Finding legit ways to earn money for Christmas can be frustrating. Much of the information online is nonsensical and irrelevant. In this post, we’re sharing tips for making extra cash quickly that work and can start generating money right away!
Whether you’re looking for ways to make extra money to hit your goals, need extra money for Christmas, or are curious about side hustle ideas, this is for you. You’ll find legit strategies to make money from home.
Making money and saving money go hand in hand. Our top five tips for saving money, as well as 18 additional realistic tips to save money, may also be helpful.
The holidays can be stressful, especially if you’re already struggling financially, so let’s discuss some legit ways you can make money to help ease the burden.
I can’t tell you how often I’ve looked for ways to make money, only to feel frustrated with what I find. Most of it is the same unrealistic advice over and over. Online surveys? No, thank you. Start a blog? You’ll be lucky if you make a dime in the first three months. If you’re reading this post, you need real and honest advice!
My husband and I have seen our fair share of ups and downs over the years, that’s for sure. So, when I sat down to write this post, I focused on ways to make money that we’ve personally had luck with ourselves or know someone who has.
Legit Ways to Make Money
Before I get into how to make extra money, you must stop spending money immediately. Money saved is money earned. If you’re still going to Starbucks, ordering takeout, and going to Target, you’re sabotaging yourself. People need to hear the truth, so I don’t sugarcoat things. If you’re reading this article, you’re already in a place where money is tight and looking for help. If you’re still spending money on things you don’t need, that has to stop now.
You also have to put forth the effort and make the time. Before you think you don’t have time, look at the screen time on your phone. Full stop. Most people mindlessly waste 4 to 6 hours a day scrolling, and that’s time you could be doing one of the things on this! You’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish in just a few hours a day!
Sell On Facebook Marketplace
Back in my day, we didn’t have Facebook Marketplace, so I had to find alternative ways to sell things, such as through yard sales, pawn shops, and flea markets. Facebook Marketplace (and local buy/sell groups) have made it much easier. Gently used clothing, baby items, furniture, electronics, small appliances, books, fitness equipment, and tools sell well. Before starting, read the rules to ensure your listings don’t get removed. Sign up for Facebook Marketplace here.
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Sell On eBay
I was an eBay seller in college and made a decent living by drop-shipping items from big-box stores. While eBay is one of the more complicated ways to make money, you can make a lot of money there, especially if you have a good eye for valuable things. My niece has an eye for vintage clothes and toys and has a thriving eBay business. She finds most of the products she sells at yard sales and Goodwill outlets, where you pay a set price per pound. Start selling on eBay here.
Drive For Uber
My husband drives for Uber when he returns home from overseas and earns around $ 1,000 a month working part-time. He’s a people person, so this is right up his alley! Setting up an account is an easy, step-by-step process, and you’ll experience a short waiting period while your background check is completed. Here are a few tips and tricks from my husband.
- It’s nice to keep bottles of water, breath mints, hand sanitizer, and extra phone chargers in the car for riders.
- Get out of your car and help your passengers. I can’t tell you how many Uber drivers have watched me struggle with my bags and never offered to help. Most Uber drivers don’t receive many tips, but my husband does, and it’s because he does thoughtful things like this.
- Be friendly, but don’t overdo it. You’ll know pretty quickly if someone wants to talk to you. If they don’t, leave them alone. However, most people love talking and asking questions about the local area, which brings me to my last point.
- You’ll likely receive many questions about local restaurants, coffee shops, shopping, and other areas of interest. Print out a small cheat sheet that you can give to people when they ask about it. They’ll be so grateful!
Sign up to be an Uber driver here.
Deliver Food
As the holidays approach and people become busier, the demand for food delivery skyrockets, making it one of the easiest ways to make money. In addition to putting smiles on the faces of hungry customers, you can set your hours, choose your deliveries, and work as much or as little as you want. DoorDash, Grubhub, and Postmates are great places to start. You can earn anywhere from $15 to $20 an hour, and even more during busy periods. Provide good communication, look presentable, be polite and friendly, handle the food with care, deliver on time, and you might even rack up some tips!
- Pro tip: Avoid driving during rush hour. You’ll be sitting in traffic more than driving. Focus on delivering during peak times, such as football Sundays, Fridays/Saturday evenings, and weekdays during lunch, when people are most likely to order delivery.
Provide A Service
There are many legit ways to make money, but you’re almost guaranteed to be successful when you provide a service that someone needs. This could be walking someone’s dog, cleaning or pressure washing houses, mowing lawns, fixing cars, etc. You’d be surprised at how many people need help with small tasks but have no idea where to find someone to assist them.
My son started a handyman business about a year ago and has stayed busy! I can’t tell you how often I’ve needed someone to install a ceiling fan, repair a toilet, move a heavy piece of furniture, or mow my lawn. A handyman can do almost any little task, and my son now does that for many people while making a nice income on the side!
- Pro tip: It’s up to you to spread the word. People don’t know about your service unless you tell them about it. Social media makes advertising easy, and your friends and family can share, too! You can also sign up for TaskRabbit, a platform connecting people to handymen in their area.
Use Your Talent
Sites like Fiverr connect you with people who will pay you to do a variety of tasks. I just hired someone today to make hundreds of images for me. I’m not creative in that area, and it takes me forever. One of my business mottos has always been “time is money.” I could spend hundreds of hours making those images (and getting frustrated), or I could pay someone with more experience who can get it done much quicker. It frees me up to work on writing content like this, and I’m also helping someone else!
Once you have set up your profile and decided on the services you want to offer, you can sit back and wait for orders to come in. The downside to Fiverr is the waiting. I suggest doing something else on this list while you wait, as orders can be slow for someone new with no customer testimonials. Sign up for Fiverr here.
If You’re Crafty, Sell It!
When we lived at Fort Knox, I started making crafts and selling them at various places around the Fort Knox area. I loved all the people I met and made extra money, which we needed back then as a young military family with two kids.
These days, there are numerous ways to sell items both locally and online. You can sell a variety of items, including handmade jewelry, soaps, candles, artwork, stationery, pottery, farmhouse signs, woodworking, blankets, and ornaments.
Locally, you can sell at farmers’ markets, holiday bazaars, and local Facebook buy/sell groups. You can even ask local businesses if they’d be willing to carry your goods for a share of the profits.
Online, you could post on your personal social media channels, ask friends and family to share your posts, or sell on sites like Amazon Handmade, Etsy, and through your own social media channels. This is one of my favorite legit ways to make money from home!
- Pro tip: Start building an email list from day one to sell directly to your customers.
Snag A Seasonal Position
Have you ever noticed all the help-wanted signs that pop up around the holidays? Virtually every single retail business needs extra help during the holidays. Since holiday shopping starts picking up in October, you’ll have a couple of months to earn extra cash before the holidays!
Third-shift stocking jobs are popular this time of year because stores typically replenish their shelves during this period. I worked one of these jobs in my 20s, and I loved it! My husband worked during the day, and I worked about three hours a night, a few days a week. The schedule was perfect for us as young parents, and I enjoyed getting out of the house.
Indeed has hundreds of seasonal positions available if you prefer to work at home. They typically require a landline phone, reliable Internet, a quiet work environment, and training before you can begin.
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Flip Home Furnishings
One of my best friends does this and loves it! If you see a piece of furniture on the side of the road, stop and pick it up. Sometimes, an old chair needs a little sanding and a fresh coat of paint, and you can turn right around and double your money. Facebook Marketplace and local buy/sell groups are great places to buy AND sell your items. Check Goodwill stores and flea markets, or ask friends and family if they have any old pieces they want to get rid of. Sometimes, people just let you have things if you’re willing to pick them up for free.
Rent A Room
If you have a spare room and an open mind, you can make a nice chunk of change doing this. Sign up with Airbnb, VRBO, or advertise locally. Sometimes, simply sharing the word with friends, family, or on your social media account is all you need to do. Traveling nurses, businessmen, and students always look for affordable places to stay!
To prepare the room for guests, I suggest keeping the decor simple and uncluttered. A bed, dresser, small nightstand or table, and light are all you need. Remember that people will bring their own things and appreciate the extra space.
Lastly, if you’re still not getting paid to grocery shop through Ibotta, sign up now! It’s not a ton of money, but it’s FREE money on groceries you’re buying anyway. I save my earnings throughout the year and withdraw them just before Christmas.
I hope this list of legit ways to make money helps you! If you have any savvy tips to share, please leave a comment below!
I hope this is helpful! If you have any tips you'd like to share, please let us know in the comments below. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, and sign up for my email list to stay up-to-date on the latest news. Thanks for being here, friends ♥ |
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