I Have No Income and Need Money Now [2024] No Job Loans and More

According to a recent study, 60% of Americans feel anxious when they consider their personal finances. 

And there are times when that anxiety comes to a head – moments when financial struggles become a real crisis. 

The toughest moment of all is when you find yourself thinking: I have no income and need money now. 

But thankfully, there are steps you can take to access money and get your financial life back on track. So, take a deep breath and read on. Below, I’ll walk you through your options.

What To Do If You Have No Income and Need Money Now

You’re in a difficult moment, but you’re not alone. Lots of people have found themselves thinking, “I have no income and need money now.” 

So what can you do? It depends on your situation. 

Do you have a credit card? Are you a homeowner? Do you have the time to work? 

Whatever your circumstances, there’s probably a way to get money. So here are the options to consider. 

Get a Personal Loan

A personal loan is the classic way to access money immediately. 

Basically, it involves receiving a lump sum of money upfront – usually from a bank or credit union. From there, you’ll pay the money back little by little, along with interest. 

But getting a personal loan can be tricky if you’re in the  “I have no income and need money now” situation. Why? Because income is often necessary to qualify for a loan. 

Now, don’t give up hope. You can get a personal loan with no income, especially if you use one of these strategies:

1. Get a cosigner – meaning someone with a steady income and a decent credit score shares responsibility for the loan.
2. Put down collateral – meaning your home or other property would go to the lender if you fail to pay back the loan. 

Interested in applying for a personal loan? Your first step is to find a potential lender. 

Upgrade is an online lender that offers up to $50,000 – and you can easily check your rate on the official Upgrade website. See this Upgrade personal loans review to learn more. 

Another option is Best Egg, an online lender that promises to make the process hassle-free. Here’s a Best Egg personal loans review.

To learn more about the borrowing process, read this article on how to get a personal loan. 

Get a Cash Advance

A cash advance is basically a loan that you take out using your credit card. 

If your card has a PIN, you can just go to an ATM and take out money like you would with a debit card. If you don’t have a PIN, take the card to a bank and ask for the advance there. 

The amount you receive will be added to your credit card balance – but here’s where things get tricky. The cash advance balance will probably face a higher interest rate than standard credit card charges. You could also face an ATM fee and a cash advance fee from the credit card company.

Thanks to those charges, a cash advance is considered an “expensive” way to borrow money. But hey – when you’re thinking, “I have no income and need money now,” you just need an immediate solution. A cash advance can provide it. 

While cash advances are typically made with a credit card, you could also try using a cash advance app. To learn more, check out this review of the best borrow money app. 

You could also use a credit card to make important payments, giving yourself a little financial breathing room. Here’s a guide to send money with credit card. 

Become a Gig Worker 

A gig worker is someone who does a series of temporary jobs instead of working full-time for a single employer.

So let’s say you’re thinking, “I have no income and need money now.” Finding a full-time job might take some time – but you could start doing gig work in just a few days. That’s what makes it such an attractive solution!

Typical gigs include:

• Delivery driving
• Babysitting
• Dog walking and pet sitting
• Rideshare driving
• House-cleaning
• Tutoring

In most cases, you can use online platforms to facilitate gig work. Want to be a delivery driver? Try DoorDash, where you could be dropping off pizzas in just a few days. Prefer the idea of babysitting? Then, make a profile on Care.com, which will connect you with potential clients in your area. 

For animal lovers, downloading Rover is a complete no-brainer. You can earn money by walking dogs and watching pets. 

For more exciting opportunities, check out this guide on how to make $20 fast. 

Open a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) 

If you’re a homeowner, then the “I have no income and need money now” crisis is a little easier to overcome. 

Don’t get me wrong – it’s still a stressful moment. But you’ve got an ace up your sleeve: the equity in your home. 

Your home equity is the portion of your property that you own outright, and it’s likely your biggest asset. And while the wealth might seem trapped, you can “tap” into it with something called a home equity line of credit (HELOC).

With a HELOC, you use your home equity to secure a “line of credit,” which is the ability to borrow up to a certain amount of money at a given time. A HELOC works sort of like a credit card, except it’s secured by the equity in your home. 

And a HELOC isn’t the only way to turn home equity into cash. You could also try a home equity loan or a “home equity agreement” – either of which could give you a lump sum, fast.  

To learn more, read this guide on how to take equity out of your home. You can also check out this comparison of Hometap vs Unison vs Unlock – three of the main players in the home equity game.

For some outside-the-box ideas, here are alternative ways to get equity out of your home. 

Take Online Surveys

The internet is full of money-making opportunities – and taking online surveys is one of the easiest. 

Lots of companies and researchers want to learn about public opinion, and they’re willing to pay for it. That means you can make a quick buck just by answering some basic questions. 

Now, let’s be clear: This isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. You probably won’t make more than a few dollars a day. 

But in terms of a pain-free way to access cash quickly? Yeah, it really doesn’t get better than taking surveys.

To maximize your earning potential, you need to use the right survey platform. Here are three sites I would recommend:

• Survey Junkie – In addition to taking surveys, you can get paid just for sharing your everyday browsing activity. 
• Swagbucks – With games as well as surveys, this is an especially entertaining option (be sure to also check out survey sites like Swagbucks).
• Branded Surveys – If you end up taking surveys consistently, you could get bonus points from this platform’s “elite” program. 

Some survey platforms pay out in gift cards, while others send you cash. 

Read this complete breakdown of surveys for gift cards. 

Play Games

Have you considered playing games as a way to improve your financial situation?

Okay, I can hear your skepticism: “I have no income and need money now – this is no time for fun and games!”

But some online platforms will pay you to play. That means you can earn money and relieve some stress with a fun, relaxing activity.

Here are some of the best gaming platforms:

• Mistplay – This reputable site has given out more than $60 million over the years.
• Rewarded Play – With a highly-rated app, this platform is perfect for “gaming on the go.”
• Cashyy – This app has a simple model: The more you play, the more you earn. Learn more in this Cashyy app review.
• FreeCash (read “Is Freecash Legit?”) – Freecash also lets you make money taking surveys and completing tasks

Some gaming platforms let you choose whether you want to receive cash or gift cards – and some offer just one or the other. Whatever your preference, you can find a platform that works for you.

Here are a few more games to check out:

• Bingo Tour (read “Is Bingo Tour Legit?”)
• Bingo King (read “Is Bingo King Legit?”)
• Solitaire Smash (read “Is Solitaire Smash Legit?”)

For more ways to complete tasks like playing games, taking surveys, and signing up for subscriptions to make money, check out Is Flash Rewards Legit? and Is Rewards Giant USA Legit?

And for more ways to make some extra cash in your spare time, check out these side hustles from your phone.

Here’s a helpful guide to earn gift cards by playing games.  

Prefer real money? Here’s a review of the best apps that pay cash.

Borrow Money

When you’re in a pinch, borrowing money is often the fastest way out. 

There are lots of ways to borrow money. Here are some of your options:

• Get a personal loan from a bank or credit union.
• Apply for a 0% APR credit card.
• Try peer-to-peer lending.
• Get a credit card advance.
• Use a loan borrow money app.
• Borrow from your 401(k).
• Get a personal line of credit.
• Ask a friend or family member for a loan.

That last option is probably the easiest. All you have to do is go to someone you love and say, “I have no income and need money now.” 

But be careful. Financial concerns have a nasty way of messing up personal relationships. To be safe, consider having a written copy of the agreement notarized. 

For more details on these loan options, check out this breakdown of the best ways to borrow money. 

Find a Higher Paying Job

So far, this article has focused on short-term solutions – because that’s what you need when you’re screaming, “I have no income and need money now!”

But what if you could secure a higher-paying job – and quickly? That would solve your immediate problem and pave the way for a brighter long-term future.

Finding a job is easier than ever before, thanks to digital platforms like Lensa. Gone are the days of scouring newspaper ads for job opportunities. Now, you can just head to the Lensa homepage, type a job title into the search bar, and see what positions are available in your area. 

Lensa is also a great site for finding remote work opportunities.

But what sort of jobs should you consider? This article highlights the highest paying work-from-home jobs that don’t require a degree.

And if you’re really after the big bucks, check out these jobs that pay 100K a year without a degree.  

Find Free Money

I know “free money” sounds too good to be true – but it isn’t. In fact, it’s just what you need when you’re thinking, “I have no income and need money now.”

But what exactly do I mean by “free money?” Basically, any money that’s so easy to get that it might as well be considered free.

You can get free money by:

• Searching for unclaimed money
• Using cashback apps (like Fetch)
• Reviewing mock trials
• Watching videos
• Reading emails
• Lowering your utility bills

To learn more about these crazy (but real!) opportunities, check out this guide to earning free money. 

You can even get free money for opening a bank account with these banks with immediate sign-up bonus.

Commonly Asked Questions About I Have No Income and Need Money Now

Loans for Unemployed People?

If you need money and you’re unemployed, you could try one of these borrowing strategies:

• A personal loan with a cosigner (check out Upgrade)
• A secured personal loan with collateral
• A cash advance with your credit card
• A home equity line of credit (HELOC)
• A loan from a friend or relative

Emergency Loans With No Job?

You might be able to land a payday loan based on your unemployment benefits. If you don’t have any income at all, you could use a credit card for a cash advance, or tap into your home’s equity with a HELOC. Another option is to get a cosigner for a personal loan. 

No Job Loans?

Here are some realistic ways to borrow money if you don’t have a job:

• Use a cosigner to get a personal loan with Upgrade
• Offer collateral to get a secured personal loan
• Use your credit card to take out a cash advance
• Get a home equity line of credit (HELOC)
• Borrow money from friends or relatives 

How Can I Borrow Money With No Income?

To borrow money with no income, you might need to get a secured personal loan by putting down your property as collateral. You could also try getting a cash advance, which is super easy with most credit cards. Just be aware that cash advances often have hefty fees. 

How Can I Get Money Immediately?

You can get money almost immediately by working in the gig economy. And with most gigs, you can use a digital platform to find work quickly. Try DoorDash for deliveries, Care.com for babysitting, and Rover for dog walking or pet sitting. once you have some money coming in, check out banks that pay 2 days early to get cash fast.

How Can I Get Instant Money for Emergency?

If you have a credit card, a cash advance is the easiest way to get instant cash in an emergency. Just remember that there will probably be a cash advance fee, and the interest rate could be killer. That’s why you should pay back the balance ASAP. 

Is There a App That Will Loan Me Money Without a Job? 

Unfortunately, lending apps like Dave and Cleo might not offer you a loan if you don’t have any source of income. Without a job, you might be better off trying to find a cosigner and then applying for a standard personal loan. Be sure to check out Upgrade personal loans.

Emergency Cash Immediately?

Getting a cash advance with your credit card is one way to access emergency cash – but you’ll face fees and a hefty interest rate. You could also apply for a personal loan from lending apps like Dave and Cleo. 

I Have No Income and Need Money Now No Credit Check? 

Lots of online lenders don’t perform a credit check, including Cleo and Dave – but they do consider income when reviewing applications. You might be better off asking someone with solid credit to cosign a traditional personal loan. Check out Upgrade personal loans.