12 Best Winter Side Hustles to Make Extra Money in 2026

Let’s be honest, the winter can be a pretty grim time. When the sun goes down early I have to turn the dreaded big light on at 2:30pm, my heart sinks. One thing that’ll always lift my mood, though? A bit of extra income from a winter side hustle. It certainly makes the cost of Christmas shopping sting a bit less.

Working Retail For Christmas - Outdoor/Indoor - $15-25 per hour

I’ve had some of my best winters working shifts in various retail positions. A lot of shops need extra staff to cope with the Christmas rush, so the number of roles available skyrockets! You’ll make at least minimum wage, but many retailers increase hourly rates in winter to encourage applications in this period.

I personally spent a lot of last December working at a cheese shop, which I loved as a way to learn a new skill as well as earn (and eat a lot of cheese). Think of something you’d be interested in trying out, and there’s likely to be some seasonal retail work going in the sector.

There are loads of places to find this kind of work, both directly and through an intermediary. Indeed is always a decent place to start. However, to get those jobs that’ll inspire and excite you like festive cheesemongering did for me, I strongly suggest having a think about what’d make a good ‘sidequest’ for you at the moment. With this in mind, find local businesses that work in that niche, research them online, use social media, and ask them about seasonal job opportunities in person.

I made a total of about £800 over the month of December along with my regular freelance work - pretty nice considering I got to eat cheese all day long.

Snow Shoveling - Outdoor - $20-25 per hour

This isn’t one for my fellow Brits. If you live in a snowy country, though, shovelling driveways can be a real opportunity for quick cash.

In some places, it’s an individual’s legal requirement to clear snow from their home’s driveway and sidewalk. If you’re the first to someone’s door after heavy snowfall, you can take a weight off of their shoulders by offering to shovel it.

All you need is a shovel, and you can earn between $18-$150 per driveway depending on lot size. It’s one for the early risers, and isn’t exactly a walk in the park, but if you happen to be one of those mythical morning people I’ve heard so much about, there’s no reason not to get out bright and early to knock on doors shovel in hand!

Playing Games For Money - Indoor - $5-25 per hour

If you’re like me, you’ll be gaming a lot in the winter. I’m picturing a roaring fire, a mulled wine in hand, and in those lulls, I reach for whatever game I happen to be playing at the time. Why not get paid while I’m at it?

You can earn between $5-25 an hour using platforms like Freecash, and all you need is five minutes, a mobile phone, and an internet connection.

There’s a huge list of games to choose from too, so you should be able to find one you love to while away those long winter nights.

Working at a Ski Resort - Outdoor - $12-30 per hour

Do you happen to live in a snowy, mountainous location? I’m jealous. Not just for the stunning scenery and calm way of life, but it’s also easier for you to work a ski season during the winter.

You don’t have to be from those areas though. You don’t even have to be a ski instructor. Between December and April in ski resorts across the world, there’s a huge need for everything from waiting staff and chefs to housekeepers and chauffeurs.

One thing to keep in mind is that the pay can be lower than expected. That’s because most resorts offer perks that are worth a whole lot more, including housing, amenities, and even lift passes! You don’t have to know how to ski yet - that’s what the season is for. For more, sites like Ski Jobs and Season Workers are solid places to begin.

Taking Festive Stock Photos - Outdoor/Indoor - $0-30 per hour

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, famously. Part of that is the gorgeous scenery, magical events, and delightful decorations that come out during the winter. If you have a decent digital camera and a bit of inspiration, you can start to sell stock photography. As a photographer myself, it’s an exciting prospect!

Of course, it isn’t easy. There are a lot of challenges, from a huge amount of competition both from photographers and AI to the size of the portfolio you’ll need to start properly earning. Still, if you’re creatively inclined and want to share your festive photography with the world, what better side hustle to start this winter?

There are plenty of platforms you can sell stock photography through, including Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Alamy. If you have a knack for capturing moments in a way that’ll inspire the masses, you’re in luck. Make sure you keep quality high, too. Stock photo agencies and users won’t want to see an out-of-focus image, or a picture that’s been blasted with noise by cranking up the ISO.

House Sitting - Indoor - $0-10 per hour

People travel a lot in the winter, leaving their houses empty. For peace of mind, many hire a house sitter while they’re away. 

This could even be a winter travelling opportunity for you, as along with the potential pay, you’ll essentially have free accommodation. What a deal - you can even do some paid gaming (or another indoor side hustle) while you’re there! All you have to do is make sure nothing breaks and maybe water a plant or two.

The main issue here is that house sitting is often an unpaid or low-paid job. It’s more of an added festive extra than a big money-making scheme.

The best housesitting work is found through your personal networks. Get on Instagram and ask your friends if they have any family members or friends looking for this service. However, sites like TrustedHousesitters are also good options if you prefer the online approach.

Gift Wrapping - Indoor - $15-20 per hour

If you fancy yourself a bit of an artist with paper, gift wrapping could be an ideal side hustle! It wouldn’t be my cup of tea, given the fact that my loved ones receive gifts that look like they were wrapped by a literal dog, but hey, maybe it’s for you.

Efficiency and neatness are the name of the game here, and you can always upsell ‘fancier’ wrapping techniques. Offering a tiered service is a great option here, charging different amounts for the likes of eco-wrapping with fabric and adding custom labelling and decoration.

It can be tough to get your name out there, but local social media groups on platforms like Facebook can be a great place to begin your search. Start early, too. The kinds of people who want to pay for bespoke gift wrapping are probably the same kinds who finish their Christmas shopping by the end of November.

Use social media imagery and video to help yourself out too. All it takes is the right person seeing a well-shot and edited TikTok of you wrapping a gorgeous gift for them to commission you to wrap their whole family’s gift haul.

Being Santa - Indoor - $15-75 per hour

If you’re less of a present wrapping elf and see yourself as the head honcho of the whole operation, maybe a stint being Santa himself could be right up your chimney!

Apparently, working as Santa in a US mall has a significant range of pay rates, from around $15 an hour to all the way up to $75! That’s a ho-ho-whole lot of money if you can get it. If you’re a popular Santa, corporate gigs can pay way north of this amount, so dedication can pay off.

It isn’t as easy a job as it might seem, though! You’ll have to always be switched on, bring constant festive energy, and own the suit already. There’s a cost to entry, and a real beard is highly desirable too! Of course, many agencies and venues are seeking Mrs. Claus and elves, too, so don’t despair if you’re as beardless as me.

If personifying the jolliest of souls appeals to you, start by finding the biggest Santa agencies near you. Where I am in the UK, Great Grottos is the first port of call, with HireSanta representing the US market. Find the closest one to you and see how well you fit their criteria!

Selling Firewood - Outdoor - $20-35

When I’m visiting my family for Christmas, there really is nothing better than curling up by the fire with a book, a game, or some good company. For this, though, I need firewood. I don’t own a forest. There are only so many trees near where I live, and it’s generally frowned upon to destroy public property by cutting them down. Multiply this by every cosy-minded individual, and you’ll see why selling and delivering firewood can be a profitable side hustle over the winter months. 

There are plenty of ways to start in this endeavour. If you’re lucky enough to own woodland, use your own stock (sustainably). Look around for local tree surgeons with wood to discard, and you might be able to take it off their hands for cheap or free. Lumber yards in your area will also sell in bulk, allowing you to grab an axe and split the wood into usable chunks. Research your vicinity and see which method is most likely to succeed!

When it comes to selling wood, there are loads of potential outlets for this. You might want to set up a stand in public near a popular area like a Christmas market or garden centre. Maybe your local Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree communities have some potential buyers. Or, if you know your neighbourhood like the back of your hand, just go door-to-door!

Making Festive Gifts - Indoor - $5-20

Are you into your arts and crafts? Are you an avid knitting enthusiast? There’s nothing better than making something beautifully festive and earning in the process.

I used to make jam in my free time, and came up with new flavour combinations based on the time of year. These proved super popular, as combined with a bit of Instagram marketing, the jams made a perfect winter treat, or gift for someone else!

Etsy is a perfect place to set up a storefront, as it has discoverability at its core. Depending on what you’re creating, you can make money at vastly different rates. My jams sold for £5 a jar, but your bespoke crochet jumper might be worth a whole lot more than that!

Buying and Selling Summer Clothes - Indoor - $Varies

Hear me out. It may not feel like a very festive activity, sure. But if you consider yourself a bit of a wheeler-dealer, you can find some amazing deals on summer clothes during the winter, either second-hand, in thrift stores, or on sale from shops.

People buy clothing based on the season, so the price of big winter coats is at its highest when demand is there, and the same is true for summer outfits. If you have an eye for fashion, try to grab some pieces that’ll sell for more when it’s sweltering outside!

Depop, eBay, and Vinted are great choices for this side hustle. The best part is, you can make it a year-round thing! Buy winter clothing in the summer time and sell it now, so you’re always maximising your potential earnings.

Firework Delivery - Outdoor - $Varies

Christmas might be over, but you know what that means… Happy New Year! Sure, the public displays are lovely, but people want to set off their own fireworks. This means they have to find someone who sells and delivers fireworks, and that’s where you come in.

You might need a license to sell fireworks, so check your local authorities’ website to ensure you aren’t breaking the law. There will also be regulations on safe storage, so you’ll need a solid level of dedication for this winter moneymaker.

Once that’s sorted, pop online to a firework wholesaler. The best one for you will depend on your location - but a quick search for “firework wholesaler” wherever you happen to be will sort you right out. Buying wholesale will get you a great deal, but require a lot of up-front investment in the product, as you’re purchasing in bulk. That’s the risk you’re choosing to take. If you can sell it all, you’ll see some tidy profits, but if not, you’ll take a loss and have a garage full of unused Catherine wheels. 

Profits depend heavily on volume, but you can often mark up wholesale products by over 200%, especially if you offer New Year’s Eve delivery options for a bit of extra cash. Get on local social media, leverage your network, and find out where the firework demand is for some explosive (and profitable) New Year’s Eve magic!