While the holiday season is filled with giving, family and plenty of good food it’s also a season that’s full of extra earning opportunities.
Many companies are looking for extra help, families are looking for some assistance, and people are looking to buy things. All of it adds up to being a great time to earn a little extra money if you want to.
Whether you’re looking to take advantage of all the ways to earn, or are in desperate need of some extra spending money, these ideas will get you there.
Work From Home As A Seasonal Customer Service Rep
If your inbox looks anything like mine, you’re being hit hard with promotional information from stores trying to increase their online sales. In all likelihood, the stores are also being hit hard with thousands upon thousands of holiday shoppers. Because of this, many places hire seasonal work from home customer service reps.
Here are a couple to check out:
1-800-FLOWERS – Offers seasonal customer service positions. There are currently positions open for representatives to handle customer order calls and to handle issues resulting from product delays and more.
Amazon – Amazon still has work from home customer service positions open. The pay is $10.00 per hour. The job is open to residents in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Virginia.
Work from home customer service jobs generally require that you have high speed internet, quality phone service and a quiet place to work. Most of the seasonal work from home jobs will require that you work a specific set of hours.
You can also use a job search engine such as Monster to search for these types of jobs in your area. Many are advertised locally.
Host A Parents’ Night Out
During the Holiday season, parents need quality babysitting options more than ever – they have holiday parties to attend and Christmas shopping to do. If you’re like me, not quite up to full-time babysitting, but could happily manage 10 or so hours a week, hosting a parent’s night out is a good option.
In my town it works like this: A few babysitters host parents’ night out on most Friday and Saturday nights. They charge $30 per child and babysit from 7 pm – midnight. They provide food, do activities with the kids and watch a movie. (Although I’m sure most of the kids 6 and under are asleep by 9!)
If you’re not comfortable offering this service to those you’re not familiar with, offer it your friends and family. Most parents are happy to find someone they know to babysit while they go out and would be more than willing to fork over the $30 per child.
You could watch 5 kids for five hours and earn $150. Or you could do it both Friday and Saturday night and double your earnings.
Work Retail
Can I state the obvious? This time of year is the busiest time for retailers and many national chain stores are in need of seasonal help. While this isn’t the most glamorous job, it’s completely viable for anyone who is needing to make an extra buck or two.
Check around on local job listings and I’m sure you’ll find more than a dozen retailers looking to hire seasonal associates.
Drive For Uber
Tis the season for traveling…and dinners… and parties, which means it’s also the season for earning as an Uber driver.
To become an Uber Driver, you need a four door car year 2006 or newer that can seat four passengers (not including yourself) and a smartphone. You also need a valid driver’s license, be able to pass a background check, be at least 21 years old, and your car must pass an inspection.
If you meet all eligibility requirements, you can choose when you want to drive by using the Uber app installed on your smartphone.
The fact that you’re able to set your own schedule is one of the most appealing aspects of becoming an Uber driver. Plus, many drivers report earning about $20/hr if they stick to it during peak times. That’s a good amount of extra money!
You can fill out an application to become an Uber driver here. You can also check out this course about Ridesharing for Profit!
Rent Your Car
Do you hate the idea of driving strangers around but would still like to earn with your car? If so, you can rent out your car for extra money. (Seriously.)
Turo is a car sharing company that allows those with vehicles to list their cars for rent on the Turo app. Travelers looking to rent a car can browse listings and then choose the vehicle they want that’s in the price point they desire. If someone chooses your car they can pick it up or you can drop it off to them at the airport.
If you’re interested in this idea you can learn more about Turo here.
Earn Cashback
Using a cashback site is a no brainer if you’re into saving money. Why not earn cash back on the things you already buy when it only takes you an extra 30 seconds to do so?
I highly recommend Top CashBack. I previously did a comparison of the most popular cashback sites and this one was the winner. Signing up will only take a couple of minutes. The important thing is remembering to go through Top CashBack before making any online purchases.
Another one of our favorites is Ebates. They also have a huge selection of cash back offers for your online shopping. We compare Top CashBack and Ebates here.
While using a cashback site isn’t going to instantly pad your pockets, you could end up with a couple hundred dollars by next Christmas.
Shovel Snow
Depending on where you live you may already be dealing with your fair share of snow. If so, you can capitalize on it and offer your snow removal services. (This is also a great idea for kids.)
You can charge $10-$25 per driveway which could add up to a significant hourly rate depending on the size of the driveway.
Get Crafty
If you’re a crafter who has always thought about selling your creations now is a good time to test the waters. Sites like Etsy allow anyone to sell their creations for a small fee. When you make a sale on Etsy you’ll be immediately paid via PayPal.
You could also try advertising your crafts on your local Facebook pages or go to craft bazaars this holiday season.
Sell Your Old Stuff
Selling your old stuff is a tried and true way to earn extra money anytime of the year. It especially makes sense to get rid of the old and make room for the new during the holidays.
Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Here are six good things to sell right now.
There Are Plenty of Ways…
There are plenty of ways to earn extra cash this holiday season. You’re only limited by your creativity. Match up your skillset and free time to an idea and give it a go. As long as you’re trying out a free idea (i.e. not a business you have to put thousands of dollars in) you’ve got nothing to lose!
If you’re still looking for more ways to earn extra money check out 50 Ways to Make Money Side Hustling.
Any creative ways you’ve earned more during the holiday season?
Photo Credit: dolgachov and alexmaster
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