This New Holiday Lyft Bonus Could Help You Earn an Extra $500

man driving his car at night
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How’s your holiday shopping fund looking?

Yeah, we all start January with high hopes of doing better this year. But November rolls around, and we realize the year got the best of us — and our wallets — once again.

If your bank account is lighter than you planned, it’s time to figure out how to make extra money before holiday spending wreaks havoc on your budget.

Guess what? We’ve got a way to help you do that.

Drive With Lyft to Boost Your Holiday Fund

Demand for ridesharing has been growing like crazy, and it shows no signs of slowing down. As rideshare company Lyft expands around the country this year, it needs new drivers.

That means more opportunities for you to earn extra money — just in time.

If you’re looking to make extra cash for holiday expenses, gifts or even the heating bill, Lyft can help you achieve your goal. You keep 100% of your tips — and Lyft has even started adding higher tip options, which has resulted in a 13% increase in tips on rides over $25, according to a company representative.

To be eligible, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old with a year of driving experience, pass a background check and own a car made in 2007 or later.

To get an idea of how much you could earn as a Lyft driver, we talked to Paul Pruce, who’s been driving full-time with Lyft for over a year. He earns $750 a week. Best of all, he does it on his own time. You can work days, nights or weekends — it’s up to you.

Get a Higher Lyft Driver Bonus for the Holidays

Lyft wants to get drivers on the road, so it’s come up with a sweet incentive to encourage you to start driving after you sign up.

On top of your regular fares and tips, you can also earn a bonus for signing up and taking your first rides.

Normally, this bonus is $250 for completing 100 rides within 30 days — but Lyft has upped the ante for the holiday season.

Now through Dec. 31, you can earn double — $500 — and you get 45 days to complete the requirements.

Consider it your holiday bonus. No need to send a thank-you card.

To earn your $500 Lyft driver bonus:

  1. Sign up to drive with Lyft here before Dec. 31, and enter the code TISTHESEASON17.
  2. Complete 150 rides within 45 days of approval as a driver. If you drive full-time, that’s about two rides per hour.
  3. Your $500 bonus will be added to your weekly deposit.

Plus, if you drive for six weeks and earn $750 a week… that’s another $4,500. If Lyft is your full-time gig, it’s a cool, flexible way to make a living. If you’re hustling on the side of another job, that’s a pretty hefty addition to your bank account for a few weeks of extra work.

That should start you off on the right foot for the new year, huh?

You should find plenty of additional opportunities to give rides, too. Think: holiday travelers without a car, party attendees who need a safe ride home, or Black Friday shoppers who don’t want to deal with parking.

Happy holidays! (Too soon? Yeah, we were afraid of that. Let’s say Happy earning! and leave it at that.)

Dana Sitar ([email protected]) is a senior writer/newsletter editor at The Penny Hoarder. Say hi and tell her a good joke on Twitter @danasitar.