When the most wonderful time of the year approaches – we’re looking at you, the winter holiday season – it seems like there’s never enough cash on hand to cover all of the gifts and other experiences you want to treat your friends and family to. And because we don’t want you to get buried under a mountain of debt by charging up a storm on high-interest credit cards, we talked with financial experts for some savvy ideas on earning extra income right now – or any time of the year.
Samanda Morales, a financial planner at Wellfin360.com, has worked with clients who successfully began supplementing their income on an ongoing basis with creative side hustles in their spare time that helped them bring in more money when needed.
Here is 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 at a premium for so many people during the holidays. There are thousands of busy moms, dads, and families who won’t have time to deck their own halls leading up to Christmas and Hanukkah. So, if you have a knack for decorating cozy spaces, put out a post on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, letting friends and acquaintances know you have slots open for seasonal decorating. Be sure to include some well-lit photos of your design work so people will be able to have an idea of what you can do in their homes.
And here’s the thing: A decorating side gig doesn’t have to be limited to Christmas trees and fireplace mantels in December. You could also offer to lend your creative skills to decorating kitchens, family rooms, powder rooms, and anywhere that could use a little spirit during the holidays or even for a birthday soiree or anniversary gathering. To cut down on any upfront costs, use your client’s personal decorations or ask for a budget to buy new items to turn up the twinkle in any room of 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 eaves of homes and businesses during the holiday season. If you have a talent for turning a ho-hum space into something that could have been designed by the Imagineers at Disney, consider this side gig. Because lights and other decor can be added on weekends and after hours, it’s a great part-time job for someone who already has a full-time job. Posting your business on social media and with yard signs in upscale neighborhoods is a great way to get the word out about this potential side hustle.
3. Catering meals and cocktail parties
If you love to cook – and friends and family genuinely love to eat what you make – you could consider starting a business preparing meals for specific events or cooking and prepping meals for individuals and families. Because the hours are flexible, this would also be something you could do on your own schedule and outside another job if needed, especially when cooking and prepping meals for a client. No one has to know you baked their banana nut muffins at 3 a.m.
This is another side gig or job that could be accomplished from your home and by advertising your services on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to check with your local health department to make sure you comply with all food safety rules for your area. Some health agencies require individuals with small businesses to take a food handler’s class and buy a permit.
4. Meal prepping homemade baby and toddler food
New moms barely have time to shower, let alone make nutritious food for their precious little ones in their spare time. You can take your babysitting game up a notch by offering this niche idea: in-home meal creation for families who want their babies and children to eat home-cooked meals but don’t have time or the energy to make and puree food. This could be a solo operation or an add-on to a traditional babysitting business for those who know how to prepare nutritious meals for little ones.
5. Selling cupcakes (and other treats) for birthdays and special occasions
Morales has a client who works a regular full-time job and then supplements her income by baking cupcakes for clients for birthday parties and other celebrations. She finds that making cupcakes is more manageable than baking and decorating whole cakes. The client runs her business through a social media account, taking orders through comments on posts and via private messages. If you try your hand at this type of work, be sure to check with the health department in your area for rules on running a cottage food industry from your home.
6. Providing home sitting services for senior adults
As our population continues to age, more people will be needed to caretake older adults or help them complete everyday tasks that don’t require advanced training or other certifications. For those compassionate souls with the right temperament, this could be a great side job, either on your own or through an agency that already provides senior care in your area. Depending on the part of the U.S. and the hours needed, adult sitters can earn between $15 and $25 per hour (or more) to make sure a client stays safe at home. For more information about this line of work, the National Institute on Aging created a free Caregiver’s Handbook you can access online or download to your computer.
7. Offering transportation or a ride-share service
Thousands of people across the country need rides to the doctor, the grocery store, and even to work but aren’t able to drive themselves on errands and to these necessary appointments. And while ride-share services such as 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 those in need to and from their appointments. If you have reliable transportation and enjoy the company of others, a gig economy job could be a way to create a new income stream to help you sock away your earnings in a savings account.
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 how to compose an essay. In 2023, The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median yearly salary for tutors was nearly $40,000. A Harvard and Boston University study found that the number of private tutoring centers more than tripled in the U.S. between 1997 and 2022. Make sure to update your LinkedIn profile or create one, if necessary, to help spread the word about your new tutoring services.
9. Sell clothes (and other thrift store finds) online
If you haven’t browsed Craigslist, Etsy, eBay, Poshmark, or Facebook Marketplace recently, you may be surprised to see how many handbags, pairs of designer shorts, and even old dishes are getting snapped up for cash every day. Entrepreneurs who are successful at online reselling have a good understanding of what brands are most in demand and also post their offerings across a variety of online platforms for the largest reach and the most sales and rewards. To sustain an online reselling business, you’ll need to buy things on the cheap side and then sell high to make a profit.
This guide on How to Sell on Facebook Marketplace can walk you through the steps for a successful sale. To reach even more customers, consider creating a YouTube channel to share with potential customers across the online marketplaces where you sell the most inventory.
10. Ask For a Raise
File this one under, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” If it has been a while since you asked for a pay raise or promotion – or if you never have – consider this your sign to speak up, especially if you have learned a new skill or taken any online courses since you started. Need help making your case? The Career Contessa blog offers a great step-by-step guide on how to ask for a raise, including how to prep for the conversation, mistakes to avoid, and even how to follow up once you’ve had the initial conversation. It’s time to be brave, do your homework, and make the ask. You won’t regret it!
The Bottom Line on How to Increase Your Income
There are so many clever and creative ways to start bringing in extra income to enhance your personal finances (and save for that big purchase) as the holidays approach and the new year beckons. 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 side hustle. The key? Find something where you can use your expertise and really enjoy the work so that the effort will be sustainable in the long term — if you need it to be.