At this time of the year, most of us are starting to look forward to a break over the summer. You might already have something booked, or you could be waiting on the perfect last-minute deal. A lot of people are still reluctant to book too far in advance after the uncertainty around travel over the last few years, but still long to get away now that most destinations are open to us all once more.
However, as much as we love to go on holiday, see new sights, get a little rest and relaxation, and enjoy valuable time with our friends and family, there’s no escaping the fact that holidays are expensive. Travel, hotels and other accommodation, holiday clothes and supplies, excursions while we are away, food and all of the other associated costs can quickly add up, and that’s without any luxuries, cocktails by the pool, or souvenirs.
The cost of living is rising all of the time, and many of us are still dealing with the economic fallout of the pandemic. You might have lost income or had to change jobs. Times have been tough, and as much as we’re looking forward to our summer holidays, most people’s savings have taken a hit over the last few years, and money is tight.
Whether your holiday is booked and paid for, and you just want to save some extra spending money, or you haven’t even started looking yet, a boost to your savings is sure to be helpful. Fortunately, there’s still time to make some extra cash to ensure you can have a fantastic summer trip.
Play Online Games
Online games are great fun and an excellent way to pass a little time when you are bored. But they can also be a good way to make some extra cash to boost your savings. Jackpot Casino has a wide range of online slot games with fast cash payouts. Playing online slot games at Jackpot can be a fun and fast way to top up your savings and make some extra cash without having to work more or spend a lot of time earning.
Use Your Social Media Following
Many people now have large social media followings on platforms like Instagram or TikTok. If you’ve got more than a few thousand followers on one platform you might be able to work with brands to monetise your account by selling products, advertising services, or working on affiliate campaigns. You don’t need a blog or website to earn money if your following is large, or you have a lot of engagement.
Look for brands that suit your style and get in touch or look at social media services that can help you to make money from your account. If you travel a lot, becoming a travel influencer might be a great way to finance your trips and make money doing something that you love.
Have a Clear Out
If you haven’t cleared out your wardrobe for a while, this is the perfect time to do it. It’s easier than ever to make some extra cash selling old clothes, bags, shoes, homeware, furniture, games and other things that you might have lying around the house online. eBay is ideal, but Facebook Marketplace, Vinted and other similar apps can be fantastic ways to make extra money without too much effort on your part.
Move Your Money
Interest rates have been very low for a long time, but many places are starting to raise their interest to encourage savers. If you have savings ready to pay for your holiday, or to take as spending money, you might be able to increase the amount simply by moving it into a higher interest account. The more you’ve got, the more you’ll make, so it might even be worth delaying paying for your holiday until the deadline so that you can maximise the interest that you receive.
Get Crafty
If you have any crafty skills, such as painting, sewing or graphic design, you could use them to make some extra cash selling things online or even at local craft fairs and markets. Use your social media accounts to promote your goods and consider buying cheap second-hand goods and upcycling them before selling on if you want to turn a bigger profit and have some cash to make an initial investment. If you’ve got plenty to sell, you could even turn your crafty hobby into a permanent side hustle or even a business.
Try Freelancing
We’re not all crafty, but we don’t need to be. There are other skills that you can sell online. You could get work as a freelance writer, designer, editor, tutor, proof reader or photographer online. Look at sites like Fiverr and Upwork to see what freelance services are in demand, and to find something that you could offer, then sign up, advertise your services, and start applying for freelance work.
Get Cash Back from Holiday Purchases
If you still need to book your holiday, buy travel insurance or buy any clothes and other supplies, make sure you do it through a cashback app. On some apps, you can get large payouts on big purchases like holidays and even smaller payments, like 2% on your holiday wardrobe quickly add up, and are always more than nothing.
Make Some Switches
Banks will often try to encourage new customers to sign up by offering a cash incentive. It’s a great way to get money for nothing and might mean that you also get lower fees or better interest rates. It’s also worth looking at switching energy providers and other utilities, but make sure you go through your cashback app, as there may be payouts as well as savings to be made.
Take Surveys
Online surveys will never earn you enough to pay for a holiday. But if you sign up to enough sites and do surveys every evening instead of scrolling through social media while you watch TV you might be able to earn enough to pay for a meal out while you are away, or to cover your transport to the airport. Remember, every little counts!
Testing websites and reviewing things online are other simple ways to make a small amount of extra cash in your spare time.
Rent Out a Room
If you have a spare room, renting it out to a lodger can be a fantastic way to make extra cash quickly, and consistently. If you haven’t got space for a person, could you rent out a room in your home for storage?
Another option is renting out a parking space if you have one that you don’t use, or that you only use in the evenings and weekends. This can be especially profitable if you live in a city or town centre that a lot of people commute into. You can advertise your space on social media or in your office or use a parking space rental app to connect with potential customers.
A boost to your savings is never a bad thing, especially when things like food and fuel are becoming so much more expensive. But it’s even more important when you’ve got a holiday to save for. Use these tips and you should be able to give your savings pot a big boost in time for your getaway.
