Need money for Christmas? That’s totally understandable. Many of us need to come up with a little extra money for Christmas – it’s an expensive time of year!
If you need money for Christmas, read on to learn my 20 favorite ways to earn quick holiday cash.
This post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure here.
Christmas should be a happy time filled with family, friends and fun, so don’t let stress about money get you down. It is absolutely possible to make money for Christmas, even if you already have a really busy schedule. This list of surprising ways to earn money for Christmas has something for everyone. Whether you are looking for ways to make quick cash while watching TV or a seasonal side job – this list has got you covered.
Step 1: Come Up With a Christmas Budget
If you need money for Christmas, the first step is to figure out exactly how much money you need. Fill out this free Christmas budget worksheet to help you come up with a reasonable Christmas budget. This worksheet is great because it takes into account all the extra expenses (extra food, holiday travel, presents, etc.) that come along during this season.
Get the worksheet and come up with your Christmas budget now.
Step 2: Earn Money for Christmas
After you figure out how much holiday cash you need, you can choose a job (or a combination of jobs) that will get you to that number. The list below is put into order from money-making ideas that require the least time and effort to actual side jobs that require more time. Look through the list and see which ideas might work for you!
Sell Unused Gift Cards
This is a super easy way to earn money for Christmas – sell your unused gift cards! If you have gift cards hanging out in your wallet collecting dust, sell them for cash. Go to Raise.com and click on “Sell Gift Cards” at the top of the screen. You then create a listing for your gift card, and when it sells, you get cash via check, direct deposit, or Paypal.
Quick tip: Raise also sells discount gift cards. You can use these to save money on Christmas presents!
Ibotta
Ibotta is one of my favorite apps to earn cash-back on groceries and other purchases. To start making money, all you have to do is tap open the Ibotta app, click on your favorite grocery store, and load up cash-back offers. After you buy your groceries, you simple take a picture of your receipt and send it in. Within 48 hours, your will receive cash in your Ibotta account which you can then withdraw. It’s actual cash too, not gift cards or points.
EBATES
EBATES is another awesome cash-back tool. This browser extension is a popular way to earn money when you shop online. When you visit a website that offers cash-back, just click the button to activate the offer and then go ahead and make your purchase. Afterward, you will receive an alert with your cashback total!
Whether you need to money for Christmas or not, if you shop online, signing up EBATES is a smart move. You get cashback for purchasing something you were going to get anyway. It’s super sweet!
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is an easy way to earn free gift cards perfect for Christmas shopping. Simply sign up and install the browser extension. You can earn points by searching the internet, taking surveys, or completing other offers. Save up your points and then redeem them for gift cards.
It does take awhile to earn enough points to buy a gift card, but the tasks are super easy – perfect to do on the couch while watching your favorite show.
Surveys
Here is another easy way to earn money for Christmas. By completing surveys or other simple tasks (like watching a short video or printing coupons), you will earn cash or gift cards – it’s an simple way to supplement your income.
My two favorite survey sites are: Survey Junkie and Inbox Dollars
Test Websites
Get paid to test websites in your spare time. Get $10 via PayPal for every 20-minute video you complete. The website, User Testing, pays you to visit websites, complete a set of tasks, and then share your thoughts. It’s a great way to earn money for Christmas.
Pet Sit
Many people travel over the holidays making this an awesome time to become a pet sitter and board dogs while their owners are away. Take the time to set up a professional and appealing profile on Rover.com and start booking clients.
Fiverr
When I was in college and needed a little extra money, I worked as an audio transcriber and found quite a bit of work through Fiverr. Fiverr makes it easy to find personal assistant type jobs that you can do in your spare time.
You have the option to provide many different services. You could offer to write resumes, proof-read papers, design logos or graphics, transcribe audio or video recordings, the list of things you can offer is almost endless. It’s a convenient way to make money for Christmas.
Sell Your Used Clothes
There are several ways to get money for your used clothes – it all depends on the type of clothes you are selling (maternity or kids clothes for example). Check out this post: How to Get Cash for Your Clothes, to see my favorite places to sell used clothes online and in person. Choose which options are right for you, send your clothes in, and start making money!
Sell Used Electronics
Sell your used phone, tablet or computer and make some quick holiday cash! Sites like Gazelle.com make it super easy to sell your used tech. Sign up and get an offer in less than a minute, ship your item for free using prepaid postage, and then receive your payment with an Amazon gift card, via Paypal or by check.
Get a Part Time Seasonal job
‘Tis the season for shopping which means lots of stores are looking for seasonal employees. Check out sites like Indeed.com to find opportunities in your community.
Drive People Around
Driving people around is a great way to earn some extra holiday cash. When you drive for Lyft, you get to choose your own hours which makes this a perfect side job. Plus for a limited time, you’ll get a $250 bonus after your first 100 rides. (Terms apply).
House Sit
With many people heading out of town for the holidays, this is a great time of year to earn some extra cash as a house sitter. Create a profile on Care.com and book some jobs!
Hang Christmas Lights
Hanging Christmas lights can be a pain, and plenty of people will pay to have their home decked out for Christmas. Place ads on Craigslist and around town advertising your availability to hang Christmas lights and other decor.
Task Rabbit
Are you handy around the house? If so, offer your services on Task Rabbit. This cool site helps people get stuff done around the house. People hire “Taskers” to do things like putting together furniture, mounting TVs, moving and packing, etc.
Sell at Craft Fairs
Craft fairs abound this time of year. If you are crafty, why not sell your homemade creations during one of these fairs? Lots of people are out shopping for that, perfect one-of-a-kind gift, and your craft may be just what they are looking for!
Sell Seasonal Photos
Love photography? Consider selling your seasonal photos to a stock photography site like, Alamy.com. While they do have strict quality requirements, they will accept photos of almost anything. They will pay you 50% of every sale plus Alamy is non-exclusive so you can sell your photos to other sites as well. This time of year, holiday photos are super popular, so take some Christmas/New Year’s inspired photos to make the most of this opportunity.
If you need money for Christmas, don’t stress about it. Find a way to make a little extra cash that works for you!
I hope you found this list of money-making ideas helpful. Remember, the sooner you start planning for Christmas, the easier it is to save up the money you need.
Have another idea to earn some holiday cash? Share with us in the comments below!
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