| 10
ways to make extra money for the holidays | | |
| 2.
Bake for dough
Since everybody is running around during the holidays
trying to pack more activities into shorter days, Foreman suggests there's a good
bit of dough to be made with homemade baked goods. Feel out neighbors, friends,
club members and co-workers to see what kind of response you get. At work, take
a couple of free samples, and leave them in the break room with a sign up sheet.
What they are really buying: time.
3.
Get a job that really delivers
The U.S.
Postal Service and other package carriers hire seasonal part-time help. The
need and pay scale varies from location to location, says Greg Frey, a public
relations representative with the postal service. And opportunities are limited
because of increased automation, he says, but check your local facility for possibilities. Most
of the temporary postal service openings are generally related to mail processing,
Frey says. Think sorting, loading and unloading trucks and moving mail from one
part of the building to another. The downside: Many of the jobs are during the
evenings or at night, says Frey, "because that's when mail is processed." Don't
forget about other delivery services, well-known national firms as well as local
businesses. In some locations, these businesses are already advertising for temporary
help. 4.
Become a basket case
Are you one of those people who can turn a few
small gifts into an attractive presentation? Not everybody has the talent, so
some of us are willing to pay for it. "Every year we see people who say, 'I know
what I could use: an inexpensive gift,'" says Foreman. "But they don't know how
to do it." Variations on the traditional goodie basket include
a holiday tin filled with recipes and ingredients, such as a large canning jar
of soup beans, a great recipe and culinary gadgets. Don't restrict yourself to
the kitchen. Fill a decorative jar with samples of luxury bath products to accompany
sponges and lotions. Use your imagination; see what people need and what they
are willing to pay. To market your skills, Foreman suggests
a simple flyer, with suggestions and pricing, that you can run off on your computer. 5.
Get mysterious
Sign up to be a mystery shopper. Sort of like a retail
spy, mystery shoppers are hired by stores and fast food restaurants to anonymously
check outlets from a consumer's point of view. You may be asked to buy, sample
or return merchandise, while keeping an eye out for things that need improvement. In
a similar vein, you can volunteer
for focus groups. You get a one-time fee and maybe a snack or meal in return
for sharing your opinion on a topic or product. | 
