Needing to have money coming in fast, right now creates a very sressful environment. When the pressure is on and the need to make some money quickly is required, we often don't make our best decisions. Often through desperation and downright panic, we make knee-jerk decisions which often which aren't always the best over the long-term. Whatever has brought someone to the point that they need to make money fast, it can often cloud judgement and force us to grab at the first half-decent thing that seems to come along as a possible solution.

We've personally been in that position; we've been at a place where we needed to make some money fast. Here are 3 ways that we identified that can work for you...

1. Affiliate Marketing - don't be confused or intimidated by this term; it's simply the case of identifying a product you think there may be a demand for, ascertaining if they have an affiliate program (a commission payout) for that product, then figuring out how to get people to buy that product through your unique affiliate ID number or code. Then, every time someone does, you earn a commission.

Many large, high profile companies now run affiliate marketing programmes - Ebay, Amazon, etc - and any business you send them through your affiliate ID number will earn you a commission. And yes, to solve your issue now regarding can you make money fast with Affiliate marketing - yes you can. Many affiliate programmes pay out either fortnightly or even weekly, so you could be earning some healthy commissions pretty quickly.

The question that was on our mind when we looked at this, and it's probably on yours, is how do we get people to buy the products we want to promote through our affiliate ID? The good news is that many companies who run these affiliate programmes also have a whole support system in place to give you great ideas, help, information and support to show you ways to 'promote' your Affiliate ID to the world, and in doing so, earn yourself commissions.

2. Surveys - we had heard a lot about 'taking surveys' as a way to make money fast now; some of what we had heard was really good, but sadly some not so good. So rather than take other's opinions we decided to join some of the most popular survey companies and see what they offered, and whether their promises stacked up in their ability to make money fast.

Generally 'taking surveys' to earn money does actually work, and certainly CAN bring in a reasonable income each day very quickly, though we did discover there is a huge difference between what each of the survey companies offer, and yes there are clearly good and bad ones.

If you are the type of person who enjoys data entry or form filling, then you will love making money from surveys. If you're not, then we have to warn you that it's likely you will find it somewhat boring, though taking surveys can clearly get the money coming in quickly, and so if that's your goal this is clearly a serious option IF you pick the right company.

3. Doing Freelance Work - If you can write, design, programme, are artistic, creative, can motivate or inspire, then there are loads of opportunities for you out there right now. The freelance market is one of the fastest growing sectors.

Simply put; more and more companies, small businesses and individuals are finding they need someone who they can employ on a freelance basis (so not formally employed) to do some work for them. So a whole industry has emerged of primarily home-based freelance workers who offer their services to freelance agencies who have a database of clients with work projects that they need someone to help them with.

And you will be amazed at how many people will want your services. If the idea of working from the comfort of your own home, working the hours that suits you, and yet still having the ability to earn good money quickly, then you need to consider becoming a freelance worker. Again, rather like survey work, there are good and bad companies out there acting as freelance agencies, sadly of which many don't deliver what they say. But if you find the right company to work with, you certainly can earn a very healthy income as a freelancer.