Houston is an expensive, but wonderful city. Even if you work hard every single day, it’s not unlikely that you’ll find yourself in a tough financial spot now and then. When this happens, having a set game plan to help make extra income is key, as this will ensure you pay your rent on time, and avoid late fees. Here are five unique ways you can gather your rent last minute in Houston: 

1. Financial Assistance Programs

Looking for local government or charity-based rental aid programs is essential when you are in desperate need of rent money. You should make use of the programs set up to shield you from the fear of eviction, particularly if you’re a family searching for rental aid in Houston. Thankfully, there are more of these programs available than ever before, and applying for them is simpler than before, so those looking for help paying rent in Houston are in a stronger situation in 2023. You’ll have a better chance of being accepted if you look for the program that best suits your needs and is designed for people (or families) in your particular circumstance.

2. Renting Out Extra Rooms

Does the house you’re renting have a spare room? Assuming so, and if your lease permits it, you can quickly make money by renting out the room on an online marketplace like Airbnb (or to a month-to-month renter). This is occasionally one of the most dependable strategies to get quick money due to the growing cost of rental prices. This might be a particularly alluring and practical choice to take into account if you reside in a crowded, tourist-friendly town. But this might not be the ideal choice for individuals who have families. If you decide to use this route to pay your rent on time, be sure to use your best judgment when choosing who to rent to and how much to charge.

3. Using Modern Money-Earning Apps

In today’s market, working for a ride-sharing firm or a food delivery app is perhaps the most lucrative method to generate quick money. The fact that you can typically sign up for these apps and begin using them within 48 hours makes it an exceptionally excellent choice. In some instances, you might earn as much as $20 per hour, which will be quite beneficial. Even in today’s tough economic landscape, using modern money-earning apps remains one of the best financial safeguards for the majority of Americans (especially those living in cities like Houston). 

4. Open a Savings Account

A lot of people rely only on their checking accounts to get them through each month since they neglect to open savings accounts. Having a savings account can be helpful for many reasons, even if you struggle to put money into it. You should deposit the rent money in your savings account to secure it if you know that charges to your checking account could leave you with insufficient funds to pay your rent on time. After all, skipping or making a rent payment will always have far more severe consequences than forgetting to pay a lesser-important obligation.

5. Personal Loans

Personal loans are not a solution for everyone, but they can be very helpful if you find yourself in a tight financial situation. Any option that can prevent an eviction should be taken into consideration, especially for those families who are struggling to pay their rent. If your credit is excellent, it can be simple to get a low-cost loan with a fair APR so you can make your rent payments on time. However, you might only be eligible for predatory loans if your credit is poor. If you want to safeguard your long-term financial security, you must avoid taking out these high-risk loans at all costs. 

Consult with Your Landlord in Dire Cases

If your landlord is accommodating, especially if you’re renting from an individual owner rather than a major real estate corporation, you might be able to work out a bargain to get your rent reduced. You can ask them if you can take care of any necessary repairs in exchange for paying less rent if they need maintenance done on the property. Doing so can provide one of the greatest solutions for completing your rent payment on time if you find it difficult to take on second jobs or who have bad credit. Depending on the project, your efforts might also improve how cozy and enjoyable your home is to live in. Just be careful not to rely on it, as it will be very dependent on your landlord, and can be overwhelming for those in an already tough spot at times.