The holidays arrive with plenty of magic, and an impressive number of expenses.
We’ve heard from many local parents, especially stay-at-home moms, who would like to bring in extra income.
Seasonal work extends well beyond standing behind a cash register. Paid research, package delivery, event staffing, pet sitting, gift wrapping and even helping another family prepare for the holidays can all generate legitimate income.
While there are many get-rich-quick schemes, or those who ask you to pay to play (never a good idea), there are a few trusted places to start, along with several less-obvious ideas worth considering.
Get Paid for Your Opinion
Paid market research is one of the most flexible options for parents. Las Vegas Field and Focus conducts local focus groups, interviews and product research covering everything from household products and toys to healthcare and consumer services. Participants can register directly at lvff.vegas. The company has an established Las Vegas research facility and recruits local residents to share their experiences and opinions.
Mom tip: Create a separate email address just for research opportunities and turn on notifications. Studies can fill quickly, and responding early may improve your chances of reaching the screening stage.
Look Beyond “Seasonal Sales Associate”
Retailers need cashiers during the holidays, but search for terms such as fulfillment, pickup, order processing, overnight stocking, inventory, receiving and on-demand team member.
These jobs may involve fewer customer-facing duties and sometimes offer early-morning, evening or overnight schedules.
Target currently lists on-demand positions at several Las Vegas-area stores. Eligible on-demand team members select available shifts through the company’s scheduling system. That structure can help those who cannot gaurantee the same availability every week.
Bath & Body Works is another reliable seasonal employer, with holiday positions appearing at Las Vegas locations including Downtown Summerlin, Best in the West, Fashion Show Mall, Boca Park and other shopping centers.
Also check the official career pages for Macy’s, Kohl’s, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Michaels, See’s Candies, HoneyBaked Ham and local grocery stores.
Mom tip: Put your availability near the top of your application. That tells a hiring manager immediately where you might fit. Specific, dependable hours can be more valuable than claiming complete availability and later changing it.
Help Move the Holiday Mountain of Packages
UPS, Amazon and the U.S. Postal Service often need additional help as online orders surge.
UPS hires seasonal support drivers who deliver packages using their own eligible vehicles, as well as warehouse workers and driver helpers. Requirements differ by position; UPS says support drivers must be at least 21, possess a valid driver’s license and be able to lift packages weighing up to 70 pounds.
The U.S. Postal Service lists seasonal, part-time and full-time opportunities that can include holiday clerks, carriers, mail handlers and processing positions. Apply only through the official USPS Careers website. USPS does not charge an application fee.
Amazon operates fulfillment and distribution facilities throughout the Las Vegas area. Search its official Las Vegas jobs page frequently because hourly openings can appear and fill quickly.
Little-known hack: Holiday hiring does not end December 24. Retailers and distribution centers also need help processing returns, exchanges and clearance merchandise in late December and January. Search for “returns,” “reverse logistics,” “inventory” and “post-holiday” positions.
Work Where Las Vegas Has an Advantage: Events
Our city runs on events, conventions, entertainment and hospitality. Seasonal opportunities may include:
- Registration and check-in staff
- Brand ambassadors and product demonstrators
- Banquet servers and catering assistants
- Ticket scanners and ushers
- Coat-check attendants
- Merchandise sellers
- Convention setup and teardown crews
- Holiday attraction attendants
- Family-event helpers
- Photo-set assistants for Santa experiences
Check established staffing agencies, convention contractors, shopping centers, attractions and casino-resort career pages. Apply through the organization’s official website whenever possible.
A short-term event shift can be particularly useful for a parent who cannot commit to months of scheduled work but can arrange childcare for one evening or weekend.
Turn Holiday Overwhelm Into a Service
Some of the best seasonal work is never posted on a job board. Busy parents, older adults and small-business owners may gladly pay for practical help.
Consider offering:
- Gift wrapping in the customer’s home
- Holiday decorating or decoration takedown
- Addressing and mailing holiday cards
- Personal shopping or order pickup
- Closet and toy-room organization before new gifts arrive
- Pantry organization before holiday cooking
- Returning unwanted gifts after the holidays
- Party setup and cleanup
- Baking assistance or meal preparation
- Babysitting during shopping or holiday parties
- Pet sitting and house sitting during travel
- Plant watering, mail collection and home checks
- Photographing products for local holiday sellers
- Creating social-media posts for small businesses
- Assembling gift baskets for real estate agents or companies
- Making teacher, employee or client appreciation gifts
Start with one clearly defined service rather than advertising that you can “do anything.” For example: “I will wrap up to 20 standard-size gifts in your home. You provide the paper and ribbon.” Clear boundaries make it easier to price the service and prevent a two-hour job from becoming an all-day holiday hostage situation.
Before accepting work inside a stranger’s home, use referrals whenever possible, tell someone where you will be and avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
Help Local Businesses With Their Holiday Rush
Small businesses may not have the budget or need for another permanent employee, but they often need temporary assistance with:
- Packing and labeling orders
- Responding to customer messages
- Photographing products
- Writing social-media captions
- Updating online store listings
- Preparing vendor-market displays
- Delivering local orders
- Staffing holiday markets
- Creating gift guides
- Organizing receipts and inventory
Parents with administrative, creative, sales or social-media experience can package these services into a small holiday offer. A flat-rate package is often easier to sell than an open-ended hourly commitment.
For example: “Holiday Business Boost: 10 social-media captions, 20 product photos and two hours of order-packing assistance.”
Sell What Your Family Has Outgrown
For families needing money quickly, selling unused items may produce results faster than applying for dozens of online gigs.
Look for:
- Toys in excellent condition
- Holiday clothing and children’s formalwear
- Gaming systems and electronics
- Strollers and baby equipment that have not been recalled
- Collectibles
- Furniture
- Sports equipment
- Unused craft supplies
- Seasonal décor
- New items still in their packaging
Bundle lower-priced children’s items by size, age or theme. “Girls’ winter clothing, size 6–7” is easier to sell than photographing 14 shirts individually.
Always meet buyers in a safe public location, use the payment method you agreed upon and never send money to “verify” your account.
A Word About Mystery Shopping in Nevada
Mystery shopping can be legitimate, but Nevada regulates it differently from many other states. Mystery shoppers may need to work through a properly licensed company and obtain the applicable work card. Check requirements with the Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board before accepting an assignment.
Never deposit a check and send part of the money elsewhere. That is a common fake-check scam—not a surprise holiday bonus.
What About Apps That Pay You to Complete Simple Tasks?
Be especially cautious with companies promising easy money for filming chores, liking posts, rating products or completing repetitive online tasks.
High Five Tasks, for example, has advertised payment for recording everyday household activities. However, recent complaints have raised concerns about upfront costs, rejected submissions, payment thresholds and changing terms. That does not independently prove every experience is fraudulent, but it is enough for us to recommend caution.
The Federal Trade Commission advises consumers never to pay upfront for access to a job. Legitimate employers and gig platforms should explain the work, payment rate, approval process and payment schedule before you begin.
Walk away if a company:
- Requires a platform, training or equipment fee before you can earn
- Sends a check and asks you to return part of the money
- Requires payment through cryptocurrency or gift cards
- Promises unusually high earnings for minimal work
- Will not provide written payment terms
- Conducts the entire hiring process through text or an encrypted messaging app
- Pressures you to act immediately
- Asks for sensitive financial information before verifying the company and position
Start Small and Protect Your Time
Extra income should help your family—not create a second full-time job that pays like a forgotten coupon.
Choose two or three options that match the hours you genuinely have available. Register with a few reputable research companies, apply for one flexible seasonal position and test one service you can offer through your existing network.
Keep records of mileage, supplies, payments and expenses, especially if you are working as an independent contractor. Gig income may be taxable even when a company does not withhold taxes.
Most importantly, place a value on your time. After subtracting gas, childcare, platform fees and supplies, a “great opportunity” may not be so great. The best holiday side job is not necessarily the one promising the biggest number—it is the one that pays reliably, fits your family and does not leave you too exhausted to enjoy the season you were trying to afford.