Ways to Make Extra Cash This Holiday Season

Who doesn't want to make a little extra cash? Especially with holiday spending here, it would be nice not to completely burn through the savings account. There are a variety of ways to make extra money this holiday season. Some include:

1) Freelance: this is great for any writer, photographer, even caterer to look into. Freelancers get a set amount of money from a project. 

2) Sell gold jewelry: scout antique shops, if you don't have any and see if you can find real gold there. Antique stores are full of little treasures that may be worth something to you. 

3) Become a mystery shopper: Mystery shoppers are paid by market research companies wanting consumers to report their experience while shopping or out at a restaurant. Pay typically ranges from $15-25 per assignment. 

4) Rent an apartment: being a landlord is hard work and an investment. But the hopes is that you'll earn back your investment and then some. 

5) Renovate old furniture and sell via eBay or Amazon is another option for additional money 

6) Part time job? Retailers and chains all over the nation are hiring seasonal employees. If an employee keeps a consistent 20 hours a week at Starbucks, they qualify for benefits; if that's an ambition too. 

7) Get crafty and sell crafts on Etsy, eBay or similar sites.

An ideal suggestion is scrap metal. Scrap metal prices change daily and are set on world markets, not scrap yards. However, contractors and building construction workers are often over compensating for building materials and unused metal sits on shelves as extra inventory. Know of a scrap car laying around a junk yard? Pick it up and get money back.

Metal yards take metal materials of copper, nickel, aluminum, zinc and lead. To get technical, they'll usually accept both ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal, and nickel alloy. Metals can be recycled too. There is no limit to the amount of scrap metal that yards buy.

The process varies by scrap yard, but call and ask ahead of time. A common process is the yard provides a regular box or appropriately sized bin for the metal. If it is a bulk amount, a pick up can be arranged.

Whether it is the economy leaving you to budget, or you are just looking for extra cash, these are a few examples of options to make extra money this holiday season. If there is any time of year to be thinking about ways to make extra cash, it is now.