🎄Holidays + 📈 Inflation = Creative Solutions - Smart Money Financial Coaching (2024)

• November 7, 2022
• Uncategorized

When you begin working with a financial coach, one of the first things that you will do is to create a budget that accurately reflects your expenses and priorities. With a budget and tracking expenses, clients immediately see where they can change behavior.

There are times, though, like when inflation and the holidays mix, and what your budget needs is more…CASH!

Sometimes a short-term position that brings in several hundred dollars a month keeps your holiday plans in place without having to reach for a credit card. In certain situations, a side hustle is all that is needed to cover your expenses in cash!

If you are interested in a side hustle this holiday season, here are several options that you could begin quickly:

At Home Options

Online Tutoring
There are many online teaching and tutoring platforms that will allow you to work from home. Some platforms require a college degree, while others do not, like teaching English as a Second Language programs or K-12 tutoring.

For an extensive explanation of online tutoring opportunities, check out these 15 online tutoring companies from The Penny Hoarder that range from minimum wage to potentially $100 per hour.

Online Surveys
While not the most lucrative option, completing online surveys is certainly an easy one to pick up and squeeze into available moments. If you have a busy schedule, but a few moments when the baby is napping, or you are waiting for a kid to complete a music lesson, consider completing surveys to pick up some extra cash.

It looks like you can make between $.50-$5 per survey. A few options for online surveys include: Branded Surveys, Swagbucks and Survey Junkie.

Delivery Options

Drive in your off hours
Currently, I have a client who is a stay-at-home dad who earns $400-$500 per weekend driving for Uber/Lyft, even with rising gas prices! He has contributed significantly to their ability to pay off debt, but this could also be a driver to earn additional money for the holidays.

Deliver Restaurant Food
While companies like DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, UberEats have become more popular over the years, over the pandemic, they became a normal part of many people’s lives.

Rather than overspending on these services, consider financially benefiting from them by becoming a driver. According to DoorDash, they report their drivers earn $25 per hour, nationally, including all tips.

Deliver Groceries
With the rise of prepared foods, there has also been a spike in food/store delivery demand. Whether this is shopping and delivering for Instacart or delivering for Spark Delivery for Walmart, these services are in higher demand than ever before. Drivers can earn up to $20 per delivery.

Note: if you pursue a driving side hustle, please make sure to contact your auto insurance company to see what additional policy you might need to cover an auto accident while driving for these services.

If you need extra funds this holiday season, there have truly never been more options to put cash in your pocket, and keep credit cards at bay. Ten or twenty years ago, delivering pizzas would have been your best bet to bring in extra cash.

Now we have countless opportunities and some that don’t even require you to leave the comfort of your home!