5 Ways To Make Fast Cash for Holiday Shopping
October 25, 2017
Believe it or not, it’s almost time to shop for the holidays. No matter how determined we are to save for holiday shopping, many of us fall short—and panic sets in. How are we going to buy presents and entertain friends and relatives without maxing out all our credit cards? Here are 5 ways to make some fast cash—just in time for the holidays.
Sell unneeded household items
Hit the playroom, kids’ rooms, closets, and storage areas and collect all the items you no longer use. Get your kids to collect all the toys they have outgrown. Raid closets for clothing and handbags that are in good shape, and items you received as gifts but never use. Sell any furniture or household items you don’t want anymore. That dresser in the spare room you don’t use, a small table you put in the attic “just in case,” the pre-lit Christmas tree you bought one year and used once … advertise them on sites like eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook buy and sell pages. Or organize a garage sale.
Join coupon cash-back apps
These apps are free to join, and give you cash back when you shop. For some, you will need to buy specific products or brands, many of which you’ll likely already have on your shopping list. When you purchase the items, you scan the barcode, take a picture of the receipt, and earn back either points or cash. Combining a few apps can earn you double or triple each week, and you can use coupons, too!
Cut back on spending
The thought will make many of us shudder, but take a moment to think about where your extra cash goes. Do you spend $6 on lattes every day? Buy lunch three times a week, or more? Instead, make coffee at home and pack your lunch for a few weeks or a month and watch the savings add up. Be sure to put the cash you save in a jar, envelope, or account so it will be there when you are ready to shop.
Get a seasonal job
Many businesses hire extra help during the holiday season. If you work just two nights a week or a day on the weekend, you’ll make a chunk of extra cash. Be sure to look now, before the college kids get home and grab all the seasonal jobs.
Start your own business or service
Consider joining a direct sales company and having a launch party. If you are crafty and can make jewelry or knit scarves, you can sell them out of your home or at craft fairs and vendor events. Or start a service-based business: offer to drive the elderly to appointments, babysit before or after school, start a gift wrapping service, or pet sit. Advertise your service on Craigslist, or on neighborhood list serves. Who knows, you may launch a successful business that you’ll want to pursue all year long.
Whatever you do, don’t wait: the holidays are fast approaching.
I’d love to hear your holiday money making ideas, too!
