6 Seasonal Side Gigs To Earn Extra Cash for the Holidays
Written by
Adam Palasciano
Edited by
Travis Woods
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The holiday season should be a time of joy, warmth and good times with family and friends. It can also be very expensive — especially in this economy. For many, side gigs like driving for a delivery service, dog walking or simply running errands have become a way of life to earn extra funds and make ends meet.
A recent MarketWatch survey found that side hustles have become the “new normal” — more than half (54%) of Americans say they’ve adopted a side job to supplement their primary source of income in the last 12 months. If you haven’t yet joined the majority and taken on a side gig but need extra cash before the holidays, you have options. ‘Tis the season to earn some money online or in person.
According to Mom Beach, here are six ways to earn extra holiday cash through seasonal side gigs.
Pet Sitting
If you’re a pet lover, or perhaps a pet parent yourself, then consider becoming a pet sitter. People always need pet sitters, especially when they go on vacations for the holidays or work onsite from the office. You can create a profile on platforms like Rover and Wag, which connect you to people in your community in need of pet-sitting services.
If you enjoy working with animals, you can also work as a dog walker for your same customers on the side of your side hustle.
Seasonal Gift Wrapper
If you’re crafty, you might want to consider wrapping gifts to make a few extra bucks. During the holiday shopping rush, some malls and department stores will hire seasonal workers who wrap gifts for in-store shoppers. This can be a fun way to spread the holiday cheer while earning extra money to buy gifts for your friends and family.
Rent Out Your Extra Space
If you have a spare room or empty basement that you seldom use, why not rent it out to make an extra income? You can list your space on Airbnb which allows you to rent part of your home to short-term guests. You might be surprised by the surge in demand from people traveling to visit family nearby for the holidays. Or, you can rent your space on Neighbor.com, where you can use your space to store other people’s stuff. This way, you’ll earn money without having to host guests.
Sell Used Items
If you have tons of knick-knacks and accumulated things lying all around the house, it might be time to purge. You can sell gently used items like clothes, shoes, toys and more on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and eBay. You’ll declutter and make extra money simultaneously.
Rideshare Driver
Signing up as a rideshare driver on platforms to drive for Uber and Lyft is a smart way to make money with your car. If you’re comfortable shuttling people around from point A to point B, you can earn money on your own time right in your local community. You can also boost your earning potential and deliver food through Uber as well.
Snow Removal
Depending on where you live, the holiday season can mean colder temperatures and the possibility of snowfall. Grab a snow shovel or your snow blower and go door to door to find clients, or ask if your neighbors would like to have their driveways and walkways cleared. You could go home with a ton of cash depending on the amount of snow accumulation and the demand.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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