15 Creative Christmas Money Making Ideas

Do you dread the idea of having to come up with ways to make money for the holiday season? Are you sick of spending time and energy coming up with creative ways to spend your investment? Are you struggling to find time to pull ideas together in time for the holidays? If so, this post is for you! 

Creative ways to make money during the holiday season aren’t particularly abundant, but they do exist. Finding new ideas isn’t always easy or exciting, but it is something that everyone should be prepared for as we approach December. However, that doesn’t mean that it has to be stressful or overwhelming. 

The good news is that there are some simple (and not-so-simple) money making ideas available right now if you take action immediately. Even if you have a full-time job, there are still plenty of ways to earn some extra cash. 

Most of these ideas don’t require a lot of investment or a ton of time. Many can be done on the side while you work on other projects as well. And who knows? Maybe one of these ideas will help you land a new full-time gig after the holidays are over!

Here are 15 creative Christmas money-making ideas that can help you fill your bank account – and your wallet – with extra cash this holiday season:

1. Create homemade holiday gifts

There are few easier ways to make money than by selling homemade gifts. Whether you create a few items or put together an entire gift basket, you can easily make some extra cash during the holiday season. Additionally, this is a great way to get creative and spend time with family and friends. 

If you don’t think you have the time or skills required to make gifts this season, you can always hire a local gift basket maker. Alternatively, if you love to bake, consider turning your skills towards holiday treats that can be sold to friends, family and neighbours. Several websites allow you to turn your love of baking into money. 

2. Set up a cash-only shop

Set up a cash-only shop and sell your goods for cash. This can work well for several products, such as homemade goods, gifts and craft supplies. You can also sell goods that are only of limited use, such as wrapping paper and old greeting cards. 

Setting up a cash-only shop is a great way to make a quick but flexible amount of money. 

3. Host an evening market or garage sale

Many local authorities allow you to host a cheap or free outdoor event to make some extra cash. You can host an evening market at your home or a park near where you live.

Alternatively, consider holding a garage sale in a local community centre or school. Although the cost of this event is usually free or cheaper than a market, it’s worth considering how much money you can make. You can usually charge a minimal fee for taking part in a market or garage sale.

4. Hand embroidery fundraiser

Hand embroidery is becoming an increasingly popular fundraising method. You can create personalized, customized and hand-embroidered gifts and sell them to raise funds for a range of charities. You can either sell the gifts yourself or find a partner who can sell the items for you. 

The best and easiest way to start making money is by signing up for a free hand embroidery fundraising platform. After signing up, you can design and sell your hand-embroidered products. Once you have designed, printed and stitched your products, you can sell them on the platform. For a hand-embroidered gift, expect to make between £5 and £20.

5. Write and publish an e-book or website content

Prepare e-books and website content that can be sold and resold without copyright issues. Online courses and articles are great ways to make money through the internet, and you can also create e-books and online content that can be sold and re-sold, without copyright issues. 

For example, you can create a website with helpful advice for those during the holiday season, or create an e-book that walks through the different gifts available, from clothing to houseware.

6. Take part in an online flash mob or event

One of the best and most creative ways to make some extra cash is to take part in an online flash mob or event. These events typically take place on a video streaming site like Twitch or YouTube, which allows you to share the event with thousands or millions of people. 

You can create a video that walks through the event in real-time, which is best done in front of a webcam. You can then sell or trade the video or event with others online.

7. Bake and sell cookies, scones and other baked goods

You can make extra money by baking cookies and scones and selling them. Many websites allow you to sell your treats, from Amazon’s trade-in program to the Facebook pages of your local community centres. You can also sell your treats locally at several events, such as a craft fair or a church dinner. 

To earn the most money from baking and selling treats, you need to make and sell the best offerings. For example, make the most expensive or popular treats first and make them in larger quantities. This will give you more time to sell more items, which will give you more money.

8. Grow and sell flowers or herbs for cash

If you have a garden or spare room in your home, consider growing flowers or herbs that can be sold for cash. You can either grow your own flowers or buy them from a local nursery. For example, rosemary and thyme can be used in cooking while marjoram makes a great gift.

9. Set up a blog

Blogging might not be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about making money during the festive season, but it’s a great way to earn some extra cash all year round. 

Set yourself up as a freelance writer with a blog, and you’ll be able to write articles or blog posts on a variety of topics. 

If you’re only interested in writing about certain topics, your articles will be more targeted and you’ll be able to charge more. You can also create an online shop, and sell your products on your blog. You can either charge a flat rate for each product or use a subscription-based model.

10. Set up an art or craft stall

If you’re into art and crafts, you can set up an art or craft stall in your local town centre. There’s no better way to spread your trade and make some money at the same time. 

Sell art and jewellery made from clay or mosaic tile. The best way to make money from making art is to make something that is either unique or that has a limited supply. For example, make a ceramic tile mosaic bird feeder, which would be unique and have a finite supply.

Find a good spot and set up shop with your wares. You can either set up your stall for a few weeks or set up a long-term stall and make a steady income from it for the rest of the year.

11. Run a drop shipping business

Drop shipping is a great way to make extra money online, and it’s perfect for the holidays. What you do is find a popular product, and drop ship it. You find products on sites like eBay, Amazon, Alibaba, and Etsy that have products that are selling for a reasonable price, and then drop ship them. 

You find drop shippers all over the internet, or you can also look for drop shippers in your local area. What you do is advertise your product on social media or in your email list, and then wait for customers to come to you.

12. Find a boss for your own virtual business

If you don’t have a business, but you still want to make some money, consider running your own virtual business. There are some websites out there that let you sign up as the boss and run a virtual business. 

The idea is that you get paid to manage other people’s businesses, and you make a profit off of that. There are many websites where you can find virtual business opportunities to manage.

13. Posting on Craigslist and eBay

If you’re looking to make extra cash this holiday, try posting on Craigslist and eBay looking for part-time jobs. You can also try posting jobs on your local community Facebook page. If you’re looking to make a little extra money through eBay, try searching for items that you can resell for a profit. 

If you want to make extra money this holiday season selling on Craigslist, search for seasonal jobs that are available now. You can create a listing that includes your contact information and qualifications. Be sure to include information about how you will be able to work during the holiday season.

14. Become an Uber driver or Lyft driver

If you have a car, why not make some extra money this holiday season by becoming an Uber or Lyft driver? If you’re not sure how to get started, you can always sign up with a taxi or ride-sharing company like Uber or Lyft. 

Once you sign up, you can start driving by downloading the Uber or Lyft app. Some people are hesitant to drive for Uber or Lyft because they are worried that they will get in trouble with the law. To help alleviate some of these fears, try getting a ride-share license. This ride-share license will let you legally drive on Uber or Lyft with a guarantee that you won’t get into any trouble.

15. Become an online tutor or coach

If you have experience in any field, you can always become an online tutor or coach. With these types of gigs, you can earn money from the comfort of your own home. You can start by posting your availability on sites like UpWork or Fiverr. You can also search for online tutoring or coaching gigs that are available on local community Facebook pages.