10 Ways Retirees Can Make Extra Cash During the Holidays

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The holidays are supposed to be a festive, joyous time of year. But they can also be expensive. According to the National Retail Federation, winter holiday sales grew 3.8% in 2023 to a record $964.4 billion. Sales on everything from electronics and furniture to apparel rose — unsurprising considering how many people shop during that period.

While retirees tend to live on a fixed income, and so often have tighter budgets than working individuals, there’s no reason they can’t still partake in the holiday shopping. But with the average Social Security check being just $1,862, it might make more sense to find other ways to make extra cash during the holidays.

Here are some popular side hustle ideas for retirees to consider this holiday season.

Also see 10 savings tricks for retirees budgeting for the holidays.

Doing Seasonal Retail Work

“Many retirees find success in seasonal retail work, where there is high demand for customer service and flexible scheduling,” said Jonathan Cobey, a financial specialist at Carolina Home Cash Offer.

Retailers like Walmart, Target and Fred Meyer typically hire people who are willing to work odd hours, weekends and holidays in the late fall through the winter. These jobs usually end right after the winter holidays, but they could end up being perfect for those who just need a little extra cash for gifts, food and other holiday-related items.

Pet Sitting

Those who love cats, dogs and the occasional guinea pig could pick up some hours pet sitting on a site like Rover. It’s also flexible, and while the platform does take a cut, it can bring in a few extra hundred dollars for the holidays.

“There are also many people who want pet sitting and dog walking over holidays, so it’s a great and rewarding activity to stay active and involved,” Cobey said.

Rover also has the option for home stays — either you bring someone else’s pet to your home or you stay at theirs. It’s a win-win for both the pet owner and you, especially if you want to stick around your house.

Consulting

“One idea is tapping into seasonal or niche consulting — many companies look for experienced individuals to assist with short-term projects, especially in fields like business coaching, language instruction or even guiding local tours,” said Josh Katz, CPA, founder of Universal Tax Professionals.

This one could require some initial setup, like building an audience or finding a platform with a built-in audience to promote your services. But it’s flexible and can bring in some extra cash.

Renting Out Holiday Decor

“Many retirees have carefully curated decorations and tableware over the years, and others would gladly pay for a ‘holiday-ready’ rental,” Katz said. “Retirees can earn extra cash by offering delivery and setup while keeping things low-key.”

Platforms for this include Evolve and Facebook Marketplace.

Converting Travel Ito Paid Courses

Have travel experience? Consider turning it into a paid course or a pay-what-you-can holiday walk.

“Retirees can consider setting up ‘Holiday History Walks’ in their hometown or crafting a ‘How to Thrive Abroad’ course if they’ve had expat experience, which can make for excellent paid Udemy courses,” Katz said. “These gigs offer income and a chance to connect with others and share their knowledge.”

Making Memory Boxes

If you’re into DIY arts and crafts, creating memory boxes for others — and charging for your services — could be a great way to make some extra money this holiday season. You can list your services on a platform like Etsy.

“As an alternative, aim to make custom memory boxes for clients that don’t have the time to collect meaningful items on their own,” said Adam Garcia, founder of The Stock Dork. “Combine photos and mementos to create something that won’t just be a brilliant and thoughtful gift but also one which will be priceless in terms of the memories.”

Delivering Food

Companies like Grubhub and DoorDash regularly hire people willing to work freelance to deliver food — whether that’s groceries or takeout meals. As long as you enjoy driving, this can be a pretty relaxed way to earn some extra cash around the holidays. You’ll just need a reliable car and a clean driving record.

Renting Out a Room

“If you enjoy hosting people, renting out a room in your house through sites like Airbnb will give you an added income boost, especially during seasons when most people travel,” Cobey said.

According to data from Airbnb, the average host earned about $14,000 in supplemental income in 2022. As with any earnings over a certain amount, you’ll need to pay taxes.

If sharing a home with strangers isn’t your thing, you can always rent out storage space, your garage or your driveway on a site like Neighbor.

Creating Custom Family Recipe Books

Another option for more artistic retirees — especially those with a ton of family recipes — is to create a custom recipe book and sell it. Alternatively, you can take recipes from someone else and organize them into a neat gift. Again, a platform like Etsy is a good place to get started.

“Families often want to preserve their cherished recipes but rarely get around to it,” Garcia said. “You could help by organizing handwritten notes, photos and family favorites into a beautifully formatted recipe book, a truly unique gift that celebrates family history and flavors.”

Refurbishing Old Items

Are you handy? If so, refurbishing old furnishings, antiques and the like could get you some extra cash. If you don’t want to do this yourself, you could always offer a class — or create a paid Udemy course — for those interested in these niche skills.

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