With the festive season fast approaching, many of us are already experiencing financial pressure. Navigating through gift buying, holiday travel, and various festivities can impose a tough financial challenge. However, worry not. There is an array of smart strategies available to help you earn extra money for Christmas, ensuring a relaxing and pleasurable holiday season.
If you’re in search of a temporary secondary job for the season or just some additional cash to beef up your savings, we’ve got you covered. Check out some of my favorite, easy, and smart tips to boost your income during the holidays.
1. SET UP A NEW CREDIT CARD OR BANK ACCOUNT
If you’re seeking an effortless method to raise additional funds, you might want to think about opening a new credit card or bank account. Many credit card issuers and banks offer attractive sign-up bonuses for new clients, which could range from $50 upwards to $500 or even more. Remember to thoroughly read and comprehend the terms and conditions prior to signing up. Some of these accounts may necessitate a minimum deposit or a specific number of transactions to qualify for the bonus.
You’ll also need a solid credit score to become eligible for credit cards offering a healthy sign-on bonus. If you want to reap a reward for launching a new bank account, you’ll probably need to be prepared to establish a direct deposit or deposit a fixed amount into the account, maintaining it there for a few months. On the other hand, this could be a viable strategy if you have an emergency fund to utilize for securing the bank account bonus.
Even if your bonus doesn’t arrive before Christmas, you can plan on offsetting the expenditure with the incoming bonus following the holidays.
2. OFFLOAD YOUR BELONGINGS
Another straightforward strategy to top up your Christmas funds is to sell things that you no longer utilize or appreciate. You can display your items for sale online through platforms like eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace, or even host a garage sale. This is an exciting way of decluttering your living space while also making some extra money. Get started by scouring your home, room by room, and gathering items for sale. Exploring multiple platforms may aid in reaching a larger audience. Or, choose the best platform suited to the type of items you’re selling. If clothes and handbags are on your list, you might find more success on Poshmark as compared to Offer Up.
Make the most of the holiday season by selling decorations or items that make ideal gifts, such as collector’s items or electronics. Don’t think lightly of your old belongings – you might be taken aback by how much money you may rake in!
3. REDEEM YOUR CREDIT CARD REWARDS
Assuming you have a rewards credit card, consider changing the rewards points into cash for some surplus spending money. A good number of credit card companies offer the option to redeem your points in return for cashback, which can be used as you want. Always verify redemption choices along with potential fees or limitations.
I personally prefer my Citi Double Cash Card for cashback rewards to help offset holiday spending. This card provides me cash back rewards of unlimited 1% on all purchases and an additional 1% when I settle the card balance, creating further rewards. This year, we’re using the cash back to cover fuel charges as we plan on driving eight hours for a family visit over the holidays.
4. TAKE ON A SEASONAL WAREHOUSE JOB
Numerous retail and courier companies add extra employees during the festive season to meet the surge in demand. Think about taking up a temporary job in a warehouse or a fulfillment center. These jobs generally offer hourly pay, perhaps with the chance to put in overtime for extra pay. Moreover, you may be able to access discounts on holiday gifts, providing savings for your shopping.
Companies such as Amazon, FedEx, and UPS are continually hiring if you’re contemplating ways to make extra cash for Christmas. Amazon provides adaptable part-time shifts, around four hours daily, presenting an option to choose a work schedule best suited for your lifestyle. Several enterprises also provide sign-on bonuses along with weekly pay. Don’t forget, short-term jobs could also morph into permanent career prospects.
5. DELIVER FOOD OR PARCELS
Becoming a delivery driver serves as another splendid approach to generate additional cash for Christmas. With the emerging growth of food delivery services such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash, there exist numerous opportunities to make money delivering meals. Alternatively, you can contemplate becoming a courier for a delivery company like Amazon Flex, which delivers packages to customers’ doorsteps.
These apps are highly flexible, permitting you to select your working hours. Earnings typically range from about $15 to $20 per hour, but remember, you need to account for fuel and maintenance of your vehicle. These apps also offer weekly payments or the choice to cash out on the same day for a nominal fee. Plus, you get to retain 100% of your tips.
6. EARN THROUGH REWARDS APPS AND SURVEYS
If you’re looking for a trouble-free method to generate some supplementary cash, you might want to explore reward apps and taking up surveys. There is an assortment of apps and websites that pay you for shopping, watching videos, taking surveys, and more. Some preferred options include Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and Rakuten. Always verify the payout minimums and any potential charges prior to signing up.
7. SELL YOUR STUFF VIA AMAZON TRADE-IN
Lastly, if you have some items to sell, mull over using Amazon’s trade-in program to earn some extra money for Christmas. This way, you can exchange items like books, electronics, and DVDs for Amazon gift vouchers, simultaneously getting rid of items you no longer need and boosting your income.
Just enter the item details along with their condition. Amazon will give you a quote, allowing you to ship the item for free. Upon successful verification, you’ll receive an Amazon gift card equivalent to the quoted amount. This can be highly advantageous when shopping for holiday gifts.
IN CONCLUSION
The holiday season could be stressful, yet, it needn’t be so. By leveraging these smart strategies, you can make extra money for Christmas, alleviating some of your financial stress and ensuring an enjoyable festive season. Whether you decide to sell stuff online, pick up a seasonal job, or redeem cash back rewards, there’re plenty of opportunities available. Have a joyful holiday season!
