- Delivery apps pay fastest: DoorDash's Crimson account deposits earnings after every dash, and Instacart shoppers can cash out minutes after a delivery.
- Platforms take a cut. Rover keeps 20% of each booking, and Upwork charges freelancers 0% to 15% per contract.
- Holiday side income is taxable. Once net self-employment earnings hit $400, the IRS requires you to file and pay 15.3% self-employment tax.
Between gifts, travel, decorations, and family events, Christmas costs add up fast. If you haven't saved for it yet, earning extra money between now and December 25 is a better plan than putting the season on a credit card. Start by setting a simple holiday budget so you know the number you're working toward.
Seasonal jobs are harder to land than they used to be. Retailers added 461,500 seasonal workers in the fourth quarter of 2025, the fewest since 2008, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. That makes flexible gig work and selling what you already own more useful this year, and most of the best side hustles below let you start within a few days.
Below are 23 ways to earn extra money before Christmas, with a difficulty rating, how fast you can start, honest pros and cons, and a quick-start tip for each. If you need cash this week, start with the payout table, and read the side hustle tax rules before you file next spring.
How To Use This List
Every idea is rated on the same scales so you can compare them quickly. If you want options you can finish in an afternoon, our list of quick money-making ideas pairs well with this one.
- Difficulty: Easy, Moderate, or Skilled
- Time to Start: Same day, 1–3 days, or 1 week+
- Pros and Cons: What works and what doesn't
- Quick Start Tip: One action you can take today
Which Holiday Side Hustles Pay Fastest?
If the goal is cash before Christmas, payout speed matters as much as pay rate. Delivery apps and in-person services win here, while freelance platforms and surveys can take longer to reach a payout. You can move any of these earnings into a high-yield savings account until you're ready to shop.
| Method | How You Get Paid |
|---|---|
| DoorDash | After Every Dash Free with Crimson, or $1.99 Fast Pay once a day |
| Instacart | Within Minutes Instant Cashout for a fee, tips after 2 hours |
| Selling Locally | At Pickup Cash or app payment from the buyer |
| Local Services | When The Job Ends Babysitting, snow removal, gift wrapping, lights |
| Gift Card Resale | Varies CardCash pays by check, ACH, or PayPal |
| Seasonal Retail | Payday Your employer's regular schedule |
23 Ways To Earn Extra Cash For Christmas
1. Deliver Food
Evenings and weekends get busy in December, and you choose your own hours. Read our DoorDash review for how pay works, and note that DoorDash requires Dashers to be at least 18, with higher minimums in some states including 21 in California.
- High demand during holiday weekends
- Daily or per-dash payout options
- Income varies by city and weather
- Gas and wear on your car
Quick Start Tip: Sign up with more than one app so you can switch when one is slow.
2. Shop And Deliver Groceries
Holiday meals mean more grocery orders. Our Instacart driver review covers the details, and Instacart shows shoppers upfront pay, batch earnings, and the expected tip before they accept a batch, so you can skip orders that don't pay enough.
- See what an order pays before accepting it
- Decline batches without penalty
- Heavy lifting on large holiday orders
- Crowded stores during peak shopping times
Quick Start Tip: Accept orders near dense apartment buildings for faster batches.
3. Sell Unused Items On Facebook Marketplace
Selling what you already own is the quickest way to turn clutter into cash, since buyers usually pay at pickup. Facebook Marketplace is one of several Craigslist alternatives for selling your stuff.
- Cash in hand at pickup
- No shipping
- Buyers who don't show up
- You need to meet in a safe public place
Quick Start Tip: Photograph items in daylight on a plain background.
4. Resell Or Flip Items For Profit
Buying underpriced items and reselling them works best in categories you already know, like video games, sneakers, tools, or furniture. Start with smaller items you can clean and list quickly, then move up once you know what sells. Our list of secret websites to make money includes several resale marketplaces.
- Good margins on electronics, toys, and furniture
- Flexible schedule
- You need product knowledge
- Storage and transport for bigger items
Quick Start Tip: Check sold listings, not active ones, to see what items actually go for.
5. Sell Used Clothes Online
Closets full of clothes you don't wear can cover a few gifts. Apps like Poshmark let you list from your phone, and our breakdown of how to sell used clothes online compares the main options.
- Uses items you already own
- List in minutes from your phone
- Shipping deadlines tighten in December
- Platform fees reduce your take
Quick Start Tip: List coats, boots, and party outfits first, since those sell in season. See our Poshmark review for how fees work.
6. Offer Gift-Wrapping Services
Plenty of people would rather pay than wrap a stack of presents. It costs little to start and fits around a day job, which makes it one of the easier quick money-making ideas for the season.
- Heavy demand in December
- Low startup cost
- Seasonal only
- Takes some craft skill
Quick Start Tip: Promote in neighborhood groups and offer pickup and drop-off.
7. Hang Christmas Lights
Homeowners pay well to stay off the ladder. Like other high-paying side gigs, the money comes from charging for skill and risk rather than time alone.
- Strong demand from Thanksgiving on
- Premium pricing
- Ladder work and fall risk
- Weather delays
Quick Start Tip: Offer a flat "roofline only" rate to simplify pricing, and book takedown at the same time.
8. Pet Sit Or Walk Dogs
Holiday travel means pets need care. Our Rover review and Wag review explain how each app works. Rover keeps a 20% service fee from each booking, so sitters keep 80%.
- Heavy demand around Christmas travel
- Good fit for animal lovers
- Platform fees
- You're on call for pet emergencies
Quick Start Tip: Build a profile with photos and set holiday rates early.
9. House Sit During The Holidays
Families leaving town want someone to keep an eye on the house. Rover lists house sitting alongside pet care, so the Rover review is a good place to start if you'd rather use an app than word of mouth.
- Low effort
- Add-on tasks pay extra
- Requires reliability
- Can collide with your own holiday plans
Quick Start Tip: Offer add-ons like mail pickup, plant watering, and snow shoveling.
10. Tutor Before Finals
Demand for tutors peaks between Thanksgiving and winter break. Tutors earned a median of $20.84 an hour in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and our breakdown of how to become an online tutor covers the platforms.
- Above-average hourly pay
- Can be done online
- Requires subject expertise
Quick Start Tip: Sell bundled "final exam prep" packages to parents.
11. Freelance On Fiverr Or Upwork
Businesses need holiday cards, ads, social posts, and editing. Both platforms appear on our list of websites to make money. Upwork charges freelancers a variable fee of 0% to 15%, set before each contract starts.
- Pay scales with your skill
- Seasonal demand for design and writing
- Crowded marketplaces
- New sellers need reviews to win work
Quick Start Tip: Create holiday-themed gig packages, and price your first few low to collect reviews.
12. Take Paid Surveys Online
Surveys pay little per hour, but you can do them while watching TV. Our Swagbucks review, InboxDollars review, and Survey Junkie review compare the most popular options.
- No experience needed
- Swagbucks accepts users 13 and older
- Low hourly rate
- Payout minimums
Quick Start Tip: Skip surveys that pay less than $0.50, and see our ranking of the best paid survey sites for more options.
13. Test Websites And Apps
Companies pay for feedback on how their sites work. UserTesting is on our list of websites to make money, and UserTesting requires testers to be 18 or older.
- Pays more than most surveys
- Short tasks
- Limited test availability
Quick Start Tip: Sign up for several testing platforms so you see more tests.
14. Rent A Room On Airbnb
Holiday travelers need places to stay, and a spare room can earn more in December than most gigs. Airbnb is moving hosts to a single host-only fee, which is usually 15.5%. If you'd rather have a longer-term renter, see our SpareRoom review.
- Strong holiday travel demand
- Higher income potential than most gigs
- Cleaning and guest management
- Check your lease, HOA, and local short-term rental rules first
Quick Start Tip: Offer a discount for multi-night winter stays to stand out.
Neighbor lets you rent out a garage, closet, or driveway for storage, with no guests to clean up after. It works well alongside other ways to make money from home.
List Your Space On Neighbor →15. Offer Snow Removal
After a storm, people pay quickly for a clear driveway. It ranks among the best side hustles for anyone who already owns a shovel or snowblower.
- Urgent demand after storms
- Paid on the spot
- Physical labor
- Depends on the weather
Quick Start Tip: Charge a flat price per driveway so customers can say yes fast.
16. Babysit
Holiday parties and school breaks leave parents short on coverage. Childcare workers earned a median of $16.82 an hour in May 2025, according to the BLS, and babysitting is a top pick on our list of side hustles for teens.
- Steady demand during parties and school breaks
- Paid at the end of the night
- Requires patience and attention
- Care.com requires caregivers to be 18 or older
Quick Start Tip: Offer a "holiday party bundle" to multiple families attending the same event.
17. Sell Baked Goods Or Holiday Treats
Cookies, breads, and candy sell well in December. Cottage food rules vary widely by state, including sales caps in 25 states, according to a 2022 Institute for Justice report, so check your state before you sell. It's one of the easier ways to make money from home.
- Strong seasonal demand
- Creative outlet
- Ingredient costs
- State cottage food rules
Quick Start Tip: Pre-sell batches in local groups so you only bake what's paid for.
18. Work Seasonal Retail Or Warehouse Shifts
Seasonal jobs offer guaranteed hours and often an employee discount. Michaels plans to hire more than 10,000 seasonal workers, and Macy's is hiring nationwide, while retail salespersons earned a median of $17.03 an hour in May 2025. Compare it with the high-paying side gigs on our list before committing your weekends.
- Guaranteed hours
- Employee discounts on holiday shopping
- Fixed schedules
- Fewer openings than in past years
Quick Start Tip: Apply in October, since Macy's says it is already hiring for the season.
19. Sell Handmade Gifts
Handmade ornaments, candles, and prints sell well before Christmas. Etsy is on our list of websites to make money, and digital printables avoid shipping deadlines altogether.
- Good margins
- Creative work
- Production time
- Holiday shipping cutoffs
Quick Start Tip: Add digital items like printable gift tags for instant delivery.
20. Sell Unwanted Gift Cards
Gift cards you won't use are cash sitting in a drawer. We cover the options in how to handle unwanted gifts. CardCash buys gift cards and pays by check, ACH, or PayPal, while Raise lists cards for free and takes a 15% commission when one sells.
- Fast money for little effort
- You get less than face value
Quick Start Tip: Compare offers on more than one site before you sell.
21. Join Paid Research Studies
Universities and research firms pay for participants, and many studies run online. Prolific is one platform on our list of websites to make money.
- Good hourly pay for short studies
- Many can be done from home
- Screening and limited spots
Quick Start Tip: Check psychology and business departments at nearby universities.
22. Deliver Packages With Amazon Flex
Flex lets you claim scheduled delivery blocks around your own calendar instead of waiting on orders. Our walkthrough on how to start driving for Amazon Flex covers requirements, and it's one of several ways to make money driving.
- Claim blocks ahead of time
- Holiday shopping means more packages to deliver
- Background check before you start
- Gas and vehicle wear
Quick Start Tip: Once you're approved, claim blocks for the weekends before Christmas first.
23. Offer Quick Cleanup Or Organizing
Hosts want their homes ready before guests arrive. A fixed-price package is one of the simplest quick money-making ideas you can sell to neighbors.
- Strong demand before holiday gatherings
- Minimal supplies
- Some homes take longer than expected
Quick Start Tip: Offer a "2-hour holiday refresh" at a fixed price.
Best Ways For Teens To Earn Christmas Money
Most gig apps require users to be 18, so teens do better with in-person work. Babysitting, snow removal, gift wrapping, and pet care for neighbors don't need an app. Our list of side hustles for teens has more options.
Online, Swagbucks accepts users 13 and older, and Fiverr lets 13- to 17-year-olds sell through a parent's account. InboxDollars, Survey Junkie, Rover, and UserTesting all require users to be 18. Teens 18 and older can park what they earn in a high-yield savings account.
Do You Pay Taxes On Holiday Side Income?
Yes. If your net self-employment earnings are $400 or more, you must file a return and pay self-employment tax of 15.3%, which covers Social Security and Medicare. Our walkthrough on how to handle side hustle taxes explains deductions like mileage.
You may not get a tax form for small amounts. Payment apps and marketplaces only have to send a Form 1099-K once you pass $20,000 and 200 transactions, and the 1099-NEC threshold rises from $600 to $2,000 starting with tax year 2026. The income is still taxable without a form. See our explainers on the 1099-K and 1099-NEC.
Selling personal items at a loss isn't taxable income, according to the IRS, but profit from flipping is. Set aside a share of every gig payment in a separate high-yield savings account so April doesn't erase your Christmas money.
Keep gift money and your tax set-aside apart from everyday spending. Our list of the best high-yield savings accounts is updated monthly with current rates.
Compare Savings Rates →How To Avoid Holiday Job Scams
Fake job offers spike when people need cash. In 2024, the FTC received 126,217 reports of business and job opportunity scams, with $751 million in reported losses. Our rundown of common scams and how to avoid them covers the warning signs.
A real employer won't ask you to pay for training, buy equipment with a check they send you, or move money through your bank account. Stick with established apps like the ones on our best side hustles list, and never pay to get a job.
Earn Extra Money For Christmas Without New Debt
Pick one fast-paying option, like delivery or selling items, and one higher-paying option, like tutoring or freelancing. A few hours a week on each can cover gifts without a balance to pay off in January. For year-round income, see our list of high-paying side gigs that can earn $1,000 or more a month.
When you do shop, a cash back credit card paid in full each month gives you a little back on gifts you were buying anyway.
Do you earn extra money for Christmas or save all year?
Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Colin Graves
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.