How to find a seasonal holiday gig

Holiday spending is kicking into high gear which means it’s prime time to get a seasonal gig if you’re looking for extra cash. 

This year, consumers are planning to spend an average of $890.49 per person on holiday gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items, according to the National Retail Federation. And stores need more manpower to get those items sold: Amazon has said it plans to hire 250,000 people this holiday season, while Bath & Body is adding more than 30,000 people to its workforce and Michael’s, 10,000. 

With inflation still high and layoffs running rampant, many workers need these jobs to cover basic needs. Three in five seasonal employees are relying on temporary jobs to pay bills in the upcoming months, according to a survey of 1,000 Americans who have or plan to have a seasonal job commissioned by Current and conducted online by Talker in September 2025. For 26% of them, seasonal work is their only source of income (21% of those respondents were laid off this year). But most respondents have another full-time (33%) or part-time (26%) job. 

Whether you’re looking for seasonal work to cover your essentials or to bulk up your wallet for your own holiday spending, there are many options out there, including traditional holiday work at retailers and side gigs you can pick up via apps and social media. 

Snag a seasonal retail job 

If you’re looking for a seasonal job at a retailer the first step is to make a list of all your local stores, says Dr. Annie Cole, money coach and author of 101 Ways to Build Wealth.  Think shops at the mall, your local grocery stores and traditional retailers. Then, go in person with your resume and ask if they’re hiring. 

“When applying online, you’re just going to be lost in a sea of resumes,” Cole says. “People really just need people who show up and are available.” 

She says to make it clear you’re available to start ASAP and are flexible (if that’s the case). If you’re able to take shifts at odd hours or overnight, make sure to mention that as it could give you a leg up. 

“Those are going to be things that make a hiring manager go ‘this person is awesome, they’re already showing their commitment and flexibility and I need a body to help out now,” Cole adds. 

Offer to do seasonal tasks

When the holidays hit, there’s a lot of extra tasks to do around the house — and those are all chores you can offer to do on apps like TaskRabbit and Airtasker. Hop on those platforms and list yourself as available to do activities like wrapping gifts, hanging lights, assembling toys and other gifts, and dropping off and removing Christmas trees. 

When people are traveling or attending holiday parties, there’s also more opportunity for petsitting and babysitting, says Nick Loper, the founder of the website Side Hustle Nation. Platforms like Care.com, Rover and Wag can help connect you with people who are looking for help caring for their children and pets. 

Cole also recommends posting a profile on freelance sites like Upwork and Fiver so people can find you for their needs with graphic design, business consulting and more: “You may get a couple of nibbles throughout the holiday season.” 

And don’t discount the power of your community. Loper suggests posting in neighborhood networking apps like Nextdoor and in your neighborhood Facebook about the services you offer. 

“Or if anyone is looking for recommendations, you can throw your name in the ring,” he adds. “That can be pretty effective and it can be evergreen. I’ve gone in looking for contractor recommendations or plumber recommendations and used a thread from over three years ago.” 

Turn your hobbies into a side gig 

Come December, offices tend to throw holiday parties, and those can be the perfect time to pick up pre- or post-party cleaning gigs, as well as other event services. If you’re a photographer, DJ, party planner or caterer, the holidays are a great time to find some extra work, Loper says. (He points to GigSalad as a platform where you can find these types of jobs). 

If you’re crafty, Cole recommends creating an Etsy profile and selling your art online. You can also find holiday markets and craft bazaars in your area and apply for a booth to sell. 

“You can make a ton of money because people are likely to just buy a bunch of stuff at those events all at once,” Cole adds. 

Loper says his wife makes some extra cash photographing families for Christmas cards, and he has a friend who has taken custom cookie orders. So get creative. 

“The easiest way to make money is thinking, ‘how can I provide value to others?,’” Cole says. “It doesn’t have to be a professional job. It could be ‘I love doing this or I’m skilled at this’ and share it with your network, and people may exchange money for your talent.” 

Then make your hard-earned money work better for you

Once you’ve got your seasonal gig, don’t discount the power of early access to your funds and being able to grow them with a higher savings rate. You don’t want to let the extra cash you’re earning sit idly. Instead, put the money you make into a high-yield savings account and watch it grow. Many mobile-only financial apps offer rates significantly higher than traditional banks. For instance, with Current’s Savings Pods, you can earn up to 4.00% bonus on your money.*

Finally, if you need the earnings earlier than your paycheck promises, you have options: Current’s early direct deposit can provide you access to your check up to two days faster* than traditional banks or additionally, qualified members can access a portion of their paycheck in advance via Paycheck Advance.***

*Boost Bonuses are credited to your Savings Pods within 48 hours of enabling the Boost feature and on a daily basis thereafter, provided that the Savings Pod has accrued a Boost Bonus of at least $0.01. No minimum balance required. The Boost rate on Savings Pods is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed rate is effective as of August 1, 2023. Must have $0.01 in Savings Pods to earn a Boost rate of either 0.25% or 4.00% annually on the portion of balances up to $2000 per Savings Pod, up to $6000 total. The remaining balance earns 0.00%. To earn a Boost rate of 4.00%, you must receive at least one Eligible Payroll Deposit equalling a minimum of $200 over a 35-day period. For more information, please refer to Current Boost Terms and Conditions.

**Faster access to funds is based on comparison of traditional banking policies and deposit of paper checks from employers and government agencies versus deposits made electronically. Delays by the employer, payer, or their banks may result in delayed access to funds beyond our control.

***Paycheck Advance is for eligible customers only. Your actual available Paycheck Advance amount will be displayed to you in the mobile app and may change from time to time. Conditions and eligibility may vary and are subject to change at any time, at the sole discretion of Finco Advance LLC, which offers this optional feature. Finco Advance LLC is a financial technology company, not a bank. For more information, please refer to Paycheck Advance Terms and Conditions.