It’s hard to believe how quickly the Christmas season is approaching. If you are like many, just the thought of Christmas can put you into panic mode. Not only does the execution of Christmas sometimes seem overwhelming, but how you are going to pay for Christmas can be downright daunting. If you haven’t been saving year round, you may be stressing about how you will find the extra money in your budget.
There are lots of creative and legitimate ways to make money, but when you need it fast, your options can sometimes be more limited. To me, there’s only 2 main options when trying to earn money really quickly: sell your stuff and/or sell your service. And when I say really quickly, I’m talking 2-3 weeks. Since Christmas is just over a month away, we don’t have much time on our hands, so let’s jump right in.
Sell your stuff
Considering that you will likely be accumulating a lot of stuff during Christmas, this is actually a great way to also purge your home before that massive rush of new items comes in. Out with the old and in with the new, right? Here are some items you might considering selling in order to bring in some cash for Christmas.
– Your own handmade items
Most of those were probably not new ideas, but you may not have thought about scrap metal. We have done that a couple of times and you may be surprised. Depending on the type of metal you have, it might not make you much, but it’s worth a shot.
Now that you have decided what to sell, it’s time to think about how to sell it. All the rules you usually follow about selling things may have to be thrown on the window this time. Remember, the name of the game is getting extra cash in your hands, and fast.
1. Pick the right venue
While I think that eBay and other online outlets are a often great way to sell items, I’d forego those options in this case because of time and the fact that they are not guaranteed to sell quickly. Remember, you need the money fast. You might want to consider the options below instead this time around.
Community yard sale
You may not make top dollar for your items, but this is a great way to get cash fast. Join with a couple of families and you could really do well.
Consignment sale/store
If it’s not too late in the season, selling your items at a consignment sale is a great option. If you’ve missed the fall sales, perhaps there are some holiday consignment sales in your area where you could sell your items. If that is not an option during this time frame, you can always sell your items to a consignment store. You may not get as much as if you sold it yourself, but you have the cash in your hand, which is ultimately what you need.
Facebook yard sale groups/Craigslist
This is a great way to utilize the power of the internet, while also keeping your transaction at the local level. I would highly recommend meeting at a neutral location for your transactions to ensure safety.
2. Price your items well
Don’t try to get top dollar for your items. Remember, you don’t have much time and you aren’t trying to get rich. Set your prices very competitively from the start so you can get them sold right away. If the items aren’t moving, then consider dropping the price quickly {maybe a day or so} so you aren’t waiting for too long. Again, time is not your friend so be more aggressive than you normally would.
Sell a service to others
-Tutoring
-Holiday prep help
Now that you’ve thought through some services that you might be able to provide, it’s time to think about how you might get your name out there.
Social media is a great tool for marketing things like this. Buy/sell groups on Facebook might be a great option to open it up to more people outside of your own followers.You might consider sending out a short email to your friends in your address book, so they can spread the word for you. You certainly don’t want to make them feel pressured, but perhaps they know someone who may need your service. Does your church or social group have a classified section where you could advertise?
Just as with items you are trying to sell, make your rates very reasonable. Certainly don’t sell yourself or your service short, but don’t view this as a business. This is just a short term way to earn some extra cash quickly.
At the end of the day, try your best not to get overwhelmed by the cost associated with the Christmas season. If money is tight and there isn’t much money for gifts, then that’s okay. The beauty of the Christmas season really does lie in Christmas story itself and the memories shared with family and friends.
What ways have you earned extra cash quickly?
