1. Start planning where you will work for other holidays now. Yes, it is too late (maybe not but I am a realist) for Christmas time now but start thinking about where you want to work (if you aren’t going to be around campus) for Spring Break. If there is an internship or particular job that you want – start looking now. Depression or not, there will be work out there somewhere.
2. Cash in on natural talent. If you can sing, dance, juggle, or balance a cat on your nose, think about doing work as a sales person or waiter. If places are hiring, they want people with talent and a lot of companies will hire people after making them go through an actual audition. Besides the craigslists of the world, check out advertising local pennysavers, notes on supermarket bulletin boards and school bookstores.
3. Be the first to hit up professors and anybody on campus for work. Whether it is baby-stting, sleep depriviation studies or just to set up chairs for the holiday alumni dance, if they are looking for work in the student body pool of talent, get in early and say that you are available.
4. If you are honest, offer to do odd jobs and chores for neighbors around the campus or your home. People may be swamped for the holidays and need somebody to mow their lawn (West Coast), shovel their driveway (Midwest) or replant their soil (anywhere where rain or winds have massacred their land).
5. Offer to teach something that you do well inexpensively. There may be people who want to learn how to draw. Start using your artistic chops (if you have them) to teach people how to do that. Even better if you have practical chops like masonry or plumbing. Offer to do that kind of work for an inexpensive rate plus parts if they don’t want to take the time to learn from you. The truth is, with people saving money, they will learn practical skills from you faster than creative skills.
6. Clean out that closet and ebay anything that you haven’t used in five years. Unless there is some real tight attachment or a lover or parent bought you something, get rid of it while people are thinking of buying (at least a little).
7. As a follow-up to number 6, for big items – garage sale. Get the signs out and have a yard or garage sale and get rid of all that crap that is in good shape that you can still sell.
8. Look for seasonal driving jobs if you have a good driving record. There will be a LOT of heavy drinking this holiday season and there will be a big need for designated drivers.
9. Offer to clean up after a party or parties for a reasonable fee. A buck is a buck – just get the ground rules and cost before you start work. Lots of people like to throw holiday parties but they hate clean up afterwards.
10. Recycle for cash all those bottles and cans that you have been collecting and while you are at it, turn all that loose change (if you have any) into cash. Don’t use the Coinstar machines that charge a whopping 7 plus percent interest (I’ve seen it higher) and try to roll your own coin and take it to a bank to cash or deposit.
These are just a start. Let me know how things work out for you and any more ideas you have. Best of luck for the holidays!
Kim Isaac Greenblatt
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