I make $12,000 every October from my creative jack-o’-lantern side hustle – they’re easy to make with minimal costs

A TIKTOK influencer has shared a simple and inexpensive way to pocket some extra cash during the holidays with his side hustle idea.

By creating reusable jack-o'-lantern decorations for Halloween, the entrepreneur rakes in around $12,000 each October.

Content creator Jake Ward (@sippingnsinging) shared the creative side hustle in a viral TikTok video, which has amassed over half a million views.

He explained how a single mother of two contacted him in search of a way to earn extra cash.

In response, Ward shared how he has crafted wooden jack-o'-lantern decorations each year for the past five years.

He uses scrap wood to craft and sell the wooden decorations as an alternative to pumpkins.

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"The wooden jack-o'-lanterns are so simple to make - the easiest thing to make. Minimal cost and minimal tools," said Ward.

The entrepreneur shared that beginning in May, he would source the wood from lumber yards and construction sites.

These are awesome because a pumpkin is going to rot in a week and this right here - you can put an LED light in it for the whole month of October and you can use it time and time again."

He would simply ask them for their cut-off ends and scrap pieces of wood.

"They're gonna give them to you because they don't want it clogging up their dumpster," said Ward.

He noted that all you need are a skill saw or jigsaw, a hammer, and nails or a nail gun.

Ward draws different faces on the front and cuts them out.

"You can't mess them up, and if you do mess up on one, sell it for a little bit cheaper," he said, noting that you get better at making them with time.

The content creator adds an eyelet on the top of the wooden jack-o'-lanterns so they can either sit on the porch or be hung from a tree.

He also adds a hinge on the back with a little door so an LED light can be placed inside the Halloween decoration.

"These are awesome because a pumpkin is going to rot in a week and this right here - you can put an LED light in it for the whole month of October and you can use it time and time again," said Ward.

He estimated that he would make around 300 to 400 jack-o'-lanterns starting in May and continuing throughout the rest of the year.

The TikTok influencer noted that once you have the process down pat, you can easily make around 10 to 12 daily.

He sells them unfinished for $30 and stained for $40, claiming he would sell out each year.

"I'm telling you, people love them," he said, encouraging others to try out the side hustle.

In related news, Target brought back an 8-foot viral decoration ahead of Halloween – they’re nearly sold out but there’s a mini version.

Plus, shoppers are divided after spotting fall flavors on Walmart shelves and beg companies to stop "pushing the season."