12 Great Ways for Pastors to Make Money Fast

There comes a time in everyone's life when we need to find ways to generate cash quickly. Maybe it's to pay for something unexpected like a car repair, a medical or dental bill like braces for your child, or because you want to do something new like start a business.

And of course, due to the current COVID-19 crisis, many pastors are faced with the prospect of reduced income because churches have not been able to meet for public worship for weeks, and giving has declined.

If you're in a bind and need to earn some quick cash, or you're looking for ways to generate some extra income on an ongoing basis, here are 12 ways to make money fast.

1. Negotiate your bills

You may be just a few phone calls away from putting an extra $500-$1,000 in your pocket! All it takes is a couple of minutes and a little courage to call and negotiate or shop your credit card, TV, phone, and insurance rates. 

When you get a representative on the phone, remind them that you’re a great customer, and that you’d just hate to leave, but you’ve got to find ways to save money on your monthly expenses. Then ask, “What can you do for me?” and wait for the magic to start happening. 

If you find you’re dealing with a company that’s not willing to budge, tell them you’re going to switch to a competitor who will give you a better rate. Either way, you save with them, or you save with somebody else. 

Last year I called SiriusXM to cancel my radio subscription. The representative offered to send me a refund for half of my yearly rate, plus extend my subscription by three months if I’d stay. I decided the deal was too good to refuse, so I took it and kept my subscription active.

Then I called Comcast, because my Internet and TV bill was out of control, going up every few months. I told the rep I needed a better rate, since it was now double what I had been given in the first year.  They said they could give me a bit of a discount, but it still wasn’t good enough for me.

So, I said goodbye to Comcast and switched my Internet to AT&T, which I had actually left to go to Comcast three years before. Then I signed up for YouTube TV as my cable TV provider. Those moves saved me $80 a month - that’s $960 for a year - with just a couple of minutes of effort!

2. Sell Stuff

When times are tough, sell your stuff!  An average American household could probably make a quick $500 by selling stuff we no longer need or could make do without. And Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Ebay make it easy to convert our unused and unwanted stuff into cash. 

If you know a good value when you see it, you could buy undervalued items at garage sales and sell them at a higher price online. Ask your friends and family if they’ve got stuff they want to sell, and you can list it for them online and split the proceeds. Or maybe they’d give it to you for free just to get rid of it. 

And speaking of free, check out the “free stuff” sections on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. You might be surprised to see how much stuff is free for the taking. But you’ve got to check it frequently and act quickly.

3. Haul Junk 

If you’ve got a truck or trailer, you can make quick money by hauling junk for other people. Start by letting your friends and neighbors know you’re available to haul stuff away the next time they clean the house or garage. 

You can also post ads on Craigslist and local bulletin boards in your community, like at the hardware store, coffee shop, laundromat, church, etc. When you make a pick-up, keep your eyes open for things you could pull aside to sell or recycle. 

4. Scrap Metal Recycling

This is another hustle that requires a truck or trailer. Recyclers are paying good money these days for scrap metal. So let your friends and neighbors know you’ll haul their scrap metal away for them, check Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for metal that people are giving away, and keep your eyes open for free metal outside homes and businesses as you’re out and about. My 20-year old son earns some nice extra cash every week from metal recycling.

5. Outdoor Yard Work 

If you enjoy working outdoors, and don’t mind getting a little dirt under your fingernails, you can generate quick cash by doing spring clean up, fall raking, lawn mowing, flower and bulb planting, gardening, and more. Again, start letting friends and neighbors know that you’re available, and post ads online and on local bulletin boards.

6. Donate Plasma

Did you know you could make $400 or more a month donating plasma? And if you and your spouse both do it....well, you can do the math on that!

You have to qualify and meet the physical requirements, but once you’re approved, donating plasma is a fairly painless easy way to make extra money.

My wife and I both have donated plasma in the past. We found it was fairly relaxing to lay there and donate while reading, listening to podcasts, watching shows, or praying. It’s not for everyone, but if you can do it, it’s a great way to get paid to help save lives!

7. Gig Yourself

Nearly everyone has skills and know-how that we could gig yourselves out for. If you’re not sure what you could do for money, ask yourself:

1. What do I enjoy? 
2. What do I do in my spare time? 
3. What do people ask me to do because I’m good at it? 

There are ways to make money through gardening, baking, canning, cooking, sewing, music, writing, editing, reading, speaking, photography, graphic design, bee keeping, fitness, etc. 

In fact, if you can name it you can probably find several ways to make money from it, with a little time and effort.

Here’s an idea I want to try sometime...If you’re in love with your city, become a tour guide, create your own walking or driving tours, and promote them on Tripadvisor.

And don’t forget that you can make extra money using your pastoral skills too, like premarital counseling, wedding officiating, funerals, spiritual care or counseling, writing sermons or Bible lessons, writing songs, etc. Promote your services on Fiverr, Craigslist, Upwork, or your own website.

8. Teach What You Know

At the same time, you probably have skills or know-how that others would be willing to pay to learn. In five minutes you could probably make a list of 10 things you could teach to others!

You could create your own how-to videos or courses to sell on Udemy or your own website. Or advertise on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and community bulletin boards. Many people are making great extra money or even full-time income through courses and products they created to sell online.

9. Pet Sitting & Dog Walking 

Dog Moms and Dads are willing to pay good money to have someone they trust take care of their dogs while they’re traveling out of town, at work all day, etc. You’ll not only earn extra money, but gain a new best friend! 

And some dog parents will gladly pay to have someone else clean their yard of their doggy doo so they won’t have to. It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it! Woof!

10. Rent Out a Room 

This definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve got an extra room in your home, you can convert it to significant cash by renting it out to a boarder. Not sure where to find the right tenant? Start by checking with friends and neighbors, and asking around at church for someone looking to rent.

As a rental property owner for many years, I recommend you connect first with your local rental owners association or an attorney for info on the landlord/tenant laws in your city and state before renting a room.

If you’re not looking to gain a long-term housemate, consider listing your room on AirBnB for the occasional house guest. Or rent out your entire house whenever there’s a big festival or event in your city. 

11. Drive & Deliver

If you enjoy driving, why not put your car to work for you? You could drive passengers for Uber and Lyft, or deliver packages or food for Amazon, DoorDash, Grubhub, or other similar services. 

I’ve driven for Uber, and personally, I think every pastor should do it. Not just for the cash, but for the opportunity to connect with people in your community who would never step foot in your church. It’s a great way to meet a need, shine a light, and make a few extra bucks.

12. Shop Til You Drop

If you love to shop, why not get paid for it? Shopping services like Shipt and Instacart are absolutely exploding right now, and they are desperate for more shoppers and drivers. 

Shipt shoppers earn an average of $22.00 an hour right now - not bad for a part-time job! And the best thing is that you can work as much or as little as you want, on the days and times that are best for you.

Need Help?

There are so many ways to generate extra income. I hope you found this list to be a helpful starting point! 

If you feel stuck and need help exploring your next step, or you feel like you’re at a crossroads in your life and work right now - that something has to change, or that you were made for something more, but you’re not sure what that is or how to pursue it - we should talk!

As a coach, I help people find the clarity, tools, and courage they need to live their best life and pursue their God-given goals and dreams. Feel free to reach out to me via email at [email protected].