Picture this—the rent is coming up, and you don’t have enough money to pay your landlord due to unexpected events. You’re now short on rent before payday and stressing out about how to pay your bills.
If you’ve ever been in this situation, you’re not the only one. Options are available, even during this period of high inflation in Canada.
Sell Something From Around the Home for Cash
Do you have anything around your place that you can sell? Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, and more let you list items for sale to bring in extra cash. Simply find something around the house you want to sell, take pictures, and then list it. You never know what you have lying around that could bring in a few extra bucks.
Tap Into the Gig Economy
With the rise of apps in the gig economy, there’s more opportunity than ever to earn extra cash. These apps involve short-term work that fits your schedule. You can accept as many or as few jobs as you need. Explore some of the following jobs in the gig economy to get started.
- Drive for a ridesharing app
- Deliver food
- Complete odd jobs on TaskRabbit
- Walk dogs on Rover
If you live in or near a city, there’s often high demand for services like walking dogs or delivering food. If you live in a more rural part of the country, you can try offering odd jobs on platforms like TaskRabbit. The good news is that almost anyone can bring in extra money to help cover the rent until the next cheque comes in.
Talk to Your Landlord About Payment Options
The last thing you want is to deal with your provincial landlord and tenant board because you’ve been reported for a missed payment. Contact your landlord about alternative payment options or a payment plan to avoid this situation.
It’s important to be honest and upfront with your landlord if you think you might miss a payment, so you don’t have any issues. You could negotiate a partial rent payment or offer a service in exchange for the missing funds. For example, you might provide lawn maintenance services, painting, or other work—depending on your skill set—for a one-time discount on rent.
Access Your Earned Wages*
Did you know that you don’t have to wait until payday to see your money? With Payactiv, you can access the money earned at work early. You can tap into this service to help cover rent when payday doesn’t exactly align with your rent due date.
The Bottom Line
While unexpected circumstances are a part of life, this sort of scenario could be a warning to be better financially prepared. You can establish an emergency fund with the cash needed to bail you out of sticky situations. And remember, there are resources like Payactiv’s earned wage access available to you should you need them.
