How To Make Quick Cash For The Holidays

In 2018, consumers planned to spend $1,007 during the Winter Season (according to the National Retail Federation) on average for items such as holiday decorations, candy and gifts as well as other purchases for themselves and their families.

Let’s be real… even if you work really hard to be frugal this holiday season, the cost of buying or making gifts for your family (not to mention the cost of everything else like food and decorations) can really add up quickly. Next thing you know, you’ve got this crazy credit card bill that you’re paying off around tax season.

Wouldn’t it be nice to make some extra money before Christmas so that you can avoid that mess and have a stress free holiday? We’ve found that the key is in planning ahead, and these quick cash making tips.

Table of Contents

This isn’t some get rich quick scheme. That said, it’s entirely possible to earn $1,000 in 3 months if you remain consistent and put in the work. Best of all, it’s not even really all that hard. The earlier you start, the better chance you have of reaching the big $1,000 goal!

Jeremy and I tend to overdo it on Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday, and I love giving gifts. Having the extra cash to do nice things for the whole family is important to me. That’s why I use all of these ways to make some extra money before the holidays!

1. Take Surveys For Cash

You probably have some extra down time in your day, if even just a few minutes here and there. If you spend it wisely, you could easily participate in paid surveys. Most surveys aren’t especially long, or just involve watching a short video. Earn enough points and you can either cash out, or earn a gift card (which you can use to buy gifts, or even give it as one!).

I like Survey Junkie because of its easy to use interface, trust rating, and the fact that I can cash out however I decide – whether it’s money to my PayPal account, or in gift cards.

Here’s some other survey websites you might also try if you have the time…

Inbox Dollars – Install the free app and get $5 just for joining!
Swagbucks Surveys – Get a $5 sign up bonus!
Survey Momma – Earn $25 to $75 per survey!

2. Sell extra stuff

If you’re anything like me, you have an accumulation of stuff you probably haven’t used in the last 6 months, or just really don’t need. They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure… and nobody said you can’t profit off of your “trash”!

Marie Kondo would tell you to go through your house and decide if items bring your joy. Well, I’m telling you to go around your house and ask yourself if the item will bring you cash. If you aren’t using it and don’t need it… if you really wouldn’t miss it… sell it!

Here’s some ideas for selling your unwanted items for cash:

Craigslist – for selling basically anything
Facebook Marketplace – also for just about anything
Sell used textbooks online, or books you’ve read at used book stores
Have a garage / yard sale and advertise it in local Facebook groups
Have a Mommy group? Consider selling children’s clothes and toys to other Moms!
Consign your higher end or more fancy clothing items.

Don’t want to part with your more expensive items? Consider renting them out! Check out Fat Llama (that link gives you $20 off your first rental purchase by the way) – it’s a website where you can rent out items like high end cameras, bikes, audio equipment, and more.

Having trouble parting with your stuff?

It’s hard to get rid of the things you worked hard for – even if there’s a plan to sell it for cash with which to buy newer, better things. All jokes aside, the Marie Kondo method has helped a lot of people, myself included, sort out what items they “need” and which ones they don’t.
Get The Book

3. Sell Your Time

You might already have a full time job (whether that’s working for someone else, or from home), but there’s a lot of things you can do during your free time and on your own schedule to earn money. Consider some odd jobs on the side for some extra cash.

Babysitting or After school childcare
Cutting grass / Gardening / Landscaping
Painting
Dog Walking / Dog sitting (Try Rover!)
Grocery Delivery
Driving for Uber or Lyft
Tutoring

Early on in our relationship, Jeremy and I were both making a lot less money – and largely had the same bills that we do right now. Jeremy would work his full time job, and then he’d drive for Uber a couple of hours in the evenings, and longer on his days off – just to make some extra cash. It really helped out a lot. That was 2014. Uber has since added several other ways that you can drive and earn these days, like delivering food through UberEats.

4. Earn cash back

I fell in love with being able to earn cash back a few years back and I’ve earned thousands of dollars back since I started using Rakuten (formally known as EBates).

Rakuten makes it so you can earn cash back on purchases made online, and you get a % back based on the store. You can even connect your debit card or credit card and use it to earn cash back in stores. Major plus if you’re already using a cash back credit card!

It’s super helpful throughout the year. You can just put all of what you earn from purchases into a savings account, or you can just enjoy what you’ll earn back on your holiday purchases!

5. Get paid to do tasks

There are lots of micro tasks you could do locally for some extra Christmas shopping money! Check out TaskRabbit where you can sign up to perform smaller tasks for quick, and easy cash.

Here’s some of the tasks people hire for:

Wrap gifts
Hang Christmas decorations
Lifting furniture upstairs
Cleaning a bathroom
Planting flowers
Painting a room
Hanging pictures
Grocery shopping
Packing boxes

Making quick cash in time for Christmas is totally doable!

These are just some of the ways that you can make quick money before Christmas (or anytime you need some extra money). Pick some and get started as soon as you can, because the sooner you start, the more likely you are to reach your goal of saving $1,000 before the holidays!

Remember that remaining consistent (especially if you choose to go the Survey route) is important. Work hard and keep at it!

How do you earn extra cash in time for the holidays?

Pin or Pin Not… There is no Try.

Enjoyed this content you did? No use of The Force required… Just click the button below to pin this content so that other Jedis (and Siths too!) can enjoy this blog post as well.
CLICK HERE TO PIN IT

How To Make Quick Cash For The Holidays