Holiday celebrations often come with extra spending. The cost of gifts, travel, and seasonal activities can add up quickly, leaving many households with debt that lingers into the new year.
One way to regain control is to increase your income temporarily and direct the extra cash toward your balances. Here are eight side hustles that can help you pay off holiday debt relatively quickly without requiring major upfront costs or a full career change.
8 Side Hustles to Pay Off Debt
The best side hustles for debt payoff are flexible, easy to start, and realistic to maintain alongside a full-time job. Ideally, they should also generate cash quickly enough that you can begin making progress within a few weeks.
1. Seasonal Retail or Warehouse Shifts
Retailers and shipping companies often continue hiring after the holidays to handle returns, inventory, and restocking. These jobs usually have straightforward hiring processes and predictable paychecks, which can make them one of the fastest ways to generate extra income.
Common positions include:
- Retail sales associate
- Warehouse picker or packer
- Inventory support
- Customer service representative
2. Food or Package Delivery Apps
Delivery apps can work well if you need flexible hours and quick access to cash. You can usually work evenings, weekends, or lunch rushes, depending on your availability.
Just make sure to factor in expenses like gas, maintenance, and car insurance before assuming all of your earnings are profit. Delivery driving can bring in decent money, but vehicle costs add up faster than many people expect.
You may need a different car insurance policy to cover using your car for business. Talk to your insurer to see what your personal auto policy does and doesn’t cover.
3. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
Pet care can be a surprisingly solid side hustle, especially around holidays and vacation periods. Many owners need help with walking, feeding, or overnight care while they travel.
Typical services include:
- Dog walking
- Overnight pet sitting
- Drop-in visits
- Daytime pet care
Compared to delivery driving, this type of work often comes with lower ongoing expenses.
4. Task-Based Local Services
Small local jobs can sometimes pay more per hour than traditional side gigs. People regularly hire help for projects they either can’t do themselves or simply don’t want to deal with. For example, that may include:
- Furniture assembly
- Yard cleanup
- Minor repairs
- TV mounting
- Moving assistance
Because many of these jobs pay per project, you may be able to earn a meaningful amount in a single afternoon.
5. Online Tutoring
If you’re knowledgeable in a particular subject, tutoring can provide a relatively consistent side income. Demand is often especially strong for difficult subjects like math, science, test prep, and language learning.
Unlike some gig apps, tutoring also tends to scale better over time. If you build recurring clients, it can become a dependable monthly income stream instead of just temporary holiday recovery money.
6. Freelance Services From Home
Freelancing can be an incredibly lucrative side hustle, especially if you already have a marketable skill you can monetize quickly. Common freelance services include:
- Writing or editing
- Graphic design
- Bookkeeping
- Social media management
- Virtual assistant work
Platforms like Upwork can help you find and connect with clients, but they typically charge service fees that can reduce your net earnings.
7. Sell Unwanted Gifts or Unused Items
Selling things you already own is one of the fastest ways to generate extra cash because you don’t need to wait for applications, onboarding, or your first paycheck.
After the holidays, you may have valuable duplicate gifts, unused electronics, old tools, or clothing sitting around. Listing a few higher-value items online can help you create breathing room surprisingly quickly.
8. Rideshare Driving
Rideshare driving offers flexibility similar to delivery apps, but income can fluctuate heavily depending on your area, demand, and vehicle expenses.
If you already own a qualifying vehicle and don’t mind driving during busy hours, it can still be a practical way to supplement your income temporarily while paying down debt.
Should You Get a Second Job to Pay Off Debt or Start a Side Hustle?
A traditional second job usually offers more predictable hours and steadier pay. If you prefer structure and consistency, that may be the easier option to sustain for a few months while you work to pay off your holiday debt.
Meanwhile, side hustles offer more flexibility, but your income may fluctuate week to week. In general, they work best if you have an inconsistent schedule or want more control over when you work.
How To Spot Legit Side Jobs and Avoid Scams
If a job posting promises easy money for little effort, there’s a good chance something is off. Scam listings are especially common on social media, messaging apps, and freelance platforms.
Be cautious if a company:
- Requests upfront fees
- Sends checks before work begins
- Avoids explaining payment terms clearly
- Pushes you to move communication off-platform
- Promises unusually high pay for simple tasks
Before accepting work, verify how you’ll get paid, whether the platform charges fees, and what protections are available if something goes wrong.
Final Thoughts
Side hustling may not erase holiday debt overnight, but it can help you regain momentum significantly faster. Even a few hundred extra dollars per month can make a meaningful difference when you consistently apply it toward your balances.
The key is choosing something you can realistically maintain without burning out. A temporary increase in income, paired with a focused repayment plan, can help you move past holiday debt and start the year on a stronger financial footing.
