You can often raise cash in an emergency. Here are five simple ways to get the money you need when you don't have any money left at the end of the month:

1. "Turn clutter into cash" -- eBay is the perfect way to convert stuff you don't need into what you do: money. It's easy to set up your own ebay account, and though it takes time to post enough items to really rake in the dough, there are plenty of people out there to pay you for what you might consider donating to charity. Tip: search on completed auctions at ebay to see what sold and how much the actual sale was. Sometimes, you'll find that by listing your items for $9.99, you'll pay the lowest listing fees and still move a lot of personal unwanted merch in a hurry for a good final price. And don't forget to remember the shipping costs. I've sold a lot of items for a decent price, only to find that the shipping ate up all the profits!

Learn more at this website: http://www.ebay.com (for do-it-yourself auctions) or http://www.auctionbytes.com/ to find consignment ebay auction professionals.

2. "Cash in unused vacation pay" -- I like my time off. Vacations are good ways to refresh the soul. But I have known co-workers who have needed cash quick, and they tapped into their vacation pay without actually going on vacation. Ask at your work if this is possible, and sometimes you can time the vacation pay to coincide with a looming large bill.

3. "Borrow from yourself" -- Experts warn us from taking money out of a retirement account or tapping into home equity. But when dire circumstances come along -- a health emergency or a life emergency -- these are excellent sources of ready cash. It's often a good idea to hae a line of credit available long before you need to borrow, as bankers always seem to want to lend money to those who don't seem to need it! But remember: Know the terms. Know the risks. Know the repayment obligations. Don't borrow for something frivolous. But home equity loans and 401(k) retirement accounts usually are the best ways to deal with a money emergency Speaking of 401(k) accoutns: often you can tap into 50% of the value YOU own. Probably not what your employer has matched.

Read: Home equity loan guide

4. "Temp Work vs. TV Shows" -- How much will those retuns pay you? Nada. Better to calla temp employment agency, put in some extra hours at night or on the weekends to get cash fast. You could sell some jewelry or do a quick payday loan, then use these extra wages to payoff the pawnshop fees or cash out the title loan. Do you need that third car? Sell it if you don't, that's quick cash. Do you really need that boat that you haven't used in 3-4 summers? Better to sell it quick, take the cash and pay off the looming debts, and work to get your bills under control, reduce debt, and fix your financial situation. Idea: Sell the item to a family member who perhaps only needs the item for a short period of time (they have a kid in college, and they need a second-hand used car to help them get to and from school). With luck you can buy back the car or boat in a year or two. Warning: Please always beware of payday lenders who want you to rollover your loan, as you'll pay a premium to use these high-interest loans.

Learn how to make money online: HTTProfits

5. "Change tax withholding" -- Go to your personnel office tomorrow, and change your withholding, especially if you've gotten large tax refunds for the past everal years and you expect the same this year. Large refunds are stupid. Better to keep the money you're allowing Uncle Sam to borrow from you tax-free. Just don't overdo it. You don't want to get into a situation next year where you're scratching your head where to dig up money to pay your taxes. Try to aim for a break-even withholding vs. taxes owed. Even if you need to kick in $100 or $200 next year, get a tax pro to help you estimate what you ought to had taken out of your paycheck every pay period.

What not to do:

Don't apply for a new credit card to payoff overdue bills, or even another credit card payment! You'll only wind up digging yourself into a deeper debt hole.

Also, don't spoil good friendships with people you work with or those you consider friends. Extra cash is easy to find... good friends are not!