There are many things that we need to buy throughout the year. As well as putting food on the table and paying our bills, we also have certain parts of life that crop up annually that we must finance in some way. Holidays are a huge part of life. They bring joy and memories. A great part of holidays though is that we kind of know when most of them happen. Our years are pretty much planned out around public holidays such as Christmas and if you have children, the school holidays when you can go away as a family. This means we can plan for these holidays, where we are going, what we are doing and how we are paying for it. If you are feeling the pinch, money-wise, right about now, you might be thinking about earning some additional money to help pay for things. Let's explore some ideas about how to make extra money for holidays.
Pick up some extra shifts
If you currently have a job, is there any way to pick up extra shifts? Maybe just some additional hours? We all have things to do outside of work, however so often those things can cost money. If we are short of cash, additional shifts can certainly help. Especially if you live alone and are having to pay for heating and lighting. If you are at work, you don't have those things to worry about. You are in a comfortable place, earning.
It might be worth speaking to your boss about your financial worries. Maybe you have been in your employment and have been in eyeliner for a pay rise? A little chat with your boss could certainly help push that through. If you are able to take on any overtime, be sure your boss knows you are interested. Even if it's only for a short amount of time in the lead-up to certain holidays such as Christmas. An extra ten hours a week at time-and-a-half pay is the equivalent of 15 extra hours. That could be a huge benefit to you when you are looking at how to make extra money for holidays.
Start a side hustle
Have you considered starting a side hustle? Maybe you already have the skills to earn money in your spare time or have a hobby that you can turn into a money-making opportunity. Many people have skills that other people need. This could be anything from playing the piano to graphic design. There are small businesses out there that don't have the budget to pay for a full-time graphic designer. However, they still need someone to do graphic design for them. This is where you could come in as a freelancer. Setting yourself up in this manner is a wonderful side hustle, as you likely already have the skills and software you need to make this work.
Maybe you are fantastic are making craft items like Christmas decorations or candles. How about making some money from these? Make a batch and book yourself a stall at a local craft fair. People love handmade and local products, you could sell out in one morning! You could even flog your wares on platforms like Etsy.
Other ideas could be to tutor people over video chat. This could be learning English, sharing business skills as a coach or as we mentioned, musical instruments. You could be teaching someone how to play the guitar video Zoom call. The great thing about teaching via video call is that you can work with anyone in the world who has an internet connection. You might find yourself working before or after work with people in other time zones.
Sell your things
An obvious and perhaps often overlooked way to make extra money for holidays is to sell your things. The stats say that the average household has over £1000 worth of stuff they no longer use. These could be gadgets, clothing or books. Use fee-free platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and everything you make will be profit. Of course, some niche items and branded goods might get a better sale price by using eBay. If you go down that route, you'll need to be aware of fees and postage costs.
If you are looking at ways to make extra money for holidays, getting rid of things you no longer use or need is a great way to pull together some funds. Start making a pile of things you no longer want and get them listed. Even broken items have some value! You'll be surprised at what sells and how much you can make.
Rent out what you have
If you don't have things to sell, consider what you could rent to people. Many people have DIY jobs to do at home but don't have the power tools to do that. Rather than buying them, they might be looking to rent tools for a day or a weekend. If you have a range of tools, you could make a few quid by hiring them out. What else could you rent out? Maybe you have a garage that could be used for storage.
Perhaps you have a driveway you don't use. If you live near offices or a hospital, you can undercut local car parks and make £5+ a day for having someone park on your driveway. You might not want to become a landlord but that spare room you have could be a huge pot of untapped potential income. Rent it out to someone and you could charge up to and even above £500 a month! Use what you already have to make the money you need.
Use your spare time to make money online
There are other ways to make money in your spare time. Maybe you can't take on a part-time job out of the home due to childcare. However, you can make cash once the kids are asleep in bed, from the comfort of your sofa. Sign up to online survey sites and you could easily make up to £10 in an evening. Add your details to market research sites and you could get £75+ for a video call asking your opinions on specific things. There are lots of ways to make extra money for holidays and if you divert all of that cash into a specific pot, you can enjoy holidays without as much financial worry.
Start planning for those celebrations throughout the year by getting a handle on your finances. Use these top ideas about how to make extra money for holidays and make some awesome memories too.