The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it comes the usual flurry of expenses—gifts, travel, festive dinners, and maybe even a new outfit or two. If you're like most folks, you're probably looking for ways to pad your wallet before December rolls around. Well, good news! There are plenty of practical, easy-to-start side hustles that can give you that extra financial boost you need for the holidays.
In this guide, I’ll lay out seven practical ideas that can help you boost your income without burning yourself out. The key is finding what fits your schedule and lifestyle, so let’s get into it.
1. Sell Your Unused Stuff
Here’s the deal—most of us have stuff lying around the house that we don’t use anymore. Old electronics, clothes, books, or even furniture can be turned into cash if you’re willing to part with them. It’s one of the easiest and quickest ways to make money without much effort.
Where to Sell:
- Facebook Marketplace: Perfect for local sales, especially for larger items like furniture or appliances. You won’t have to deal with shipping fees, and the transaction is usually quick.
- eBay: Great for electronics, collectibles, and niche items. eBay may take a cut of your earnings, but it exposes your items to a wider audience.
- Poshmark or Mercari: If you’ve got clothes or accessories to sell, these platforms are solid options. You just snap a picture, list your item, and wait for buyers.
- Craigslist: It may seem old-school, but Craigslist is still a viable option for selling larger items like furniture, tools, or sporting goods.
Tip: If you want to sell quickly, price your items reasonably. Remember, the goal is to make extra cash fast, not hold out for top dollar. You may even want to bundle items together for a quicker sale.
2. Offer Your Services Locally
If you’ve got a specific skill or are simply good with your hands, there are tons of opportunities to make extra money by offering your services in your local community. This could range from handyman jobs to dog walking, lawn care, or even holiday light installation.
Popular Services to Offer:
- Handyman work: If you’re handy with tools or good at fixing things, offer your services for small home repairs. People always need help hanging pictures, assembling furniture, or patching walls.
- Holiday light installation: As the holidays approach, many people want their homes decked out with lights but don’t want to do the work themselves. This can be a lucrative seasonal gig.
- Dog walking or pet sitting: Especially during the holidays when people travel, they need someone reliable to look after their pets.
- Yard work or snow shoveling: Depending on where you live, people may need help raking leaves or shoveling snow. This could be a quick and easy way to make some extra cash.
- Grocery delivery or errand running: For those with busy schedules, paying someone to handle holiday shopping or run errands could be a huge help.
Tip: You can spread the word through Facebook groups, neighborhood apps like Nextdoor, or even just print some flyers to hang up around town. The key is to let people know you're available and ready to help.
3. Take on a Seasonal Job
Seasonal work is an excellent way to pocket some extra money while getting into the holiday spirit. From retail gigs to warehouse work, companies are always looking for extra help during the holiday rush. You may even find some opportunities that offer flexible hours, making it easier to work around your existing schedule.
Where to Find Seasonal Jobs:
- Retail: Stores like Target, Walmart, and other big-box retailers often ramp up their hiring during the holiday season. You can pick up shifts in the evenings or on weekends to supplement your income.
- Delivery services: Companies like UPS, FedEx, and even Amazon increase their delivery workforce during the holidays. These jobs may involve physical work, but the pay is often decent.
- Event work: Many places need extra hands for holiday events—think catering, bartending, or staffing seasonal pop-up shops.
- Customer service: With the holiday shopping boom, many online retailers need additional help handling customer inquiries. If you prefer to work from home, look for remote customer service jobs.
Tip: Don’t wait too long to apply for these gigs—holiday hiring often starts as early as October. If you start looking in November or December, you may find the best opportunities already filled.
4. Rent Out a Spare Room or Parking Space
Got a spare room that’s sitting empty or a parking spot that’s not in use? You could turn that space into a stream of income. With platforms like Airbnb, renting out a room—even just for a weekend—could bring in some serious cash, especially during the busy holiday travel season.
How to Make It Work:
- Airbnb: If you have a spare room or an entire property you don’t use, consider listing it on Airbnb. During the holidays, when people are traveling to visit family, demand for short-term rentals can be high.
- Rent your driveway: If you live in a city where parking is at a premium, you could rent out your driveway or parking spot. Apps like JustPark or Spacer make it easy to list and manage short-term parking rentals.
Tip: Make sure you’re familiar with local laws and regulations about short-term rentals before listing anything. Some cities have restrictions on how often you can rent out your space.
5. Pick Up Freelance Gigs or Side Hustles
Freelancing is a flexible way to make extra money, and you can often do it from the comfort of your own home. If you’ve got a skill—writing, graphic design, social media management, photography—there’s a good chance you can find someone willing to pay for your expertise. Freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr are a great place to start.
Popular Freelance Gigs:
- Writing or editing: If you’re good with words, freelance writing or editing could be a great way to make extra money. Many websites, businesses, and bloggers need content, especially during the busy holiday season.
- Graphic design: Got design skills? From creating holiday cards to logos or social media graphics, there’s always demand for creative work.
- Social media management: Businesses ramp up their marketing efforts during the holidays. If you know your way around Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, offering social media management services could be a quick money-maker.
- Virtual assistant: People get busy during the holidays, and a lot of small businesses need help managing their day-to-day tasks. As a virtual assistant, you could take on duties like scheduling, email management, or customer service.
Tip: Freelancing gives you flexibility, but it’s important to set clear boundaries with clients about your availability—especially if you’re balancing this side hustle with a full-time job.
6. Participate in the Gig Economy
If you’re not ready to commit to a part-time or seasonal job, the gig economy offers a flexible way to earn extra money on your terms. Whether it’s driving for Uber or delivering food with DoorDash, you can work when it fits your schedule and stop when you’ve made enough cash.
Gig Economy Platforms to Consider:
- Uber or Lyft: If you’ve got a reliable car and some free time, driving for a rideshare service can be a quick way to make extra cash. During the holiday season, when people are going to parties or heading to the airport, demand for rides increases.
- Instacart or DoorDash: Prefer not to have passengers in your car? Food and grocery delivery services are a great alternative. You get paid per delivery, and tips can add up quickly during the holiday season.
- TaskRabbit: TaskRabbit lets you sign up for one-off tasks like furniture assembly, cleaning, or running errands. It’s a flexible way to earn money without the commitment of a traditional part-time job.
Tip: The key to making good money in the gig economy is to be strategic about when and where you work. Peak hours and busy areas tend to yield higher pay, so plan your work hours accordingly.
7. Teach or Tutor Online
If you’re knowledgeable in a particular subject, tutoring or teaching online can be a lucrative side gig. Whether you’re helping high school students prepare for finals or teaching English to kids overseas, there’s a steady demand for online educators—especially during the holiday break when parents are looking to keep their kids occupied.
Platforms to Consider:
- VIPKid: Teach English online to kids in other countries. You don’t need to speak another language—just be fluent in English and have a bachelor’s degree.
- Wyzant: This platform lets you set your own rate and tutor students in subjects you’re familiar with—anything from math to music lessons.
- Chegg Tutors: If you’re strong in academic subjects, Chegg lets you tutor students online at flexible hours.
Tip: Tutoring online requires some preparation—like lesson plans and a quiet space to work—but the pay can be solid, especially if you specialize in high-demand subjects.
Conclusion
The holidays don’t have to wreck your budget. With a little creativity and some smart planning, you can earn the extra cash you need to cover gifts, travel, and other expenses without stressing out. Whether you’re selling stuff you no longer need, picking up a seasonal job, or diving into the gig economy, there’s an option that could work for you.
The key to making extra money is finding something that fits your lifestyle and doesn’t add more stress to an already busy season. So, take a look at your schedule, figure out where you can fit in a little hustle, and make the holidays a little easier on your wallet this year.
