Welcome to our series on 31 Ways to Earn Extra Cash Before Christmas. In this series, I’m highlighting simple and legitimate ways you can earn extra cash over the next few weeks for those of you who could use a little extra cash to help you pay for Christmas — or just for your living expenses if you’re in a tight spot right now.
We’ve talked about a lot of ways to earn extra cash before Christmas in this series, but I wanted to also include a post in this series with some ideas of ways to get Christmas gifts for free.
1. Recyclebank
Complete quizzes, watch videos, and more on Recyclebank to earn points. You can use these points to earn high-value coupons, magazine subscriptions, and gift cards.
There are typically opportunities to earn at least 200 to 400 points each month, meaning you could earn at least a gift card or two each year. You could also request magazine subscriptions for people who live in your home (at this time, it doesn’t appear like you can have subscriptions sent to addresses other than your own).
2. Mailbox Freebies
Sign up for the mailbox freebies that I post and some of these might work for a stocking stuffer or to make a fun gift basket for someone! There are free bath & beauty products, free hair products, free tea/coffee/cappuccino samples, and sometimes even free gift cards!
3. Swagbucks
I’ve already blogged about Swagbucks in this series, but I wanted to plug it again here as it’s an excellent way to earn free gift cards for just a little bit of effort each day. If you’ve not signed up for Swagbucks, go find out all about it here.
4. MyPoints
You can earn points by reading emails, playing games, searching the web, or taking surveys through MyPoints. Cash in your points for free gift cards and more! Just by doing simple exercises each day, you should easily be able to earn at least a few gift cards each year.
5. Coupon/Drugstore Freebies
So many of the freebies that you can pick up by playing the drugstore game or using coupons could be turned into gift baskets or stocking stuffers.
6. Blog Giveaways
Liz emailed in and said: “I earn Christmas gifts by entering blog contests daily. I shoot for one hour a day, usually at night when watching tv. I follow about 100 blogs through email and they usually do giveaways weekly. I have won gift cards to grocery stores, lots of kids’ dvds, toys, body washes, free coupons, etc. I enter contests for pretty much everything. You never know when you will need an infant gift, toddler gift, or gift for your mother.”
Read more about how to save money on Christmas gifts by entering contests.
7. Pampers Gifts to Grow
Lori emailed in and said: “This isn’t earning cash, but it helps me fulfill my Christmas list without costing anything out of my budget at all! I just enter all the free Pampers Gift to Grow points throughout the year and cash them in for some gift cards at Christmas. This year, I got two $10 Applebees gift cards. I’ll be able to cross two people off my list with no money out of pocket.”
8. Kellogg’s Family Rewards
Have you signed up for Kellogg’s Family Rewards? You can earn points by inputting the codes from Kellogg’s products or by using the free coupon codes they are regularly releasing. You can use this points toward high-value coupons, magazines, toys, and other rewards.
9. Nielsen Homescan
If you are accepted as a panel member with Nielsen Home Scan, you will be sent a small hand-held scanner and will scan all the bar codes of everything you purchase. Once a week, you’ll transmit this information to Nielsen and you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for a variety of items from the Nielsen Gift Catalog.
What creative ideas do you have for earning free Christmas gifts? I’d love to hear your ideas!
photo from BigStock
kathy says
Sorry, just realized these comments were to be geared toward free gifts. Although $2 is close!
kathy says
I recently attended a taste of home cooking show.These are held around the country in spring and fall.I received a “goodie ” bag containing among other things a voucher for a free years subscription to Taste Of. Home magazine! After the show they had a few leftover bags they sold for $2 each. I bought 4 and can now give 4 home and kitchen gift bags including the magazine to four friends on my Christmas list. Cost of 4 NICE gifts : $8.Now of course this may not happen at all shows. The idea is to think outside the box. And just to say these shows are fantastic and well worth attending!
Rhonda Murray says
Just wanted to comment on Nielsen HomeScan. It NEVER worked for me. The scanner didn’t work with my home phone, it was like dinosaur technology. I kept diligently trying to do the shopping and scanning and it wasn’t worth my time. Customer service wasn’t good either. Just my opinion, hopefully your experience will be much better.
Michelle Cobb says
I have been doing online surveys for about 4 months now and also do Swagbucks. I’ve managed to buy a jogging stroller/car seat combo for the little guy that’s going to be born on December 20, I bought my other son a 3DS and 2 games for Christmas, a few DVDs and a nursing pillow!! It’s amazing what a little time sitting on the computer doing surveys can turn into! I’m so thankful for the help…with baby due and Christmas falling all at once, it sure has been a blessing!
Tiffany says
I emailed Recyclebank recently to ask about magazines being sent to other people and they said it all depends on which magazine. It all depends on the magazine and their regulations. I haven’t found out a way to see which magazines will until you go all the way through checkout.
Benita says
I just finished packing up my Operation Christmas Child boxes last night and was amazed that almost everything – except for some crayons, spiral notebooks and colored pencils that I bought for just pennies during the back-to-school sales – I got for free as either samples, using coupons, or give aways at stores. I love being able to send these small gifts, which I know mean so much to the kids who receive them, and hopefully make a little difference in the life of a child.
Kate says
Stonyfield also has a points system that can be redeemed for prizes. I’ve gotten coupons for free yogurt and other foods, as well as magazine subscriptions that I gave as gifts.
Sarah says
Yes! Love using this. 🙂 Also, have you checked out the Moo Crew by Stonyfield? I got a free onesie by doing activities which added up. No purchase required.
Jamie at Prepared to Eat says
My husband was earning Coke Rewards points and sending magazines to people as a gift. I’m not sure if it still works that way or not.
Renee says
I’m wondering how Lori got Applebee’s gift cards with her Pampers codes. My account only offers me rewards targeted at babies and toddlers. I’d love to trade them in for gift cards instead of toys or photo products.
Jessica says
I make a lot of gifts. I crochet toy foods. Of course there are materials needed, but the amount of yarn to crochet a dozen toy cookies is miniscule. A set of felt food cookies at the fancy toy store costs much more. And since crocheting is my main hobby, I would likely be crocheting something anyway. I have my own allowance that I buy yarn out of, which is separate from my gift budget.
This year I made each of my kids a pillowghan, a felt pizza set, and I’m working on crocheted toaster pastries and crocheted sugar cookies and crocheted sandwich cookies!
Benita says
I do this, too. Only my “craft” is making felt food and felt blocks. I started out making felt food for a couple of nieces for gifts, and then started creating animal blocks to give to some younger kids/baby shower gifts. Like you said, the material are inexpensive and the creative process is something I just love – and I so enjoy seeing people’s responses when they get something unique that was made just for them!
Kacy says
I am a long-time Pampers gifts to grow member and I have been quite dissatisfied recently with the rewards offered. As this person featured in this blog entry mentioned, they used to offer some gift cards but it has been about 6+ months since I have seen any gift cards at all offered as a reward. Now it seems they only offer contest entries and small toys for rewards. Just hanging onto my points, hoping the gift card options return at some time.
Liz Kane Jr says
I think we all need this every holidays 🙂
Victoria says
I love saving up the free Facebook offers from Bath and Body, I save them up during the year and give them to friends I know love them. I also like using the coffee samples as gifts. I buy clearance priced mugs when I see them and place the samples in them along with a bag of some of my homemade chocolate bark, and sometimes if I know the gift is for a person as crazy for coupons as I am I will place the coupons that came with the coffee in the mug as well. I have also used my mycoke rewards to purchase movie tickets for couples, or restaurant cards.
Sarah says
I have LOVED making videos on Expo Tv. If you don’t mind having videos online of yourself, I highly reccomend it! You get an average of 500 points for a video, and an Amazon $5 code costs 600 points. After the first couple of videos, you really start to get the hang of it and it only takes a couple of minutes. I feel this site gives you the most reward for the time you put in. Check it out through my referral…I’d appreciate it! 🙂
https://www.expotv.com/raf/uid-176884
Sarah says
Also, just realized I didn’t mention what the videos are for. 😛 You just do reviews on products you have in your home. They also have a great program called Tryology where you can apply to receive products for free. I’ve received food products and even a baby k’tan!
Jill says
I was able to get a free Diego potty seat and some washable bath crayons for my son through Pampers Gifts to Grow points. Huggies has a similar program (Enjoy the Ride), but I haven’t cashed in those just yet.
Laila @OnlyLaila says
I’ve also started to enter giveaways to get gifts for my son. I’ve won one so far!