Christmas is undoubtedly one of my favorite times of the year, but it’s definitely not cheap!
With four kids and a large extended family, I have a lot to pay for. If you’re like me, you would like to have some extra cash to pad that holiday shopping wallet.
While in the past, one of the only ways to earn extra income was to go out and get a seasonal retail job, that definitely isn’t true today.
You don’t have to sacrifice hours away from your family doing a customer service job during the most stressful shopping period of the year if you want to earn.
Instead, use one of these ideas to make extra money for Christmas this year.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link
1) Take Surveys
Surveys won’t make you a ton of money, but they are a great way to pull in some extra cash for all the Christmas shopping you need to do.
There are many survey companies out there, and they’re all free to join. My favorite by far is Survey Junkie because it’s easy to sign on with and has a decent payout.
Sign up with Survey Junkie here.
The best way to make decent money with surveys is to sign up for as many as you can and do them as frequently as possible.
Surveys are easy to do from your phone and many can be done in a matter of minutes. If you find yourself with spare time here and there while you’re waiting for an appointment or for soccer practice to end, make money with these minutes when you take surveys.
In addition to Survey Junkie, some other popular survey companies include:
- Swagbucks
- American Consumer Opinion
- Pinecone Research
- Opinion Outpost
- Product Report Card
- VIP Voice
- Harris Poll Online
- Survey Spot
- Clear Voice Surveys
Read More: Earn Extra Cash with the Best Survey Apps
You don’t have to go anywhere to make some extra holiday cash. If you have a laptop and Internet connection, consider some of these ways to earn extra money for Christmas.
2) Become a Website Tester
Did you know that people will pay you to test out new apps or websites? As a tester, you’ll simply try out a new app or head on over to someone’s website and then offer them constructive feedback on what worked and what didn’t.
There are several companies that will pay you for this easy work, including:
3) Do Odd Jobs on Fiverr
Want to make an extra five bucks?
Fiverr is a platform where people go when they want a service done. If you can write a jingle, come up with a tagline, design a logo, or a host of other talents, someone may be willing to pay you a few bucks to do it for them.
Head over to the website and check it out to see if there’s something you can do for $5.
4) Work as a Seasonal Customer Service Rep
Many big-name companies hire temporary customer service reps to provide service over the phone and on webchat during the busy holiday shopping season.
As a customer service rep, you’d be expected to answer questions, provide information, enter sales, and offer general help. This is good, consistent work for making extra holiday money, but keep in mind that it might be difficult if you’re a mom who has young kids at home.
Generally, customer service reps do need to be available without distractions for certain pre-set hours during the day or evening. If you’re in a situation where you have help at home and can take the hours, this can be a good steady source of income.
5) Become a Content Writer
If you know how to write, you can work making money as a content writer on the web. There are various levels of freelance writing, so don’t feel overwhelmed at the thought of doing this job.
Many content sites will hire all sorts of writers, and then assign levels of work based on writing ability.
To find out where you can write online for extra cash, visit 15 Websites for Freelance Writing Jobs.
6) Babysit
If you’re already home taking care of your own children, it probably wouldn’t be too difficult to care for someone else’s as well. Babysitting is a great way to make extra money for doing the tasks you’re already doing anyway.
To get started, make a profile on a site like Care.com or Sittercity.com. Call attention to your own experience as a mother as a great reason why you’re qualified to care for someone else’s kids.
Another way to get paying clients is to simply tell your friends and family that you’re available. Chances are there’s a tired, busy mom in your larger network who would love to pay you for the chance of a few hours rest.
7) Pet Sit
Pet sitting is another easy way to earn holiday cash, especially if you’re used to animals. You can easily earn over $25 per day watching someone’s dog or cat while they’re away on vacation or busy at work.
To get started pet sitting, create a profile on Rover.com and again, get the word out to all your family and friends.
8) Walk Dogs
If you’re an animal lover but don’t have the capacity to pet sit, walking dogs is a great alternative.
I have a neighbor who hires a woman to come walk her dog around lunchtime every day. This is a great side hustle for the mom who does this – she arrives, loads her baby in the stroller, and takes off for a walk with the dog on the leash!
If you have one kiddo who can ride in a stroller and live in a walkable neighborhood, why not offer this job to your busy neighbors while they’re at work?
9) Sell Your Extra Stuff
Chances are, you have things lying around your house that you no longer use or need. Selling these items can be a great way to make some extra cash for Christmas. Plus, it allows you to clear out space for the gifts you may receive – a win-win.
Even if you think no one would want your old items, you never know what kinds of things people are willing to pay for.
Here are some of just a few places you can sell your old things for extra holiday money:
- Consignment stores
- Facebook marketplace
- Facebook groups
- Craigslist
- Yard sale
- Letgo
- OfferUp
- eBay
Read More: 27 Things You Can Sell to Make Extra Money
10) Rent Out a Room in Your Home
Do you have an extra room in your house or an in-law addition that isn’t being used? If so, this is an income-generating opportunity you don’t want to pass up.
While you understandably may not want a long-term tenant, you can rent out rooms for the short term on Airbnb. Many holiday travelers are especially looking for lodging over the Christmas season, making this an excellent way for you to make extra Christmas money.
11) Deliver Groceries
Grocery delivery has exploded in popularity, with many people now utilizing this type of service rather than shopping for themselves.
Many people tend to shop for more groceries around the holidays, which is why this is an excellent way to make extra money for Christmas. Sign up with a popular service like Instacart or Shipt to increase your holiday income.
12) Become an Uber or Lyft Driver
Have some time to dedicate behind the wheel? If you like driving, get paid to drive other people around. Driving for a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft is an especially good way to make extra cash for Christmas if you live in a city or an area close to an airport or sports arena.
13) Deliver Food
Food delivery is another side hustle that is becoming increasingly popular. As a driver with UberEats or DoorDash, you’ll make money simply picking up food orders at local restaurants and delivering them to hungry customers.
14) Become a Mystery Shopper
Do you love to shop? Get paid for your efforts! As a mystery shopper, you’ll be given assignments that require you to purchase things at certain stores or restaurants, and then rate your shopping experiences.
You will be reimbursed for your purchases and time, but keep in mind that it may take a bit of time before that money comes in, so be prepared to be out of pocket for a few weeks.
While there are excellent mystery shopping companies out there, this also tends to be an industry where you see a lot of scams, so be sure to do your due diligence. One company that I have heard good things about (though I can’t personally vouch for them myself) is Bestmark, so you may want to consider starting your search there.
15) Perform Odd Jobs on TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is a platform that connects people who need handyman, delivery, or moving services with someone who can do those tasks for them.
Once you create an account, you’ll be able to connect with people in your area.
You get to set your own rates, build your own schedule, and only choose those jobs you’d like to do.
Interested? Check out more here.
Bonus: Make the Most of Your Online Shopping with Cash Back
If you’re like me and loathe the idea of heading out and battling holiday shopping crowds, you’re likely doing much of your shopping online. When you do, don’t forget to shop for the Rakuten/Ebates site. When you shop at your favorite stores through this site, you’ll get a percentage of your cash back from participating retailers.
To date, I’ve made over $500. This was shopping I was already going to do anyway, so this money back is a big bonus.
Now, my total here has accumulated over a number of years, so you certainly won’t make anywhere near this much with just your holiday shopping alone. Still, it’s a nice way to get a little cash back after all the money you’re going to spend over the Christmas season.
If you want to get a head start, click on over and get $10 back after you shop.
Do you have any fun or creative ways to make extra money for the holidays? I’d love to hear your suggestions!
