No matter the weather or season, there are plenty of ways to make some extra cash. Since I often discuss different ways to make money on Making Sense of Cents, I thought it would be helpful to update you on various methods to earn some extra income.
With the holidays fast approaching (I can’t believe Thanksgiving is this week!), a little extra cash could come in handy, right? Whether you want to pay for holiday gifts, knock out some student loans, or save up for your 2014 travels, finding a side job is always a good idea. Here are some ways you can make extra money during the holidays:
### Give Your Expert Opinion
One interesting way to earn money is through Rewarder.com. It’s a marketplace where you can either seek answers to your questions or offer your expertise to help others. If your solution is the best, you earn a reward. So far, over $14 million in rewards have been posted, with more than 500,000 users participating.
For example, someone figured out how to make an espresso machine bought overseas compatible for use in the U.S. Another person identified a fossil found on Lake Michigan. And someone else provided a troubleshooting guide to fix a garage door. Have you tried Rewarder? What do you think about it?
### Use Swagbucks
I’ve been using Swagbucks for a while now. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it’s an easy way to earn some extra money with minimal effort. Swagbucks is a search engine that rewards you with “swagbucks” for various activities. I mainly use it for my regular internet searches. Once you accumulate enough points, you can redeem them for prizes like toys, electronics, or gift cards, with Amazon gift cards being the most popular. I’ve earned over $200 in Amazon gift cards this way. It’s simple to use, and you get a $5 bonus just for signing up through my link. Do you use Swagbucks or know of any similar sites?
### Sell Your Stuff
I always say there’s probably something in your home you can sell. You can take clothes to stores like Buffalo Exchange or Plato’s Closet, or sell items online on sites like Craigslist or eBay. If the weather permits, you might even have a yard sale.
### Freelance
Freelancing offers many opportunities. You could be a writer, website designer, video editor, and more. Websites like Fiverr and TaskRabbit are great places to start if you want to test your skills or see if there’s interest in the services you offer. If you have a professional license, make sure potential clients can easily verify it.
### Find a Seasonal Job
Many companies hire extra help for the holidays. For instance, UPS hires around 50,000 workers each winter, and many other big companies do the same. Retail stores also look for seasonal employees, which can be a good short-term gig.
### Shovel Snow
Snow shoveling can be a lucrative side job, especially if you have a snow plow. Many people prefer to stay indoors rather than shovel snow, so there’s definitely a market for it.
### Other Ideas
– Work at a Christmas tree lot
– Clean out gutters
– Rake leaves
– Walk dogs
– Become a personal trainer (January is a busy time at the gym)
– Babysit (holidays are a busy time for families)
– Start a photography business (holiday family photos are in demand)
– Take online surveys
– Mystery shop
– Rent out a room in your home
– Sign up for research groups
– Participate in medical studies
– Sell crafts on Etsy
– House sit
Do you try to make extra money during the holidays? What do you do?