Christmas is a joyous time of year. Unfortunately it’s also a difficult time of year for many people. This is because they want to give their loved ones a special holiday – but in doing this they end up in financial troubles. Let’s look at some ways to get cash for Christmas and prevent financial difficulties.
Do you have lots of stuff? By that I mean lots of possessions that you hardly ever touch or use. A good way to get extra cash for the holidays is to sell some of your items. You can get quick cash by advertising and selling on Craigslist. (It’s also ideal for bulky items that cannot be shipped.) Or, if you have items that are easy to mail, then EBay will give you a national (or even international) marketplace. Other options to sell possessions are yard sales and swap meets.
If you are successful at this you can expand and offer to sell items for friends and family. Many people have lots of extra items that they would love to get rid of – but the don’t have the time or the inclination to deal with selling them. Make a deal that you will keep a percentage of each sale. You never know what can develop from this entrepreneurial enterprise.
If you’re like me you will have a jar with a lot of loose change in it. If you do then take it to one of those machines in your grocery store or a bank and convert it into instant cash. It’s amazing how it adds up over time. Make a point every year to collect your spare change for the upcoming holiday season. It’s a nice way to have access to extra cash when things get tight.
Another way to earn cash from friends and neighbors is to offer to help out with their holiday events. If you have a skill then put it to use. People often ask me for my photography services at this time of year – holiday portraits, holiday parties etc. It’s a great way to earn some extra money. If you are handy in the kitchen then there’s a lot of work to be had at this time of the year. The best way to deal with this type of situation is to have some business cards made up and hand them out in the months leading up to Christmas. And of course word of mouth is the best marketing method of all.
Skills that are in high demand at this time of year include – handyman (to set up the decorations and lights), baker, musician, photographer, taxi driver, chef, bartender, waiting staff etc., not to mention elves and Santa Claus at the department stores and malls!! If you have a skill, and are short of cash then put it to use. This will help you to remain solvent over Christmas and help you to enjoy this special time of year.
Image via Creative Commons
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