As the most wonderful time of the year approaches—we’re looking at you, the winter holiday season—it seems like there’s never enough money on hand to cover all the gifts and other experiences you want to give your friends and family. And because we don’t want you to bury yourself under a mountain of debt by charging up a storm on high-interest credit cards, we talked to financial experts about some ideas for earning extra income right now — or any time of the year. .
Samanda Morales, financial planner at the company Wellfin360.comshe worked with clients who successfully started supplementing their income with creative work side hustles in their spare time, which helped them bring in more money when needed.
Here’s how to increase your income. Choose what works best for you based on your free time, talents, skills and abilities.
1. Decorating home interiors for parties and holidays
Let’s face it. Time is precious for so many during the holidays. There are thousands of busy moms, dads and families who won’t have time to decorate their own halls before Christmas and Hanukkah. So if you have a knack for decorating cozy spaces, post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and let friends and acquaintances know you have spaces available for seasonal decorating. Be sure to include some well-lit photos of your design work so people can get an idea of what you can do in their homes.
And here’s the thing: A side gig decorating doesn’t have to be limited to Christmas trees and fireplace mantels in December. You can also offer to lend your creative skills to decorating kitchens, family rooms, restrooms, and anywhere that could use a little spirit during the holidays or even a birthday party or anniversary gathering. To reduce any upfront costs, use your client’s personal decorations or ask for a budget to purchase new items to brighten up every room in their home.
2. Hanging Christmas lights on homes and businesses
There is something almost magical about the soft glow of lights illuminating the windows and gutters of homes and businesses during the holiday season. If you have a knack for turning a ho-hum space into something Disney Imagineers might have designed, consider this side gig. Because lights and other decorations can be added on weekends and after hours, this is a great part-time job for someone who already has a full-time job. Posting your business on social media and using backyard signs in upscale neighborhoods is a great way to get the word out about this potential side hustle.
3. Catering of meals and cocktails
If you love to cook – and your friends and family really love to eat what you make – you might want to consider starting and commercial food preparation for specific events or cooking and preparing meals for individuals and families. As the hours are flexible, it would also be something you could do around your schedule and outside of other work if needed, especially cooking and preparing meals for a client. No one needs to know you baked them banana muffins at 3 in the morning
This is another side gig or job that can be done from your home and by advertising your services on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to check with your local health department to make sure you’re following all food safety rules in your area. Some health agencies require individuals with small businesses to take a food handler course and purchase a permit.
4. Preparation of homemade infant and toddler food
New mothers barely have time to shower, let alone prepare nutritious meals for their precious little ones in their spare time. You can take your babysitting game up a notch by offering this special idea: creating homemade meals for families who want their babies and children to eat homemade meals but don’t have the time or energy to prepare and puree them. It can be a standalone operation or an addition to traditional babysitting for those who know how to prepare nutritious meals for the little ones.
5. Selling cupcakes (and other goodies) for birthdays and special occasions
Morales has a client who regularly works full-time and then supplements her income baking cupcakes for clients for birthday parties and other celebrations. She found that making cupcakes was more manageable than baking and decorating whole cakes. The client operates her business through a social media account, accepting orders through comments on posts and through private messages. If you do try this type of work, be sure to check with your local health department about the rules for operating a home food business from your home.
6. Providing home sitting services for the elderly
As our population continues to age, more people will be needed to care for older adults or help them with everyday tasks that do not require advanced training or other certifications. For those compassionate souls with the right temperament, this could be a great side job, either independently or through an agency that already provides senior care in your area. Depending on the part of the US and the hours needed, adult sitters can earn between $15 and $25 an hour (or more) to ensure a client stays safe at home. For more information on this line of work National Institute on Aging have created a free Caregiver’s Handbook that you can access online or download to your computer.
7. Offer of transportation or carpooling
Thousands of people across the country need rides to the doctor, grocery store, and even work, but are unable to drive errands and make these necessary appointments themselves. And while ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have become popular in many areas, there are still plenty of places in the U.S. that don’t have enough drivers to get people to and from meetings. If you have reliable transportation and enjoy the company of others, a work in the gig economy could be a way to create a new source of income to help drain your savings account earnings.
8. Become an online or in-person tutor
For those with a knack for explaining complicated subjects (hello, algebra and geometry), there will always be students (from elementary school through college) who need extra help understanding equations or writing an essay. in 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average annual salary of lecturers was almost $40,000. A study by Harvard and Boston University found that the number of private tutoring centers in the US will more than triple between 1997 and 2022. Be sure to update your LinkedIn profile or create one if needed to help spread the word about your new one tutoring services.
9. Sell clothes (and other thrift store stuff) online
If you haven’t been through Craigslist, Etsy, eBay, Poshmarkor Facebook Marketplace recently, you might be surprised at how many purses, pairs of designer shorts, and even old dishes are being snapped up for cash every day. Entrepreneurs who are successful in selling online have a good understanding of what brands are most in demand and also post their offers on various online platforms to get the most reach and the most sales and rewards. To keep selling online, you’ll need to buy things cheap and then sell high to make a profit.
This tutorial on How to sell on Facebook Marketplace will guide you through the steps to a successful sale. To reach even more customers, consider creating YouTube channel share with potential customers on online marketplaces where you sell the most inventory.
10. Ask for a raise
File it under: “You’ll miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” If it’s been a while since you asked for a raise or promotion—or if you’ve never asked—consider this your cue to speak up, especially if have you learned a new skill or taken some online courses since you started. Do you need help preparing your case? Career Contessa Blog offers a great step-by-step guide to asking for a raise, including how to prepare for the conversation, mistakes to avoid, and even how to follow up after the initial interview. It’s time to be brave, do your homework and ask. You won’t regret it!
Bottom line, how to increase your income
There are so many smart and creative ways to start bringing in extra income to improve your personal finances (and save for that big purchase) as the holidays and New Year approach. From baking goods, offering rides, or selling your stuff on Facebook Marketplace and other online retailers, it’s not too late to find a successful one side hustle. key? Find something where you can use your expertise and really enjoy the work so that your efforts are sustainable in the long term – if you need it.
