Alternative Sources of Income

It is that time of year again, and we are all scraping up as much cash as possible to let our friends and family know we love them. I know we have deeply missed the "Reason for the Season" as we obsess over what to buy everyone, but it is our current reality. So I encourage everyone to look for alternative sources of income. It is a good idea all year long, but especially helpful as our Christmas budget seems to get bigger and bigger.
You may be thinking, "what are alternative sources of income?" Basically, anything you can do to earn a little extra cash. (Well, not anything!) In the summer my husband will mow lawns occassionally for people that are going to be out of town, or just don't feel up to doing it themselves. I have a part time job doing childcare for a couple of hours a week at church. Neither of these jobs pay a lot, but it may just pay for a couple of extra presents that I might otherwise be tempted to put on my credit card. (Not that the budget queen is ever tempted to use the evil credit card!)
So think of ways you may be able to earn a little extra cash this season. Are you gifted at gift wrapping? Send an e-mail out to your friends offering to giftwrap their presents for a small fee. Can you bake beautiful cookies? Post on Facebook that you will bake cookies for people to claim as their own at their holiday gatherings. When the season is over, offer to haul off dried out Christmas trees. It may not seem like a lot of money, but these little bits of extra cash can really offset the holiday budget blues!