10 Easy Ways to Make Extra Money This Christmas

Real talk– the holidays are expensive. Once you add up all the presents, air fare, food, drinks, and whatever else, the total sum can be downright frightening. Just ask the Kranks. Unless your end game is to skip Christmas altogether, you may need to cut expenses or supplement your income to avoid starting the new year in debt. To help mitigate those January financial woes, I’ve rounded up ten easy ways to make extra money for Christmas. Keep reading for all ten!

1. Ask for a Raise

Being assertive is one of the core habits of successful people. After all, the easiest way to earn more money is to simply ask for more money. Timing is everything when it comes to asking for a raise, though. Unless you’re prepared to potentially hear the word “no,” try to time your request at the end of a fiscal year, after the close of a big contract, or during a regularly-scheduled review.

2. Cash In on Your Old Electronics

Turn all those old devices you have laying around into cash with TradeMore! They offer highly competitive prices for iPhones, smart phones, tablets, netbooks, and a few other devices, as well. Submitting a trade is super easy and can be done in three simple steps. First, head to the TradeMore website and search your device. Evaluate your device condition to the best of your ability to accurately forecast the worth of your device(s). Then, complete the trade by providing your address and contact information. You’ll receive an envelope and free shipping label (pre-addressed to their headquarters) in the mail. Drop the package in the mail, and you’re just about done!


You can track your trade-in every step of the way on their website, too. Once the device is received and processed by the TradeMore operations team, a Virtual Prepaid MasterCard is sent to the email address on file. It’s super easy and super simple! Kyle and I both traded in our old iPhone 6s, and we were pleasantly surprised by how much TradeMobile offered us! Head over to the TradeMore website for an estimate of what your device is worth. We both received what was quoted (and if you don’t, they’ll notify you of the reasons why they adjusted the initial quote via email beforehand), so I have only glowing recommendations for these guys!

3. Sell Your Old Clothes

Whether you’re selling clothes online or physically walking into a consignment shop, purging your closet has multiple benefits. Not only can it earn you extra cash, it can make room (physically and mentally) for new things in your life– and your closet.

4. Start a Blog

I’ll be the first one to admit that making money off a new blog is hard work. However, it’s not impossible. Plus, you can control your schedule and the effort you put into it. Signing up for affiliate programs, installing ads on your site, and writing sponsored content are just a few of the ways to make money quickly. Even as a newbie, you’ll be amazed at how much you can earn in just a few weeks.

5. Sell Your Own Products

If you’re crafty, get creative! Sell your gorgeous handmade wreaths, ornaments, scarves, espadrilles, or jewelry at craft shows. If you don’t have the time or resources to physically market your products, you can also open your own ecommerce site!

6. Get a Part-Time Job

If your schedule permits a flexible part-time job, leverage your car by becoming a paid driver. You can earn upwards of $500 weekly, especially during busy surge periods, like the holidays. If you rarely use your car or you’ll be out of town for the holidays, you can also rent out your car for extra cash!


Other flexible part-time jobs include dog sitting or dog walking, becoming a virtual assistant, and online tutoring. Also, there are companies who pay participants to take surveys or test out new apps. Neither services are particular high-paying, but these are two of the quickest ways to make extra money for Christmas.

7. Freelance

If you want to earn extra cash while choosing the type of work you do, who you work with, when and where you work, and how often you work, freelancing is a pretty sweet gig. People are willing to pay a pretty penny for services like graphic design, coding, marketing, and SEO optimization. Identify your in-demand professional skills and reach out to potential clientele. You can also list your services on a global marketplace for creative and digital services.

8. Rent Out Your Spare Room

Have an extra bedroom? Rent it out! Millions of people travel during the holidays, and hotels know it. While they’re inflating their prices, requests for affordable vacation rentals and homestays spike. Depending on where you live, you could easily earn a couple hundred extra dollars in a weekend.

9. Get Cash Back for Shopping Online

Get cash back on your online purchases! It sounds too good to be true, but this program actually offers cash back when you shop at certain retailers. It’s not just a few companies, either. 500+ retailers offer cash back for your online purchases. Of all the ways to make extra money for Christmas, getting cash back for doing nothing but regularly-scheduled holiday shopping is pretty awesome.

10. Get Refunded for Price Drops

Technology is a wonderful thing. Install this program to start getting refunded when the price of an item you’ve previously purchased drops. It’s 100% free. The only caveat is that you need to save all your online receipts, so it can monitor the purchase price and find out if any stores owe you a refund. Once a price drop is detected, the program engages with the retailer on your behalf, requesting a refund effortlessly.


Did I leave any worthy ways to make extra money for Christmas off the list? I’d love to know your thoughts below!