Pay for Christmas… Without Money!

How are you going to pay for Christmas?

1.  Make Homemade Gifts

My family grew up on a very tight budget. We rarely went out to eat, and if we did, it was to Wendy’s. I can’t remember ever getting my own fries or shake – a large fry was split between all seven of us. So yeah, it was a little tight and paying for Christmas was always a creative feat! But one great benefit I had from that was the homemade gift exchange every Christmas Eve. (We did DIY before it was cool). It was always fun (and challenging) trying to decide and then carefully craft your gift for your brother or sister. Each year presented new memorable gifts: cute piggy banks, a pair of moccasins, personalized jewelry holders, homemade magnets and magnet boards, canvas paintings, bookmarks and more! Some DIY gifts didn’t turn out very well while others were outstanding. Let’s be honest the 4 year old’s drawing was a little less extravagant than the 16-year-old’s creation. More than once grateful tears were shed for the effort given from a brother or sister. while paying for Christmas was hard, each year, that gift exchange was what we looked forward to and those were the gifts that we remember receiving. Making homemade gifts takes a lot of effort, but it’s a memory I will always cherish and something that definitely helped our tight budget. And besides, it was a lot more fun making gifts at home then walking through Walmart a few days before Christmas. So, be creative this Christmas and DIY – if you aren’t sure what to do, here are some crafty Christmas ideas. And if you have kids, check out this website for some DIY toys.

2. Earn extra money through Uber or Lyft!

If you have some spare time, a car and a smartphone, become a driver! While the kids are at school or when you’ve got some extra time on the weekend, chauffeuring can give you that extra cash so you can save up a few dollars for Christmas. Plus, you’ll be able to meet and get to know some new people. Driving for Uber or Lyft lets you be the boss – you get to choose your own hours. Lyft allows you to keep all the tips you earn while Uber helps you earn more by giving rides while doing deliveries. Check out their websites and sign up today – it’s super easy!

3. Sell your old clothes

Last week, I cleaned out my closet and took the cuter stuff I had to Uptown Cheapskate. They bought almost of all them and I walked away with $45! I felt so rich. Plus, they have a donation program, so if you don’t want the hassle of dealing with the rest of the clothes they don’t buy, you can just donate straight to them. They take men’s and women’s clothing, as does Plato’s Closet. You can earn money from your kids clothes at Kid to Kid. If you don’t want to leave your house – you don’t have to! There are tons of “yards sale” Facebook pages that advertise to hundreds in your community. I’m a member of the Provo Clothing Swap page and the Lehi/Highland 24/7 Yard Sale page – but I’ve also seen people sell their clothes on new Instagram accounts, which is super easy, too. There’s also KSL classifieds which has a HUGE market you can sell to. So get rid of your old stuff and earn some extra cash! You’ll be surprised at how much stuff you don’t actually need.

4. Earn money on the go – with your phone!

There are tons of apps you can download that can help you earn a little bit of extra cash. You can earn gift cards while shopping, get Google Play credit by leaving reviews, volunteer to make money doing some extra chores, or find open positions for temporary jobs in your area. If you like to rate products, check out Survey Junkie where you can earn money by taking surveys or check out The Penny Hoarder for up to 50 ideas to get you some extra cash. There are TONS of easy things you can do every day to make a little bit of that extra money you need for Christmas.

5. Rent out your space with Neighbor or Airbnb

If you have a back bedroom or an empty basement you’re not using, check out these websites! Rent out your spare bedroom to travelers or for some boxes of storage. Or if you have space in your shed, a vacant concrete pad, or an empty garage, allow someone to store their RV, boat, or patio chairs for the winter. The nice thing about these two options is there’s not much you have to do, besides list your space on these websites, while getting paid. It’s super easy, and it’s a way to help other people save money, too.