Updated: Dec 13, 2024

As the holidays approach, it’s a great time to explore fast, flexible ways to boost your income for gifts, travel, or savings. Uncover some simple, short-term ways to make quick cash during the festive season—from online gigs to odd jobs that fit easily into a busy schedule.

1. Sell Unwanted Items Online

If you have items you no longer use, such as electronics, clothes, or furniture, you can quickly turn them into cash by selling them online. Websites and apps like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Mercari, and OfferUp make it easy to reach local buyers who might be searching for affordable holiday gifts.

• How to Do It: Take clear, well-lit photos, write detailed descriptions, and be honest about the condition of the items. Listing items at reasonable prices can help them sell faster.
• Potential Earnings: $10 – $200+ per item, depending on value

2. Holiday House or Pet Sitting

Many people travel during the holidays and need someone to take care of their home or pets. House sitting or pet sitting can be a low-stress way to make money while staying in a cozy environment.

• How to Do It: Websites like Rover, TrustedHousesitters, and local community groups can help you find gigs. You may be asked to water plants, check mail, or care for pets.
• Potential Earnings: $15 – $50 per day

3. Freelance Gift Wrapping

If you’re good at gift wrapping, offer your services to those who might not have the time or patience to wrap their own gifts. Many people are willing to pay for beautifully wrapped presents to save time or add a special touch.

• How to Do It: Advertise on social media or local apps like Nextdoor, or reach out to local gift stores to see if they need extra help.
• Potential Earnings: $5 – $15 per gift, depending on complexity

4. Seasonal Retail Work

Retailers like Walmart, Target, and department stores often hire extra help for the busy holiday season. Many of these jobs don’t require experience, and you can usually work part-time or flexible shifts.

• How to Do It: Check job boards or visit local stores to ask about seasonal positions.
• Potential Earnings: $12 – $18 per hour, with possible holiday bonuses

5. Drive for a Food Delivery Service

Food delivery apps like DoorDash, UberEats, and GrubHub are very busy during the holidays as people order in while preparing for festive events. This work can be done on your own schedule, making it easy to fit into holiday plans.

• How to Do It: Sign up with the delivery app, meet the requirements, and get started. Tips can add up quickly, especially during peak times.
• Potential Earnings: $10 – $25 per hour, plus tips

6. Sell Baked Goods or Holiday Treats

If you enjoy baking, consider making holiday treats to sell. Items like cookies, fudge, or pies can be popular during this season, especially for people who need gifts or treats for parties.

• How to Do It: Advertise through social media, local community boards, or by word of mouth. Be sure to calculate ingredient costs to set fair prices.
• Potential Earnings: $20 – $100 per batch, depending on ingredients and volume

7. Participate in Holiday Focus Groups

Market research companies are always looking for people to share their opinions on products or marketing ideas, and during the holidays, many studies focus on shopping habits. These online or in-person sessions are usually quick and can offer decent pay.

• How to Do It: Sign up for market research sites like Respondent, User Interviews, or Survey Junkie. You’ll need to meet specific criteria for each study.
• Potential Earnings: $20 – $150 per session

8. House Cleaning and Organizing

With families preparing to host guests, there’s a demand for holiday cleaning services. If you don’t mind tidying up, offering house cleaning or organization services can bring in extra cash fast.

• How to Do It: Let people in your area know about your services by posting on social media or community boards. Consider offering special “holiday prep” packages to attract more customers.
• Potential Earnings: $15 – $30 per hour

9. Holiday Decoration Setup and Takedown

Many people want their homes or offices decorated for the holidays but don’t have the time to set everything up. Offering decoration services is a creative and active way to make extra money, and it’s in high demand this time of year.

• How to Do It: Promote your services to neighbors or post flyers in community centers. You can charge extra for takedown and storage organization after the holidays.
• Potential Earnings: $50 – $200 per job, depending on the size of the project

10. Offer a Personal Shopping Service

Some people need help shopping for holiday gifts, either because they’re too busy or don’t know what to buy. As a personal shopper, you can help clients choose and purchase presents, potentially earning a percentage of what they spend.

• How to Do It: Advertise on social media or sign up with platforms like Instacart for grocery shopping jobs.
• Potential Earnings: $15 – $25 per hour, plus possible bonuses or tips

11. Help with Moving and Storage

With students returning home and people moving for the holidays, there’s often a need for extra hands to help with moving and storage. If you don’t mind some heavy lifting, consider advertising your help.

• How to Do It: Join moving helper sites like TaskRabbit, or post locally to offer your services.
• Potential Earnings: $15 – $35 per hour, with tips possible for larger jobs

12. Host a Holiday Workshop or Class

If you’re skilled in crafts, cooking, or baking, hosting a holiday-themed workshop can be a fun and profitable way to earn cash. From ornament-making to cookie decorating, holiday-themed workshops are popular during the season.

• How to Do It: Use platforms like Eventbrite or Facebook Events to create a workshop and set a ticket price. Hosting it at home or at a local community center can keep costs low.
• Potential Earnings: $10 – $50 per participant

13. Rent Out Your Space for Holiday Gatherings

If you have a spare room, a large basement, or a backyard space, consider renting it out for small holiday gatherings. Many families are looking for intimate spaces to host dinners or holiday parties and might be willing to pay to rent a cozy setting.

• How to Do It: List your space on sites like Peerspace, or advertise within your community.
• Potential Earnings: $50 – $200 per event

14. Babysit for Holiday Shoppers

With parents busy shopping or attending holiday parties, babysitters are in high demand during the season. Babysitting can be an enjoyable way to earn cash, especially if you enjoy spending time with kids.

• How to Do It: Advertise your services through community boards, apps like Care.com, or local social media groups.
• Potential Earnings: $15 – $25 per hour, with possible holiday bonuses

15. Participate in Holiday Surveys and Microtasks

If you only have short amounts of time, completing online surveys or microtasks can bring in small, quick payments. Companies like Amazon Mechanical Turk, InboxDollars, and Swagbucks offer various mini-tasks that can be done anytime.

• How to Do It: Sign up with survey or microtask platforms, and start with easy tasks to quickly build up small earnings.
• Potential Earnings: $1 – $10 per hour, depending on the number and type of tasks

Final Thoughts

Making extra cash around the holidays doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. From selling unwanted items to offering services in high demand, there are plenty of ways to fit earning opportunities into your holiday schedule. These ideas can bring in cash quickly, helping you cover holiday expenses or boost your savings for the new year.