Need extra cash for the holidays? More people are picking up side hustles.
Betty Lin-Fisher, USA TODAY
Updated 5 min read
Aditya Sachdeva has a full-time job working at a digital marketing agency. He also has a side gig doing data work.
Sachdeva, 27, increases the number of side hustle projects he picks up at the end of the year so he can have extra money for his holiday expenses.
More people are doing the same thing, according to two new surveys.
A survey by Sidehustles.com found that 78% of Americans are either already side hustling or planning to pick up a side gig to afford their holiday expenses. Of those respondents, 59% already have an extra job and another 19% plan on starting one.
In another study by Resumetemplates.com, 70% of full-time employees said they would take on extra work to afford the holidays. Forty percent of full-time workers said they already have a side gig, and another 30% said they plan to pick up a side hustle. Employees said they would do gig work, seasonal retail jobs and freelancing to boost their income.
A food delivery worker picks up an order on Sixth Avenue on July 29, 2024 in the Park Slope neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City.
Demand for side gigs is up for people needing, seeking work
People looking for side gigs – and people looking to hire people for those roles – has been spiking leading into the end of the year, said Ed Huang, co-founder of Sidehustles.com. Often, the demand for work during the holidays is triple that of other times of the year, he said.
"We're seeing the highest peak during Christmas time than throughout the entire year," Huang told USA TODAY. Huang said his website, which helps connect people with extra gigs, has seen an increase in people looking for those positions during the holiday season in the past three to five years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Freelance writing is always a top side gig, and Huang said he has seen an increase in businesses looking to hire people to wrap gifts for extra cash.
Julia Toothacre, chief career strategist at ResumeTemplates.com, also said holiday and year-end side hustles have increased since 2020.
"Whether you're looking to boost your overall income or have extra money for the holiday season, there are many opportunities to earn more," Toothacre told USA TODAY. "Inflation has been a constant worry for many, and a side hustle is a great way to supplement income while still having control over your schedule."
Toothacre said it is important to keep in mind that some companies restrict employees from working elsewhere. Check your contract or company's policies to ensure you can work for another organization. Typically, policies don't affect freelance roles in which you are self-employed, particularly if the work doesn't compete with your primary employer's business.
Side gigs go away in summer, ramp up before holidays
Sachdeva started doing freelance or side gigs after he graduated from college during the COVID-19 pandemic, when there weren't a lot of full-time opportunities. After he landed a full-time job, he continued to do some side jobs. It was a nice way to keep up his skills, and making money on the side is also helpful, he said.
Though Sachdeva picks up side gigs year-round, he backs off during the summer months so he can do more things outside, travel and be with friends.
But in the winter, he ramps up again, taking on more side projects.
"There's a lot more opportunities to pick up, especially for what I do,'' Sachdeva said. "A lot of clients need work done at the end of the year and in the tech space, a lot of companies outsource their work to freelancers."
In the winter, there's also added costs for holiday gifts and travel, he said, and the side gig income comes in handy, he said.
He can earn $5,000 to $10,000 extra a month.
Why are people looking for side gigs?
Here's some insights from the Sidehustles.com study:
1 in 4 Americans are working side gigs to afford holiday travel. Among the other reasons they take on extra work: 55% say it is to afford gifts; 48% say it is to build an emergency fund; 44% say it is to pay off debt; 34% say it is to afford unexpected expenses; and 29% say it is to splurge over the holidays.
66% of Americans feel more financial stress during the holidays than they do other times of the year.
Nearly 1 in 10 expect to earn over $1,000 a month from their side hustle to cover holiday expenses. On average, those with side gigs plan to spend $682 on holiday gifts this season.
Of those planning to start a side hustle to pay for holiday expenses, 34% plan to work multiple jobs.
The majority of employees said they can't afford the holidays on their salary alone.
Three in 10 people doing extra work said their productivity at their full-time job will decline.
Popular choices for side hustles include delivery services (42%), seasonal retail jobs (32%), freelancing, such as writing or graphic design (27%); and ride-sharing (26%). Pet or house-sitting is also popular (16%), along with social media influencing (15%), bar or restaurant work (14%) and babysitting (9%).
Thirteen percent of respondents aim to earn $500 or less from their holiday side hustle, while 31% seek $500 to $1,000 in earnings. Another 28% hope to make $1,001 to $2,000, and 17% want $2,001 to $3,000. Twelve percent look to make more than $3,000.
More than 20% of the respondents plan to spend $2,000 or more on the holidays.
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.
