I put up Christmas lights for other people – business is booming for my holiday rush

An electrician is keeping busy this festive season with a new side hustle – turning on other people’s Christmas lights.

Josh Thornton, 28, came up with the business idea last year after helping a family decorate their home for Diwali.

They said the father usually turned on the lights himself, but he was ill and it would have been dangerous for him to try to get on the roof.

So Josh, from Selsdon, south London, entered and soon realized he had found a place.

Encouraged by his wife Courtney, 26, Josh decided to post on social media to see if anyone else in the area wanted him to turn on the Christmas lights – and things quickly took off.

This year he’s already booked to do nearly 50 homes — and the appointments “keep on coming.”

Josh, who has been an electrician for 10 years, typically charges £100 ($127) per house – and offers to turn off the lights for an extra £50 ($63) in the New Year.

He says many of his customers are families who don’t want their dads up on the roof in case something happens to them – or people who have always wanted to decorate their homes but never got around to it.

Josh said: “It’s a good side hustle as Courtney and I have been saving for a house for a while – so it’s going towards that.

“But the most special thing is seeing the looks on these kids’ faces when their houses light up for the first time.

“I think a lot of people want to decorate their homes, but they just think it’s better to have a qualified professional sort out the electrical. So I’m happy to offer that.

“I just want to put a smile on people’s faces this holiday season.

“It’s about spreading joy one light at a time.”

Josh has been so touched by the community’s response that he hopes to find some way to give back soon.

He said: “We’re looking to run some competitions on social media so some people can put their lights up for free.

“I’ll admit, my weekends are filling up so fast that I have to do some of the bookings before or after work – but I’ll make sure I make time.

“I don’t like saying no when it comes to Christmas. I just want to do this for as many people as possible.”

Josh is currently taking bookings on his Facebook page ‘The Christmas Light Guy’.