MoneyMagpie’s free New Year’s cash giveaway For 2025

Free Cash Giveaway

Money giveaway: Happy New Year Magpies. Want some cash?

With a record number of people taking on second jobs and people frantically googling “quick ways to make cash”, we at MoneyMagpie have again decided to put our hand in our pocket and offer some help to readers.

Since last January we have had a record number of people entering our cash giveaway and whilst it never quite feels enough, we are back again this month with the chance to win some free money… no strings attached.

What We Are Offering!

We are offering 10 readers £10 each. There are no strings attached at all. Simply comment on the article with what you would spend the tenner on, and then in four weeks, 10 people will be selected to win the money.

MoneyMagpie founder Jasmine Birtles said: “It really doesn’t feel much in the greater scheme of things, but if it helps a few people then we are more than happy to step in. We have had a record number of people writing in and asking us how to access quick cash, and in reality there aren’t many ways that are safe to the consumer. Therefore, we just wanted to offer them a chance. We are strongly against gambling so didn’t want our readers to go there, therefore it’s simply cash.’

We will get the money to you in the form of PayPal or an Amazon Voucher.

How to Get involved with the free cash giveaway

So, as stated above, for your chance to get your hands on a tenner, just answer ‘what would you spend an extra tenner on this month?’ in the comments below. The comments will close at midnight on Feb 12, 2025.

We will notify the winners on Feburary 14, 2024 in hope of making their Valentine’s Day that bit sweeter.

Good luck. We look forward to hearing your answers.

If this sounds good then look at this fab oppurtunity to win a house here.

The post MoneyMagpie’s free New Year’s cash giveaway For 2025 appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Top tips for efficient tax returns

As the country faces an energy crisis which will impact the lives of millions, it is important to note that over £20 billion in tax benefits went unclaimed last year. Tax returns can be confusing for many and seem daunting. It can be a convoluted process, putting many people off even considering it. 

Little is known about the annual refunds workers can claim back, particularly in PAYE and blue-collar industries. Are you eligible for a tax returns you didn’t know about? Here is how to get what is rightfully yours. 

Tommy Mcnally, a leading tax expert and founder of the tax-return app Tommys Tax, provides his top tips to help you efficiently manage your tax return. It may even alleviate some financial worries you have within the current climate. 

Claim your food costs

There are many reasons you may be able to claim a full refund on your food costs. If you travel for more than one and a half hours a day to work, leave home before 6am or work past 8pm, you could be eligible for tax returns. In fact, you could claim a maximum of £.7.50 per day! If you are travelling to more than one location for work purposes, or are staying overnight, you can also claim a tax refund on food expenses. 

Claim uniform costs

You could claim up to £16 a week for your laundry if you wear a uniform for work. Refunds also apply to repairing and replacing your uniform. You cannot, however, claim back on the initial cost of buying clothing for work. 

Claim travel expenses

If travelling is a common aspect of your job, you could claim tax refunds on your travel costs. If you have travelled to two different locations, you may be eligible. This relief is also applicable to those whose employers do not cover expenses themselves. For example, if you drive a company car or use a company fuel card, you may not be eligible for a tax return. If, however, you use public transport or have aid for parking or congestion charges, you could claim some money back. 

Claim back training costs

If your employer does not cover training costs but the training is imperative for you to perform your role efficiently, you could claim tax back for this. For example, a health and safety course or food hygiene course may be required in your line of work. 

Hotel accommodation costs

Staying in hotels or alternative accommodation may sometimes be required as part of your work. If you have stayed in a hotel due to attending a conference, work part or training course, you could claim tax relief on these costs. Similarly, if you are staying in accommodation due to working somewhere temporarily, you could claim back money on this. 

Claim back on electronics

Electronics are a part of everyday work life for many of us. If this applies to you, you may be able to claim a tax refund on items such as laptops, printers and even stationary. If there is any other equipment you use for your line of work that is not for private use, you could claim on this also. 

Claim back on mobile phone usage

If you use your own mobile phone or personal device to make work calls, texts or check your work emails, you could claim a tax refund on this. If you are a business owner or you are self-employed, you can expense full costs of your mobile phone bills. However, this is only the case if your mobile phone contract is held in the name of the company and payments are made directly from a business bank account. 

Claim back on working from home

If you live too far from your office and must work from home, or your employer does not have an office, you could claim tax returns. Similarly, if you are self-employed and work from home, you could get some tax relief. You could claim a refund on gas, electricity and even broadband costs. However, this is only if they are used for your work. 

Claim back payroll admin fees

Business owners and those who are self-employed can claim tax relief on payroll admin fees. 

Claim back on memberships

Some fields of work require memberships to professional bodies or trade unions. If this is expected of you to perform your duties, you could claim a tax refund on this. Annual subscriptions to approved professional bodies or societies can also be claimed back on.
 
Tommy Mcnally, CEO of Tommys Tax comments:

“With nearly everyone impacted by the increasing cost of living across the board, there are ways in which people can inject a much needed boost into their bank accounts. One of these ways is the many tax rebates that people are eligible for, but don’t make use of and that is where we’re here to help. Taxes can be boring, confusing and anxiety-inducing, but if done right could make a real difference to people’s lives.”

The post Top tips for efficient tax returns appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

My Journey Saving Cashback Earnings

It is not often that an article lands in my inbox for a product I already use. JamDoughnut’s Cashback App is one of them.  

I have been using JamDoughnut for just over a year, after it was hugely recommended by fellow MoneyMagpie Izzy. I can say with all faith that it is great, fast and so easy. The simple version is that with the app, you can earn up to 20% instant cashback when you spend with 100s of retailers, online & instore. 

This includes hundreds of popular brands, no more waiting for months wondering whether your cashback has been tracked, and no more delayed or missing claims: rewards are paid in your wallet as soon as you make a purchase.  

After using JamDoughnut, more than I even thought I would, to buy items I was planning on buying anyway – and receiving cashback for my efforts – I then got the cashback bug so much so that this Christmas I decided to try something new. I was going to try and do my Christmas shopping (instore and online) using the app and to then see how much money I could save by New Year. I would then be moving all money made via cashback to a separate pot and seeing if I can amass a good amount.   

 

Why is JamDoughnut better than other cashback apps?  

While cashback sites are familiar to lots of us now, there’s an almost overwhelming amount to choose from. They all do what they say on the tin: they reward users with cash for doing their shopping or paying for services via the cashback site or app (often by using a referral link). But usually we have to wait days or weeks (sometimes even months), to get our rewards. 

With JamDoughnut YOU GET INSTANT CASHBACK– literally as soon as you confirm your purchase. 

Sign-up to JamDoughnut here now. 

Sounds good: How Do I use Jam Doughnut? 

It really is very easy and based on a points system. When you are about to make a purchase (instore or online) you can easily buy vouchers to the exact amount and pay with those via the app. You will then get up to 20% of your budget back as soon as the payment is made.  

 

Where can I use it?  

I have had great luck and been able to use my JamDoughnut app pretty much everywhere. I even got 8% return back on my festive COSTA coffee last week. One of the real saving graces is that you can use them in the supermarket. And while I haven’t done my Christmas food shop just yet, I will 100 per cent purchase some ALDI credit at checkout. 

 

So how is that cashback saving pot looking? 

Well, not only have I been able to get all the presents I was looking for, but the JamDoughnut app has also suggested a number of items I hadn’t even considered, using the site’s recommendations that show all the best deals going for Christmas bargains. And so the cashback pot now stands at £80: that’s £80 I wouldn’t have made had I shopped without the app, and £80 I can now either save for New Year funds or put towards more gifts… I’ve chosen the former! 

Sign-up to JamDoughnut here now. 

 

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.

While this is a paid article for MoneyMagpie, this is an honest review so the author was allowed to express personal preference.

The post My Journey Saving Cashback Earnings appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Ask the Experts What Gadgets Can Make a Whopping 41% More if Sold Ahead of Christmas 2024

With 15% of Brits hoping to receive consumer electronics for Christmas*, it’s likely that many will unwrap new phones, game consoles, or tablets on the 25th. But when should you sell your old device to maximize your earnings?

Experts at Compare and Recycle have examined average prices for various smartphones and consoles over the past year, revealing which devices can fetch higher payouts when recycled in December.

Which Devices Offer the Highest Money This December (2024)

Data from Compare and Recycle

Get 80% extra for your Pixel 7 Pro in December

An analysis of average offers for a 256GB Pixel 7 Pro over the past year shows that selling the device in December can yield an average of 80% higher quotes compared to the month with the lowest average offer earlier in the year.

Make an average of 39% more on devices recycled in December

Selling the popular devices listed above in December can earn you 39% more on average than in other months of the year. This makes December the ideal time to trade in your old devices rather than waiting until after Christmas.

The gaming consoles you can get the most money for in December

PS4 Slim can get you 79% more when sold in December

If you’re upgrading to the PS5 this Christmas, you can get an extra 79% for your old console if you recycle it before the end of the year. The Xbox One S in both 1TB and 500GB can earn an extra 50% and 46% in December. 

Experts at Compare and Recycle explain, “This can be explained by the increased demand from shoppers rushing to put some tech under their trees, which causes refurbishers to need to bolster their stock. After the frenzy of the iPhone launch, December is usually the time when second-hand tech retailers and recyclers are ready for stock intake. 

Another indicator is that refurbished devices are becoming increasingly popular due to lower costs. Research** shows that 37% of households have purchased at least one refurbished device, and 46% would consider purchasing one in the future.

The post Ask the Experts What Gadgets Can Make a Whopping 41% More if Sold Ahead of Christmas 2024 appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Make money collecting Christmas cards

Christmas cards are a dying social courtesy. With digital communication offering quick and easy alternatives, it’s really no surprise.

For the more sentimental among us, this could be a rather sad state of affairs. However, if you’ve been hanging on to each Christmas card you’ve ever received, and maybe even safeguarding those of previous generations, you could be sitting on top of a miniature goldmine!

As Christmas cards become increasingly novel, so their value grows.

Let’s take a look at ways you can make money from collecting Christmas cards.

• How Christmas cards became a thing
• The most expensive Christmas card in the world
• How to identify a valuable Christmas card
• Where to buy and sell

 

How Christmas cards became a thing

Perhaps the best place to start our investigation is to go right back to the very beginning.

Although it may seem like Christmas cards have always been around, they really only date back to the 1800s.

The first ever Christmas card was created in the UK in 1843 by London-based illustrator John Calcott Horsley on behalf of Sir Henry Cole. Horsley designed and hand-coloured the original, after which a total of 1,000 were lithographed. These cards were sold at a shilling each.

The card shows a Christmas dinner with three generations of a family enjoying a Christmas party. The side panels show charitable scenes with people clothing and feeding the poor. Only 12 of the original 1,000 cards still in existence.

 

The most expensive Christmas cards in the world

Unsurprisingly, both their rarity and historical significance has made these cards extremely valuable.

In November 2001, Horsley’s original hand-coloured Christmas card – the prototype upon which the 1,000 lithographed copies were based – was sold at auction in Devizes for £20,000 and bought by an anonymous bidder. Cole had sent this exact Christmas card to his grandmother. It also holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive greeting card ever sold at auction.

Of course, this isn’t the only Christmas card that’s ever made its way to auction.

Earlier this year, a group of 15 Christmas card designs by Salvador Dalí were put up for auction. The cards were commissioned by the Spanish pharmaceutical laboratory Hoechst Ibérica between 1959 and 1976. They were expected to raise up to €1m at Artcurial’s Modern and Impressionist Art auction in Paris.

Unsurprisingly, Christmas cards with a royal history also tend to rake in pounds. In 2017, collection of 35 cards sent by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh over a 40-year period were sold at auction for £1,530.

 

How to identify valuable Christmas cards

Now, the chances that you have one of Horsley’s original 1,000 lithographed Christmas cards in your possession are slim. And so are the chances that you have any designed by other famous artists or sent by the royal family.

However, this does not mean that your collection is devoid of value.

Here are a few things that could spell big bucks when it comes to old Christmas cards:

Age

Since holiday and birthday cards are considered by most to be nothing more than sentimental ephemera, it’s not unusual for them to end up in the trash once festivities are over. Which means it’s extraordinarily hard to find really, really old Christmas cards.

If, however, you suspect that there might be a couple gathering dust in your storeroom, go have a bit of a rummage.

Obviously, the older the specimen the more valuable it will be.

Condition

Another big determiner of value is how well-preserved the Christmas card in question is. If you have one dating back to 1890, but it’s torn and faded, the likelihood of it bringing in any money is close to zero.

If however, the card has been stored carefully, protected from any possible damage and still looks as pristine as the day it arrived on the mantlepiece, you may just be in luck!

Artwork

What’s on the card? If it’s an original artwork by a moderately to highly successful artist (who knows – maybe your great grandparents were well-connected), the card may just be of interest to collectors.

Another thing to take note of on the cover of the card in question is whether it depicts an historic event or popular character. Examples of the former may include anything alluding to one of the World Wars, while the latter could perhaps come in the form of classic, vintage illustrations of anyone from Santa Clause to Mickey Mouse.

What’s inside

Finally, even if the well-preserved outside is somewhat unremarkable, the inside may be where the magic lies.

If you have a Christmas card with an ink-on-paper celebrity signature, its value is almost sure to shoot up. Of course, there’s also a hierarchy to consider here. If you have one signed by Queen Elizabeth herself, it’s probably quite a bit more valuable than one bearing the signature of your local radio station’s host.

 

Where to buy and sell

Tickled by the idea of making money from Christmas cards? We suggest you start your career on eBay!

It’s pretty easy to set up an account and you’ll also have full control over your auctions and sales.

Currently, vintage Christmas cards are selling from anything between £0.50 and £539.12.

Once you have your foot in the door and your collection starts growing, you may want to investigate which auctioneers could help you find the best bidders for your collections.

The post Make money collecting Christmas cards appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Have a ‘no-cash Christmas’ with these clever ideas!

Save money at Christmas this year by making money and only using that to pay for the presents, food and festivities. In other words, go ‘cash-neutral’ this Christmas.

Here’s how you can do Christmas without dipping into your savings.

• Sell your unwanted or unused items
• Make and sell Christmas goodies
• Recycle and regift
• Download our free eBook

 

Sell your unwanted or unused items

This is a quick win and it has the extra advantage of helping you tidy and sort your home before the festive season too.

We like Gumtree for selling any items quickly and cheaply (well, for nothing much of the time!) to people in your area.

In fact, recent research from Gumtree reveals the average British household currently has 22 unwanted or unused items worth a potential £881 – equating to a whopping £17.7bn nationally, so there’s no better time to sell than now!

A Gumtree spokesperson says: “Many people are facing the squeeze this year for Christmas and need to look for solutions that will make the festive period special at little, or even no cost. From making a bit of extra money from selling once-loved items to put towards Christmas festivities to turning to local communities to easily and cheaply solve dilemmas like not having enough chairs and glasses, Gumtree is there to help.”

So here’s our guide to making the most money by selling your stuff before Christmas:

 

1. start with the small stuff

Basically, make it easy for yourself.

First of all, pick out things that are small, likely to sell quickly and won’t cost much to post.

Gumtree research shows the most common unused items in British households include clothing, small goods such as DVDs and CDs, electronics, books, and games and toys. These are all perfect items to easily package up and pass on to make some money.

That’s really:

Mobile phones

You could make between £5-500 depending on the make, model and condition of your phones by using our Mobile Phone Comparison Tool here. The beauty of using this tool is that you can sell your phone immediately and get the cash in straight away.

gadgets

Professionals look on the likes of Gumtree and eBay for electronic gadgets and bits in any state. They will pay quite quickly for laptops, iPads, games consoles and more, so if you’re looking for a quick sale, this is a great way to do it.

However, be aware that those who contact you quickly are people looking for a real bargain. They will get in quick but may offer you less than non-professionals will. So with these products it can be worth waiting – if you’re able to – for someone who wants to buy the item to use rather than to clean up and resell.

By the same token, though, if you have broken gadgets, wires and connectors that you don’t use anymore, those very professionals could be the best people to sell them to. Ordinary users don’t usually have the ability to mend these products so they wouldn’t be interested, but professionals would be interested in gadgets in any state – even for the parts. See what you can get online rather than just chucking them in the bin.

books, cds, dvds and games

You can get instant cash for these using the Ziffit app. It’s easy to use. Just download the app and then use it to scan the barcodes of any books, CDs, DVDs and games you don’t want. Once you’ve scanned them the app tells you how much they would give you for them and you can decide if you want to proceed with each item. The postage to Ziffit is free and they will put the money into your PayPal account pretty much straight away.

Admittedly you could probably get more for each item by selling them individually online but it would take a while and you would have to organise postage for each one which is too much hassle! However, with Gumtree, you can arrange for a local buyer to pick up the item from your home, or you can meet them in a nearby public area if more convenient for you, eliminating post and packaging costs.

 

2. then the clothes

high street brands

When it comes to clothes, there’s a big difference in price between brands.

You don’t have to have a wardrobe full of high fashion items for them to sell well. Brands like Karen Millen, Hobbs, Jigsaw, Ted Baker and Diva, for example, sell for good amounts.

Ideally photograph them on you in good light. Also photograph the label and any tears or missing buttons etc.

 

not so well-known

If you have a lot of clothes from Primark, M&S and other shops that aren’t so in demand, you can sell them for a decent amount by grouping them together and selling them as a job lot. So you could photo them spread out on the floor/bed and advertise them as, say, “Assorted women’s clothing size 12, 10 items”.

See what others are charging for this kind of bundle and put something similar as your price.

 

3. sell the big stuff to make room for christmas!

Selling furniture and electrical goods you don’t want in the run-up to Christmas gives you the double-whammy of bringing cash into the Christmas coffers while freeing up space in the house for any guests you’re planning on inviting!

Furniture and electrical goods

You’re definitely best off selling these on your local Gumtree as you can sell to local people who can pick up the items without too much fuss.

Do good, clear photos, see what others have charged for something similar and set your price.

You could be surprised by how much you make – furniture, bikes, children’s scooters and pushchairs all do well.

Remember to make a big thing of any special features – for example, if it’s 1970s vintage you can charge a lot more. Velvet is very fashionable at the moment so if you have any furniture that is covered in that, big it up!

your car!

Yes, now is a great time to sell your car if it’s hanging around in the front drive just gathering dust.

Selling your car would definitely pay for Christmas…and possibly give you extra to put away for Christmas 2019, so if you don’t need it anymore, save yourself the cost of insurance, road tax, repairs and parking tickets as well as making money on the machine itself by selling it now.

Gumtree is the UK’s fastest growing motors marketplace, so is the perfect place to sell or buy a pre-owned car. Head of Motors at Gumtree, Vik Barodia, offers some practical tips for car sellers to bear in mind before any money exchanges hands.

1. Set the stage: Be organised and prepare your paperwork (including your V5C, MoT certificate and servicing receipts) in advance. Give the car a proper wash and polish (or pay for a professional valet), vacuum the carpets and give the interior a wipe over. Look at how you can replace anything that looks tatty – from wipers to wheel trims to chips and scratches, small touches can make a big difference. Get smart repairs done to bumper scuffs and parking dents – mobile body repairs are very cost effective.
2. Make sure you have all the parts: Does the key or fob work in all the locks? Is there a spare set? Do you know the security code for the radio? Reassure potential buyers that you have all the necessary tools and accessories for the car you are selling.
3. Check out the competition: Search online sites to help you judge the right price to offer your car for. Check out what other sellers are offering and look at factors like mileage, condition and service history to help you make a decision.

For more tips on selling your car, as well as other items online, visit the Gumtree Blog. Gumtree’s  recently teamed up with the How to Academy and negotiation expert, Gavin Presman, to create a free guide to ‘The Etiquette of Buying and Selling Online’.

 

 

Make and sell Christmas goodies

If you’re handy in the kitchen you can make money by creating Christmas goodies and selling them at local car boot sales and markets.

Check out our article here about how to make money by baking cakes, sweets and jams and selling them locally, and this one which has everything you need to know to make money baking.

Home in on Christmas cakes, Christmas sweets (wrapped in cellophane with pretty ribbon tying it up), Christmas biscuits (also wrapped in cellophane) and even jams and chutneys if you are good at those.

 

hampers

Another big one to make money is Christmas hampers. As you can see in our article here, they’re not that hard to make. You can use pretty much anything as the ‘hamper’ including tote bags, plant pots, attractive dinner plates and even large cups.

You can fill these ‘hampers’ with homemade goods, or cheap smellies from the pound shop or your local market. They could also be filled with a mix of items, including perhaps bits and pieces you already have in your cupboards!

 

turn these into presents

The other good thing about making cakes or hampers to sell at Christmas is that you can use any you don’t sell as presents. It’s another win-win!

 

recycle and regift

Another great way to save money at Christmas is to see what you already have that could be turned into presents for friends and relatives.

• Do you have a nice vase that you could clean up, decorate with ribbon and tinsel and give to someone with some seasonal flowers?
• Or maybe a nice plant pot that you could do the same with? Get a nice Poinsettia from the supermarket (they go for about £5 each at Tesco) and transfer it to the pot.
• Are you good at sewing?

 

gumtree free stuff

Also lurk on the ‘Free Stuff’ section at Gumtree to see what people are giving away. You’d be amazed what you can get there for absolutely nothing.

The people giving things away on that section live in your neighbourhood so all you have to do is to go to their place to pick things up.

You could get ornaments, chairs, tables, bags of clothes or bed-linen and even tools there. Scour the page every day to see what’s being offered and if there’s anything you could turn into a gift (like a vase or photo frames or even kitchen equipment that could be turned into hampers) get in touch with them asap to pick them up for free.

 

more great christmas money-makers in our free ebook

Find out yet more ways to make money for Christmas and avoid a January financial hangover by downloading our FREE eBook on how to make money for Christmas, produced in association with Gumtree.

Go here to get your free copy.

 

The post Have a ‘no-cash Christmas’ with these clever ideas! appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

The benefits of home and pet sitting over Christmas

Is home and pet sitting for you?

Christmas is a busy time for everyone. People are visiting friends, family and loved ones, taking holidays, having extended breaks at home or even going skiing! People often find they are worried to leave their homes unattended and of course, many people need someone to watch their beloved pets.  

No one wants to feel guilty about leaving pets in kennels and boarding houses. Housesitting could be the perfect solution for you, whether you are going away or looking for a new passtime. Petsitters are in high demand too, especially with people wanting someone to take good care of their cats and dogs. 

 

What are the benefits?

There are benefits for both the housesitters and those who hire them! 

Peace of mind 

Christmas is exciting, yes, but it can also bring lots of stress and pressure. Not only are Christmas preparations expensive, but the cost of living crisis means we are all facing a plethora of extra worries. Not to mention the cold brings the chance of frozen pipes, power cuts and in some cases, extreme weather. 

Leaving pets at home is a worry enough, so knowing your furry friend is being looked after by someone who truly cares can be truly reassuring. Plus, knowing your home and treasured possessions are being kept safe is an even greater relief.  

Maintaining routines 

When a pet returns from time away, they can be out of their routine. For some owners, it can be difficult to get their cats and dogs back in the regular routines of life. Boardin can be disruptive and stressful for both owners and pets, so hiring a house sitter keeps all creatures great and small happy and stress-free. 

Home security 

Theft increases during the festive season. With the knowledge of new gifts and belongings in the house and people going to visit friends and family, thieves take their chance. Having a homesitter comes with the added benefit of higher security within the home whilst you are away. 

Not only can they ensure home security systems are kept in check, but havign someone within the house, turning lights on and off and allowing people to see someone is in the home is a deterrent. 

Make and save money 

As previously mentioned, the cost of Christmas can be extortionate. Between luxury food, presents, Christmas parties and travelling to see those special to us, the pennies can add up. The price of catteries, kennels and boarding for pets can also increase. 

Home and pet sitters who work through Homesitters Ltd can earn around £170 as a couple for a two-week homesit, plus they get reimbursed for mileage at 45p per mile and get a daily food allowance while on assignment. If Homesitters do an assignment over the festive bank holiday days, they will also receive additional pay for each of the 3 bank holiday days. 

At this expensive time of year, people welcome the money they make. They often save it for treats such lunches out or holidays. When everyone is feeling the pinch, it’s an enjoyable role that retired people can easily do to boost their finances whilst feeling like having a break. 

The post The benefits of home and pet sitting over Christmas appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Expert Tells Us How to Make money as a professional gift wrapper

Are you a dab hand when it comes to wrapping gifts?

Do your friends and family come to you when they need a present wrapped well?

Then maybe you should consider becoming a professional gift wrapper.

• What does a professional gift wrapper do?
• What skills do I need to be a professional gift wrapper?
• How do I begin setting up my service?
• How much can I make?
• Case Study

 

What does a professional gift wrapper do?

When it comes to birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Weddings, and other special occasions, many people dread the thought of wrapping presents.

Maybe they’re just not very good at wrapping an are embarrassed at what the results might be. Others simply haven’t got the time to spend wrapping lots of gifts.

This is where professional gift wrappers come in. They charge to wrap people’s presents to a professional standard, taking the stress out of these special events.

On top of individuals who may choose to use their services, professional gift wrappers can also be great for businesses. If a company employs a lot of staff and wants to give them all Christmas presents, for example, someone’s going to need to wrap them, and they might just decide paying you to do it is the easiest option!

 

What skills do I need to be a professional gift wrapper?

Well, no prizes for guessing you have to be good at wrapping…and when we say good, we mean really good.

If someone is paying for your service then they’re going to expect a professional result, so you need to make sure your wrapping is absolutely top-notch. It’s possible you’ll be wrapping presents in front of a client – not only will you have to wrap it well, but you’ll have to do-so under pressure!

On top of that, you’re going to need to have some idea of how to sell your services, so a strong marketing sense will go a long way.

You’ll most likely want a website, even if it’s just a simple one, so people in your area can find you via Google. To begin with, you’ll probably also want to get the word out in other ways. Start by posting in local Facebook groups or even printing out some flyers and putting them through letterboxes.

In many ways, wrapping is the easy bit – it’s making sure people know about your service that’s going to be the initial biggest challenge.

 

How do I begin setting up my service?

The great thing about setting yourself up as a professional gift wrapper is it’s a really flexible way to make money. In fact, you can do it all from the comfort of your own home if you want.

However, with flexibility comes some tough choices, and you’re going to need to decide what exactly works best for you.

Here are some questions you need to ask yourself:

• Are you going to work from home or are you going to go to your customer’s house? Working from home might be less demanding but it will limit your reach. If you’re willing to travel then you have to factor in the cost of petrol or public transport.
• Will you be providing your services just to individuals or will you be advertising to businesses as well?
• How much are you going to charge? Will you be charging per item or will you be charging per hour?
• Will you be providing the materials (e.g. will you be bringing the wrapping paper) or will you let your client decide?
• Would you be interested in expanding your business? Will you help people actually source the gifts and get them delivered straight to you, or are you only interested in wrapping?
• How far are you willing to take this business? Will you employ extra hands to help you during busy periods (and do you feel comfortable doing that?) or would you rather only take on what you can manage?

We ask these questions because there are so many ways you can approach this and you need to decide what’s right for you. Just make sure you’ve given everything consideration.

 

How much can I make as a professional wrapper?

How much you can make is going to really vary depending on how you approach your pricing structure and how many customers you can draw in.

For example, if you’re only targeting individuals then you might want to charge per item. This means you may charge as little as £3 for a small item, £5 for a medium item, and £7 for a larger item. If you’re travelling to the client then you’ll most likely charge a little more to cover your fuel and time.

If you’re getting bulk orders, especially from businesses but possibly from customers with lots of presents needing wrapping, then you might find it easier to charge per hour. £10-£12 an hour to begin would be reasonable if you’re just getting started and wanting to establish your service. However, once you’ve made a name for yourself and demand increases, it wouldn’t be extreme to charge £25-£30 an hour.

Professional gift wrapping is still quite niche, so you may find the lack of competition in your area allows you to charge a little more than you might otherwise.

Basically, charge what you think you’re worth, making sure you’re covering expenses and able to attract customers.

 

Case Study: Alison Westwood

We spoke to Alison Westwood, who runs Eclipse Gift Wrapping with her husband, to get a little insight into running a gift wrapping business.

 

What inspired you to get into professional gift wrapping?

I started my working life as a physiotherapist, but contracted a severe form of viral meningitis in 2003. This left me very unwell for a long time. Some years later, as I was recovering, I started playing with the idea of getting back to work. I began selling jewellery and clothes via house parties and small events with a friend. I was asked on one occasion if I could gift wrap something and, although I could, I felt my efforts were a bit unprofessional. This lead to me attending a gift wrapping course and it went from there.

I have developed my skills over time by taking interest in origami, furoshiki and the properties of various materials. I am currently phasing out all non-recyclables so everything we use will be either recyclable or reusable.

 

Do you work from home or do you travel to your clients?

I do both. We have corporate clients in various locations such as London. We travel to them in order to teach their staff how to gift wrap or to deliver an on-site gift wrapping service – sometimes we take a whole team of gift wrappers! There’s also one-to-one training here in our workshop, group workshops, demonstrations and team building sessions.

I have trained people from countries such as Nigeria and Ghana in my workshop, and have trained people from other countries using Skype.

 

What are the most important skills needed in becoming a professional gift wrapper?

Being a perfectionist and paying attention to detail are important; also being a practical person, good with your hands. Of course, it’s also about delivering good customer service, so excellent communication skills are vital. Being able to work under pressure is also very useful, as gift wrapping a beautiful and potentially valuable item whilst being watched by the client is not something everyone can do!

 

What would be your best advice for people looking to make money as a gift wrapper?

Start small. Use a modest but good quality selection of materials and build up a strong client base underpinned by personal recommendation. I think one of the best ways to make money from gift wrapping is to offer it as a valuable adjunct in a small retail business such as a gift shop –  it highlights the business as providing added value for money.

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Unpaid Carer? Enter Your Chance to Win a £250 Air BnB Voucher

MoneyMagpie recently surveyed 2000 people about their Christmas spending habits, revealing that 56% of people plan to spend over £500 for their festive season. But spare a thought for those on low incomes or who rely solely on Carer’s Allowance (which is a tiny weekly amount). They aren’t going to be spending Christmas with extravagance – and instead, according to online care finder Lottie, 7.3 million people across the UK will juggle financial and emotional challenges of caregiving at this time of year.

In fact, Lottie revealed that almost a third of financial support applications have been rejected in 2024, which means many families will be over £2,000 in debt this Christmas. Unpaid carers, such as family members caring for a loved one, face out of pocket expenses of up to £2013 during the festive season. One in ten people in the UK have caregiving responsibilities, and have to bear the brunt of the cost of that care too. More than that, the emotional impact of caregiving can take its toll at any time – and even more so as other social commitments ramp up throughout December and carers feel like they’re spread too thin.

That’s why Lottie is running a giveaway to show the love and appreciation for unpaid caregivers. Three winners will receive a £250 Air BnB voucher to help them find a little getaway for some enjoyment and rest.

Will Donnelly, Co-Founder and CEO of Lottie, is calling on the public to nominate local care workers and share the inspiring stories of those making a real difference in their communities:

“Our research has found that 7.3 million people in the UK have caregiving responsibilities – that’s equivalent to one in ten of the population.

This Christmas, unpaid carers, in particular, are facing financial challenges, as they are expected to be out of pocket by an average of £2,012.65 when balancing caregiving and additional festive costs. At the same time, the care sector continues to struggle with workforce shortages, with one in 12 positions vacant. These pressures have left millions of carers at breaking point, both financially and emotionally.

That’s why we’re excited to launch our Carers Christmas Giveaway 2024 and encourage the nation to get behind it. Watch our video to see the joy and magic carers bring to residents every day, and nominate a care worker you know to win an Airbnb getaway.

We urge carers across the country to share their stories and experiences, nominate themselves or a fellow carer, and help us shine a light on the vital role they play in the lives of so many.”

This isn’t a MoneyMagpie draw; please visit Lottie’s website for details of how to nominate yourself or a carer you know to be in with a chance of winning. The draw closes for nominations on 9th December 2024.

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You Could Win £50,000 in Time for Christmas!

Sponsored article

You read that right: you could have £50,000 cash in your bank account by Christmas 2024 thanks to the Jumbo Win huge upcoming Golden Ticket prize draw. Here’s everything you need to know!

Who is Jumbo Win?

Supporting NHS Charities Together

The December Prize Draw and £50k Cash

What Else Could You Win?

 

Who is Jumbo Win?

Here at MoneyMagpie, we like organisations with an ethical backbone. Jumbo Win is certainly one of those! It offers plenty of opportunities for people to win life changing sums of money – but also supports charities at the same time.

Jumbo Win is run by people with experience: the team behind it, Gatherwell (now part of the Jumbo Interactive Group), is an organisation that helps charities and non-commercial organisations to raise money. They do so by running weekly fundraising lotteries. You might have come across them in another iteration in the past, as Gatherwell started out over ten years ago, in 2013, with Your School Lottery. Since then, they have helped over 130 organisations with vital fundraising. In fact, the people at Gatherwell have raised over £20m for more than 15,000 organisations across the UK.

Supporting NHS Charities Together

Jumbo Win runs lotteries that allow free entry via post or you can buy tickets online to enter. For the big £50k Golden Ticket prize draw, all paid tickets help to support NHS Charities Together. Rather than a single charity, NHS Charities Together is a network supporting over 230 NHS charities that help people who use, care about, and work in the NHS.

As our healthcare services are under increasing pressure to deliver more with fewer resources, these charities are vital to supporting those who need care and those working to provide it. NHS Charities Together supports the network of charities that provide healthcare support, workforce wellbeing, and help to empower communities to live well. Aiding health and wellbeing outside of the NHS system helps to support the NHS too, by alleviating the pressure on some of the most in-demand NHS services with health education and in-community support.

In the last four years, NHS Charities Together has supported almost a million NHS staff, over 565,000 patients, more than 15,000 volunteers, and almost 70,000 members of local communities.

The December Golden Ticket Prize Draw

Now you know what you’re supporting when you enter, let’s get to the good stuff. This year, the Golden Ticket prize of £50,000 will close on 12th December 2024 and the winner will be drawn on 13th December.

You can enter for FREE by post, as many times as you like.

Write a letter or postcard with the title Jumbo Win Golden Ticket Entry, including your date of birth, home address, phone number, and email address. Post it first or second class post to Jumbo Win, PO Box 653, Galgate, Lancaster, LA2 0XB.

Postal entries will be logged up to five working days after receipt, so make sure you send well ahead of the 12th December deadline to make sure your entry is counted. All postal and purchased tickets are treated equally.

More tickets, more chances

You can also buy more tickets online to increase your chances of winning. The more tickets you buy, the less the per-ticket price. The minimum purchase is five tickets at £1, so a total of £5. You can opt instead for 20 tickets at a price of 50p per ticket, totalling £10, 60 tickets for 42p totalling £25, right up to a whopping 700 tickets at 21p each for £150.

You must be resident in the UK, over the age of 18, and not someone described as ineligible in the Game Rules to enter.

What Else Can You Win?

What’s important to know is that one ticket is more than one chance to win, too! With your Golden Ticket draw entry, you will also be entered to win in the November draw to win £5,000 in cash (enter before 29th November).

When you buy a ticket to the Golden Ticket draw, you become a VIP Member, too. It’s free to join, just tick the box to sign up when you buy your ticket. Then, you’ll be able to access loads of benefits, like monthly automatic entries into the Golden Draw, and exclusive VIP bonus draws. You can manage your subscription easily online, too.

 

 

Be GambleAware: Entering into Jumbo Win or other lottery does not guarantee a return on investment. If you cannot afford to lose the money you wish to spend on a ticket, think twice about entering – remember there are free postal entries you can have instead. If you are struggling with spending on lotteries and gambling, visit GambleAware for confidential support.

 

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