9 Quick Ways to Make Extra Money for Christmas

Here’s the problem:  you need extra money for Christmas.  Like, yesterday.  Am I right?!?  🙋🏻‍♀️

And the problem is that it’s the beginning of December. 

That means moonlighting or getting an extra job is simply out of the question.  It won’t be fast enough!

I mean, let’s face it. It’s the first week of December.  It’s going to take two to three weeks to find a job, land the interview, and get hired.

Then you still must go through training.  And by the time you get your first paycheck, the holiday season will be dang near over.

It’s kind of an impractical solution, for extra money for Christmas.

Granted, there are A LOT of available jobs out there right now.  Businesses are practically BEGGING for workers.  So, you might be able to land a job in time to make extra money for Christmas after all… 🤷🏻‍♀️

And many more are even offering sign-on bonuses. So, then you can use that sign-on bonus for your holiday shopping! 

If they give it to you right away.  Many businesses will add it on to each paycheck for a certain number of weeks, or award it to you after you’ve worked so many hours.

But, if moonlighting is absolutely out of the question for you, which is often the case for stay-at-home moms, you need to find another way to come up with some extra money for Christmas, and fast.

Lucky for you, I’ve been in that situation.  It seems Christmas sneaks up on me every year.  🤣 😂  I’m never prepared for it.

And when you live on one income, saving money for Christmas is hard!  Sometimes dang near impossible.

I have found myself standing on the cusp of Christmas many times, wondering how in the heck we were going to pull it off again this year.

Somehow, we always come through!

So, without further ado, here’s a few strategies to put a little extra jingle in your jangle this holiday season!

Ways to make extra money for Christmas – quickly

My hubby and I have tried many of these strategies. And those we haven’t, well, they just seem like really good ideas.  😁 

I didn’t include anything like taking surveys, doing some secret shopping, or anything else techy on your phone because it often takes a while to get paid for those things.

I tried very hard to list only things that are quick – do the service, sell the item, and get paid.  Immediately.

Keep in mind, it may take a combination of things to come up with enough money for Christmas. It all depends on how short you are!

Merry Christmas!

1. Sell items you no longer use

One of the quickest ways to make extra cash this holiday season is to sell the things you no longer want, use, or need.

It’s easy to do!  Just spend this weekend going through each and every room in your house. Make a pile of things you no longer need, and then sell them!

Look at things like Christmas décor, clothing, toys, antiques, dishes, furniture, electronics, books, video games, classic board games, classic movies, collectibles, and sporting items.

Don’t forget your outdoor items!  Toys your kids no longer play with, tools you no longer need, and even bigger items, such as lawnmowers, snowplows, and vehicles. Sell it all!

You can use Craig’s List, eBay, Amazon, Facebook…the possibilities are endless!  You can also take them to secondhand stores, pawnshops, and antique stores.

2. Refurbish furniture & sell it, too

If you are crafty, clever, or handy, you can refurbish the old pieces of furniture you own and sell them!

Paint dressers, desks, chairs, and tables.  Make coffee tables and bookcases out of crates and pallets.  And, if either you or your hubby are handy, you can build your own furniture to sell as well.

My husband is very handy!  He can make pretty much anything:  desks, tables, beds, bunk beds, and more!  He’s even made a lamp out of a tree limb and an end table out of a tree stump! 

A quick search on Pinterest will get you started.  Keep in mind that all of this may take time, so get your butt moving now!! 

3. Babysit, pet sit, or house sit

I may have been known to pick up a few babysitting gigs around the holidays.  😁  It’s easy to do! 

You are home with your kiddos anyways. Why not care for a few extra?

Let local daycares know you are available for days they need to close.  They can give your name as an option for a fill-in.  Reach out to your family and friends and let them know you are available to babysit, as well. 

On the same token, keep in mind that a lot of parents have to deal with quarantines and distance learning, while still working.  It’s tough!

So, reach out to the schools and let them know that you are available to help out families in a bind.  When those families freak out about distance learning because they still have to work, the school staff can give them your name. 

Or, if taking on a few extra kids sounds more like torture than a joyful holiday season, try pet sitting!

A lot of families go out of town over the holiday season and need someone to care for their pets.  It might be an easy gig for you.

And don’t forget house sitting!  If you are staying home all day, you may be the perfect candidate for caring for someone else’s home.  Just be sure they understand that you will have kids in tow.  😁

4. Pick up odd jobs

Okay, so picking up some side jobs is often impractical because, by the time you get hired and earn your first paycheck, Christmas is usually over. 

But odd jobs are a quick and easy solution.

All you have to do is think like a teenager again!

What can you do to quickly earn a few extra bucks?  Mow lawn?  Remove snow?  Dog walking?  House cleaning?

If you have a degree, can you put yourself on the sub list at your nearest school or daycare?

Can you Uber?  I don’t know how that works 😆 but it might be worth checking in to. 

The nice thing about these odd jobs is that they often pay in cash. So, it’s quick and easy.

5. Turn in your scrap metal

An odd suggestion, yes, I know.  😆

But my husband saves things that have copper or iron in them.  Maybe it’s every metal… 🤔 I’m not sure.

These might be things like copper wiring, copper tubing, aluminum siding, car rims, etc.…I really don’t know.  It’s something he does every year. 

Do a quick google search on what to sell.  And then gather up all of your items and find a scrap yard near you.

Prices vary every year.  My husband tries to hold on to it all until prices are up.  He made $1,000 this year!

6. Offer a service

Do you have something you are really good at, that you can offer up as a service to others?

This could be things like party planning, decorating, tutoring, painting, baking, accounting, or cleaning.  Try to think of things that are quick and easy to implement. 

If you think you are going to start freelance writing, for instance, you may be sorely disappointed. Same thing with blogging.

These things are often listed as quick ways to make money, but I guarantee you, they are not at all quick.  Taking on a side gig, offering your services as a self-contractor, or starting your own business all takes time.

By the time you get up and going, Christmas will be over! 🤣 🤣

So, think of things that people need right now.  And are willing to pay for. It should be something you can do, get paid for, and be done. 

No initial setup or learning a new skill required.  Also, no extravagant advertising.  You don’t have time for that either.

Ask yourself, “Can a teenager do this?”  If the answer is yes, then go for it!

7. Make stuff to sell

Do you have a hobby, passion, or skill that you can use to make items to sell? 

This could be things like baking, candle making, sign making, sign graving, card making, scrapbooking, or Christmas décor.

If you don’t know what you could make and sell, do a quick google search, or hop on Pinterest.  There’s sure to be something you are good at!

Keep in mind, you don’t want something that you have to start a website for or something that requires a lot of advertising.  You won’t be starting a business here.  At least, not right now.

It needs to be something you can quickly sell, by word of mouth (or maybe on Facebook) to earn some quick Christmas cash.

8. Ask your hubby to pick up overtime

My husband regularly picks up overtime right before the holidays, and we use that money for Christmas.

It’s better than moonlighting because he, of course, is already employed there. So, there’s no need to find another job, go through the entire hiring process, and wait for that first paycheck.

Also, overtime pays better.  😁  For him, it’s time and a half!!  He can make enough to cover Christmas in one weekend.

9. Remember your past employers

If you ever worked outside of the home before your kids were born, then now’s the time to reach out to your former employer.

See if you can offer some sort of version of your old job for them.  Maybe you could cover the evenings or weekends.  Maybe you could do some work from home for them.

This works because they don’t have to train you and you are already in their system.  You know what to do and can get right to work. 

Unfortunately, though, you do still have to wait for payday.  Unless your former boss is willing to work something out and pay you immediately after your services are performed.

Don’t forget to ask your hubby to check with his former employers as well.  If he can’t pick up some overtime, he may be able to grab a side hustle pretty easily.

There was one year my husband moonlighted for his former employer.  He keeps begging my husband to come back and work for him.  So, my husband called him and offered to pick up some evening and weekend shifts for him during the holiday season.

It was a win-win!

At the end of the day…

Ideally, momma, you’ve saved up for Christmas all year, and you are ready to go!

But…we know life doesn’t happen that way.

You had the money tucked away, but then the washer quit.  Or the fridge quit.

Or your husband was out of a job. 

For many SAHMs, there’s just no extra money to save, to begin with.  And this can leave you panicking at Christmas time.

Because you don’t want to let your friends and family down. And you especially don’t want to break your child’s heart at Christmas.

It can be hard, humbling yourself enough to do some of these things on this list.  The first time I walked into a pawn shop, I wanted to die.

It was humiliating.

But… all I had to do was think of my six sweet babies on Christmas morning.  I quickly swallowed my pride and got it done.

Giving is about sacrifice, after all.

But there are so many things that are more important than gift-giving at Christmas time. We all know that. 

Jesus IS the reason for the season.  ❤️  And he gave his life so that we may live.  Remember that this year.

The time spent with your friends and family is the most precious gift of all.  I think, after two years of shutdowns and quarantines, no one can dispute that.

So, do what you can, to make some extra money for Christmas.  But don’t forget what’s most important:  spending time with those we love.

Merry Christmas momma!!

Got a way to make some quick extra Christmas cash that I didn’t think of? Help a momma out and share it in the comments below!