It’s not uncommon to be in need extra cash, regardless of the time of year but the holidays can be especially rough on you the finances. So, why not take advantage of the fast-paced holiday season and provide one (or more) of the following services to the hard-working folks in and around your community? After looking them over, you might decide that the majority of these side jobs sound just plain FUN.
Sell Handmade Decorations & Gifts
Homemade decorations & gifts represent an ever-growing trend, especially things made out of re-used or up-cycled materials. Look for simple, holiday-themed craft projects you can easily make at home. Then sell your stash of decorations & gifts at local craft fairs, on an online platform like Etsy or sell them locally on a site such as Craigslist.
Be a Personal Shopper
Lots of people are unsure when it comes to the particular holiday gifts they want to buy for their family and friends. Others simply don’t have time to shop. That’s where a personal shopper comes in.
Just a word of caution. Some people may not be willing to trust their holiday shopping to a complete stranger. So, starting out, you’ll probably find it easier to garner clients who are your friends, neighbours and coworkers. After that, there’s a good chance you’ll get more business, through the power of word of mouth advertising.
Wrap Gifts for Cash
Wrapping gifts efficiently, not to mention beautifully, takes practice. By honing your gift wrapping skills, you can quickly add pizzazz to otherwise plainly-wrapped gifts. You can find hundreds of beautiful and unusual ways to package gifts on sites like Pinterest.
If you feel comfortable doing so, consider offering a mobile gift wrapping service. This way, clients won’t have to make time in their schedule to come to you.
Shovel Snow
If you live in an area where it snows heavily during the winter, you know what a chore it is to keep your driveway clean. When it snows, grab your shovel and offer to clear driveways and sidewalks around your neighbourhood. You can also advertise on local Facebook groups, or on Craigslist as a means to help you build a larger client base. This is a job your kids can join in on, to make extra money themselves.
Be a Babysitter, Petsitter or House-sitter
With so many holiday parties to attend, some parents have a hard time finding someone to watch their children. When your friends or family members are looking for a sitter, why not volunteer to do it yourself? Who knows, it may even turn into a more permanent gig. The same thing goes for house-sitting and pet-sitting since many people travel during the holiday season.
Cater for Parties
Cooking a fantastic meal is a time-honored part of the holiday tradition in some households. For others, it can be a stressful chore. If you love to cook, you can quickly offer to prepare entire meals or just specific dishes for holiday parties. If you prefer to bake, there are tonnes of yummy holiday-themed cakes, cookies and other baked goods just waiting for you to whip up and sell to hungry hostesses and party-goers alike.
These are just a few things you can do to make extra cash during the upcoming holiday season. Not only will you benefit financially, but you’ll also help others relieve holiday stress in the process, make new friends, and enjoy using your skills. What could be better than that?
