Asking friends and family for money can be an awkward situation. It involves swallowing your pride and being asked why you need the money and how you got into your predicament. While it might be the easiest way out, sometimes getting an interest-free loan from loved ones isn’t worth the added stress.
This means you are back to square one; you still need the money, and you need to figure out how to get it quickly. Check out the options below so you can avoid asking friends and family for money.
Don’t Buy It
There are valid reasons to obtain good debt. It can build your credit score, pay off high-interest credit cards or potentially make your business more profitable, good debt will save you money in the long term.
However, if you are looking for money to purchase a luxury item or impulse buy, stop yourself and don’t buy it. Even if there is a fantastic sale, going into debt to buy something that doesn’t make you money is not sensible. It could leave you in a more challenging situation when an emergency arises, and you have already exhausted your access to quick cash.
Borrow It
There are plenty of valid reasons to borrow money. Everyone needs to get a helping hand at some point, whether to cover the shortfalls for bills that month or to buy new tires after an unexpected blowout.
Applying for quick loans can be done discreetly online at any time of day and from the comfort of your own home. When your car is broken down, or you’re mopping up a flooded kitchen, you don’t want to bother with expensive childcare so that you can go to the bank to fill out forms. Even if you have a lackluster credit score, you may be eligible if:
- You are 19 years or older
- You are a Canadian citizen and resident of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island
- You have had the same employer for three months or more and took home $800 or more monthly
- You are paid via direct deposit into a bank account that has been open for three months or more
- You have a working mobile phone number, email, and proof of home address
Earn It
Asking for additional hours or overtime at work might be possible, but it is unlikely to get you money right when you need it. Those with small children will have the extra expense and difficulty finding childcare, and people in rural areas may not have a plethora of jobs available.
The internet has opened the possibilities to earn extra money from anywhere and at any time. Freelancing websites like Fiver or Upwork have literally millions of job postings for one-off requests or long-term positions. These range from writing blog articles like this one you are reading to translating documents or answering customer emails.
If you have a particular skill, whether it be crocheting or scrapbooking, there are likely people that are looking for lessons and willing to pay for a Zoom session. The critical aspect to earning money from an online application is realizing that everyone has a skill that is needed by someone else; it is just a matter of finding a way to connect.
We know that you don’t want to ask your friends and family for money. Finding alternative options is more conducive for saving face with your family and learning that you can solve financial problems on your own.