21 Winter Side Hustles

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Thanks to the holiday season, we can’t be the only ones who think that winter is getting EXPENSIVE. And honestly, we’re kinda over it. All of the holiday parties, gifts, and trips are fun, but, the hit on our bank accounts? Totally not the vibe. Plus with the chilly temps and the sun setting super early, all we wanna do is get cozy under our blankets and binge-watch our favorite TV shows. (Which, BTW, we have tons of show recommendations HERE, HERE, andddd HERE if you want some inspo.) Can’t we just hide at home and hibernate until springtime???

All jokes aside—even though it feels like bedtime at 6 pm, there are actually a lot of side hustle opportunities that can replenish your bank account to fund all of those super exciting winter events. And of course, don’t forget to use social media to your advantage and get word around about your new side hustles! If you’re looking to make some extra income this season, stay tuned, friends! We’ve got a round-up of winter season side hustle ideas that can bring flexibility back to your spending. 

Here’s how to make money in the winter months:

winter side hustles

21 Best Winter Side Hustles

Sell handmade crafts. 

If you’re looking to make a little extra money this winter, the best way to do that by giving people what they need. And, what do we need more in the colder months than cozy handmade scarves, gloves, and hats? It’s time to get crafty AF!

This side hustle is a great option because it involves using your creative energy to make cool things from the comfort of your own home. Hobbies can not only make you money, but they can be super relaxing and rewarding too. Sit back, relax, turn on some relaxing podcasts, and get to crafting.

Tutor students.

Whether students are in the midst of midterm chaos or they’re struggling with that new schedule blues, they could always use some extra help. If you’ve got any teaching talent, offering tutoring to high school or college kids can be super lucrative! 

BONUS: This side hustle comes with a nice winter break while your students are out of school! Score!

Work for a delivery service.

Working as a delivery driver may not be the most glamorous of gigs, but it’s definitely in high in demand and those tips are WORTH IT. Whether you’re delivering for a food service, a grocery service, or a parcel service, delivery is an easy way to rake in some dough. Plus, with all that time driving around, you can totally get caught up on all your favorite podcasts!

Offer home decorating services.

Many people want a picturesque home, but not everyone knows how to make that happen. Plus, not everyone wants to pay top dollar for things like plain white Christmas trees (sorry Kim K, we’re looking at you.) If you’ve got an eye for design, this side hustle may be for you! You can offer indoor decorating services, outdoor decorating services, or a full package. 

Wrap gifts.

Some people love gift wrapping, and some people HATE it. Like, really hate it. And that’s okay, because those people that’d rather sit naked on a hot grill than wrap gifts are probably willing to pay you to do it. This is another great option that you can accomplish from the comfort of your own home. Plus, it’s a relatively short gig, with work typically available between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Don’t get discouraged if you wanna jump on this side gig outside of the holidays, though. People are always looking to get their gifts wrapped!

winter side hustles

Become a personal shopper.

Just like wrapping gifts, some people are all about shopping and some people would rather avoid it at all costs. But the truth is, it’s gonna have to get done one way or another. Enter: you, with a personal shopping side hustle! You can offer services for gift shopping or pre-party grocery shopping. Just ask for a list and get to buying! 

If you find you enjoy this side hustle, you can even turn it into a full-blown business that offers services year-round. Then you get paid to go shopping! Isn’t that the dream?

Try your hand at snow removal.

We’re gonna be honest: snow removal can be freaking hard. Long, cold hours removing snow is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. But those paychecks, though? Now, those are something we can all get behind. 

So, if you live in a cold climate that gets a lot of snow, it may be worth taking a shot at snow removal. To make it more fun, you could grab some super cute winter gear to look chic as h*ll why you shovel!

Pet sit.

This side hustle is a great option for any animal lovers out there! Lots of people go on trips in the winter, and that typically means leaving their pets at home. This is the perfect opportunity for you to slide in, cuddle some cute pets, and make some money. Offer pet sitting services to walk, groom, feed, and otherwise care for people’s beloved animals. It’s easy, often relatively quick, and can earn a lot of extra cash. Plus, who wouldn’t want to get paid for loving on animals all day?!?

Do some dog walking.

Another great option for animal lovers is dog walking. If you’ve got the stamina to brave the cold and do some dog walking on days people really just don’t want to go outside, then more power to you! Earn some cash by offering to walk people’s dogs when they’re not up to the task. This is another side hustle that you can turn into a year-round type of thing—especially in the summer when those temps heat up. Plus you get a nice tan at the same time? Sign us up.

Rent out winter gear.

A lot of people want to do fun winter activities, but simply don’t have the gear for it. If you’ve got skis, snowboards, ice skates, snow pants, or other winter gear, you can make money by renting it out. (Bonus points if it’s cute.) This way, people don’t have to pay so much to buy the gear for one activity, while you make passive income on stuff you already own!

Plant sit.

If you’re less of an animal person and more of a plant person, this one’s for you! While people are on winter vacays, you just stop by their house every day to water their plants and keep them healthy! If you’re super knowledgeable, you could even consult on best plant practices or help people plan their gardens for the upcoming spring! You can monetize anything, guys!

Deliver firewood.

BRR! It’s cold out there in the winter months! Doesn’t it sound nice to curl up by the fire, hang with friends, and eat some marshmallows and drink hot cocoa? It might sound nice, but this winter, you’re working! So, instead of building a fire for you and your friends, offer on-call firewood delivery services to keep other people’s outdoor festivities warm and bright.  

House sit.

While people are out on their chilly winter vacations, they may need someone to look after their home. This could entail pet sitting, plant sitting, or simply staying at their home to deter burglars and ensure everything is kept safe. It’s an easy way to make money, as long as you’re not too much of a homebody.

winter side hustles

Babysit.

Okay, we’ll admit it, this can be a year-round side hustle. But, you’ll probably make more money during this time of year than any other. Why? Because people have to go back to work after all that time off during the holidays! Whether you offer to watch the kids consistently or you babysit as a one-time gig, there will be dozens of opportunities for making money this way in the winter. Plus, you can use the connections you make to schedule date night gigs throughout the year!

Sell handmade decorations.

There’s just something about a handmade decoration that feels like it’s more than a store-bought decoration. And, because of that, people are usually willing to pay a bit more for decorations that are handmade! This is another gig that can be tons of fun, while still increasing your funds.

And if you find out you’re really good at it? There are tons more seasonal decorations you can make throughout the year to turn your side hustle into a business!

Cater parties. 

Love to cook? So many people have tons of hosting obligations and get super overwhelmed by the cooking demands. This is where you come in! Book catering gigs where you cook all the food, deliver it to the party, and clean it all up when they’re done. You can make a ton of extra cash doing this! And if it truly takes off, BOOM, a brand new opportunity to turn it into a business and profit off of it year-round.

Give winter sports lessons.

If you’re good at skiing, snowboarding, or ice skating, here is the gig for you! There are a lot of people who want to learn how to do any of these activities, who will pay you to teach them. This one’s great for people who have a natural inclination for teaching and athletics. Offer lessons in winter sports, and your bank account will be back to booming in no time!

Get a seasonal job. 

In winter, there are a lot of companies hiring temporary workers for seasonal jobs. It could be packaging gift boxes, removing snow, waiting tables, or simply just delivering mail. Just look around for seasonal work, get hired, and collect that paycheck!

Host a cozy book club—in person or online!

What better time to cozy up with a good book than during the winter time? And honestly, reading can be ten times more fun when you’re apart of a community. Just listen to The Readheads Book Club to get a sense of the vibe you need to have as the official “bookclub leader.” If you don’t feel like hosting a true club meeting type of vibe, you can host a virtual book club! Not only is it a fun way to earn a little bit of extra cash, but you also get to immerse yourself in tons of different books while you’re at it. A win is a win!

Make personalized gift baskets.

As much as people love a thoughtful, “homemade” gift, not everyone loves making them. Don’t you just wish that sometimes you could snap your fingers and have the perfect gift prepared for someone? You’re not the only one. Be the person people look to when it’s time to make gift baskets! This is honestly a great side hustle for winter time and for the rest of the year. Christmas, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, graduations, Halloween—there’s never NOT a good time to give someone a gift basket.

Become a personal stylist for winter fashion.

Got a passion for fashion and don’t know where to put it to good use? You’d be surprised at just how many people need helping piecing outfits together, especially during the winter time. How are you supposed to look cute and stay warm??? If you immediately knew the answer to this, then being a personal stylist is your calling. Take advantage of it and help others! While you’re at it, check out some of the best podcasts about beauty and fashion.

Use your winter to boost your personal income with one of these side hustles.

The winter can be a hard time when it comes to money. Use the skills and passions you have to find the perfect side hustle for your situation! That should bring some purpose to this dreary season and help you build up some savings for upcoming summer fun.

Need some help keeping all your side gigs straight? Try using this Lucky Girl notebook to write down everything you’ve got planned for the next few months. We also recommend you check out the episode of Balanced Black Girl called Finding Balance for Side Hustles to learn how to make the most out of your seasonal work! 

For more great ideas and life advice like this, check out the Dear Media blog. While you are at it, also browse our stellar list of podcasts. Dear Media has got you covered on all things work, money, pop culture, and seriously so much more!


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