Saving money before the holidays is a great way to avoid going into debt to cover the added cost of gifts, parties and travel. But if you've already cut your spending, finding room in your budget to set aside more cash might not be possible. Or perhaps you just don't want to live like a pauper for the next few months to be able to pay for holiday festivities with cash.
So consider the alternative: earning more. There are plenty of ways to make extra money over the coming months — and some don't even require much time. Here are three you should consider when saving for your Black Friday shopping trip.
GET A SEASONAL JOB OR SIDE GIG: If you have time to work extra hours, now is the time to start looking for seasonal work. Outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas expects retailers to hire 755,000 workers for the holiday season. You'll likely find openings at retailers such as Amazon, Gap, Kohl's, Macy's and Target, which add tens of thousands of employees to their payrolls in October through December.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas also recommends looking for positions at warehouses and shipping facilities, which ramp up hiring before the holidays. Restaurants and entertainment venues that see increased business during holidays also hire seasonal employees.
Another option, if you can't commit to working several hours a week, is the occasional side gig. Grayson Bell, creator of the Debt Roundup blog, would find quick work — such as loading a moving van or doing yard work — through the "gigs" section on Craigslist.
SELL STUFF YOU DON'T NEED: Your closet, garage or attic is likely a treasure trove of stuff that's just taking up space and can easily be turned into cash.
Leah Ingram, founder of the Suddenly Frugal blog, recommends taking clothing that's in good condition to a consignment store now to get a payout in time for Black Friday. When you sell clothes on consignment, you typically get 50 percent of the price at which your items sell. You also can sell clothing, shoes and accessories through a fashion resale site such as thredUP.com, which sends you a pre-paid bag to ship your items in.
You can make money on items around your home such as furniture, tools or music equipment by selling them on Craigslist.
And don't forget electronics: If you have cellphones you're no longer using, you can get cash for them through trade-in services such as ecoATM, Gazelle, NextWorth and uSell.com.
BE A MYSTERY SHOPPER: Yes, mystery shopper scams abound, but there are plenty of legitimate opportunities that offer a quick and easy way to earn extra cash if you're willing to evaluate products or visit establishments and offer feedback. "Mystery shopping won't make you rich, but you can often earn free things that you may want to gift to others, and you also may earn a little bit of side cash for the holidays," said MakingSenseofCents.com founder Michelle Schroeder-Gardener, who has earned from $5 to $100 for mystery shopping jobs. She found all of her opportunities through BestMark.
Cameron Huddleston,
GOBankingRates.com
Source: Three ways to earn extra money before Black Friday
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