Holiday Side Hustles: Make Extra Christmas Money & Spend it Wisely!
Christmas can be a time of stress and money worries for many of us. It seems like new members get added to my family at a rate much faster than my income increases! And I swear that everything costs twice as much as it did last year. Every year.
I try not not to participate in rampant consumerism, while still making sure to give each person I love something that conveys their value to me. In a perfect, Hallmark-esque world, I’d have all the time I needed to make beautiful, unique, handmade gifts that everyone on my Christmas list would absolutely adore! But, in real life, I have five kids and run two businesses. So, I have to balance the crafting out with some Amazon shopping.
And I prefer not to buy a bunch of cheap, Chinese throw-away crap just to fill a stocking. But even cheap crap is expensive these days! And when you only buy dye-free, organic treats, the cost of filling those stockings starts to rise. There’s a fine line with Christmas time overspending. I know I’ve overshot in some years when money was tight. But, those years where I had less to spend have taught me some major resourcefulness!
If present buying is weighing heavy on you this year (or the idea of adding to your credit card debt isn’t appealing) I have some holiday season money hacks that will add some padding and save you some dough!
Start a side hustle people need around holidays
Cash in on the things people are needing support with around the holidays. You can offer babysitting, house cleaning, organizing, or car detailing services. If you’re talented in the kitchen, you can offer to bake, cook, or meal prep. And don’t forget, people will pay you to do their shopping, wrapping, and decorating for them. There are apps, groups, or agencies you can join to get the word out. You can spread the word via social media and Craigslist. Or you can do it the word of mouth way and text, email or call all your friends and family and offer your services. Join Canva for free and make a cute flier to hang anywhere local that has a community board.
Cash in on your talents
What do you already do that you don’t get paid for? What talents do you have that could make you some extra cash? Make a list of all the things you already do for free but are actually marketable. As mentioned above, cooking, cleaning, organizing and watching kids are all marketable. Have an eye for arrangement? How about making wreaths or holiday flower arrangements? Are you a pet whisperer? Maybe you could offer holiday pet sitting for those who travel.
Sell things
I know we all have things lying around that we’re not really using. Some of those things might even be valuable! Have a yard sale or put stuff on Marketplace, Craigslist, Offer-up, etc. If you’re crafty, join a holiday craft market or see if there are local shops you could put items in, or start an Etsy account.
Have a flash sale
If you already have a business, create extra cash flow by running a special or having a flash sale. Offer BOGOs or 50% off to get an influx of new interest and customers. Create an irresistible offer and market the crap out of it!
Or create a high ticket one-time-only deal. Offer a “done in one day” package where a client can monopolize you for a whole day for a pretty penny.
Clean up your finances
Do you suffer from “leaky money”? Most likely, yes! Spend a few hours going over all bank and credit accounts and looking for recurring charges for things you likely don’t need and even forgot you signed up for! Catch any mistakes made and ask for reimbursements. And if anyone owes you money, now's the time to ask for repayment. Strongly.
Thrifty gifts
Even if you do all of the above and bring in a good chunk of change for the holidays, it’s still a good idea to consider saying “no thanks” to the rampant consumerism and gifting consciously. Try to gift handmade items, like baskets with soaps, candles or other homemade items paired beautifully. Buy in bulk and give the same toy to each kid on your list to save some serious money. Buy used and make it a point to show that your family doesn’t support waste. Or bake delicious homemade treats that anyone on your gift list will enjoy.
But #1 - Take care of yourself, mama! Don’t forget to prioritize self-care. A hot herbal bath is basically free. And you deserve it. Gift yourself some love and appreciation, too ♥️
And don’t hesitate to reach out for one-on-one guidance in creating your very own side hustle! I LOVE assisting with side hustle manifestation and business creation!!
