5 Ways to Get $20K By Monday

It’s a tough economy. Unemployment is up, stock prices are down, businesses are going bankrupt left and right, and credit is tight. Most people might be discouraged in a market like this, but if you play your cards right, you just might prove you have what it takes to make some good money.

So, do you want to earn $20,000 by Monday? These are some tips for you that could help you do just that.

1. Invest in the Stock Market

Ha, good one, right? Believe it or not, the stock market tends to recover several months before the general public starts to feel like a recession has run its course. This is because the “smart money” is accumulating stock at a good price once the stocks have bottomed, and that pushes prices back up. When the market plummets, stocks sometimes become undervalued; in other words, the fundamentals of the stock are still sound and it’s a good company, but the price is now low enough that it’s actually a good deal for savvy investors. Of course, it’s a tall order to make $20,000 in the stock market no matter when you’re trying, but after such a large drop over the past several months, when the stock market does pick up speed, it will probably go up very quickly. If you’re in sound investments with enough money, so will your net worth. Cool, huh?

2. Get Rid of Your Old Junk

Did you ever stop to think that all that junk you’ve got lying around the house could be worth real money? You don’t even have to be peddling rare 15th century paintings, either (although this certainly wouldn’t hurt). There are a few excellent ideas to consider that you might not have even thought of. These include old cars or pieces of hardware that you have gathering dust. If you’ve waited long enough, some of them might even be considered vintage or collectible, like an old Apple II computer that you barely used. Think about holding a garage sale or using eBay to convert old furniture, clothing, televisions, used software/games, movies and books, etc. that you know you won’t touch again into cold, hard cash. Most people accumulate a lot of stuff, and the truth of the matter is, you will never have enough time to use it all. If you’ve got enough stuff lying around, you might even hit that $20,000 mark.

3. Start a Business

Yes, this one is a little tricky, and it is probably harder to do in this tight credit market than during the boom times, but it’s still a possibility to consider. What it’s all about is coming up with a business model that is unique, keeps overhead to a minimum, and maximizes revenue. Then, look for a bank, venture capitalist firm, or private financier to give you some starting capital. Sure, it’s “borrowed” money, but $20,000 is $20,000, isn’t it? Plus, this gives you the chance to do what you really love and make a successful enterprise out of it–off of someone else’s dollars!

4. Win the Lottery/Jackpot

Leave it up to fate, chance, destiny, divine will, or whatever you want to call it. If you’re destined to have $20,000, there’s no easier way than to scratch or gamble your way there. Before you bet all the equity in your house on a hand of blackjack, though, don’t forget that the odds are sort of against you.

5. Dubious Means

These include all those iffy ways to get quick money: illicit drugs and prostitution, pyramid schemes, loan sharks, bank heists, counterfeiting, insurance fraud, embezzlement a la Office Space, and of course, the sudden, tragic demise of a rich relative who conveniently named you in his or her will. Needless to say, none of these are recommended or worth the risk, but whatever floats your yacht…

Hopefully, some of these methods will help you reach your rather lofty goal of earning $20K by next Monday. Mix and match them as you will. Best of luck to you!