The holidays are swiftly approaching, and while they bring joy and closeness to friends and family, they also are notorious for the expenditures they bring. So if you've ever felt like you're going broke during the holiday season, you're not alone. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be this way. Here are some ways you can spare the strain on your bank account and make some extra cash this holiday season:

Cutting Coupons

Saving coupons from newspapers and magazines always helps when you're trying to save up for holiday spending. You may even want to change up the types of groceries and basic necessities you purchase if certain brands always seem to be on sale.

Get a Season Job or Work Overtime

Stores all over the country start hiring seasonal employees in November to help staff their busy holiday season hours. The employment requirements usually aren't too stringent, and as a bonus you may get a discount at the store (great for presents). You could also try putting in some overtime at your regular job. Most places will compensate their employees for overtime, especially during the holidays. If you're unsure about your employer's policy on overtime, don't be afraid to ask.

Use your talents - Do Some Freelance Work

Have a flair for writing? Are you good at graphic design? Almost every industry provides at least some amount of work to freelancers, and since many companies get busier during the holidays they often start outsourcing some of the load to freelancers. You can try contacting companies directly and offering your services, but there are also various online platforms you can join that can help you find extra work on such as Freelancer, Fiverr, and TaskRabbit are some places where people can charge for their talents

Babysitting / Petsitting

A lot of people need someone to watch their children and/or pets all throughout the year, but with many people spending more time out shopping or at seasonal jobs, the need becomes even greater during the holidays. So, this is always an area worth looking into if you need extra cash.

Sell Your Unwanted Vehicle for Cash

If you need to make a lot of extra money in a very short amount of time, you should consider selling any unwanted or old vehicles you may have. The process is actually a lot simpler than it sounds. The amount you can receive for your vehicle will depend on its condition and a variety of other factors, but very few vehicles are worth nothing. At junkcarcashout.com, for example, you can sell just about any vehicle-- running or not-- and get cash for it the very same day. "Any vehicle" covers cars, trucks, vans, trailers, etc., and you can also get it towed for free. You can also sell scrap metal for extra money and receive compensation the same day as well. Junk Car Cashout is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and you can get an offer by filling out an online form or by calling 801-441-2766.

So there you have it. When it comes to making extra money for the holidays, sometimes you need to get a little creative, but the payoff can be big.