Making extra money around the holidays can really take the pressure off when it comes to buying gifts, traveling to see family, and planning holiday events.
We all know how quickly costs add up, so a little extra cash for Christmas can make all the difference!
I’ve done my share of seasonal side hustles over the years, and they’ve been a real lifesaver when I’ve needed extra cash!
So if you’re wondering how to make money for Christmas this year, I’ve got some great tips to help you increase your holiday cash!
Best Side Hustle Idea 2024!
Learn how to use your cell phone to make $1,000 per month with 60 second product review videos!
Ways to Save Money on Christmas Shopping
According to the National Retail Federation, holiday shoppers are expected to spend around $875 on gifts, decorations, food, and other essentials.
For many, that’s a stretch.
But the good news is there are plenty of easy ways to save on Christmas shopping this year.
Ways to save money on Christmas shopping include:
- Cash in on your credit card reward points. Chase Freedom for instance offers up to 5% cash back on restaurant dining, grocery shopping, and travel purchases.
- Use rebate websites like Rakuten and Swagbucks to find the best deals on your holiday gifts. These sites are free, and you can shop just like you normally would while earning cash back on your purchases.
- Download Fetch and submit all your shopping receipts to earn points towards free gift cards, such as Amazon and Starbucks gift cards.
- Shop early and score holiday deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
- Use coupons to save big. Apps like Ibotta usually offer deals on popular name-brand toys during the holiday season.
- Go on Amazon deal sites to get gifts at up to 50% off retail price.
With a little planning, you’ll be surprised how much you can save on gifts and avoid those pricey last-minute buys.
A bit of preparation goes a long way when it comes to cutting down holiday expenses!
How to Make Money Fast for Christmas
Aside from picking up a part-time job, another quick way to make money for Christmas is by taking on side hustle gigs that pay cash on the spot.
You can check Craigslist for local tasks like helping with moves, yard work, or small handyman jobs.
People are often looking for someone to get these done quickly.
I once posted a gig on Craigslist and paid someone $60 to hang artwork in my new apartment.
It took him just 45 minutes and he walked away with easy cash!
Suggested Read: One-Day-a-Week Jobs to Supplement Your Income
7 Ways to Make Money for Christmas
Here’s how to make money for Christmas this year.
(Before you move on, make sure to **SAVE THIS PIN** so you can come back to it again!)
1. Make and Sell Christmas Crafts
DIY crafting is a huge part of American traditions, especially during the holidays when people love adding personal touches to their gifts and décor.
It’s also a great way to make some extra cash!
For example, every year my brother buys these beautiful handmade Christmas wreaths from his co-worker.
It’s so nice to have something unique that you can’t find in stores. But that’s just one Christmas craft to make and sell!
If you love using your Cricut, personalized Christmas cards are another fun option that would sell well at holiday markets or bazaars.
You could also make wooden Christmas crafts to sell to neighbors, on Etsy, or even on Facebook Marketplace.
It’s a fun way to earn extra cash while tapping into your creative side hustle!
2. Work an Amazon Remote Job
Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer, and during the holiday rush, they need all the help they can get!
That’s why they often hire seasonal workers for remote customer service roles to handle the flood of holiday inquiries.
These part-time Amazon remote jobs are usually for off-hours availability, which is perfect if you already work a 9-to-5 job.
Plus, there are other Amazon side hustles, like getting paid to review products and posting those videos on the product pages.
As a product reviewer, you can earn commissions on any sales made from people watching your review.
I do this side hustle myself and make up to $500 a month as an Amazon product reviewer!
Suggested Resource: Become a Paid Product Reviewer!
3. Sell Homemade Dog Treats
Dogs are the most popular pets in the U.S.
And since we treat our pets like family, of course, they deserve a Christmas gift too!
Selling homemade dog treats is a great way to tap into the huge pet market during the holiday season.
In some states, you can even make and sell these treats right from your own kitchen, without needing a commercial-grade setup.
Start by using free dog treat recipes to whip up your first batch, and test them out on your pet or a friend’s dog to see how they like them.
If they’re a hit, that’s a great sign that other dogs will enjoy them too, making your treats perfect for gifting!
Read my complete guide for how to start a dog treat side hustle business to make extra money from home.
Suggested Resource: Take the FREE Dog Bakery Business Workshop
4. Sell PLR Holiday Printables on Etsy
If you’re looking to make money from home without ever stepping outside, then selling PLR holiday printables on Etsy is a great way to do it.
This low-cost side hustle lets you earn money by selling print-on-demand digital products that you don’t even need to create yourself!
Private-label-rights digital products are created by others.
You buy the rights to the product.
Then tweak it to make it your own and resell it under your brand name for 100% of the profits.
Many people do this on Etsy and you’d never know it!
Websites such as Purpose PLR and Creative Mama Designs are just two companies that sell PLR products with 100% resell rights.
Search the sites for holiday printables. Purchase them and sell them on social media for some quick holiday cash!
Suggested Resource: Buy and Sell Holiday Printables for 100% Profit
5. Sell Digital Products
Maybe the idea of selling digital products online sounds exciting, but you’re not too keen on selling something created by someone else.
I totally get it.
You can put in the time and effort to create a one-of-a-kind digital product that’s exactly how you want it, and sell it for a profit.
Types of digital products and downloads you can sell include:
- Online courses about something you’re well-versed in (i.e. – how to play the guitar for beginners, how to become a paid freelance writer)
- Printables such as affirmation cards and cheeky Starbucks gift card holders
- Templates such as crochet patterns and budget templates
- Virtual Tours that you can pre-record and sell to schools for educational purposes or to tourists coming to visit your town
See my full list of recommended profitable digital product ideas.
Suggested Resource: Create and Sell Digital Products Using Sales Funnels
6. Get Paid to Complete Small Gigs
So if you’re still reading this and wondering how to make money for Christmas gifts as fast as possible, then here’s my best suggestion.
Use gig apps that pay you instantly, such as Field Agent.
I use this gig app on a regular basis and I’m always amazed at how fast they pay out.
For instance, I recently completed a quick audit that paid me $9 for 5 minutes of work (it was 2 pictures and 5 questions). I also got $10 worth of free food as part of the gig.
There were two of these jobs nearly across the street from one other.
Even though one of the locations was permanently closed, I still got paid $9 for simply snapping a picture and confirming the closure.
The gigs paid out $28 in total (for the food reimbursement and gig payments). Within 3 hours of submitting my work, Field Agent paid me!
Depending on your bank, you can get the cash in 1-3 days.
My gig payments go to either my Varo or SoFi bank account, which usually takes just a day or two to show up after I initiate a transfer.
Instant pay gig apps are the BEST way to make quick money for Christmas!
7. Online Surveys for Money
Online surveys are another way to make a little extra cash for Christmas, though they won’t make you rich.
Unless you really have no other option, I’d suggest trying the other side hustles on this list first that pay better for your time.
Online survey sites like Swagbucks and Branded Surveys offer small amounts of cash or gift cards in exchange for your opinions.
From my experience, most surveys pay only about $0.50 to $1.00 for a 10-minute survey.
You could spend all day on multiple sites and maybe earn around $20, but honestly, it’s not the best way to make money.
The upside is that some of these sites pay you for more than just surveys.
For example, Swagbucks lets you earn by playing online games, taking part in sign-up offers, and more.
When I first signed up with Swagbucks, I made a few hundred dollars, so I can vouch that it’s a legit way to earn some extra cash.
Final Thoughts
Making extra money for Christmas gifts doesn’t have to be stressful.
Whether you choose a side hustle, sell handmade crafts, or earn cash back on holiday shopping, there are plenty of ways to make money this Christmas.
With a little creativity and effort, you can enjoy a festive season without breaking the bank!
Next, you may be interested in reading about how to make money with AI Side Hustles!
