5 Ways to Raise Cash for Christmas

Would you like to give your loved ones Christmas gifts, but your funds are low? Think it’s too late to get money together for Christmas? These tips will help you find the cash you need to enjoy the holidays you’ve been waiting for all year.

5 Ways to Raise Cash for Your Christmas

1. Put Your Hobbies and Skills to Work.

Do you play piano or another instrument? Are you a teacher? Were you a star athlete in high school or college? Do you like to bake?

Many parents look for music lessons or private sports coaching for their kids during Christmas break. My husband was a high school swim coach many years ago and now earns extra money by teaching private swimming lessons during the holidays.

A good friend of mine was a music minor in college, but now works in the financial industry. She also teaches piano on the side. Another friend earns extra money baking cookies and cakes.

What skill(s) do you have that you could earn money from? Get ideas here: 5 Smart Ways to Make Money on the Side, 5 Ways to Make Money Online Using Your Skills, and Five No-Cost Ways to Make Money Online.

2. Sell Your Stuff.

Every year, my neighborhood has a yard sale and we put the money that we earn towards our vacation or holiday spending. It’s not hard to pull a yard sale together, follow my 7 Tips for a Successful Yard Sale.

If you have bigger items where you want a specific price, Craigslist might be a better avenue to sell those pieces.

Get ideas here: 3 Valuable Household Items for You to Cash In On Now.

3. Sell Your Old Gold Unused Jewelry

Do you have old gold jewelry just gathering dust in your jewelry box? Several years ago, I took some broken gold pieces to a jewelry store that was buying back gold pieces. I walked out of the store with $150 in cash.

4. Eliminate Unnecessary Spending

Can you challenge yourself to reduce your spending this Christmas? The budget categories that are the easiest to reduce are groceries, dining out, and clothing. Learn about 3 Ways You Might be Overspending Each Month.

The easiest way to reduce your grocery spending is to create a meal plan. I’m not a huge couponer, but I am able to keep my grocery bill between $450 – $500 a month for my family of four by simply planning our meals. You can improve your meal planning in just 10 minutes.

Restaurants are another budget buster, so challenge yourself to cook your meals at home this holiday season. Also, instead of shopping, try to get by with what is already in your closet or borrow from a friend.

Recently a friend was invited to a wedding and needed dressier shoes. When she told me she was headed to the mall, I offered to loan a dressy and rarely worn pair that I have in my closet. She was thrilled to not have to spend the money on something that she rarely uses.

5. Do-It-Yourself

If you’re paying for services such as car washes, house cleaning, lawn maintenance, and pedicures, consider taking the winter off and doing them yourself. I love a good pedicure like everyone else, but when I need to curb my spending, I paint my own piggies and keep the $40 in my pocket. Not to mention, you can pamper yourself with less than $20!

Related: Why Working on a Home-Improvement Project Can Improve Your Marriage

If all else fails, just be honest with your family and friends. You just can’t afford it. There’s no need to stress yourself out just for the sake of giving a gift. The best gift of all we already have: life and Jesus!

Are you short on cash for Christmas? How will you find the funds? Let us know in the comments.

This post is adapted from a post written by Kristia at Family Balance Sheet. Kristia writes about family finances, frugal living, and food at Family Balance Sheet. She spends her offline time raising her two young daughters, helping her husband manage their small business, and training for her next half-marathon.