how to I get more memory for my apple 24

You seem to be mixing up memory (RAM) and storage. 8 GB is the amount of RAM that your iMac has. RAM is fast working memory whose contents disappear when you shut the computer off, or the power goes off. There's no way to add more RAM to your iMac. If you don't have enough, you'll need to live with it, or get another computer.

The 24" M1 iMac comes with anywhere from 256 GB to 2 TB of internal storage, and it is probably that storage that is getting full. You can add external storage by plugging external drives into the expansion ports on your iMac.

iMac 24” internal storage and internal memory are not expandable.

What the iMac ships with is what it will always have.

You can migrate from internal to external storage:

… Use an external SSD as your startup disk … - Apple Community

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It is generally a good computer practice to alway keep at least 15% to 20% of the Total Drive Capacity’s as Empty Space.

Allowing the computer to drop below these guidelines may eventually, cause unintended consequences.

There is Purgeable Space and there is Empty Space.

Purgeable Space which is Controlled by the Operating System. When the Operating Systems decides the computer needs additional Empty Space, it will move a portion of the Purgeable to Empty space

AFAIK - there is no User Actions to hasten this transition from Purgeable to Empty Space

It can day or longer before this will occur  

If this computer is using Adobe Applications - suggest checking with Adobe on how to clear Adobe Cache files.

Have seen some users clearing the Adobe Cache files and have regained xx GB of Empty Space on the drive

The links below will assist in identifying what is taking up space on the Internal Drive and provide possible ways to remove data that is under the direct control of the User ( Home Folder ) . 

Rebuild the Spotlight index on your Mac

What is “Other” storage on a Mac, and how can I clean it out?

OmniDiskSweeper Safe to use

GrandPerspective 

How to delete Time Machine snapshots on your Mac.  

Often caused if the Time Machine Drive has not been attached  to the computer and TM Backup is set to run on a Schedule. 

TM Backup will make Snap Shot on the Internal Drive awaiting the TM Backup Drive to be attached. 

Only then will the Snaps Shots be transferred to the External Drive and deleted the Internal Drive.

See used and available storage space on your Mac

Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Notation - If the user is using a cloning software like Carbon Copy Cloner - and https://bombich.com/kb/ccc6/automated-maintenance-ccc-safetynet-folder suggest tweaking the Safety Net Feature in this software. It may be making additional Snap Shots that are not being Cloned to the Eternal Drive. If this should be the case, these Snap Shot could be using additional space on the drive 

The final word from Apple on Managing the " Other/ System Data “ Category

Other / System Data: Contains files that don’t fall into the categories listed here. This category primarily includes files and data used by the system, such as log files, caches, VM files, and other runtime system resources. Also included are temporary files, fonts, app support files, and plug-ins. You can't manage the contents of this category. The contents are managed by macOS, and the category varies in size depending on the current state of your Mac.

Hey corjensen81!

It does sound like you’re referring to either your Mac storage, unless you are being prompted with an iCloud storage issue, would you please be able to upload a screen shot or picture of this error that you are receiving? And likewise, if you receive this error while doing certain tasks? Cheers.

Free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support

Manage iCloud storage on Mac - Apple Support

It’s also possible you are getting an error message regarding storage or memory while using a certain app, or doing a certain task, please let me know, glad to help out!

Apple Computers come with Random Access Memory = RAM and it is soldered to the Logicboard and can not be increased

Apple Computers have an Internal Drive = Drive Capacity and it to is soldered to the Logicboard and can not be increased

The Only time this can be changed is by making a Custom Configuration Purchase and choosing to have 16 GB RAM or more and to choose a Bigger Internal Drive Capacity

Once the order is placed - we can no longer make any further changes - period.

If the internal drive is the issue - you can follow the advise by @ MrHoffman and use an External Drive

Or you can work on cleaning up the Internal Drive

Do Not under a circumstance install any Third Party Disk Cleaner Application to try and clean up the drive. Not even some applications appearing on the Apple App Store

They create an even bigger problem that may required Erase all Content and Setting