Personal Finance Expert reveals 13 ways to earn extra cash this Christmas

Christmas costs can add up, and while there are plenty of ways to save money, you can also use the festive period to make some extra cash too.

CashLady.com’s Personal Finance Expert, Paul Wilson, has shared 13 ways to earn some dough in the run up to 25th December.

1. Babysitting

It might sound old fashioned but the fact is there are lots of parents who want to go out at Christmas, either for a Christmas party, a quiet meal or a few drinks with friends. If you already work in a childcare setting or know some friends, family or neighbours who need a hand then offering to look after the kids can earn you some extra cash as well as brownie points. 

1. Cleaning

With many homes having house guests over Christmas, cleaners are in high demand. Many domestic cleaners charge extra for one off cleans, or will only take on work if it’s a regular commitment. Offering to do a one-off pre-Christmas spruce up at a reasonable rate could make you a bit of extra cash. Similarly, ironing is another chore that time-poor people may be happy to pay for during such a busy time of year.

1. Present Wrapping

There are lots of people who can’t stand the sight of Sellotape and a pile of presents. If you’re handy with some wrapping paper and can make Christmas presents look extra special, then offer to do it for others too. You could charge per gift or per hour depending on the amount or size and awkwardness of the gifts.

1. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking

With animal owners out shopping or visiting family over the holidays, now could be a good time to offer to walk dogs or pop in and feed people’s cats. There are plenty of dog walking jobs on the web, you just need to search for the right one.

1. Launch a Side Hustle

If you’ve been meaning to make homemade diaries or personalised photo frames, Christmas is one of the best times to do it. You can earn up to £1,000 tax free on an additional income so bite the bullet and give it a go.

1. Sell Old Clothes

Sites like eBay and Depop can get really busy this time of year. Have a scout through your clothes, be ruthless and put anything worthwhile onto a second hand site. A lot of people are making the change to second hand shopping so you can really capitalise on this and have a good clear out too.

1. Check Your Old Tech

Have a look for any old mobile phones, laptops or iPads that have been gathering dust. Use sites like Music Magpie to sell them. You don’t always make huge amounts but it does all start to add up.

1. Sign Up for Surveys

There are a range of websites that will pay you to take part in online or in-person focus groups. Depending on the time involved, they can pay up to £150, sometimes more. Have a look at companies like Saros and Research Opinions who are known for paying well.

1. Use Cashback Sites

Christmas is the absolute best time to use cashback sites. You’re buying possibly more than you do in any other month so it pays to sign up and start earning on what you buy. You won’t get this cash immediately but it can be a bonus post Christmas when things are a little leaner.

1. Become a Task Rabbit

Task Rabbit is a website where you can sign up and offer your services. People looking for specific jobs can view your profile and hire you. Things like ‘build flat pack furniture’ are pretty popular but at this time of year, returning parcels is one of the most lucrative tasks. Task Rabbit does take a cut, so you need to consider this when deciding whether to take a job.

1. Join AirBnB

If you’ve got the space, you could put your home or room on AirBnB for people visiting over the festive period but not wanting to fork out for a hotel. If you’re planning on going away yourself then this could be a way to make quite a bit of extra cash and have a house sitter.

1. Royal Mail

The postal service is at its all time busiest during December. They regularly advertise for seasonal support workers, usually in their sorting offices. Have a look if there are any part time positions near you that could supplement your income.

1. Try Delivery Driving

Deliveries of absolutely everything increase at Christmas, from food to gifts to crates of beer, everyone is stocking up and preparing for the big day. Find out if your local courier services or food carriers are taking on extra drivers. These roles are often on an ad-hoc basis to work around your schedule, so could be useful if you already have a job.

CashLady.com‘s Personal Finance Expert has released these tips to help those in need of extra money this Christmas. CashLady.com is a loans comparison website that allows users to compare small loans from over 40 lenders to secure the lowest APR possible.