craigslist or Nextdoor.

15. Help Someone Move

Are there people in your neighborhood or in your social circle who are moving soon?

Moving can be overwhelming, and thus, most people are willing to hire help to make the process smoother.

To help these people out, offer to provide moving assistance for a reasonable rate.

They’ll benefit immensely from the extra helping hands, and you’ll be able to quickly make some extra cash. It’s a win-win!

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it – 15 ways you can realistically make $100 today.

Making money quickly involves tapping into your natural skills, abilities, experience, and local network.

Just remember, it’s much easier to earn money if you choose a method that meshes with your experience and passions.

Can you think of any other realistic ways to make $100 today? Be sure to leave them in the comments below.

Zach Buchenau

About The Author:

Zach Buchenau is a self-proclaimed personal finance nerd. When he isn't writing about budgeting, getting out of debt, making extra money, and living a frugal life, you can find him building furniture, fly fishing, or developing websites. He is the co-founder of BeTheBudget, and Chipotle's most loyal customer.

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