11 Ways to Make $500 Fast

For most of us, $500 is a lot of money. It could mean a weekend away, paying an emergency car repair bill or maybe funding your next shopping spree. Or it could give you an extra financial safety net, giving you the cash you need to set aside for a rainy day.

So if you want to know how to make $500 fast, here are 11 side hustles, hacks and money-making opportunities to bring home an extra $500 as quickly as possible.

1. Take advantage of a banking offer

How it works: Canadian banks regularly try to entice new customers with cash welcome bonuses. To qualify, you’ll typically need to open a new account and perform a specific transaction, such as setting up a direct deposit to that account.

How long it takes to earn $500: Less than an hour. But you’ll need to wait for your application to be processed, so the exact amount of time until you get your funds will vary depending on the bank.

Is it online? Yes.

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Check what’s required. Read the terms and conditions to find out exactly what you need to do to qualify for the bonus. In some cases, you may be required to keep the account open and active for a few months or more — not ideal if you want to make $500 fast.
  • Look beyond the offer. Make sure the account you’re signing up for is right for your needs. Watch out for accounts with monthly fees that will quickly start eating away at your cash welcome bonus.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • Our guide on the best new bank account offers
  • The site of any bank or financial institution where you’re thinking of opening an account. Offers may be updated at the beginning of the month.

BMO Performance Chequing Account

• Earn up to a $700 bonus
• Exclusive: Get an extra $150 reward from Finder
• Enjoy up to 4.60% promo interest

Go to site

2. Use a get-paid-to (GPT) platform

How it works: Get-paid-to platforms pay users to complete tasks like completing surveys, watching videos, playing games, testing apps or signing up for offers. Each task rewards points or cash, which you can typically redeem via PayPal or gift cards.

How long it takes to earn $500: Earning $500 varies by platform and effort because some platforms pay more per task or have more opportunities available, while others offer smaller payouts or fewer tasks. For example, Freecash claims you could earn up to up to $1,000 per offer, while Swagbucks says you could earn $1 to $250 per offer. Realistically, using a GPT platform could take you weeks or months to earn $500. If you need $500 ASAP, combine this method with other strategies on this list.

Is it online? Yes, you can use your computer or phone to start earning.

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Sign up for multiple platforms. Using more than one GPT site at a time can increase your earning potential, especially when one platform is out of tasks. Just be sure to keep track of each account so you don’t miss any payouts.
  • Prioritize higher-paying tasks. GPT platforms typically offer a variety of tasks with different price ranges. Try to complete ones that offer the best rewards for your time.
  • Check for bonuses. Many GPT sites offer sign-up bonuses, referral rewards or limited-time promotions. Take advantage of these offers to earn more without having to do any extra work.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • Freecash
  • Swagbucks
  • HeyCash
  • Five Surveys

Play Games, Take Surveys & Test Apps

Go to site

• Access a variety of tasks
• Make an average of $300 per offer
• Get a $5 CAD sign-up bonus when you start your first offer

Best for Mobile

Go to site

• Earn up to $120 per test
• No limit on how much you play games or complete surveys
• Earn money while playing games

Survey Variety

Go to site

• Earn between $5 and $100 per month
• Cash out at just $5
• 300+ rewards

3. Sell your car

How it works: There are several online car dealerships that make it quick and easy to sell your car online. You can fill out an online form to get an offer for your vehicle, get it picked up or drop it off at your nearest dealership to have it inspected and then get your cash fast. Alternatively, you could sell your car privately by listing it on an online marketplace.

How long it takes to earn $500: As long as it takes to sell your car. It could take 24 to 48 hours if you’re selling to an online dealer like Clutch, but potentially longer if you sell privately.

Is it online? It can be. If you sell to an online dealer, they can pick up your car from your home.

Check Your Offer

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Use an online dealer. You’ll generally be able to sell your car faster if you go through an online dealer rather than selling privately.
  • Upload high-quality photos. If you sell privately, take the time to capture top-quality images of your car for your ad — this will help you attract more potential buyers.
  • Look after your car. Staying on top of vehicle servicing and maintenance tasks will help you get a better price for your car.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • AutoTrader
  • Canada Drives
  • CarDoor
  • Clutch
  • Kijiji

4. Train AI

How it works: Multiple legit platforms pay everyday people to help train their AI models. You can get paid to annotate text, categorize images, transform text into audio and assess AI chatbot responses.

How long it takes to earn $500: Pay rates range anywhere from $5 to $150 per hour, so it could take as little as a few hours. For most people, however, it could take at least a month.

Is it online? Yes.

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Sign up on multiple sites. There are plenty of legit AI training sites available, so sign up on multiple platforms to find the most lucrative opportunities.
  • Look for jobs that require qualifications. Some training tasks call for people with expert qualifications across professional fields. These tend to come with higher hourly rates, so look for jobs that match your expert skills.
  • Provide excellent feedback. You’ll typically need to be a strong writer to succeed at AI training jobs and be able to provide clear and constructive feedback.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • Alignerr
  • CrowdGen
  • DataAnnotation
  • JumpTask
  • Mindrift
  • Neevo
  • Outlier AI
  • Prolific

5. Become a house sitter

How it works: This side hustle involves staying in someone else’s home while they’re away. You’ll need to take care of their property and do basic maintenance tasks like checking the mail, watering plants, cleaning, keeping the house secure and (in many cases) looking after pets. In return, you’ll get paid a nightly rate.

How long it takes to earn $500: Varies depending on your rate, but allow a few days.

Is it online? No.

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Ask lots of questions. If you’re unsure exactly what your tasks and responsibilities are as a sitter, ask the homeowner for more detailed information. It’s better to have a wealth of information than to be uncertain about what you’re doing.
  • Get comfortable with pets. Many house-sitting jobs involve looking after pets too, so make sure you’re comfortable caring for dogs and cats. Getting a pet first aid certification can also help.
  • Get references. There’s nothing quite like testimonials from happy clients to help convince other homeowners that you’re a great house sitter. So if you have a client who loves what you do, ask them to put pen to paper.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • House Sitters Canada
  • House Sit Canada

6. Become a freelance writer

How it works: If you’re a talented writer, freelance writing is a flexible side hustle. You can use freelance marketplaces to connect with clients looking for people to write blog posts, articles, marketing materials and more.

How long it takes to earn $500: It depends on your hourly rate. According to Indeed, the average hourly rate for a freelance writer in Canada is $32.38, which would mean it would take you a little over 15 hours to make $500.

Is it online? Yes.

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Bid low. If you’re not already employed in the media industry, you’ll need to build up a portfolio of work to show prospective clients. To do that, you may need to bid lower than your usual hourly rate at first to get a few jobs and showcase your skills.
  • Look for fixed-price jobs. Depending on the pay rate and the amount of work involved, it can sometimes be more lucrative to take on a job that pays a fixed rate for the completed work rather than logging time at your regular hourly rate.
  • Network. Building relationships with clients and other freelancers you work with might not help you earn your first $500 fast, but it will help you get more work in the future — and earn your next $500 fast.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • reddit.com/r/freelanceWriters
  • Upwork
  • Fiverr
  • Freelancer

7. Do outdoor seasonal work

How it works: There are plenty of people out there who don’t have the time, inclination or physical ability to take care of important outdoor seasonal jobs around the home. That’s where you come in — you can offer services like weeding gardens, mowing lawns, raking leaves and shovelling snow in your neighbourhood to make the extra $500 you need.

How long it takes to earn $500: It depends on your location, the tasks involved and how much you charge. In Toronto, for example, some people charge a minimum of $30 per hour, while others charge a minimum of $75 per hour. It could take roughly 7 to 17 hours or more.

Is it online? No.

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Start local. Get business cards or flyers printed and do a letterbox drop in your local area. List your details and prices on a local community Facebook group too.
  • Word of mouth matters. Be prompt, friendly and do a good job to boost your chances of word-of-mouth referrals from customers.
  • Know what’s in demand. The type of work customers need will change with the season, so be ready to switch between snow shovelling, mowing, raking leaves, clearing gutters and other jobs.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • LocalStudent
  • Taskrabbit
  • Jiffy
  • UrbanTasker

8. Rent out your home or car

How it works: Got a spare room or vacation home you’re not using? You could make passive income by renting it out to vacationers through Airbnb. Alternatively, other rental platforms allow you to rent out your space for film and photo shoots, private parties and business meetings. And if you’ve got a car, you could also consider renting it out to other drivers through a platform like Turo.

How long it takes to earn $500: Potentially as little as a day.

Is it online? Not completely — there’s some real-world work required.

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Upload great photos. Put your photography skills to work and capture high-quality shots of your home — a picture is worth a thousand words when it comes to vacation rental listings or film shoot location scouting.
  • Respond quickly. When you get an email enquiry from a potential renter, respond promptly and in a friendly manner. A little bit of helpful customer service goes a long way.
  • Stay on top of maintenance. A clean and well-maintained home, spare room or car will be more likely to get five-star reviews and repeat bookings.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • Airbnb
  • Giggster
  • Peerspace
  • Tagvenue
  • Turo

9. Become a rideshare driver

How it works: Rideshare apps like Uber allow you to use your car to make extra cash. People who need to get from A to B book a ride through an app, and you then pick them up and drive them where they want to go. Payment is handled through the app.

How long it takes to earn $500: If you assume an average hourly rate of $20, it will take 25 hours.

Is it online? No.

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Keep your car clean. A clean, well-looked-after vehicle interior can go a long way toward earning more five-star reviews.
  • Drive during peak times. Weekday mornings and evenings, as well as Friday and Saturday nights, are often times when there is high demand for rides. You can also take advantage of large festivals or special events in your city.
  • Maximize tax deductions. Track your mileage and keep gas and maintenance receipts to ensure that you can claim all the tax deductions you’re entitled to.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • Lyft
  • Uber
  • reddit.com/r/uberdrivers

10. Review your budget

How it works: It might not be a particularly glamorous or exciting way to make $500 fast, but it can be highly effective. Sit down and work out where every last cent of your paycheque goes each week. Identify areas where you can cut back, and put together a weekly budget that you can realistically expect to stick to.

How long it takes to earn $500: You could save an extra $500 in just a month.

Is it online? Yes.

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Use the 50/30/20 rule. This popular budgeting hack sees you allocate 50% of your income to essential expenses, 30% to fun stuff like eating out and going to the movies, and the remaining 20% to your savings.
  • Set a goal. Work out your ideal time frame for saving $500. Is there a specific goal or purchase you’re saving for?
  • Pay off debt. Focus on paying off high-interest credit card debt as soon as possible — this will allow you to free up more income to put toward your savings.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s guide to making a budget and budget planner
  • reddit.com/r/PersonalFinanceCanada
  • Spendee

11. Deliver groceries

How it works: Get paid to do other people’s grocery shopping for them and deliver it to their homes. Shopping apps like Instacart allow customers to place their orders, which you can then fill and deliver.

How long it takes to earn $500: The earning rate can vary greatly depending on where you live. As a general guide, expect it to take at least a week.

Is it online? No.

• Tips to make $500 fast

  • Plan your shop. Check the full details of the order before stepping into the store. This will allow you to plan your shopping trip to ensure that you’re as efficient as possible.
  • Check the instructions. Check the customer’s delivery instructions and any other order notes carefully to increase your chances of getting tips.
  • Choose what you know. Choose orders at stores where you know the layout and can get in and out quickly. Understanding local traffic conditions and peak times can also help you work out if an order will be worth your time.

• Sites or resources to check out

  • Instacart
  • Uber Eats
  • DoorDash
  • reddit.com/r/InstacartShoppers
  • reddit.com/r/UberEatsDrivers
  • reddit.com/r/doordash_drivers

What’s the best way to make an extra $500 a month?

The best way to make an extra $500 a month is to find a lucrative side hustle — but the right option for you will vary depending on factors like what skills or possessions you have and how much time you have to devote to your money-making venture.

For example, if you’ve got a spare room you don’t use, renting it out can be a great way to provide passive income. But if that’s not an option for you, compare other side hustles that are a good fit for your skills and schedule. That could mean freelance writing, doing odd jobs as a handyman, house sitting, dog walking or Uber driving.

It’s all about finding the highest-paying option that works for you, so there might be a bit of trial and error involved before you decide on the best method.

How to make $500 a day online free

Making $500 online in one day for free can be challenging, especially for people without specialized skills, a large audience or experience. If you have one or more of these, you can use freelancing platforms such as Fiverr or Upwork to offer high-paying services like marketing, accounting, graphic design or teaching. That being said, you may have to pay to advertise your services or apply for jobs.

Those with a large social media following can consider content creation instead. Create YouTube videos to earn per view, sponsored Instagram posts promoting a brand’s products or your own blog with relevant ads. If you don’t already have the necessary equipment, like a laptop or camera, this won’t be a free option for you.

What are fast ways to make $500?

Perhaps the simplest way to make $500 fast is to take advantage of banking welcome offers. Many banks offer cash bonuses to customers who sign up for a new account and perform a specific transaction, so it’s a quick and easy way to earn hundreds of dollars.

But there are several other ways to earn an extra $500 quickly, including working as a freelancer or rideshare driver, or doing outdoor seasonal work. The right side hustle for you depends on your skills, schedule and the amount of spare time you can devote to earning extra cash.

Frequently asked questions

• How can I get quick cash in Canada?

  There are lots of ways to get quick cash in Canada. For example, there are several legit apps that pay you money for completing surveys and playing online games. Although they won't make you rich, they offer a simple way to earn extra cash fast.

  Signing up for banking offers is another popular option, with minimal work involved and welcome bonuses of hundreds of dollars available. Alternatively, if you've got some unused possessions cluttering up your home, selling them through an online marketplace is an easy way to bring in quick cash.

• I don't have any special skills or qualifications. What side hustles can help me make extra cash?

  There are several side hustles that don't require any training or qualifications. For example, you could answer online surveys, help train AI models, share your internet bandwidth or even participate in medical research studies. Check out our guide to weird ways to make money online for more details.

• How do I make $500 without a job?

  There are many ways you can make $500 with a traditional job, such as making baked goods or crafts to sell at a farmers' market, hosting a garage sale or participating in research studies.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Leanne Escobal as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

Tim's expertise

Tim has written 501 Finder guides across topics including:

• Banking
• Personal Loans
• Car Loans
• Stock Trading
• Cryptocurrency