7 Ways To Make Extra Money This Holiday Season

The holidays are creeping up on us already (wasn’t it just Summer?) and you may be looking at your budget to see what your finances look like as we head into this travel and gift heavy time. If you think your budget may fall a little short, now is the perfect time to start looking for ways to earn some extra cash well before it’s time to start buying gifts and making travel plans. According to NerdWallet’s 2025 Holiday Shopping Report, the average American planned to spend $1,018 on holiday gifts, travel, and entertainment — a figure that catches many households off guard. Even if you have a full time job already, there is probably something on this list that you can do to sock away some extra money to cover your upcoming holiday expenses. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) consistently recommends building a dedicated holiday budget and supplementing income early — not relying on credit cards — to avoid carrying high-interest debt into the new year.

Holiday Side Income Comparison: Methods, Effort & Estimated Earnings

1. Work Overtime

I figure we can just get this easy one out of the way first. If you are eligible for overtime, now is the time to start looking to pick up extra shifts. It’s not the most fun thing we’ll cover on this list but if you have a job and this is an option for you it’s a tried and true way of making extra cash before the holidays. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor, non-exempt employees must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek — meaning overtime can meaningfully accelerate your savings rate. This can be especially helpful if your employer pays extra for overtime hours so make sure you make the most of the job you have. Financial planning experts at SoFi recommend depositing overtime earnings directly into a dedicated high-yield savings account to prevent lifestyle creep from absorbing the extra income before the holidays arrive.

2. Sell Your Stuff

Tearing apart my closets and sifting through my junk this time of year has become an annual tradition for me. It’s a great time of year to dig through your closet and decide what fall fashions you’d kept from last year can be removed from your wardrobe. Just this year I sold a winter coat that no longer fits, a few sweaters that aren’t my style anymore, and a handful of dress shirts to Buffalo Exchange and made almost $200. You can also use this as an excuse to get rid of old electronics, kitchen goods, books, or toys and sell them to second hand stores or online. According to eBay’s 2025 Recommerce Report, over 133 million buyers actively shop for secondhand goods on the platform, making it one of the highest-traffic resale venues available to everyday sellers. You might be surprised what people are willing to buy from you on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay, so give it a shot and you can declutter your life and make some extra money. The Experian personal finance blog notes that documenting and photographing items well before listing can increase final sale prices by up to 30% compared to poorly presented listings.

3. Winter Home Cleaning

After the hot summer now is the time that many people want to do a deep clean of their home before the winter months. If you don’t mind doing some scrubbing, you can easily find a homeowner who wants extra help making sure their home is spotless. A great way to go about doing this is to go on Craigslist, post on Nextdoor, or advertise on a classified ad board for a one time deep cleaning. Considering how many people have family and other guests come to visit for Thanksgiving and Christmas, make sure to point that out in your ad. According to TaskRabbit’s 2025 pricing data, independent home cleaners charge an average of $25–$60 per hour for standard cleaning services, with deep-clean rates reaching $150–$300 per session depending on home size and geographic market. You can quickly make $150 or more for a deep cleaning, depending on where you live and how big the home you are cleaning is.

4. Use Your Hobby to Make Money

Selling craft projects this time of year is a quick way for you to turn your hobby into a moneymaker. If you’re making artistic craft products you can sell them at local holiday markets or flea markets to eager buyers looking for unique gifts. You can also sell your products online through Etsy’s holiday seller marketplace, which sees a dramatic traffic increase between October and December each year — the platform reported that holiday season searches rose 45% year-over-year in Q4 2024. You can also list on eBay for additional reach. Another fun thing to make is canned goods. If your grandma made an amazing pickle or had a famous homemade jam, now is the time to break out that recipe and start canning! Artisan food items are hugely popular right now and if you can make your own pickles or jam you can sell them for $8-$14 a jar without a problem. If you aren’t into canning, then maybe you’ve got a knack for baking. Whatever the craft or hobby is, you can find a way to sell your products to eager consumers looking for unique gifts. Note that if your hobby income exceeds $400 in a calendar year, the IRS requires you to report it as self-employment income — so keep records of your earnings and expenses from day one.

5. Coordinate Couples Night

Babysitting is a tried and true way to earn some extra cash and give frazzled parents a break, but you can up the ante on babysitting by coordinating a couples date night. You probably have several couples who have kids and who all are in your same social circle. Take advantage of this and coordinate with a handful of couples to go on a date on the same night and you can host all the children at your place. By coordinating a larger effort you can charge a bit more per child and provide them with a unique experience like a movie night at your place with pizza, or another fun activity. According to Care.com’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey, the national average babysitting rate is $21.50 per hour per child — meaning hosting four children for a four-hour couples night could generate $344 in a single evening before any group rate discount. Between now and Christmas you can host several of these couples nights and take home a few hundred dollars to help you fund your holiday travel and gift plans.

6. Do Errands For Others

As people get busier and busier this time of year it creates an opportunity for you to pick up a few of the tasks they don’t have time for and help them out in exchange for a little extra cash. Maybe you’re helping parents with holiday toy or gift shopping, or taking clothes to or from the dry cleaner, or even grocery shopping, but however you slice it you’re helping somebody who is too busy to get their to do list completed and you earn some money in your spare time. Think of common holiday errands that you can help with and ask friends and family if they need any help with these issues. You can also use Craigslist, local newspapers, or services like TaskRabbit — which connects freelance “Taskers” with local clients for errands, handyman jobs, and delivery tasks — to sell your services. TaskRabbit reported in 2025 that errand and delivery task requests increase by over 60% during the October–December holiday window, making this one of the most opportunistic times of year to join the platform and start accepting jobs.

7. Work Retail

Around the holiday season retail stores look to hire extra workers for a few months to ensure they can accommodate the extra shoppers. If you’ve got spare time on nights or weekends you can make some great money as a temporary retail worker over the next few months. You don’t necessarily need to have prior retail experience to get these jobs but it is helpful. Head down to your local shopping mall and ask around and you are likely to find that most of the stores are looking for extra help. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), retailers add an average of 500,000–700,000 seasonal workers each holiday season, with major employers including Target, Amazon, Walmart, UPS, and FedEx leading the charge. The average hourly wage for seasonal retail associates reached $16.50 in 2025, with some distribution center roles at Amazon paying upward of $19 per hour. The only issue is that time is of the essence and you need to apply for these jobs right away. Stores are going to be sifting through resumes now and hiring in the next couple of weeks which will give them time to figure out staffing needs and train the new hires on how the stores run.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money can I realistically make before the holidays with a side hustle?

Most people can realistically earn $300–$1,500 in supplemental income over a 6–10 week holiday prep window, depending on how many hours they dedicate and which methods they choose. Combining two or three methods — such as seasonal retail work plus selling unwanted items — accelerates earnings significantly. According to Bankrate’s 2025 Side Hustle Survey, 36% of Americans pursued some form of extra income in the fourth quarter of the year.

What is the fastest way to make extra money for Christmas?

Selling items you already own — on platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or at a Buffalo Exchange — is the fastest way to generate cash, often within 24–72 hours. Running errands through TaskRabbit is a close second, as you can receive payment the same day you complete a task. These methods require zero startup costs and can be launched immediately.

Do I have to pay taxes on holiday side hustle income?

Yes. The IRS Gig Economy Tax Center confirms that all income — including cash payments for babysitting, cleaning, and errand services — is taxable. If your net self-employment income exceeds $400 in a calendar year, you must file a Schedule SE with your federal return. Keep receipts for any expenses (cleaning supplies, craft materials, shipping costs) as these are deductible against your gig income.

Is it worth getting a seasonal retail job just for the holidays?

Yes, for most people it is. Seasonal retail jobs at retailers like Target, Amazon, and Walmart pay an average of $15–$19 per hour in 2025, and many offer employee discounts that further stretch your holiday budget. Working just 15 hours per week for 8 weeks generates roughly $1,800–$2,280 in gross income — enough to cover most average holiday spending budgets without going into debt.

What can I sell online to make money fast before the holidays?

The highest-demand secondhand categories on eBay and Facebook Marketplace during the holiday season include electronics, brand-name clothing, children’s toys, video games, and kitchen appliances. eBay’s Recommerce Report (2025) shows that electronics and sneakers consistently command the highest resale premiums. Start by searching recently sold listings to price your items competitively.

How do I find people who need errands done near me?

TaskRabbit is the most established platform for local errand and task services, allowing you to set your own rates and accept jobs in your ZIP code. Nextdoor, Craigslist, and local Facebook Groups are also highly effective, particularly for trusted community members. Word of mouth among friends, family, and neighbors remains one of the highest-conversion channels for first-time holiday errand workers.

How do I sell crafts online during the holidays?

Etsy is the dominant platform for handmade and artisan goods, with holiday traffic peaking sharply in November and December. Create your shop at least 4–6 weeks before peak gifting season so your listings can build search visibility. Supplement online sales with in-person local holiday markets, where cash sales are immediate and you avoid platform fees. The Etsy Seller Handbook provides free guidance on pricing, photography, and shipping for new sellers.

Can I really make money babysitting as an adult during the holidays?

Absolutely. According to Care.com’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey, the national average babysitting rate is $21.50 per hour per child. Hosting a group “couples night” for 3–4 children at once multiplies your earning potential dramatically — a single 4-hour event could net $250–$350. Adults with childcare experience, CPR certification, or early education backgrounds can command premium rates.

What apps can I use to make extra money during the holidays?

The most effective apps for holiday-season side income include TaskRabbit (errands, cleaning, handyman), Etsy (crafts and artisan goods), eBay and Facebook Marketplace (reselling), Care.com (babysitting), and Rover (pet sitting and dog walking, which surges during holiday travel). Each platform charges a service fee ranging from 5% to 20%, so factor this into your pricing to protect your take-home earnings.

How can I avoid going into credit card debt during the holidays?

The CFPB recommends setting a firm holiday budget in advance, avoiding store credit cards with deferred interest traps, and building a dedicated cash reserve through supplemental income rather than financing gifts on revolving credit. With average credit card APRs hovering above 20% as of early 2026, according to the Federal Reserve’s G.19 Consumer Credit Report, carrying even $500 in holiday debt into January can cost $100+ in interest if not paid off quickly.