9 Ways to Earn Extra Christmas Money This Holiday Season

There’s no denying the magic of the Christmas season—but let’s not ignore the cost of it as well. Between Christmas gifts, Christmas trees, greeting cards, and even gift wrapping, your credit card balance can add up surprisingly fast.

In fact, 36% of Americans took on debt during the 2021 holiday season, with an average debt of $1,249. Earning some extra cash can go a long way in keeping your holiday shopping more manageable.

With that in mind, here are some ways you can earn extra Christmas money so your holidays can truly be merry and bright.

9 ways to earn Christmas money this season

Here are some easy ways to make money so your Christmas shopping doesn’t put added stress on your personal finances. Best of all, these options for earning some extra cash are quite flexible. You can make many of these work with your schedule and needs, even if you already have another job.

1. Babysitting

The holidays are a busy time. Between work parties, shopping and other activities, there tends to be more demand for babysitting at this time of year. Websites like Care.com allow you to create a profile where you can make yourself available for child care, senior care, pet care and even housekeeping.

Of course, you can also get babysitting jobs simply by letting family, friends and neighbors know that you’re available and able to help.

2. Dog walking

It may be cold outside, but dogs still need to go on walks. And many people feel like they're crunched for time during the holidays, especially if they’re working a full-time job themselves.

Apps like Rover and Wag! make it easy to connect with other people in your area who are in need of dog walking or pet sitting services. These apps make it easy to set up your schedule in a way that works best for you — whether you need to find a last-minute gig or want to plan out walks weeks in advance.

3. Work as a rideshare driver

Working as an Uber or Lyft driver has perhaps become the stereotypical side gig for many Americans — there’s no denying it’s a straightforward way to earn some extra Christmas money. You get to use your own car on a schedule that works best for you to give others rides in your area.

Of course, you’ll need to be mindful of how those extra miles could result in additional costs for your vehicle. Gas, maintenance and other expenses could affect how much money you are able to add to your bank account while operating a rideshare vehicle.

4. Deliver food

Working as a rideshare driver isn’t the only way you can earn Christmas money using your own car. Food delivery services have become increasingly popular. With so many holiday parties going on during the Christmas season, many people have food delivered to save valuable time and stress.

Instacart is a popular option for grocery delivery, while DoorDash focuses more on restaurant delivery. You could easily make accounts with both to deliver food to others in your area who are wanting to streamline their own holiday preparations.

5. Get a seasonal job

Even if you don’t have the right look to work as a mall Santa, there are plenty of seasonal jobs you can take on during the busy shopping months of November and December. For example, Amazon offers a wide range of part-time and full-time seasonal jobs for warehouse associates and delivery drivers. Other retailers like Walmart and Target hire extra in-store workers to deal with the higher levels of foot traffic they experience at this time of year.

You won’t necessarily be able to always get your preferred hours with these types of seasonal jobs. However, they do offer consistent pay — and some offer sign-on bonuses or bonuses if you stay through the entire holiday season. You could even turn a seasonal job into a full-time job.

6. Take online surveys

If you want to earn some Christmas money without leaving the comfort of your own home, online survey sites are a decent option. Though you typically won’t earn as much as other options on this list, websites like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie allow you to earn a bit of extra cash simply by taking customer surveys in your free time. As you complete surveys, you gradually build up a balance that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards.

You can take surveys from your smartphone or a laptop computer — meaning you could even fill out surveys while waiting in the checkout line at the store.

7. Sell unwanted items

The minimalist mantra of “one in, one out” can also help you earn some extra Christmas money. Essentially, the idea is that for each item you bring into your home, something else must leave. This could include books, electronics, clothing, toys, collectibles and more.

The reality is, many people could be willing to pay for such items if they are in good condition. You could sell items that you no longer want, need or use on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. In some areas, bookstores and electronics stores will offer cash or store credit for used items — a great option if you plan on shopping at these locations anyway.

8. Make and sell DIY items

There’s plenty of demand for Christmas cards and other printables as well as quality holiday gift wrapping and gift boxes for Christmas presents. Not everyone has the time or talent to do these themselves. If you have an artistic side, you could easily make some extra cash by helping other people with their gift wrapping or by selling handmade cards and other items on Etsy.

Who knows, your ability to make and sell DIY items could become a full-fledged small business.

9. Take advantage of credit card rewards

Before you use your credit card for holiday shopping, take a look at its cash back and rewards programs. Many cards offer bonus rewards points at popular retailers during the holiday season, allowing you to earn more cash back when you buy Christmas gifts from them. You may also be able to redeem rewards points for gift cards (which is a safe gift option for the pickier people on your list).

Earn more Christmas money to help your budget go further

Regardless of what your holiday shopping budget looks like, earning extra Christmas money is a sure way to relieve the financial pressure that many feel at this time of year. Every little bit helps, and of course, this list is just a starting point.

With a little creativity, you can earn enough holiday money so that you won’t go into unnecessary debt as a result of your Christmas spending. Of course, if credit card debt (holiday-related or otherwise) has become a burden in your life, Tally† can help. By combining debt from your credit cards into a single, lower-interest line of credit, you can pay off debt quickly and create more room in your budget for gifts and necessities.

†To get the benefits of a Tally line of credit, you must qualify for and accept a Tally line of credit. The APR (which is the same as your interest rate) will be between 7.90% and 29.99% per year and will be based on your credit history. The APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Annual fees range from $0 - $300.