5 actions to get cash fast

There may be a day when you find yourself needing a quick buck. Maybe the job isn’t paying the bills like it used to or maybe your kid is needing money for a trip that you haven’t budgeted for. Whatever the case, here are some actions you (or your kids) can take to get a few bucks fast.

Sell something expensive. You may have an old cell phone or laptop laying around that you don’t use anymore. Don’t let it collect dust and become irrelevant. As technology advances, electronics become less valuable every day. Take it to a pawn shop or post it online (ebay, Craig’s List) and get some money for it.

Recycle some scrap. Have any aluminum, brass, copper, lead, or stainless steel laying around? You might and not know it. You could also check out the free section of Craig’s List and turn someone’s unwanted old washing machine into a few bucks in your pocket. To find a scrap yard near you, check out the iScrap App.

Drive for Uber or Lyft. You can earn a lot of money by turning your car into a taxi on the weekends. As long as you have a good 4-door vehicle and a clean driving record, you could be earning hundreds of dollars this weekend.

Surf over to mysurvey.com. Most of the surveys take only a few minutes, and you’ll earn points that you can redeem for PayPal cash or vouchers for such retailers as Amazon, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and more.

Return those unwanted Christmas gifts. If you received a gift you didn’t want last Christmas, now would be a good time to find that gift receipt and turn it into some cash. If you can’t find the receipt, a lot of retailers will allow returns even if you don’t have one.