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Need a little extra money for your holiday shopping this year? A side hustle could help you earn some cash in your spare time ahead of the festive season. Taskrabbit, a platform that connects people who need help with tasks to skilled freelance workers, or “taskers,” says the demand for winter side gigs is on the rise right now.
Starting at the end of October, Taskrabbit sees a spike in requests for services like cleaning and decorating and some tasks pay more than $50 an hour. “Winter is just a very busy season for our clients. We call it ‘hosting season’ internally,” explains Chris Ager, the company’s chief commercial officer. He adds that hiring gig workers helps people manage all “the things that they just don’t have time to do when they’re managing a busy work and family life.”
And that’s good news for anyone who needs to make a little extra income during the holiday season. Taskrabbit reports these are the most in-demand, highest paying winter side gigs.
- Holiday cleaning - Requests for this service jumped 26% last year on Taskrabbit as people need extra help getting their home ready for guests and the holidays. It pays pretty well, too, the average hourly rate is $44.
- Hanging holiday lights - This one requires a “unique skill set,” along with the appropriate equipment, which is why so many homeowners hire someone else to deck their halls. Last year, Taskrabbit saw a “huge, huge spike” in demand for help with holiday lights, with requests doubling year-over-year, and the average hourly rate is $49.
- Running holiday-related errands - From delivering a Christmas tree to a house to heading to the store to buy new toys before they get sold out, Taskrabbit clients have a lot of holiday-specific requests in November and December. Last year, these requests were up 17% and the average hourly rate is $32.
- Waiting in line - When a client wants to make sure they get the latest tech product or toy that comes out, or a reservation at an in-demand restaurant, they often reach out to Taskrabbit for line-waiting services. These jobs jumped 18% year-over-year on the platform and their average hourly rate for standing in line is $27.
- TV mounting - Demand for this service spikes in winter because people are entertaining or just finally getting around to tackling home projects they’ve put off all year. Requests for TV mounting were up 14% last year and the average hourly rate for doing it is $52 since it requires specific skills.
Source: CNBC⠀