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February 11, 2008 11:34 PM Subscribe
What's the quickest (legal) way to make a couple grand?
Assuming a person has bad credit, is unemployed, and has no relatives or friends willing to loan them any cash, but is otherwise physically able as well as mentally sound, what would you reckon is the quickest way to obtain say, 2 grand?
Assuming a person has bad credit, is unemployed, and has no relatives or friends willing to loan them any cash, but is otherwise physically able as well as mentally sound, what would you reckon is the quickest way to obtain say, 2 grand?
This post was deleted for the following reason: an almost identical question was asked a few days ago, post in that open thread? -- jessamyn
Sell stuff that you own. You might not be able to earn the whole grand with stuff, but every bit helps.
posted by chillmost at 11:58 PM on February 11, 2008
posted by chillmost at 11:58 PM on February 11, 2008
Look, not the best question for being vague. How much you can earn depends on what you can do.
Skilled craftsman (carpenter, plasterer, paper-hanger, etc) - a grand or two a week: but the set-up (contacts learning skills, etc) can take a year or two. Obviously, the wealthier your clients, the better your chance at charging a higher fee.
Unskilled craftsman - laborer: about 12/hour, roughly, depending on the market. The more you work, the more you could earn. Obviously if you screw up a tendon or have a weak back or, you limit yourself, but.
Sell stuff you own. see "Craigslist"
Sell stuff you make - what can you make? Paintings that respond or endorse current trends in the art world? After the six months or so of networking (it helps to live in NYC, or near it) that lands you a show in a gallery whose owner/director actually has clients? Lots of dough. Surprisingly lots of dough.
I can't speak to the tech sector, but it roughly goes under "skilled." In short, the more, better skills you have, the more you can make.
Crime, lastly, might prove munificent in the short term but the long-term ramifications (and not just legal and moral, but practical too) almost always trump the upside. It is to your advantage to discard this line of consideration from the out-set.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:29 AM on February 12, 2008
Skilled craftsman (carpenter, plasterer, paper-hanger, etc) - a grand or two a week: but the set-up (contacts learning skills, etc) can take a year or two. Obviously, the wealthier your clients, the better your chance at charging a higher fee.
Unskilled craftsman - laborer: about 12/hour, roughly, depending on the market. The more you work, the more you could earn. Obviously if you screw up a tendon or have a weak back or, you limit yourself, but.
Sell stuff you own. see "Craigslist"
Sell stuff you make - what can you make? Paintings that respond or endorse current trends in the art world? After the six months or so of networking (it helps to live in NYC, or near it) that lands you a show in a gallery whose owner/director actually has clients? Lots of dough. Surprisingly lots of dough.
I can't speak to the tech sector, but it roughly goes under "skilled." In short, the more, better skills you have, the more you can make.
Crime, lastly, might prove munificent in the short term but the long-term ramifications (and not just legal and moral, but practical too) almost always trump the upside. It is to your advantage to discard this line of consideration from the out-set.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:29 AM on February 12, 2008
I once made a couple grand in a week collecting signatures for a medical marijuana petition in Nevada. I made $500 in a night helping tear down a carnival. Made $1,500 being in a buddy's car when somebody plowed into him (this one is a little harder to regulate and is potentially painful/deadly). Checking your profile, I see we can rule out selling your eggs.
There are always a lot of little things though. Donating plasma & sperm, garage sale, day labor, research studies (doesn't have to be medical, I once went to a huddle here in Phoenix about driving in traffic and walked out 2 hours later with $150 just for giving my opinion), distributing fliers, pizza delivery (if you drive), flower delivery on the 14th (I see a lot of ads on Craigslist for temporary flower delivery drivers), etc... Do enough of these small money makers, and you might have a couple grand in a couple weeks.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 12:30 AM on February 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
There are always a lot of little things though. Donating plasma & sperm, garage sale, day labor, research studies (doesn't have to be medical, I once went to a huddle here in Phoenix about driving in traffic and walked out 2 hours later with $150 just for giving my opinion), distributing fliers, pizza delivery (if you drive), flower delivery on the 14th (I see a lot of ads on Craigslist for temporary flower delivery drivers), etc... Do enough of these small money makers, and you might have a couple grand in a couple weeks.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 12:30 AM on February 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
Arbitrage - buying something in one place and selling it elsewhere at higher than the purchase price.― A trucker friend of mine once told me that long haul truckers are frequently responsible for unloading their freight upon arrival and that someone ought to be able to make a good living offering to do it for them, easily $70 or $80 at a time for between an hour or two of labor. Never checked into it myself. Also that was back in the roaring nineties.
posted by XMLicious at 12:50 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by XMLicious at 12:50 AM on February 12, 2008
It seems you could either do a whole lot of small things- selling what you own, donating sperm, working tables/construction etc. It's possible that you could tie it all in together and make a few thousand dollars, but I imagine the legwork required to set it all up and then orchestrate each element would be huge.
Do you mean the quickest way to earn it in the next couple of weeks, or just a couple of weeks any time? If it's the former, then it'll be tough. Working a bunch of shifts wherever and then heading to the casino could be your best shot (if it's an all or nothing kind of deal).
On the other hand, if Canada is anything like Australia in this regard (and I'm told it is), you should be able to find work in the minerals industry. Drill rigs, mines, exploration teams, excavators, etc. all need fit people to work long hours far from their homes. You get paid a lot of money for this. It may take a few weeks to set it all up, but I imagine you'd be able to get minerals work if you were willing to travel anywhere, work any hours, and do anything. And it's not actually that bad, really. I know 28 year old guys who bought a couple of houses outright, owned several nice new cars, and planned to retire before they turned 40. You can earn around $200 - $300 a week for basic manual labour in some of these places, and since you're in the middle of nowhere there's nothing to spend your money on.
Well, apart from beer.
posted by twirlypen at 1:36 AM on February 12, 2008
Do you mean the quickest way to earn it in the next couple of weeks, or just a couple of weeks any time? If it's the former, then it'll be tough. Working a bunch of shifts wherever and then heading to the casino could be your best shot (if it's an all or nothing kind of deal).
On the other hand, if Canada is anything like Australia in this regard (and I'm told it is), you should be able to find work in the minerals industry. Drill rigs, mines, exploration teams, excavators, etc. all need fit people to work long hours far from their homes. You get paid a lot of money for this. It may take a few weeks to set it all up, but I imagine you'd be able to get minerals work if you were willing to travel anywhere, work any hours, and do anything. And it's not actually that bad, really. I know 28 year old guys who bought a couple of houses outright, owned several nice new cars, and planned to retire before they turned 40. You can earn around $200 - $300 a week for basic manual labour in some of these places, and since you're in the middle of nowhere there's nothing to spend your money on.
Well, apart from beer.
posted by twirlypen at 1:36 AM on February 12, 2008
Sign up for a Phase I medical trial. They need young(ish) healthy(ish) men. You typically have to stay at the research facility, you get regular blood tests and lots of other physiological monitoring. The downside is that you get to take a new drug that no human has ever had before. It pays extremely well.
posted by roofus at 1:52 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by roofus at 1:52 AM on February 12, 2008
Sex worker, assuming it's legal where you are. I used to be buddies with various bondage mistresses, for example - goth scene, you know - and they would often make $1000+ a night, and here's the best part: without having to have sex with the clients.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:03 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:03 AM on February 12, 2008
twirlypen: $200-$300 a week isn't much. you'd probably get more working at mcdonalds.
are you sure you didn't mean $2000-$3000?
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:06 AM on February 12, 2008
are you sure you didn't mean $2000-$3000?
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:06 AM on February 12, 2008
Are you outgoing with a lot of friends?
Willing to lose them?
Here's what you do. Get a couple of twenties. Trade them in at the bank for crisp bills. Start making bets where you'll give them the twenty if they can flip five heads in a row. If they can't do it they pay you a dollar. Three in a row for a five. Eight in a row for a hundred. Get your friends in a gambling mood before offering this bet. Since you probably don't have a lot of cash to work with, pitching pennies might be a good lead in. Bet more than the penny on each pitch, like say a dime or a quarter. Let them win a little something. That will make them feel a bit obliged to go for your 'game'. They won't be as inclined to question the numbers. When someone actually wins the bill, tell everyone, especially all of the winner's friends. This isn't for hard science majors, stick with the liberal arts and social sciences people.
OK, once you have a little scratch try the scene at the sports bar or the pool hall next. Don't go when it's real busy. Again, start with betting on something else first. When you find someone who likes betting again and again on something stupid, maybe roshambo, or which team will foul next, that's when you break out 'the offer'. If someone overhears and wants to join in, by all means, give them a turn. Large crowds are a bit sketchy, two or three guys each clamoring to be next is ideal.
Remember, crisp bills, loud voice and a pause when you lose, keep the pace going when you're collecting.
posted by BigSky at 5:37 AM on February 12, 2008 [5 favorites]
Willing to lose them?
Here's what you do. Get a couple of twenties. Trade them in at the bank for crisp bills. Start making bets where you'll give them the twenty if they can flip five heads in a row. If they can't do it they pay you a dollar. Three in a row for a five. Eight in a row for a hundred. Get your friends in a gambling mood before offering this bet. Since you probably don't have a lot of cash to work with, pitching pennies might be a good lead in. Bet more than the penny on each pitch, like say a dime or a quarter. Let them win a little something. That will make them feel a bit obliged to go for your 'game'. They won't be as inclined to question the numbers. When someone actually wins the bill, tell everyone, especially all of the winner's friends. This isn't for hard science majors, stick with the liberal arts and social sciences people.
OK, once you have a little scratch try the scene at the sports bar or the pool hall next. Don't go when it's real busy. Again, start with betting on something else first. When you find someone who likes betting again and again on something stupid, maybe roshambo, or which team will foul next, that's when you break out 'the offer'. If someone overhears and wants to join in, by all means, give them a turn. Large crowds are a bit sketchy, two or three guys each clamoring to be next is ideal.
Remember, crisp bills, loud voice and a pause when you lose, keep the pace going when you're collecting.
posted by BigSky at 5:37 AM on February 12, 2008 [5 favorites]
Sell stuff or poker clubs (i am only really familiar with underground NYC ones). Those really are the only way i can see making a few G's in a few hours.
posted by Black_Umbrella at 5:40 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by Black_Umbrella at 5:40 AM on February 12, 2008
Exotic dancing.
posted by mmascolino at 5:46 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by mmascolino at 5:46 AM on February 12, 2008
It wholly depends on your skills and what you have available to you and how lucky you are. It also depends on where you are; Bumfuck, Idaho as opposed to NYC.
Assuming you have a car and a full tank of gas but no cash on hand then it makes it difficult. You can't get a legit job because you will be waiting 2 weeks for a paycheck. It's hard to buy gas and food for those two weeks. You're best bet might be to collect scrap like aluminum cans, copper, etc but again that depends on if you are in an area where that stuff is readily found. Dumpster diving can also net you some things of value that you could turn around and sell for some cash on Craigslist or sans-internet then you could sell at a garage sale.
posted by JJ86 at 5:58 AM on February 12, 2008
Assuming you have a car and a full tank of gas but no cash on hand then it makes it difficult. You can't get a legit job because you will be waiting 2 weeks for a paycheck. It's hard to buy gas and food for those two weeks. You're best bet might be to collect scrap like aluminum cans, copper, etc but again that depends on if you are in an area where that stuff is readily found. Dumpster diving can also net you some things of value that you could turn around and sell for some cash on Craigslist or sans-internet then you could sell at a garage sale.
posted by JJ86 at 5:58 AM on February 12, 2008
Sleep studies specifically tend to give pretty big compensation for participation, but often require a long stay in their facility. I just read one on craigslist that offered $9,075 for 39 consecutive days and nights living there.
posted by summit at 6:28 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by summit at 6:28 AM on February 12, 2008
You could tutor. You don't say anything about your education level, but I've tutored math for on average $80/hr before. Concerned parents pay a lot.
posted by bluefly at 6:35 AM on February 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by bluefly at 6:35 AM on February 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Being a medical research subject may fit the bill; look into any research hospitals or universities in your area.
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:36 PM on February 11, 2008