How to Make Extra Money for Christmas: 21 Easy Ideas

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Earn money for Christmas

Welcome to another installment of the Stress Free, Debt Free Christmas series!

So far we’ve made our holiday budget and learned how to throw a fabulous holiday party. 

Today we’ll cover 21 easy ways that’ll help you learn how to make money during the holiday season. 

Whether you need money to buy gifts, want to buy a fancy new tree, or are planning to travel over the holidays, there’s still plenty of time to earn money for Christmas.

Who knows, maybe your little money-making hustle will even turn into a long-term business.

This post may contain affiliate links. You can view my full disclosure policy here.

👉 Want to create a holiday spending plan you can actually stick to? Grab our FREE Christmas Budget Planner! 

How to Make Extra Money for Christmas

Earn money just by shopping

Getting rebates just for shopping is definitely a way to get quick cash for the holidays. You’re buying stuff anyway, right?

1. Ebates:

When you shop online, be sure to always go through Ebates. It’s completely free to sign up, and you’ll earn cash back every time you shop.

Just go to the Ebates website, and do a quick search for the store you’re going to order from. Click through to that stores’ website, and order like usual. You’ll earn cash back, and you can even still use coupons and promo codes!

It really doesn’t get any easier than that.

Right now Ebates is offering a $10 bonus if you sign up through this link!

2. Ibotta:

Ibotta offers you a way to earn cash back just by grocery shopping. They’re constantly adding different items you can get rebates on.

There are often rebates on non-brand essentials, such as bread, fruit, eggs, and household essentials.

Click here to sign up for Ibotta! They’re currently offering my readers a $10 bonus through that link!

Signing up through the app instead? Use code uwhaflc to get your $10 bonus.

Related: How Does Ibotta Work? A Review and Tutorial of My Favorite Cash Back App

3. Chase Freedom Unlimited card:

If you’re responsible with credit cards, I highly recommend the Chase Freedom Unlimited card.

When you spend $500 in the first 3 months, they’ll give you $150 cash back! That’s a huge savings, especially at Christmas time.

Additionally, you’ll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase. I’ve been using the card for over a year, and love earning money just by shopping.

Learn more about the Freedom Unlimited card with the $150 cash back bonus here.

Another awesome benefit of these free programs is that once you sign up, you can refer friends and family and earn even more cash back!

Sounds like an easy way to earn extra money for Christmas to me!

Learn how to make extra money for Christmas. These 21 easy ideas to make quick cash for the holidays will help you make money fast!

Sell your stuff

4. Amazon:

Sell your stuff with Amazon’s Trade-in Program. They’ll pay you for items such as books, video games, cell phones, electronics, and more.

If you have things you’re not using regularly, consider selling them to Amazon.

5. Have a yard sale:

Now is a great time to declutter your house and sell items that you and your family aren’t using. Garage and yard sales will help you earn quick Christmas cash immediately.

Consider combining it with a baked goods and lemonade/hot cocoa sale to make even more money. If you have cute kids, people can’t resist buying from them.

6. Airbnb:

If you have extra space in your home, or are leaving town for a while, become a Airbnb host. You rent out your house to people traveling to your area.

You get to choose the rate, and how long they can stay. Airbnb makes it easy by handling the details and processing the payment.

>>> Learn more about becoming an Airbnb host here.

Caretaking

If you have a nurturing personality, there are always families who need nice people to take care of their loved ones.

7. Pet sit or walk:

If you have a way with animals (or even just like them a little bit), consider taking on some pet-sitting or dog-walking jobs.

Pet owners who are traveling or away at work all day would gladly pay someone to take care of their animals.

You can sign up with a website like Rover to start offering your services. Also be sure to get the word out on Facebook. You may already know people in need.

8. Babysit:

Maybe you like kids more than animals, and you could start making money by babysitting. Apparently the average babysitting hourly rate is now $16 an hour.

You can offer babysitting services to people you know, or sign up with a site like Care.com.

Some families are also in need of someone to sit with their elderly relatives, so that might be something to consider as well.

9. Housesitting:

Talk about a sweet gig. Getting paid to stay at someone’s house while they’re travelling is a super easy way to earn money for Christmas.

Sometimes housesitting is combined with pet-sitting responsibilities, and watering of houseplants and such. I’m sure you can handle it.

Again, Facebook is a great way to get the word out. A friend may know someone in need of a housesitter.

10. House-cleaning

People expecting company during the holiday season might want their home deep-cleaned. If they’re hosting a party or gathering, they’ll want their home cleaned before or after.

Maybe they’re traveling, and they may want to come home to a clean house. Or they just want to treat themselves during this busy time.

If you do a good job, they may even keep you on regularly.

Learn how to make extra money for Christmas. These 21 easy ideas to make quick cash for the holidays will help you make money fast!

Seasonal

The Christmas season is hectic and full of extra tasks that are difficult for already busy people to accomplish. They would be happy to pay you to take some of those tasks off their hands.

11. Gift-wrapping services:

A lot of people really hate wrapping presents. I worked with a girl who offered gift-wrapping services in her apartment building, and made a killing every holiday season.

She just put a sign up in the lobby, and people dropped off their gifts for a couple hours, and she wrapped them.

You can buy inexpensive gift wrapping supplies at the dollar store. Just put on a Christmas movie and wrap gifts in your living room.

12. Holiday decorating:

If you have the decorating touch, start offering indoor or outdoor holiday decorating services.

Busy professionals are always willing to pay for things they just don’t have time for.

13. Retail employee

Almost every retailer hires for the holiday season. It’s a great way to earn extra money for Christmas. Plus you can get a discount at your favorite store, which could help with holiday shopping!

14. Sell your baked goods

The holiday season is a perfect time to sell those delicious cookies, candies, cakes, or pies that you’re known for.

There is no replacement for homemade baked goods, and people who need a dessert for a party or gathering will gladly buy it from you.

Baking ingredients are fairly inexpensive, so you’re mostly just investing your time.

Take orders for what people want before you start baking. No need to bake a bunch of stuff, and then try to sell it.

Learn how to make extra money for Christmas. These 21 easy ideas to make quick cash for the holidays will help you make money fast!

Use your skills

If you have a certain skill, or can learn one quickly, use it to earn extra Christmas money.

15. Start a freelance gig

From virtual assistant services to freelance writing, graphic design, or video editing, these skills are all sought after.

Here are 150 Freelance Services that you can offer to get you started.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a side hustle, there’s no time like the present!

Related: 5 Ways to Make Money From Home with No Experience (+ the resources to get started!)

16. Become a driver

Both Lyft and Uber hire drivers. Use your own car, make your own hours, and earn money just by driving people around.

People may be especially in need of drivers if they’re planning to drink alcohol at their holiday gatherings.

17. Affiliate marketing

You can start an affiliate marketing business, which can be especially profitable during the holiday season. Online retailers will pay you a commission for referring buyers to their products.

A website isn’t absolutely necessary to start affiliate marketing, but it does make you seem more trustworthy.

If you’re interested in starting a blog or affiliate marketing site, check out Bluehost. For just $3.95 a month, you can create your very own website. It even comes with a free domain name!

>>> Click here to get your very own profitable blog started with Bluehost

18. Sell your crafts

If you are crafty, open up an Etsy shop, and start selling your goods. There are TONS of things you can make and sell online. You can even create beautiful or functional digital products, such as printable wall art decor or planners, and sell those.

Learn how to make extra money for Christmas. These 21 easy ideas to make quick cash for the holidays will help you make money fast!

Adjust your spending

While this isn’t exactly how to earn extra money for Christmas, I do believe that a penny saved is a penny earned. By cutting back on your expenses, you will have more money for holiday spending.

19. Trim your bills

Take a look at all the bills you pay. I am very sure you’ll discover places you can trim.

You could cancel any subscription services or memberships that you aren’t using regularly, and save money that way.

Or call your insurance, cell phone, or cable TV provider and find out how to lower your bill. I do this about once a year or so, and at least 75% of the time, I save money just by asking.

They want to hold on to faithful customers, so many will work with you. They may have started offering lower-priced plans that you’re not even aware of.

It’s not like they’re going to call you and let you know!

20. Start meal planning

You would be shocked how much eating out is costing you. If you don’t plan your meals, and find yourself going through the drive-thru more often than necessary, now’s the time to change it!

Meal planning is not nearly as complicated as it sounds.

If you need help with meal planning, check out these handy resources:

Rather have someone do your meal planning for you? Check out $5 Meal Plan, where for only $5 a MONTH, they will send you weekly meal plans. Every Friday, you’ll receive a meal plan for the week, complete with recipes and a shopping list!

Learn more about $5 Meal Plan here. They’re currently offering a 14 day free trial!

21. Cut down on your spending

If you find yourself buying fancy coffees, or convenience store or vending machines treats all the time, cut back so you have more room in your Christmas budget.

You don’t have to give them up completely (unless you want to), but treating yourself once a week compared to every day would have a big impact.

Maybe you could give up your monthly mani and pedi from now til Christmas. Or stop buying any new clothes or shoes til after the holiday.

There are always ways to cut back on spending so that you have more money for other things.

You can still have fun, just do free or lower-cost activities instead of costly ones.

I hope these 21 cash-generating gigs gave you some ideas of how to make extra money for Christmas. Something that seems easy to you might be complicated to someone else, and they are willing to pay you do it.

Don’t forget to check out:

Learn how to make extra money for Christmas. These 21 easy ideas to make quick cash for the holidays will help you make money fast!

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