If the fireworks and predictable celebrations of New Year's Eve don't take your fancy this year, it is possible to turn the situation to your advantage and make money instead of spending it. Find out how.
New Year’s Eve, depending on the way you look at it, can either be one of the most expensive or most lucrative nights of the year. If you’ve had enough of spending all your money seeing the New Year in with extortionate entry to clubs and over-priced food and drink, you may be tempted by the idea of making some money this year instead. We show you how.
Babysitting
Many people this New Year’s Eve will be out celebrating or away visiting friends, or at least they would be if only they had someone to look after their kids... So, if you don’t have any plans for New Year’s Eve, why not offer to babysit for friends and family, or advertise your services in the local paper? You could also put up a notice in your local newsagents. Of course, as it’s New Year’s Eve people will be more willing to pay you top dollar.
Pet-sitting
If babysitting isn’t for you or you don’t have much experience with children, you could offer to look after pets instead while their owners are out cavorting into the early hours. Cats and dogs left at home over New Year’s may be frightened by the sound of fireworks and their owners could be very comforted to know someone is looking after them – so this could be a great way to make a bit of extra cash.
Bartending
This is unlikely to be a realistic option if you have no bar experience as New Year’s Eve can be one of the busiest nights of the year. However, if you have any experience behind a bar why not turn your hand to pouring drinks this year?
Regular bar staff are likely to be thin on the ground, giving you the perfect opportunity to step in. You’re also likely to get plenty of tips from merry-making patrons! Approach bar managers a week or so before New Year’s Eve to see if there might be any openings. Agencies are also a good place to start as they’re often recruiting extra staff this time of year.
Table-waiting
If your past experience is more in the catering field than bars, you could make some extra money by waiting tables at restaurants that are likely to be groaning under the pressure of seasonal customers. As with bartending, tips and pay are likely to be more than usual so you could go home with a decent amount of cash. Start by speaking with an agency if this appeals, as they’re likely to be looking for New Year’s staff.
And the rest...
If none of the above appeals, there are likely to be plenty of other openings at restaurants and bars such as security staff, glass collectors, dish washers, and even amateur photographers to capture the night’s festivities. You’ve nothing to lose in enquiring at your local hotspots to see if there’s any work going that you would be able to do.
Swap your home
If your plan is to escape the hustle and bustle of New Year’s Eve this year and spend it abroad or in a far-flung area of the country, you can save money at the same time by swapping your house with other holidaymakers and essentially enjoying a free holiday. Swapping houses for a few days or a week means you don’t have to pay out for accommodation and so you could really save on what could be an expensive time away this New Year.
