A thrifty mum has found a fang-tastic way to cash in this Halloween – earning more than £500 in just one week by turning spooky side hustles into serious cash.
Alison Goldsmith has become something of a Halloween hero after landing a string of frightfully fun gigs – from carving £150 Arsenal-themed pumpkins to creating £200 Addams Family costumes for two Great Danes named Jurgen and Gigi.
The mum-of-one, from Essex, has even been called on to decorate haunted houses for £150 and transform partygoers with eerie £120 face paint.
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She does this while juggling part-time jobs including decluttering and organising, removals, gardening, event organising and online retail.
And if that wasn’t enough, Alison also took on one of her most creative tasks yet – building a life-sized Oogie Boogie costume from The Nightmare Before Christmas for a themed event.
“The wide variety of tasks is great,” she told What’s the Jam.
“I love that I don’t have to do the same job all the time.
“My favourite thing is helping people – it’s so rewarding to know you’ve made someone’s life a little easier.
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“Most people live around their five-day working week, but I’m able to fit my work around my life.
“The platform has been a godsend, and I love the fact that even on the day, I can find a task if I want.”
But Alison isn’t your average worker.
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Over the years she’s run her own businesses, trained as a counsellor and massage therapist and even performed in the circus as a trapeze and hula hoop artist.
Now she’s channelling that same creative energy into her latest money-making venture – one that’s perfectly timed for the spooky season.
She started using community platform Airtasker earlier this year after caring full-time for her elderly father and quickly realised she could use her many talents to earn cash on her own terms.
What began as a small side hustle soon became a full-blown income stream, helping the 59-year-old pay off debts while enjoying the flexibility to work when she wants.
She said: “I couldn’t work while caring for my dad.
“Through word of mouth, I started picking up a few small tasks whenever I could.
“There are so many people, especially women, who have incredible skills but just need opportunities that fit around their lives.
“Even doing a couple of tasks a week can help financially and emotionally. It builds confidence, connection, and purpose.”
In the past week alone, Alison has made more than £500 bringing Halloween magic to homes across Essex – proving you don’t need a broomstick to make money fly in.
From crafting costumes, carving pumpkins and decorating spooky houses to painting kids’ faces at parties, her calendar has been jam-packed with fright-filled fun.
And while some might see it as just a seasonal gig, Alison says it’s given her purpose, independence and a chance to spread a little joy – one pumpkin at a time.
She’s also become one of Airtasker’s top-rated “Taskers”, earning glowing reviews from happy customers who say she’s gone above and beyond to help.
Alison says she hopes to inspire others – especially older workers and carers – to give flexible work a go, proving that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.
She added: “I want people to see that it’s possible to live life on your own terms.
“You can earn, help others, and have fun doing it.”
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