Need Money to Pay Rent Tomorrow? Here Are 10 Options to Try
Life can be unexpectedly challenging, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, we struggle to make ends meet. If you cannot make rent this month, please know that you are not alone, and there is hope.
We understand how stressful and overwhelming this situation can be, and we’re here to offer support and practical advice to guide you through these challenging times. Our goal is to help you secure the money you need to pay your rent on time.
If you’re unsure where to turn for assistance or how to start saving, we’re here to help. Read on for valuable resources and tips to help you through this difficult time.
Action Items
- Talk to your landlord about delaying your monthly rent payments.
- Consider selling items for money, such as clothes, furniture, or jewelry.
- Reach out to a family member for help.
- Look for renter assistance programs, such as Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Supportive Services for Veteran Families, and Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) Vouchers.
- Participate in medical research studies or consider giving blood or plasma for money.
- Offer task services such as lawn mowing, tutoring, or freelance gigs.
- If you are really strapped for cash and are struggling to make quick income, consider taking out a personal loan.
Speak With Your Landlord About Delaying Rent
Consider asking your landlord if you can pay your rent late, pay part of the rent now and the rest later, or waive any late fees. If you’ve been a good tenant before, they might understand and accommodate your situation.
When you talk to your landlord, be honest about your situation. Here are some things you can consider offering with the request:
Tell your landlord when and how you will pay the rent you owe. Explaining your plan and showing that you have a feasible way to pay them by a verified deadline may ease their concerns.
- Share documentation like medical bills or job loss notices as evidence of your financial hardship. These documents can offer tangible reasons why your rent is due and may invoke some empathy for your unforeseen circumstances.
- Write down any agreement you make with your landlord so both of you know what to expect. This can help avoid any miscommunications and tensions from the agreement and make the arrangement more official.
- While this option doesn't provide immediate cash when you need money to pay rent tomorrow, it can buy you time to gather the needed funds without jeopardizing your living situation.
Sell Items for Fast Cash
If you are struggling to pay your rent tomorrow, one option is to consider selling some of your items.
Here are a few ideas of what you can sell to make money the money you need:
- Collectibles - Items such as cards, antique dolls, action figures, and comic books can go for hundreds of dollars.
- Furniture - Whether old or unused, someone always needs furniture. Several sites, such as Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace, are excellent places to list your items.
- Clothes - There are websites and apps that help you sell your clothes to others. While it may be hard to let go of items you may be emotionally attached to, you will feel relieved to have cleaned up your space while also making some money back.
- Jewelry - You may no longer be interested in wearing that gold necklace you purchased five years ago, but someone else might love it. Consider selling your jewelry at a secondhand store or even pawning it for money at a local pawn shop.
Look For Renter Assistance Programs
Renter Assistance programs aim to provide much-needed financial support through rent subsidies, emergency rental assistance, or grants to eligible individuals and families facing housing insecurity.
These programs, funded by government agencies, non-profit organizations, or even private entities, can be a lifeline when you need money to pay rent urgently.
Eligibility criteria may vary by lender, but many places that help with rent consider factors like income level, employment status, and family size. Here are some options for renter assistance programs:
- Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA): This program began during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to provide financial support and housing stability services to renters and landlords facing financial hardships. It pays rent to landlords on behalf of a low-income eligible household, up to $750 per month, for two months ($1,500 maximum assistance).
- 211: If you need help paying your rent or bills, call 211 from your cell phone or landline to connect to a specialist who can provide you with available resources.
- Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF): This program aids veterans in maintaining, finding, or securing housing if they are homeless. The requirements include:
- Must be a veteran or living in a family headed by a veteran or their spouse
- Be low income
- Be at risk of becoming homeless
- Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) Vouchers: This program helps individuals under 62 with disabilities find and afford private rental housing. To be eligible for this program, you must:
- Be the head, spouse, or co-head of a family
- Be under the age of 62
- Have a disability
- Meet other NED eligibility requirements based on your income and where you live
- HUD Programs: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides state rental assistance, utility bill help, and listings for affordable rentals and special needs housing. Look up your state to see specific information about public housing near you. They also offer programs that provide subsidized housing to those with low incomes. You can apply for subsidized housing by searching for a participating housing community using the HUD map.
What to Do if You Receive an Eviction Notice
The programs and organizations listed above may also offer additional resources, such as legal aid and case management, to help renters navigate complex housing laws and eviction proceedings.
In 2021, the Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) started the Eviction Protection Grant Program to help families affected by COVID-19. It provides funded legal services to low-income tenants who face eviction.
PD&R awarded $20 million to 10 legal service providers in November 2021 and expanded to 11 more grantees in May 2022 with an additional $20 million. In 2024, the program now serves over 35,000 households across the U.S.
If you are facing eviction, you can visit HUD’s Eviction Protection Grant Program for support and legal resources. You can find legal advice and organizations that provide lawyers if you are unable to get representation.
Dealing with an eviction can be a scary and unpredictable experience, and these organizations are here to help.
Offer Task Services
Taking on additional jobs can help bring in some extra income to help pay rent. Explore local opportunities such as lawn mowing, tutoring, or freelance gigs on platforms like TaskRabbit and Fiverr. Consider also checking local events pages to see if anybody is hiring event staff.
When estimating potential profits, consider any associated costs, such as tool maintenance or platform subscription fees.
Ask a Family Member for Money for Rent
If you are really struggling to make rent, you may want to consider asking a family member for help. After all, families are there to support one another when times get rough.
Navigate this delicate situation with openness, honesty, and a well-thought-out plan. Before making the request, consider outlining your current financial circumstances, how much money you need, and a repayment plan, if applicable. Learning how to ask for money can make this process smoother and more effective.
When you are in a crisis, you may want to consider selling off some of your items. Pawn shops accept electronics, jewelry, musical instruments, and tools as collateral that help you secure the short-term loans you need right away.
If you pawn an item in a pawn shop, the shop will keep the item until you pay back the loan, taking into account interest and fees. It is important to note that if you can not repay the loan on time, you will lose the item you pawned.
If you are struggling to make rent, do not fret. We are here to help you find more ways to raise money quickly so you can pay the bills.
Here are a few more ways you can raise cash for rent:
Rent Out Possessions
You can rent out your possessions to make the cash you need. A few items to consider renting include:
- Camera equipment for photoshoots or filming
- Your car to travelers
- Your clothing or expensive wear, such as suits and dresses
- Music equipment, such as guitars or keyboards
- A spare room through services like Homestay
- A parking spot through services like SpotHero, ParkWhiz, or JustPark
Give Plasma
You can be paid $30 to $70 each time you donate your blood plasma. There is a twice-a-week limit for donating, so you shouldn’t plan on making more than a few hundred dollars a month donating plasma.
How much you can earn by donating plasma or blood varies by city, state, and donation center. Some of the major plasma donation centers are CSL Plasma, BioLife Plasma Services, and Grifols Plasma.
It is safe to donate plasma; however, it does have a few risks. First-time donors may have the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Bruising or soreness at the needle site
- Dehydration
- The feeling of coldness from your blood being chilled during the collection process
- Citrate reaction
To become a donor, you must also meet the following requirements:
- Be age 18 or older
- Weigh at least 110 lbs
- Pass a medical exam
- Complete medical screening, including testing negative for hepatitis and HIV
- Not have received a tattoo or piercing in the last four months
Consider a Cash Advance
If you truly feel that you cannot pay your bills or make rent on time and are struggling to make money on the side, you may consider taking out a cash advance or payday loan. However, this may be a risky move because payday loans often come with high interest rates and set payment deadlines.
Seek Homeless Assistance Programs
If you are at risk of homelessness, one option is to contact your community's shelter system. Your neighborhood may have a local number or organization that supports those who are houseless and without financial assistance. Here are a few more assistance programs to look into:
- The Continuum of Care (CoC) - This program is the main entry point for homelessness services nationwide. Contact your local CoC to discover available shelter, housing, and additional resources.
- 211 - Many cities have a 2-1-1 hotline, with trained staff 24/7 to help residents find services such as shelter, healthcare, food, and other social programs. Locate your community's 2-1-1 hotline.
- The National Coalition for the Homeless - This organization offers essential information on how individuals experiencing homelessness can receive assistance and access resources.
- The Human Resources and Services Administration - This program, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers a database of health clinics at affordable costs
Finding yourself in a situation where you need money to pay rent tomorrow can be overwhelming. While there are various ways to generate emergency funds, approach each option carefully and thoughtfully, considering both the short-term relief and the long-term implications.
The key is to remain proactive, resourceful, and open to various possibilities to help you navigate this financial crunch. Remember, you are not alone, and resources and support are available to help you find your way.
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