These 7 Christmas Jobs and Holiday Gigs Will Put a Jingle in Your Pocket
Are you a Christmas superfan who can’t get enough of Santa, snowmen, holiday music — and even holiday Muzak?
Or are you staring at your gift list, synthesizer version of “Sleigh Bells Ring” playing in the background, and feeling, well, broke?
A seasonal side gig may be just the thing to get you through December with your spirit and finances intact. Here are seven Christmas jobs and holiday-related gigs to put some extra jingle in your pocket.
1. Sell Baked Goods
If you love to bake, this season is your time to shine. Most everyone loves to indulge in extra delights around Christmas (calories? Who’s counting?). But let’s be real: Baking is time-consuming, it’s hard work, and it’s easy to mess up.
You can rescue your neighbors, your co-workers and your area farmers’ market shoppers with ready-made treats. Read how to earn money selling your baked goods.
2. Deck Someone Else’s Halls
Decorating is a little like baking in that it’s fun, yes, but it’s also a chore. (Yeah, we said it.)
Getting up on a ladder to hang lights, untangling said lights, stringing them across the eaves only to realize you’ve run out of cord — It’s a jolly good time until you’re actually doing it.
That’s where the savvy seasonal side-hustler comes in. Market yourself for Christmas decorator jobs around your neighborhood or on a platform like Task Rabbit or Craigslist, offering up your services of hanging Christmas lights, trimming trees and even wrapping gifts. You could also find a gig with a professional decorating company.
3. Get a Retail Job
Big retailers are hiring seasonal workers by the thousands. And thanks to the low rate of unemployment, they’re having to compete with each other for workers to fill the gigs. That means better pay and benefits.
The Penny Hoarder has tallied some 700,000 Christmas job openings at major employers around the country. Check out these tips for getting hired during this competitive hiring season.
If you want a side gig that could last into the new year, tax prep specialists Jackson Hewitt is staffing up for the 2021 tax season.
4. Befriend a Senior
With social distancing keeping families apart this holiday season, there are plenty of seniors who may be feeling isolated and in need of a little extra help.
Papa, a company that pairs older adults with young people to combat isolation and loneliness, ramped up its services and hiring as the pandemic hit.
While the company operates mainly in 25 states, candidates can apply from anywhere in the United States and assist virtually with companionship, tech troubleshooting and more.
5. Sell Your Homemade Holiday Crafts
You can warm yourself in holiday spirit, exercise your artsy side and make a little money all at once by making and selling Christmas crafts. Pinterest runneth over with ideas.
Here are a few of our favorites.
6. Shovel Snow
Think of this as your holiday income stream and your winter workout regimen to keep the December weight gain at bay. Win-win!
Shovler is an app, much like Uber, that connects willing shovelers with buried driveways. (Actually, the owners of said driveways.) You shovel, they pay.
7. Take Family Portraits
If you’ve got a good eye and a better-than-decent camera, you can offer your services shooting those ubiquitous holiday family photos of everyone in matching plaid pajamas.
If you can think of an original image, all the better. And if you can get all the kids to smile at once … please, please share your secret fairy dust because we’ve literally never pulled that off.
Here’s what you need to start making money taking family photos.
Molly Moorhead is a senior editor at The Penny Hoarder and the mother of two small boys who squirm and make faces during photo sessions.
