The holiday season can put a strain on budgets. As a small business consultant, I‘m constantly helping entrepreneurs find ways to earn extra income. December brings ample opportunities for side hustles that can provide a financial cushion.
Here are 31 proven methods to make extra money this December. I‘ll provide detailed guidance, statistics, and tips to help you maximize your holiday season earnings.
1. Offer Holiday Home Decorating Services
- According to a survey by Deloitte, consumers planned to spend $150 billion on holiday merchandise in 2021. Home decor accounted for $8.1 billion.
- Capitalize on demand by offering full-service holiday decorating for homes and businesses.
- Services to offer:
- Hanging lights/garlands
- Decorating trees
- Fluffing wreaths
- Setting up lawn/roof decorations
- Designing tablescapes
- Creating holiday vignettes
- Average holiday decorator earnings: $50-100 per hour
Decorating Tips to Boost Profits:
- Partner with a florist or wholesaler to get decorators‘ discounts on trees, garlands, and greenery.
- Check thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace for discounted decor.
- Offer package deals for entire home decorating services.
- Upsell on premium decor like flocked trees, light projections, or designer ornaments.
2. Pick Up Seasonal Side Gigs
Retailers and delivery services need extra help during the holidays. Picking up a seasonal side gig is an easy way to earn additional income:
- Retail sales associates can earn $15-$20 per hour
- Seasonal warehouse workers can earn up to $22 per hour
- Delivery drivers can earn $20 or more per hour, plus tips
- Many seasonal jobs come with employee discounts, allowing you to save on holiday shopping
Pro Tip: Apply early, as November 1st kicks off retailers‘ holiday hiring period.
3. Babysit for Holiday Parties
Parents need trustworthy childcare so they can enjoy adult time at holiday celebrations. Offering babysitting services taps into increased demand:
- Create flyers and post on community boards at libraries, churches, schools
- List your services on Care.com, SitterCity or local Facebook groups
- Charge around $15-25 per hour depending on number of kids
- Offer services like cookie decorating and movie nights to entertain kids
Babysitting provides a flexible way to earn money while spreading holiday cheer.
4. Rent Out Your Space
Holiday travelers flock to destinations around Christmas and New Year‘s. Renting your space on Airbnb or Vrbo allows you to earn from increased seasonal demand.
- Airbnb reports hosts typically earn $924 extra per month during the winter holidays.
- Add festive touches like a small decorated tree or holiday throw pillows to attract seasonal renters.
- Boost earnings by offering cooking amenities, gift wrap stations, and concierge-style services.
- Set premium rates, as much as 20% higher, for peak holiday weeks.
With strategic pricing and branding, renting out your space allows passive income during the holidays.
5. Wrap Gifts
According to NRF data, Americans were expected to spend $28 billion on gift wrap in 2021. Not everyone enjoys wrapping all those presents. Offer your gift wrapping services to earn cash while helping others check items off their holiday to-do lists.
- Market your services on community boards, Facebook, NextDoor, Craigslist
- Set up a gift wrap station at holiday markets/craft fairs
- Offer at-home gift wrap parties for busy professionals
- Charge by the gift or by hourly rates (~$20-30/hr)
- Upsell on upgrades like ribbons, gift bags or custom gift tags
Unleash your inner Santa‘s elf by creatively wrapping gifts for holiday shoppers. The service taps into surging demand while providing recurring revenue.
6. Shovel Snow
Winter storms bring opportunities to make money shoveling snow for neighbors:
- Average cost to shovel driveway: $20-50 per service
- Multiply your earnings by serving entire neighborhoods
- Offer senior citizens and busy professionals discounts or priority service
- Bundle services like salting walkways and clearing roofs to boost revenue
- Set up retainer agreements for snow removal throughout the winter
Clear walks and driveways after heavy snows to turn wintry weather into profits.
7. Promote Products on Social Media
Brand sponsorships increase around the holidays as companies heavily market gifts and seasonal items. As a social media influencer, you can earn substantial fees:
- According to Upfluence, sponsored posts on Instagram can command from $100 to $500+ per post, depending on your follower count and niche. YouTube pays $100 to $5,000 per integration.
- Look for relevant brands selling holiday gifts, decorations, apparel, recipes, and more.
- Craft seasonal content that seamlessly integrates sponsored products.
- Be transparent, using #ad tags to disclose paid promotions.
- With a bit of holiday spirit, creatively marketing brands’ seasonal offerings can pay dividends.
The surge in holiday marketing provides an opportunity to earn big payouts working as a social media influencer.
8. Make and Sell Food Gifts
People love edible gifts, especially during the holidays. If you enjoy cooking and baking, make food items to sell:
- Holiday baked goods like candy, fudge, and cookies
- Jarred mixes for hot chocolate, soups, cider
- Sauces, spice rubs, jams, granola
- Crackers, snack mixes, trail mixes
- Bottled cocktails & cordials
You can market gourmet food gifts at holiday bazaars, farmers markets, or online. Unique edible gifts stand out from typical holiday fare.
9. Offer Music Lessons
Music is integral to holiday celebrations. Leverage the seasonal demand by offering music lessons.
- Market lessons for instruments associated with the holidays – piano, guitar, violin
- Create holiday songbooks students can work through
- Host a holiday recital to create a performance opportunity
- Offer discounts on gift certificates to promote lessons as holiday gifts
Spread musical cheer this season while hitting the right notes for your bank account.
10. Craft and Sell Handmade Ornaments
Handcrafted ornaments are treasured holiday keepsakes. If you’re crafty, make and sell ornaments:
- Look on Etsy and Pinterest for unique ornament craft ideas
- Offer ornament-making workshops or DIY kits
- Set up an ornament stand at holiday markets and bazaars
- Partner with local craft consignment stores to sell your creations
Channel your creativity into crafting beautiful handmade ornaments. A single customized ornament can sell for $10 or more.
11. Gift Wrap Presents
Each year Americans use over 4 million miles of wrapping paper during the holidays. Avoid gift wrap hassles while making money by offering your gift wrapping expertise.
- Set up a gift wrap station or kiosk at the mall or holiday markets
- Offer door-to-door gift wrap services
- Host gift wrap parties where busy professionals enjoy food and wine while you wrap presents
- Charge fees starting at $3 per standard size gift wrapped
Take the headache out of gift wrapping for others and make money while helping spread holiday cheer.
Holiday demand for ridesharing spikes as travelers visit and revelers need designated drivers. Sign up as a driver for Uber, Lyft or a similar service to take advantage of the increased seasonal business.
- Uber drivers earn an average of $29.44 per hour
- Lyft drivers earn approximately $34 per hour
- Expect even higher holiday surges during peak travel times
- Add festive touches like holiday car fresheners to delight riders
The flexible schedule allows you to earn solid fares while spreading holiday cheer as a rideshare driver.
Final Tips for Maximizing Holiday Earnings
Implement these strategies to fully capitalize on seasonal money-making opportunities:
- Diversify your income streams – combine several ideas instead of relying on one
- Market early – start promoting your products/services in November
- Use social media – run holiday themed ads to attract customers
- Offer limited-time discounts or perks – incentives like 10% off 5 gift wraps
- Bundle services – present packages or tiered options
- Follow up – collect customer details to reconnect next holiday season
With a focused game plan, creativity and hustle, December can be incredibly lucrative. Adding side gigs and seasonal streams to your repertoire reduces holiday stress and sets you up for a prosperous New Year.
Wishing you fortunes and cheer this holiday season!
