This is the first installment in our Take Back the Holidays Series . The holiday season can be a stressful time, so start planning now to reduce that stress. This year, get the most from your holidays without adding financial stress.

It’s only July, but the holidays will be here before you know it. Will you be ready, or will you be stressing out, overspending, and running up your credit card bill? Will you be feeling the pain when your credit card bill comes in January? Do you want to take control of your finances now and have extra money for the holidays?

One way to take some of the pain out of the financial aspects of the holidays is to earn more money to spend on those holiday expenses. I know, that can be easier said than done. But if you start now, you can position yourself to have a more enjoyable, less stressful, holiday season.

The goal when looking for a job is to find one that will start bringing in money right away, rather than one that will be a slow starter. Starting a blog right before Christmas with the intent of bringing in some extra money for presents is not a good business plan. On the other hand, a part-time job that you start in September that pays every other week could be just what you need.

What can you do to earn extra money for the holidays as Christmas approaches?

First, look at your current schedule. How much time do you have available for a part-time job or side gig? Once you know that, you can start looking for jobs in your area.

Second, plan ahead so you know how much you’ll need for your holiday expenses. There’s no reason to work more than you need to if doing so takes away from time with family and friends.

–> come back soon for tips on how we keep our holiday expenses under control and how we save money throughout the holiday season <–

Retail

Many retail stores hire seasonally for the holidays. If you want to avoid adding stress during the holiday season, consider a job at a Halloween store. Many are only open for the month or two leading up to Halloween, which would allow you to earn money for the holidays while still leaving your holiday schedule open.

Deliveries

UPS, FedEx, and other package delivery companies hire seasonal employees to deal with the vast quantities of packages that need to be delivered. These may be full-time only, so keep that in mind, and apply early since the season starts sooner than you think.

Amazon Flex is a package delivery service on a local level. Workers sign up for a block of time and deliver Amazon packages, store orders, and more. The number of available blocks will vary by area.

Shipt, Instacart and similar shopping and delivery services are other companies to look into.

The holidays are a great time to be a pizza delivery driver. People are busier than usual and after a long day of shopping or other holiday prep they don’t want to cook. Ordering a pizza in can be a lifesaver amid the hustle and bustle of the season. Restaurant delivery services such as GrubHub, DoorDash, UberEats, and so on are also worth looking into.

Ride sharing options such as Uber, Lyft and so on are another option to consider. Many people travel for the holidays, so drivers are in demand.

What about something that doesn’t require driving?

If you have an Etsy shop that you’ve been neglecting, this may be the time to focus on it and make sure it’s fully stocked. This will work best if you have a following (social media, local fans, etc) that will buy what you have to offer once you let them know what’s available. If you don’t have a large following, devote some time to consistently posting and interacting and build that following.

If everyone compliments you on your baked goods, consider baking holiday treats to sell. Pre-made seasonal pies, cakes, cookies, and breads can reduce stress for your customers while bringing in money for you. Advertise through social media, Craigslist, word of mouth, etc.

A couple other ideas to consider

If you have a ladder or two and don’t mind heights, consider starting a Christmas light hanging business. Good insurance would be a must, but there’s enough people who don’t have the time or desire to climb ladders that you could make some good money. Advertise through social media, Craigslist, word of mouth, etc.

You could also have some small yard signs made up to advertise your services at houses you’ve worked on. Be sure to keep good records and offer to return after the holidays to take the decorations down. You could contact them next year to see if they will make use of your services again (offer a returning customer discount!) and you could also ask them for referrals.

If you’ve been meaning to list stuff on Craigslist or Facebook market place, this may be the time. Get rid of stuff, make money; its a win-win situation.

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There’s many more ideas out there, these are just to get you thinking about your options. Have you worked a side gig to help pay for holiday expenses? Was it more stressful, or did it make the holidays a better experience?

Next in our Take Back the Holidays Series: How to reduce your holiday expenses.