Unlock the secrets to a merrier, stress-free holiday season with an array of ingenious strategies to help you get free Christmas money to spend on gifts and other Christmas fun.
The holiday season often ushers in financial pressures, but there are strategies to ease the strain. While thrifty shopping and prioritizing experiences over possessions are effective approaches, supplementing your funds is equally rewarding and lessens the burden.
Initiating your money-making endeavors well in advance is ideal, but even if time is short, these tactics can still alleviate some of the seasonal stress.
Ways to Get Free Christmas Money
Sell Your Unwanted Items
Before the whirlwind of holiday festivities sweeps you away, take a pause to unlock the hidden potential within your belongings. While decluttering your home you can make a little free Christmas money and make more space for new things during the holidays.
These are some ways to sell your items and make some extra cash:
1. Have a Garage Sale: As you sort through your possessions, envision a garage sale that transforms your unneeded items into a treasure trove of profit. This age-old tradition promises not only a newfound sense of order but also the thrill of watching your pre-loved items find new homes. From furniture to fashion, each piece carries a story waiting to be cherished by its new owner. Set the stage for success, market your sale effectively, price your items well, and watch as eager buyers flock to your doorstep, turning clutter into hard-earned cash.
2. Use Virtual Marketplaces: Now there are many online ways to sell your items. It’s like having a garage sale but you don’t have to stand outside all day. Use sites like Facebook (local garage sale groups and Facebook marketplace), eBay, and Amazon Trade-In.
These platforms are teeming with potential, offering a hassle-free way to transform your clutter into currency. List your items, add vivid descriptions, and watch as interested buyers discover the hidden treasures you’ve put up for sale. From vintage finds to gently used gadgets, the possibilities are as diverse as the items you’re ready to part with.
3. Get Cash for Electronics: If you have electronics sitting around and you don’t want to hassle with selling them you can send them into Gazelle for cash. They buy and sell used electronics and while you may get a bit less than selling the items yourself it’s really fast and easy.
Cashback on Everyday Spending
Transform your regular purchases into a money-making opportunity. There are a lot of great apps out there that allow you to scan receipts and do other activities to earn cash back on items you are already buying.
These are my favorite cashback apps:
- Shopkick: You earn points (they call them kicks) by scanning receipts, scanning products, just walking into stores, shopping online, watching videos, and more.
- Fetch Rewards: This one is really good if you use Instacart for a lot of your grocery shopping and a lot of Amazon shopping. You can link it to your Amazon account and your email and it will scan both for receipts. You can also use my referral code TN8EW during sign-up to get some free points to get you started.
- Honey: Honey is a browser extension that helps you find coupon codes and gives you cashback on your online purchases. It will also tell you if you are getting the best price on an item.
Craft and Create for Profit
If you possess a crafty flair or culinary skills, channel them into crafting items to sell. Local shops often appreciate handmade goods, or you can delve into the world of online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon Handmade. Be mindful of pricing to ensure your earnings exceed expenses.
You can also earn more money by taking place in The Stress-Free Christmas Market. It’s a virtual Christmas market that highlights small businesses and is a fun, festive way to make money.
Embrace Pet Sitting
The holiday period sees a surge in pet care needs. Offer your pet-sitting services, either by advertising online or through platforms like Rover. Consider house pet sitting or dog walking, which can be particularly sought after during holiday trips.
As you build up repeat clients this can be a really big source of income. Many people are able to turn this into a full-time business and not just a side hustle.
Survey Your Way to Extra Income
While not a get-rich-quick scheme, participating in surveys can supplement your spending budget. There are many platforms out there to try out, these are some of my favorites.
- Mechanical Turk: This survey site has surveys from universities and other groups. It’s an Amazon platform and if you pick carefully you can make a lot of side income from this site.
- Swagbucks: This platform has been around for a long time and is a good way to make a little extra cash by answering surveys, watching videos, and filling out polls. You can even get a $10 bonus when you sign up!
- Rare Patient Voice: If you are a patient or caregiver for someone with a rare illness you can earn a lot of money and also help with medical research.
Start a Blog
While establishing a blog requires effort and time, it has the potential to generate substantial income over the long term. If you’re seeking a sustained income source, blogging can evolve into a fulfilling venture. Remember, success won’t materialize overnight, but with dedication, it can become a fulfilling full-time pursuit.
If you are interested in getting started these are some resources that can help:
- How to Start a Blog: This is my guide to blogging on my other site Lisa Sharp Creative. It will give you an overview of how to get started.
- Launch Your Blog Course: This is a full course that will teach you everything you need to know about blogging and how to be successful. It’s one of the best courses out there.
- Blog Start-up 101: Check out this free webinar that will help you with the first steps of starting a blog.
In the midst of holiday hustle, these strategies offer a proactive way to bolster your financial standing. Whether you’re looking for swift solutions or considering long-term income avenues, these tactics can alleviate the financial pressures associated with the holiday season.
Jae (@gorjaeous) says
Selling stuff is definitely on my to-do’s list. My husband and I have accumulated a lot of things over the years, and they’re literally stressing me out. One of these days, I’m going to start walking around our apartment with a trash bag, and dump everything (still useful) in there that other people may benefit from.
Lisa Sharp says
That’s a great idea! It really does help our stress level to get rid of clutter.
Beth says
My husband just retired due to health issues, so we’re looking for ways to bring in some income. Some of these might work for us. Thanks for the suggestions!
Lisa Sharp says
I’m sorry he had to retire for reasons that aren’t happy. I hope some of this help and I hope his health improves.
Dree says
I have always heard people mention Ebates but I’ve been dragging my feet to sign up. As much as I shop online, it can only help!
Lisa Sharp says
Do it today! You don’t want to miss out on the money. I wish I had signed up when I first heard about it. I always love how much I get back after Christmas shopping.
Melissa says
I’ve been thinking about selling some things rather than getting a second job. I have a guitar that I bought but have used less than 5 times that I’m sure I could get one hundred or two hundred bucks. I’m curious about Ibotta too.
Lisa Sharp says
I’ve been selling some stuff on Facebook. It’s nice to declutter and make some extra money.