The £100 Before Christmas Challenge: 7 Fun Ways to Find Extra Cash

Christmas is creeping closer, the shopping lists are growing, and your wallet may already be hiding behind the sofa. But what if you could find an extra £100 between now and Christmas without taking on another job?

Welcome to the MMOnline £100 Christmas Cash Challenge! Starting Monday 12 October 2026, we're inviting UK readers to try seven small, realistic ways to earn or save extra money before Christmas Eve. No miracle earnings, no expensive courses, and definitely no buying things you don't need just to get cashback.

We’ll check in every Monday with new ideas, honest progress and a little motivation. You can do it at your own pace: £100 is a target, not a promise.

🎯 First, what counts towards your £100?

Count money you've actually received from selling, studies, tasks and referral rewards, plus real savings such as cashback that has been paid or an unnecessary subscription you've cancelled. Keep earnings and savings in separate columns if you prefer. Don’t count pending rewards as spendable cash, and remember to deduct costs such as postage, materials and platform fees.

If your goal is £100 over roughly ten weeks, that's about a tenner a week. Some weeks may be quiet. That's absolutely fine.

💷 Seven fun ways to find extra cash

1. Become a paid professional opinion-giver

You've probably been giving people your opinions for free for years. I certainly have! Research platforms such as Prolific let eligible participants apply for paid studies. Availability varies and you might join a waiting list, so treat this as a possible extra rather than reliable income.

Try this: Check your account or join the platform if eligible; track only approved, paid earnings. Never pay to access a supposed study.

2. Check your cashback before you shop

Before buying something already on your list, check whether a cashback or reward service offers anything back. In the UK, apps and services such as Cheddar and EverUp are examples worth comparing, alongside any rewards you already have through your bank or retailer.

Try this: Choose one planned purchase and check offers and terms first. Spending £40 to 'earn' £2 on something unnecessary is not a £2 win. It's £38 gone!

3. Sell five things that have been gathering dust

Old books, unused gadgets, clothing and hobby equipment might be more useful to someone else. Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, eBay and local selling groups can be options depending on the item and their current fees and rules.

Try this: Pick five things, take clear photos in daylight, describe any faults honestly, and compare sold prices rather than optimistic asking prices. Stay alert to payment and courier scams.

4. Collect the little survey and rewards wins

Small tasks and reward sites may not make anyone rich, but little amounts can add up. If you already use Swagbucks or another reputable service, check which activities are worthwhile for the time involved.

Try this: Give yourself a sensible time limit, calculate your actual hourly return, and skip offers requiring spending you wouldn't otherwise do.

5. Have a forgotten-money treasure hunt

Check dormant rewards balances, unredeemed points, unused gift cards and subscriptions you keep meaning to cancel. One forgotten subscription can be surprisingly expensive over a year.

Try this: Spend twenty minutes searching your bank statements for recurring payments. Cancel only things you genuinely don't need and record the saving when it actually takes effect.

6. Share a referral — but only if it's a good fit

Some companies offer rewards when an existing customer recommends the service to someone who signs up and meets the conditions. It's worth checking the services you already genuinely enjoy, but never push a friend into the wrong product for a bonus.

Try this: Find one legitimate programme, read the full conditions, and clearly disclose that you could benefit from a referral. An advertised 'up to' reward is not guaranteed money.

7. Make a little money from what you enjoy

Could you sell a handmade item, do a small photography job, help someone with a practical skill or take on a one-off local task? Start with what you can already do and what you'd enjoy doing.

Try this: Write down three skills or items you could offer, estimate any expenses, and see whether one could become a small, sensible earning opportunity.

🧮 My sample £100 Christmas Cash tracker

Little money win	Target
Research studies	£30
Cashback and rewards	£10
Selling unwanted items	£35
Surveys and small tasks	£15
Other savings or earnings	£10
Total	£100

These are illustrative targets, not predicted earnings. Your results will depend on eligibility, location, time, demand and opportunities.

📅 Make Mondays your money check-in

Every Monday we'll revisit the challenge with fresh suggestions, reader ideas and our own progress. Our next theme on 19 October is the first little wins: what worked, what didn't, and what's worth trying next?

Keep it light. Even £3 in real savings is £3 you didn't have last week. This is a marathon in comfy slippers, not a get-rich-quick sprint.

🌍 Our Hive friends can join in too

On the MMOnline Hive community account @mmonline, we're turning this into an international challenge. Readers can aim for 100 in their own currencies, whether they celebrate Christmas or not. The Hive community version also introduces a separately organised free 100 HIVE prize draw, subject to its published entry terms, and weekly community spotlights. The blog challenge here does not itself enter anyone into that draw.

⚠️ Three sensible reminders

• Keep good records. Depending on your circumstances, UK tax rules can apply to side income, and different activities may be treated differently. Check current HMRC guidance if you're unsure.
• Avoid scams. Never pay an upfront 'release fee' for supposed earnings or share passwords or account recovery details.
• Watch the real cost. Count fees, shipping, supplies and time. A £20 sale isn't £20 profit if it costs £8 to fulfil.

🎄 Ready? What's your first £10 idea?

I'm starting with a few small, achievable targets and I'll share what actually happens rather than pretend every money-making idea is a winner.

Join in: What would you try first — a paid study, a cashback check, a cupboard clear-out or something completely different? Tell us in the comments.

For more ideas, have a look at our 10 realistic ways to make extra money before Christmas and 7 legit places to make extra money online in the UK.

Enjoy practical money tips? Join our Money Drop newsletter for useful opportunities, no-hype experiments and new challenge updates. And remember: every little win counts! 🐷💷