So, you’ve unwrapped your gifts, smiled politely 🙂, and thanked Aunt Carol for the bedazzled pineapple candle holder she thought you’d “absolutely love.”

It’s okay.

You’re not alone.

Post-Christmas is prime time for gifts that miss the mark—but here’s the good news: 

what doesn’t spark joy for you 😬 might spark cash somewhere else.

Let’s dive into how to turn those holiday blues into green.

Today:

🤧 Didn’t Like Your Christmas Gift?

🎁 Sell Unwanted Gifts Online

🛍️ Cash In on Gift Cards You’ll Never Use

♻️ Return or Exchange for Something Better

📦 Flip Christmas Clearance Items

🎨 Create & Sell Holiday-Themed Printables

🗃️ Offer Organization Services

🌲 Christmas Tree Disposal or Repurposing Ideas

📦 Start a Decluttering Side Hustle

📣 Offer Post-Holiday Services

🔥 Flip Holiday-Specific Items

🤧 Didn’t Like Your Christmas Gift?

🎁 Sell Unwanted Gifts Online

That sweater three sizes too small?

The third set of headphones you’ve received this year?

They’re goldmines waiting to happen.

• Best Places to Sell:

  • eBay: Great for almost anything.

  • Facebook Marketplace: Perfect for local sales—skip the shipping hassle.

  • Mercari: Ideal for clothing, gadgets, and home goods.

✨ Pro Tip ✨

Post your items as “brand new” and include keywords like “Christmas gift” or “unwanted gift” to catch buyers looking for deals.

🛍️ Cash In on Gift Cards You’ll Never Use

Did you get a gift card for a store you’ll never step foot in? No problem.

• Where to Sell Them:

  • Raise: Sell gift cards for up to 85% of their value.

  • CardCash: Trade your card for cash or a different gift card.

✨ Pro Tip ✨

If you’re stuck with something niche, like a card for a candle shop, bundle it with an actual item from the store to increase its appeal.

♻️ 3. Return or Exchange for Something Better

Not every store needs a receipt for returns.

Some will give store credit for unopened or gently used items.

• Major Stores with Lenient Policies:

  • Target

  • Walmart

  • Amazon

✨ Pro Tip ✨

Use the credit to buy something you can flip for cash online. For example, buy clearance items and resell them on eBay for a profit.

📦 Flip Christmas Clearance Items

Post-holiday clearance is a thrifter’s paradise.

Stores slash prices on decorations, toys, and gift sets—perfect for flipping.

• What to Look For:

  • Holiday decor (think next year’s trends).

  • Gift sets (break them into individual items and resell).

  • Popular toys or gadgets.

• Best Places to Shop:

  • Walmart

  • TJ Maxx

  • Target

🎨 Create & Sell Holiday-Themed Printables

The holidays may be over, but people are already planning for next year. Use platforms like Etsy to sell:

• Printable thank-you cards.

• Holiday budgeting templates.

• DIY holiday craft guides.

• Tools to Get Started:

  • Canva: Create professional designs easily.

  • Creative Market: Buy and sell design assets.

Cough cough. Could also be a good time to think of other holidays to do this for. Cough cough. Valentine’s Day.

🗃️ Offer Organization Services

With New Year’s resolutions just around the corner, everyone’s decluttering—and you can help.

• Offer Local Services: Help people reorganize their spaces, declutter, and set up storage systems. Advertise on Nextdoor or Facebook groups.

• Go Virtual: Create downloadable organizing tools like planners or storage guides on Etsy.

• Affiliate Opportunities: Recommend organizational products on Amazon or other platforms and earn a commission.

🌲 Christmas Tree Disposal or Repurposing Ideas

Don’t let those Christmas trees go to waste—turn them into a money-making opportunity.

• Offer Local Pickup: Charge a fee to haul away trees in your area. Use apps like TaskRabbit to promote your services.

• Create Repurposing Guides: Share creative ways to turn trees into mulch or DIY crafts (wreaths, coasters, etc.) and monetize your content through ads or affiliate links.

• Partner with Recycling Centers: See if local facilities need help transporting trees for recycling, and charge for your services. You can also just SELL your own tree and ornaments.

📦 Start a Decluttering Side Hustle

New year, new you—right?

Take the post-Christmas spirit and Marie Kondo your home.

Then sell:

• Old gadgets (on Gazelle or Decluttr).

• Used clothes (on Poshmark or ThredUp). ThredUp actually takes care of ALL listing creation for you. All you need to do is ship the clothes (they pay for shipping too) and then wait for commission.

• Furniture and home goods (on Facebook Marketplace).

📣 Offer Post-Holiday Services

People are tired after the holidays. 🥱

This is your moment to swoop in with helpful services:

• Christmas Light Removal: Advertise on TaskRabbit or neighborhood apps like Nextdoor.

• Holiday Cleanup: Offer to haul away trees or dispose of unwanted decorations.

• Gift Wrapping Unwrapped: Help people store decorations properly for next year.

🔥 Flip Holiday-Specific Items

Remember, some holiday-specific products become collector’s items over time.

Think of things like Starbucks holiday mugs, limited-edition toys, or viral seasonal snacks.

List them on platforms like eBay or Mercari to see how much they’re worth.

At the end of the day…if you didn’t like your Christmas gift…

You just gotta earn enough to buy yourself the one you want 😉