10 Easy Ways to Get Extra Money before the Holidays in 2022

Look I get it. Money doesn’t grow on trees. And, heck. For some of us (including myself), the only exercise we got the month of November is running… Out of cash. We’ve all got 99 problems and money can fix 90 of em’. What we would give for an extra couple bucks; especially this time of year when you want to get the coolest bunny slippers for your parents, a slinky for Sally, and a poop emoji pillow for your uncle Paul. Well, it’s actually not too difficult! And to help get your wheels turning, here are a few ideas to fill the bank account this holiday season.

1. Surveys (Time: Quick | Difficulty: Super Easy)

Hey. Stop it. I know what you just did. You rolled your eyes as you were instantly reminded of all of the ads you’ve seen promising riches off of these things. Then, after you tried it, you realized you couldn’t receive financial freedom off of $5.35 every 100 surveys. No, I’m not talking about those surveys.

I’m talking about larger software review companies that actually pay you what your opinion is worth. Companies like Gartner*, Capterra*, and G2 Crowd are what I’m talking about. This month I’ve made $300+ off of software reviews. Note, these companies do have limits. At Capterra you can earn up to $100 for doing 10 surveys and Gartner will give you up to $25 a survey up to 10 surveys in a calendar year.

So yes, you can pay for a good portion of your holiday shopping off of software review surveys. It’s easy and only takes an hour or two to max out your total earnings.

*These are referral links that give me $5 when you complete your first survey. Wanted to let you know so there is full transparency. Because we don’t like that sneaky-moochy neighbor that always “forgets” that the neighborhood party is a potluck and didn’t bring anything.

2. Use Your Car (Time: Quick | Difficulty: Medium)

This well-known trick is simple. Drive for Uber or Lyft in your spare time, mornings, or evenings. You could even use one of these tools as a part of your daily commute to work to make some extra cash. On top of that, these ride-sharing companies will typically offer an extra $500 or a guaranteed $2000+ on your first month* after you give your first ride (depending on their current promotions).

But, did you also know you could simply rent out your car? If you have a nice vehicle that just sits in the garage or on the driveway most of the time, you can rent out your car through companies like Turo. After signing up, you set the price and let people book your car for certain times or days and you watch as your car makes money for you as you sit at home!

*Requirements and restrictions may apply to these

3. Watch TV (Time: Long | Difficulty: Easy)

Yes, it’s true. You can make money off of watching TV. But mind you, the process is like those “surveys” we talked about previously. You’ll maybe get a few extra bucks signing up at the beginning but don’t expect to make too much. But if you watch a lot of TV, it’ll be a nice little “bump” up in the bank account every once in a while.

4. Find a Part-Time Job (Time: Short | Difficulty: Hard)

This is a neat trick that many people might not think is possible. BUT, there are jobs out there that pretty much anyone can do while working from home. For example, at my current job they needed someone to review the paperwork. I said my wife might be interested. And the rest is history. My wife now spends a few hours a week during Eli’s nap time and makes an additional $100-200 a week. There are plenty of Bookkeeping or admin jobs that companies need help with. Just jump on ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, or ask your spouse or neighbor if their company needs a hand.

5. Dog Sit (Time: Short | Difficulty: Medium)

Yep. All you dog lovers out there can make money. Spending time with more dogs. It’s not a job for me but I know a lot of people just can’t get enough from those furry faces. So, if this sounds like you, go check out Rover and see about making an extra couple hundred bucks a month!

6. Garage Sale (Time: Short | Difficulty: Easy)

It’s a simple idea and you’ve probably done it before. But, it’s always a good reminder to go through your old things again and see if there is something you really don’t need and sell it. Like your old phone, toaster, or whatever is stored in those closets you are afraid to open.

Plus, now is a really good time to sell things as people are in a buying mindset with the holidays!

Examples: Local Classifieds, Craigslist, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace

Note: BE AWARE OF SCAMMERS. Only sell locally and plan to meet in a public location for transactions

7. AirBnB a Room in your Home/Basement (Time: Long | Difficulty: Hard)

This is something not for the faint of heart. However, if you can handle being a landlord it can be totally worth it and make you a lot of money fairly quickly. My wife and I opted to just rent out our basement on a yearly contract, but I know some people that furnish their basement and use AirBnB can make a lot of money. It’s especially great during the holiday season as people will be traveling to your area to visit family and want a cheaper or more “homey” option versus a hotel.

8. Rent out Your RV (Time: Medium – Depends on Season | Difficulty: Medium)

Let’s be honest. You haven’t gone on as many adventures as you wanted to. And, on top of that, you may not be the type to take a winter trip. But those people do exist. And, instead of letting your RV sit on your yard or in a storage center, rent it out for others to use with Outdoorsy and make some extra cash while watching football in front of your warm fireplace.

9. Rent Unused Storage Space (Time: Medium – Depends on Market | Difficulty: Medium)

Yep. It’s that simple. If you have some extra space in your basement, attic, garage, or shed you can make some extra cash just by allowing someone else to use it. Check out these sites to learn more: https://www.neighbor.com/ orhttps://www.storeatmyhouse.com/

10. Rent Your Clothes or Baby Items (Time: Short | Difficulty: Medium)

Sounds a bit out there. but it can work for you if you have a fear of letting go of your closet full of clothes you don’t wear and don’t mind others wearing your stuff. It can be a great service for people that don’t want to buy an outfit for $100 brand new when they need it for one evening. So, if you have what people need and want some extra cash, then Style Lend will be your jam.

If renting out your clothes isn’t for you but you have kids, then BabyQuip might be a better cash making machine for you. This site is great for parents that want to either try out specific baby gear before buying or to rent something for an extended period of time while on vacation. Simply list your unused baby gear on the app and let the money come on in!

Items that can be rented: Strollers, car seats, cribs, high chairs, toys, books, and outdoor baby gear.

What things have you done to make some quick money for the holidays? Let us all know in the comments below to help others!

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Author: Andrew McFarlane

Andrew McFarlane is a full-time dad and a parenting blogger. He shares advice for new parents, experienced parents, and any parent in-between at PapaPerspective.com. He does this through positive parenting methods, the best parenting gear, and lots of laughter. When he's not blogging about the best parenting practices, he'll be out taking photos, playing hockey, or spending time with his wife and 2 boys.