What can you do when you need emergency money fast?

There are times in all our lives when we need money fast. Whether it’s a family emergency, domestic disaster, car breakdown or unexpected bill we can suddenly be faced with having to find money fast. But what do you do in that situation? Where can you turn?

In this article we look at five ways to get emergency money fast.

An emergency loan

An emergency loan is an obvious solution to a sudden financial dilemma, but many people don’t even consider applying for an emergency loan because they fear they will be rejected, especially if they have poor credit history. But this may not be the case.

Any loan is a major financial commitment and there could be serious consequences if you take out a loan that you are then unable to repay. So it’s very wise to weigh up all aspects of a loan before taking things further. But sometimes it can be the ideal solution. Especially if you are able to find an emergency loan with a decent repayment period so that you won’t struggle to make the repayments. 

If you do have poor credit history there are lenders – such as Loans 2 Go – who will still consider lending to you. The most important thing is that you are now in the financial position to be able to afford a loan. You need to be confident that you can make the repayments, and a responsible lender should check that carefully for you as well. 

Take on extra work

If you are faced with a tricky financial situation it is also worth checking around to see if there are any local opportunities for extra work. As well as asking everyone you know, it’s worth considering whether you have any skills or experience to offer locally on a casual basis. For example cleaning, gardening, decorating, DIY, or admin or computer work. 

Especially at this time of year there are many people who would really appreciate a bit of extra help getting their homes and gardens sorted, and would be prepared to pay someone reliable to do it for them. So if you advertise locally you may be pleasantly surprised at the response.

Sell unwanted goods

Almost everyone has things that they don’t really want or need. If you need to raise money fast, selling some of them could be a big step in the right direction.

Most things can be sold online. For clothes and household items try auctions sites such as eBay. Also check out local social media sites such as Facebook Marketplace. Local sites can get you money quicker as you will mostly attract local buyers, so could have some money within hours. 

Other websites, for example Music Magpie, specialise in goods such as phones, gadgets, CDs, DVDs, games and Lego, and will even collect them from your home. 

If you have any niche goods such as jewellery, cameras and musical instruments, you may be able to sell these either to specialist dealers online or direct to local stores. 

And of course for more general items it’s always worth trying a car boot sale.

All these selling activities can add up, but if you are really in dire straits financially it may be worth considering selling something more major. For example, do you really need your car? Or is it something that you could perhaps manage without for the next few months while you get your financial situation sorted? Everything is worth considering when you really need emergency money.

Pawnbrokers

Did you know that if you have items that could raise money but you are not ready to part with them just yet, you could take them to a pawnbroker instead? Pawnbrokers have been around since 1800 and many people don’t realise they still exist. 

The concept behind a pawnbroker is that they will lend you money in return for items such as jewellery, coins, electrical equipment, cameras, musical instruments and video game systems. If you are able to repay the pawnbroker the loan within the agreed timescale, you will receive your item(s) back. Otherwise the pawnbroker will sell it to get their money back that way. 

You can find both online and in-store pawnbrokers by searching on Google.

Have a treasure hunt

When strapped for cash, it is definitely worth looking round your home for items that you could convert into cash. This may not raise a great deal of money but every little helps. 

For example, look around for:

• Unused gift vouchers

Did you know that in the UK, around £360 million worth of gift vouchers go unused each year! So have a good look around. If you find any unused vouchers you could either use them to do your normal shopping to help you out, or sell them online at a site such as Card Yard.

• Unwanted gifts

As well as gift vouchers, it’ s possible that you may have unwanted gifts in your home that are still new enough to return to the store for either a refund or credit note. Rather than leave them lying around, put them to good use. And if you have had them too long to return, consider selling them online or locally.

• Loose change

Recent research by banking trade body UK Finance found that over half of UK residents are hoarding loose change at home. The estimated total of this is around £50 million. The Covid-19 pandemic caused a drastic reduction in the use of cash, and many people still have lots of loose change in their homes that is not being used. 

So have a good look around your home for money. Whatever you find can be taken either to a bank or a Coinstar machine in a supermarket to be converted either into larger denomination coins or notes, or into supermarket vouchers.

• Foreign currency

Another type of money to look for in the home is foreign currency. Notes can be taken to a bank or travel agency and exchanged for sterling. So if you have a little stash of Euros or dollars somewhere that you were keeping for your 2020 holiday that never happened, why not benefit from it now instead.

We hope that the above ideas help you to find a way out of your current financial situation.

If you do decide to investigate an emergency loan, Loans 2 Go are here to help. We offer personal loans of between £250 and £2,000, with repayment periods from 18 to 24 months. You can find out further details on our personal loans page here.

Remember to check back here soon for more financial and lifestyle tips from Loans 2 Go.