Need more money for the holidays? Here's how to get it

The holiday season is just around the corner, which means additional costs are on the horizon. Gifts, travelFood and other costs quickly add up, taking some of the joy out of a season that should be joyful.

Prices are high across the board and many families are struggling to afford the higher holiday costs. Three-quarters (72%) of American shoppers plan to make sacrifices to cover holiday expenses, according to a recent CNET investigation. About a quarter (24%) choose ‘buy now’, ‘pay later’ or credit cards. But adding new debt to your plate only makes things harder in the new year.

While the holidays are just around the corner, there’s still time to set aside money to help you afford the season. Here’s how.

How to grow your holiday fund as quickly as possible

Whether you’ve already saved a little or are starting from scratch, here are some quick ways to earn more money for vacation expenses.

Earn some extra income

Any extra money you earn now can help offset vacation costs. There are plenty of options to suit your skills and schedule, including:

Performance work: If you have a skill like writing or graphic design, you can use platforms like Fiverr or Upwork to advertise your talents and get paid for them. You can also pick up work and deliver food or groceries with an app like Grubhub, DoorDash or Instacart.
Seasonal Jobs: As holiday shopping picks up, many businesses need extra help to meet demand. Consider taking advantage of a seasonal job to boost your holiday fund.
Sales of holiday items and services: If you enjoy making things, you can sell unique Christmas decorations or baked goods at a local Christmas market or online. You can also offer services such as gift wrapping and home decorating to your friends, family and neighbors.
Activities in the garden: If you are in a warm climate where grass still grows, consider offering lawn mowing services. If you are in a cooler climate where the leaves are falling, offer to rake and remove them. And if the snow is already on you, digging people out of their driveway can make you some money too.

Sell your unwanted stuff

Many people are looking for vintage or gently used goods as prices continue to rise. Take advantage of this trend sell your unwanted stuff. Places where you can do this include:

Online marketplaces: Facebook Marketplace, Craiglist and eBay can be a great way to sell a wide variety of things to people near and far.
Shipping Locations: Some resale sites focus on specific items. Check out ThredUp, Poshmark and The RealReal for clothing, accessories and luxury items or Kidizen for children’s clothing. Sites like Swappa and Decluttr are good for technical articles.
Local consignment shops: Consider taking your clothes and accessories to a consignment store near you. When your stuff sells, the store takes a percentage of the proceeds (usually 40% to 60% fees) and gives you the remaining money. That may sound high, but it takes the hassle out of dealing with buyers and shipping items yourself.

Rent out space

Space is valuable. Every extra room, parking spot, or square foot of storage space you have can help boost your vacation fund. Here are a few websites that can help you turn your extra space into extra money:

A room in your house: Many people travel for the holidays. You can list a room in your house (or your entire house if you’re away) on sites like Airbnb or VRBO to earn extra vacation money without having to commit to a full-time roommate. If you’re interested in a full-time roommate, you can also use websites like Roomi and Roomster.
A parking space: Do you have extra space in your garage or driveway? You can rent parking spaces via websites such as Parqex, Neighbor and Spacer.
A garden plot: Living in a warm climate? Sites like YardYum can help you rent out garden plots to people who don’t have the space to grow things at home.
Storage space: If you have an extra closet, garage, or shed space, consider renting it out through a site like Store At My House.

Cut on daily expenses

There’s a good chance you’ll find it expenses you can save on from your budget – even if you only do this temporarily to boost your holiday allowance. Here are a few simple ways to cut costs:

Entertain yourself for less: Cut the cord on your cable subscription or consider suspending some of your streaming services. Find free or low-cost events in your community. Organize a game or movie night at home and ask friends to bring a dish. There are plenty of ways to have fun without spending a lot of money.
More home cooking: Meals prepared by restaurants are considerably more expensive than the one you make at home. Stop eating out and you will automatically keep more money in your pocket.
Save on groceries: Save even more on your home meals by shopping smart for your ingredients. Switch to store brandsshop the sales and create a weekly meal plan to become more strategic about your purchases.
Cancel unwanted subscriptions: Don’t pay a monthly fee for a service you don’t even use. Whether it is a gym subscription or a subscription box, cancel unnecessary subscriptions is a no brainer.

View your reward balances

If you’ve earned cashback or points with a rewards credit card or cashback appspend them on holiday expenses like gifts. It is essentially free money.

Redeem gift vouchers

I recently emptied my wallet and found two gift cards that I received as a wedding present six years ago. Those gift cards still have value. If you look around your home, wallet or purse, you might also find gift cards with money still in them. Websites like Raise and CardCash will pay you cash for your unused gift cards.

Find unclaimed money

You may owe money that you are not aware of, such as an overpayment that your utility company never reimbursed you or unpaid wages from a former employer.

Most unclaimed money is owned by the state in which the money is located. So you will have to look up your state’s directory. Search online for “find unclaimed money in (your state)” or use a site like BeenVerified to search for unclaimed money in all states.

There’s still time to generate some extra cash for the holidays

It is important to do everything you can avoid new debts this holiday season. The good news is that you have the tools to boost your vacation fund, even if you haven’t started saving yet.

It’s also smart to think about how you will save for next year’s holidays. Consider putting some money aside in one savings account with high returns every month, so you don’t have to look for extra money during the holidays.

Need more money for the holidays? Here’s how to get it