The seven ways for women over 50 to make extra cash fast before Christmas, revealed by experts. You can make up to £1,000 in a month, dont need any special skills, training or money up front… and they can be done from your home

Need a cash boost this festive season and worried about the Budget busting your bank balance? Here’s how to make your side-hustle pay, quickly.

1. Let out your driveway

If you live in a city, near an airport, stadium or train station, you can earn around £200 a month letting your driveway, according to Money Saving Expert.

You can list your parking space on sites such as JustPark, ParkLet or Park On My Drive, which charge varying commission. And you can earn up to £1,000 a year tax-free through the Property Allowance, financial coach Kim Uzzell adds.

2. Offer up a room

Similarly, if you have a spare room you can let it and earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free through the Rent a Room Scheme – £3,750 if you share the income with someone else. In Londonan average room rents for around £1,000 a month.

‘This is one of the easiest and most tax-efficient side-hustles,’ says Kim, a Chartered FCSI. ‘The room (or rooms) must be furnished and part of your home, and you must live there. If it is a self-contained unit, granny annexe or you’ve moved out, this scheme doesn’t apply.’

3. Or your whole house

If you live in a festival or sports hotspot, such as Edinburgh, Glastonbury or Wimbledonyou can make serious income by letting your home during events.

Jennifer Drysdale, from Acer Tennis Lettings, says she’s just let a house five minutes from the Wimbledon Championships for £32,000 for the tournament. Even a modest three-bedroom family house in nearby Southfields goes for £3,500 a week.

But it is important to know local regulations and tax implications. In Edinburgh, you’ll need a short-term let licence and the correct insurance.

Finally, income will have to be declared. And don’t forget the extras. ‘Your property needs to be immaculate, so budget for a professional clean,’ says Jennifer. ‘And upgrade your bedlinen and towels.’

4. Become a Vinted seller

Selling clothes you or your family have grown out of can quickly add up to hundreds of pounds and even more if you start reselling.

Resellers scour charity shops and sites for designer bargains, then sell them on for profit. Digital platforms are now legally obliged to share your details with the tax office if you make more than £1,000 a year, or sell more than 30 items a year.

But be warned, as if you sell something that has increased to more than £6,000 in value, such as art or an antique, Capital Gains Tax may apply. The rules are explained on Gov.uk

5. Start selling other people’s stuff

If you discover you have a talent for selling your tat, then you can also turn it into a business and become a ‘Vinted Pro’.

You can sell other people’s items on their behalf and take a percentage of the sale. Gov.uk says this is classed as trading, so remember that income over £1,000 should be declared.

6. Consider pet-sitting

If you’re a dog or cat lover, you can earn cash by offering doggy daycare, walking, or house and pet-sitting, on a regular or ad-hoc basis.

Dog walkers earn around £15 to £25 an hour, according to GoWalkies.

For pet-sitting, Trusted House Sitters says the average overnight rate for dog-sitting is £43.85. You need insurance and should check local regulations. Advertise locally, or join sites such as Housesitters.co.uk or Pawshake.co.uk.

‘Again if your gross income (before expenses) from all side hustles exceeds £1,000 in a tax year, you must tell HMRC and register for self-assessment – even if it feels like it is a casual arrangement,’ says Kim.

7. Try mystery shopping

Mystery-shopping app Shepper says you can make up to £168 a month by accepting tasks from companies in your area, such as snapping photos of billboards and promotional displays.

‘Most jobs involve taking photos, answering a few questions and confirming basic details,’ the firm states.

But you will have to declare income, says Kim. ‘For mystery-shopping, you are usually counted as self-employed and payments and any goods you are allowed to keep count as income,’ she says. For any side-hustle, she advises you get ‘good at record-keeping and logging receipts’.