Top Tips for Making Extra Money this Christmas
With the average UK adult looking to make an additional £492 in the run up to Christmas according to new research from Gumtree.com, nearly one in three people (28 per cent) are taking on an extra job or hours, one in five (20 per cent) have stopped going out to save money, and nearly one in ten people (8 per cent) are selling household items in a bid to raise extra cash this Christmas.
Boosting the Christmas budget
The majority of Brits (63 per cent) want to boost their budget to afford presents for loved ones, and are prepared to put in the hours to make it happen. The average employee plans to work an additional seven hours every week, with 6 per cent of people prepared to even work on Christmas day.
While jobs in the retail sector prove to be the most sought after positions with nearly one in five (17 per cent) people preferring those, Christmas themed jobs also proved popular with more than one in ten people (13 per cent) eager to get in the Christmas spirit. Gumtree currently features approximately 50 positions advertising for Santa Claus and grotto jobs.
Turn clutter into cash for Christmas
When it comes to cashing in on clutter, the top five items being sold in homes up and down the UK in the run up to Christmas are:
1. Clothes
2. CDs and videos
3. Books
4. Jewellery
5. Electronics
Speaking about our quest for cash, Hamish Stone from Gumtree said: “With Christmas so expensive these days, it's no surprise to see people selling their clutter or taking on second jobs. Gumtree has seen a surge in goods for sale and Christmas job postings, as savvy people find smart ways to fund the festive season.”
Actress, novelist and broadcast writer, Emma Kennedy commented: “When I was younger I had to take on numerous jobs through the Christmas period, including hotel washer upper and serving Christmas dinners in my local pub! Since then, things haven’t changed that much. Last year I played Elf in Arthur Christmas and was also lucky enough to take part in various bits and bobs of broadcast work. It was great to be in such a heart-warming film that really got me into the festive spirit, which is the great thing about Christmas jobs – they are a great way to meet new people, eat your weight in mince pies and make some cash at the same time!”
Top tips from Gumtree.com on how to make cash for Christmas:
1. Consider taking on an evening job to supplement your income, there are plenty in a variety of sectors currently listed on Gumtree.com
2. Go through your wardrobe, if you haven’t worn an item of clothing in the past year consider selling it
3. Look in your attic, chances are there are plenty of items gathering dust which could be converted to cash
4. Good at handicraft? Why not sell homemade decorations or Christmas cards online
5. Pride yourself on immaculate present-wrapping skills? Advertise yourself as a professional wrapper on Gumtree.com
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