Need Money for Prepaid Lights? Here's How to Get $40 Fast

Your prepaid balance says $1.82. Maybe less. You’ve got a few hours — maybe until tomorrow morning — before your lights go off. You don’t need $500. You need $40. Maybe $75 to buy yourself a few days.

This post is about getting that money today. Not next week. Today.

How Much Do You Actually Need?

Most prepaid light companies require $20-$40 minimum to restore service after your balance hits zero. Some want $25, some want $40. Call your company or check your app to find out their minimum.

Here’s how to think about it:

$20: Gets your lights back on. Buys you maybe a day in summer, 2-3 days in mild weather.
$40: Gives you 2-4 days of breathing room.
$75: Gets you through roughly a week and takes the immediate pressure off.

You’re not trying to pay off a massive debt here. You’re trying to bridge a gap until your next paycheck, disability check, or gig payment comes through.

If you want to understand exactly what happens when your balance drops, read our zero balance guide. Right now, let’s focus on getting the money.

Same-Day Money: Options That Pay Today

These are your fastest paths to cash. Some pay within hours.

Sell Something

Look around your place. What do you have that someone might pay $20-$50 for?

Electronics: Old phones, tablets, game consoles, speakers. Even cracked-screen phones sell.
Furniture: End tables, chairs, small dressers move fast on marketplace.
Clothes and shoes: Brand-name items, work boots, winter coats.
Tools: Hand tools, power tools, yard equipment.

Post on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Craigslist. Price it low. Say “available now” and “can meet today.” People looking for deals are scrolling right now.

A neighbor of mine sold a $300 TV for $80 because she needed the cash that afternoon. She got three responses in 20 minutes. Sometimes fast matters more than top dollar.

Gig Work

If you have a car and a phone, you can start earning today:

DoorDash: Sign up is fast. You can start delivering the same day in many areas. Pay is daily or instant (small fee).
Uber/Uber Eats: Similar deal. Instant cashout available.
Instacart: Grocery delivery. Same-day payment option.
Amazon Flex: Delivery blocks pay $18-$25/hour. Some areas have same-day openings.

No car? Check TaskRabbit or Thumbtack for local odd jobs: moving help, cleaning, yard work. People pay cash.

Some folks I know have picked up $50-$80 doing a few delivery runs in an afternoon. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s money in hand.

Plasma Donation

This one’s underrated. Plasma donation centers (BioLife, CSL Plasma, Octapharma) pay $50-$100 for first-time donors, and you can usually get paid the same day via prepaid card.

The first visit takes 2-3 hours because of the health screening. After that, it’s about an hour per visit. You can donate twice a week.

Fair warning: you need to eat well and drink water before you go. Some people feel tired afterward. But if you need $75 today and you’re healthy, this is reliable money.

Day Labor Apps

These apps connect you with businesses that need workers today:

Wonolo: Warehouse, events, food service. Get paid 1-3 days after the shift.
Instawork: Restaurant, hospitality, warehouse. Same-day or next-day pay available.
Staffing agencies: Temp agencies like Labor Ready or PeopleReady can sometimes place you the same day. Pay is usually weekly, but some offer daily pay.

If you show up, work hard, and don’t flake, these can become regular gig income.

Ask Someone

I know. This one’s hard. But think about it: you need $40, not $400.

Text five people. Family, friends, coworkers, neighbors. Something like: “Hey, I’m in a tight spot and need $40 to keep my lights on until payday. Can you help? I can pay you back Friday.”

Most people won’t respond. Some can’t help. But if one person out of five says yes, you’ve solved your problem. Pride doesn’t keep the AC running.

24-48 Hour Options

If you have a day or two before disconnection, these can work:

Cash Advance Apps

These apps give you small advances against your next paycheck. No credit check, but they need access to your bank account to see your direct deposit history.

Dave: Up to $500 advance. No interest, optional tip.
Earnin: Borrow against hours you’ve already worked. Up to $100/day.
Brigit: Up to $250. Monthly subscription fee.
MoneyLion: Advances up to $500 with no interest.

The catch: you need an active bank account with regular direct deposits (usually 2+ months of history). If you just started a job or use cash, these won’t work for you.

Transfers take 1-3 business days unless you pay for instant transfer ($1-$5 fee).

Pawn Shops

If you have something valuable — jewelry, electronics, tools, musical instruments — a pawn shop will give you cash today. You’re not selling it; you’re using it as collateral for a short-term loan.

You’ll get maybe 25-50% of the item’s value as a loan. You have 30-90 days to pay back the loan plus interest (typically 10-25% per month) and get your stuff back.

It’s expensive money, but it’s fast, and you don’t lose the item permanently if you pay it back.

Emergency Assistance Programs

These take more time to set up, but they can provide real help — sometimes hundreds of dollars toward your light bill.

Call 211

Dial 2-1-1 from any phone. It’s free. The operator will connect you with every emergency assistance program in your area. They know about resources you’ve never heard of.

Tell them: “My prepaid lights are about to be cut off and I need emergency help today.” They’ll tell you who to call and what documents you need.

Churches and Nonprofits

Many churches have discretionary funds for exactly this situation. You don’t have to be a member. Call and ask if they help with emergency light bills. Organizations that often help:

St. Vincent de Paul (Catholic Charities)
Salvation Army
Local Baptist or Methodist churches
Community action agencies

Some can process requests in a day or two. Bring your disconnection notice or account statement showing your balance.

CEAP and LIHEAP

These are government programs that help with light bills:

CEAP (Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program): Run through local community action agencies. Can help with past-due bills and deposits.
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): Federal program, but it takes longer to process. Worth applying if you qualify.

For crisis situations, call your local community action agency and ask about emergency assistance. They sometimes have separate funds for people about to be disconnected.

Our full financial assistance guide covers every program in Texas with phone numbers and links.

What to Avoid

When you’re desperate, bad options start looking good. Don’t fall for these:

Payday Loans

That $300 loan comes with 300-400% APR when you add up the fees. Miss one payment and you’re trapped in a cycle that costs you thousands. A payday loan to cover your light bill will create a much bigger problem than the one you’re solving.

Title Loans

You put up your car as collateral for a loan. If you can’t pay it back, you lose your car. Now you can’t get to work, can’t do gig deliveries, can’t take care of your family. The interest rates are brutal (100-300% APR). Don’t do this.

Sketchy “Lenders”

Anyone offering fast cash through Facebook or text messages is probably running a scam. You’ll either pay outrageous interest, get your identity stolen, or both.

Prevent This Next Time

Once you get through this, set yourself up so it doesn’t happen again:

Set low-balance alerts. Most prepaid companies let you set text alerts at custom thresholds. Set one at $20 and another at $10. That gives you warning before you’re at zero.

Auto-reload if available. Some prepaid companies can automatically charge your card when your balance drops below a certain amount. It’s like autopay for prepaid. Ask your company if they offer this.

Keep $20 emergency cash. Hide a $20 bill somewhere in your home. Label it “lights emergency.” Don’t touch it unless you’re about to be disconnected. Knowing it’s there takes away some of the anxiety.

Know your daily cost. Check your usage every morning for a week. Divide your spending by the number of days. Now you know how far your balance will stretch. In Texas, expect $5-$8/day in mild weather, $8-$12/day in summer.

Check out our how prepaid works guide for more on managing your account day to day.

The Bottom Line

You need $40, not $400. That’s achievable today. Sell something, do a few gig deliveries, donate plasma, or text a few people who might help.

If you have a day or two, cash advance apps or emergency assistance programs can bridge the gap.

Your lights going off isn’t the end. It’s a problem with solutions. Get the money, add it to your account, and your lights come back on — usually within an hour or two.

You’ve handled worse than this.

Related reading:

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For official rules, visit the Public Utility Commission of Texas. NoDepositLights.com is powered by Compare Power (PUCT License BR190020).