7 Creative Ways To Have A Cash Christmas (and Skip the Holiday Debt)

You would go to the ends of the earth to make Christmas magical for your kids. But when money is tight, and just getting through day-to-day life maxes out your budget, how can you give the kids a Christmas they deserve? How can you enjoy a Cash Christmas? A Christmas that won’t require a new credit card and more interest? A Christmas that won’t leave you dreading January? It’s time to get serious so you can have an All Cash Christmas!

Sell Things You No Longer Use

Sell unused and unwanted items on eBay and earn cash to buy Christmas presents. Before Christmas is the perfect time to sell on eBay because many people are looking for gifts, and you may have exactly what they want. I’ve also sold clothing on Poshmark with success.

Facebook Marketplace is another great way to sell items you no longer use. Be sure to meet in a public place and, preferably, not alone. As you sell, add your cash to a Christmas Savings Tracker envelope.

I don’t know about you, but I’m always motivated to clear the clutter and get rid of stuff when money is tight. But what do you sell? That pair of boots you wear once a year? You might rather have the money. Get relentless. Think outside of the box.

Here are a few ideas:

• Parts – We had a blender that cracked, but guess what? We listed the blender lid on eBay and sold it!
• Game Pieces – The batteries corroded in a Nerf Cosmic Catch Keep Away Ball Game we owned, rendering it useless. Lo and behold, I found people were selling the color wrist bands that go along with the game on eBay. You better believe I tossed that ball and sold those wrist bands.
• Key Fobs – Have a key fob from a car you no longer own? It just might be worth something.
• Electronics – My son’s computer acquired, ahem, a cracked screen. Guess what? Someone wanted to buy that computer. Sure it didn’t bring in nearly what we paid for it, but it was better than trashing the thing. Be brutally honest in your description and you might be amazed.
• Clothing – I sold some clothes on Poshmark for my niece and she gave me half the earnings. It was a fun experience and a great way to make a little extra cash.

People are looking for your stuff! Stuff you think is useless. Turn that useless stuff into Cash for Christmas!

Do Gig Work Or Odd Jobs

Small jobs add up to extra Christmas cash! Many people could use extra help around Christmas and that could give you an opportunity to make a little side cash. Babysit, dog-sit, run errands, do holiday cleaning, wrap gifts, or sell crafts at a craft fair.

Join A Buy Nothing Group

Have you heard of the Buy Nothing Project? It’s a gift economy with a “give where you live” ethic.

Give Freely. Share the bounty. Post anything you’d like to give away, lend, or share amongst neighbors. Ask for anything you’d like to receive for free or borrow. Keep it legal. Keep it civil.

I’ve seen everything from eggs to a keyboard and an iPod being gifted. Check to see if there is a Facebook Buy Nothing group in your area here. It could be that someone in your neighborhood Buy Nothing Group has exactly what you’re looking for!

Upcycle

Use your imagination and make something great out of what you already have! For an example, check out How To Make A Flax Seed Heating Bag Out Of Old Jeans.

Make it Homemade

I’ve made homemade Christmas gifts for as long as I can remember. It started out of necessity and now that our budget is a bit better, I still prefer to make gifts. There’s something about a homemade Christmas that just makes everything festive and fun! The possibilities are endless here. Just be careful not to spend too much on supplies!

Tip: If you make gifts for most of the people on your Christmas Gift List, that will free up more cash to spend on your kids!

Flax Seed Heating Bags are a great way to soothe aches and pains. They are easy to make too. Learn How To Make Flax Seed Heating Bags to give as gifts.

With this festive White Christmas Popcorn Tag, you can turn a simple bag of microwave popcorn into a thoughtful gift that lets someone know you thought of them this Christmas.

Classroom Door Window Coverings are an excellent choice for the teachers on your list!

Christmas crafting is so fun and these 4X4 Reindeer make the perfect Christmas decoration to keep for yourself or to give as gifts!

Making a 4 X 4 Snowman was a super fun project and we loved the end result! You never know if others will appreciate homemade decorative gifts but I think these are pretty cool!

Learn how to make a candy train that you can gift on its own or add to a bigger gift!

Trade Services For Gifts

If you have a skill or hobby, trade it for gifts. One year, I traded my time at our local Scholastic Book warehouse that offered a $10 voucher for every hour you worked their sales. Then, I took my bookworm daughter on a shopping spree for Christmas!

If you have a friend that owns a business that sells the perfect gift for your sister, offer a service in trade for the gift! They might be thrilled to take you up on your offer.

Take Advantage Of Deals

Now that you’ve earned a little money, make it go as far as possible. Wait for deals. Brave Black Friday. Clip coupons. Keep that $10 off $10 coupon you got in the mail (that’s a gift)!

One Christmas, I had a coupon for JCPennys that was $10 off $10. I went to the store to see if anything would work for Christmas and ended up finding a clearance on mens’ socks. That year, my husband’s stocking was filled with new socks that I was able to get for just a few cents.

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