Are you strapped for cash this holiday season? Do you wonder if you'll be able to pay your bills AND buy presents this year? Well, no need for the winter blues - with these simple tips, you'll be able to make money fast before the holidays hit. So arm yourself with some hot cocoa, grab a pen, browse these tips, and prepare for an abundant holiday season.



1. Say good bye to outdated clothing. Say good bye to outdated clothing. Hold a fire sale. Do some serious cleaning and get rid of everything you don't need or no longer want. CDs and DVDs are a good place to start. If you only use MP3s, list all your CDs on Amazon. It's easy to set up an account and decide on prices based on what others are selling the item for. DVDs can often go as well as we tend to watch most movies only once. Then clear out your closet. Say good bye to that skinny dress that would only fit a 12-year-old, adios to those corduroy pants that were oh so cool in the 90s, and don't hang onto the orange sneakers that looked stylin' but will never match anything. Take your clothes to a nearby used clothing retailer and get paid in cash. If you have a piece of furniture or antique that's of little use to you, list it on eBay or craigslist. You can also sell event tickets that you don't need or want on craigslist.

2. Sell refreshments at your sale to pump up your profits. Sell refreshments at your sale to pump up your profits. Hold a garage sale and promote it as a "Holiday Green" event. This will encourage reusing old items and helping the Earth while also lining your pockets. If it's cold where you live, hold the sale in your basement. Post flyers and signs in your neighborhood and at local stores with bulletin boards. If you live in an apartment, post flyers by the mailboxes. Sell homemade cookies and hot chocolate at your sale for extra money. You can get the ingredients for these at Sam's Club, Aldi, or your local discount store. Use the leftover cookies for holiday gifts (make sure they're not sneezed on/picked over though).

3. The holidays are a great time for petsitting as many people go out of town. The holidays are a great time for petsitting as many people go out of town. Be helpful. Offer your services to friends, family, and neighbors. Put up flyers for petsitting, babysitting, and cleaning. You can charge anywhere from $10 to $20 an hour for cleaning or babysitting and around $15 to $35 a day for petsitting. You can also put an ad for your services on craigslist or respond to ads on there.

4. Check out online revenue sources. Create a profile on Elance and Guru and post your eHow articles and other writing/design work. Bid on jobs and expect to bid on a few before you get a hit. You can make from $50 to thousands of dollars on these sites, depending on the amount of work for each job. Also sign up for a free Google AdSense account at www.adsense.com and get paid for putting ads on your blog or Web site. Another great way to make money online is to get paid to watch commercials. Sign up at www.youdata.com and get paid for each video you watch. This is an easy way to earn extra spending money.

5. Save your pennies. Pay for everything with cash and you will not only save on high credit card interest rates, but your loose change can add up fast. Empty your wallet every night and put the change in a piggy bank or jar. When it's full, take it to the nearest grocery store or Wal-Mart with a Coinstar machine and watch your change turn into dollars.