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When you retire, you don’t want to be bored and spend all day sitting on the porch. Or maybe you do!
But it doesn’t hurt to have a little extra money coming in! And why shouldn’t you? After all, you have those grandchildren and maybe even some furry friends who could use the spoiling! 😉
While there are many ways retirees can use their skills and experience in the workforce, you probably didn’t come all this way just to work all the same. Some part time, flexible side gigs can bring in extra money, depending on the time and effort you put into them.
As far as supplementing your income, here are just a few side gigs for retirees to make extra cashola.
Become A Dog Walker
Dog walking is an ideal side gig for retirees who love dogs and want to stay active. You can work for yourself or for a company. Dog walking offers a chance to enjoy the great outdoors and the sunshine while staying active. Starting a dog-walking business is easier than it sounds.
Check with local dog walkers and veterinary clinics to see if they have extra work available. You can also put up fliers locally and advertise that you walk dogs for a fee.
It’s a chance to enjoy the outdoors, stay active, and make extra money.
Pro Tip: There are apps like Rover and Wag that make finding a job walking a dog as easy as clicking a button! Check them out.
Host A Room Or Guesthouse On AirBNB
First things first. You’ll want to put safety ahead of everything else for this one, but it can bring in some serious side cash without much effort.
Airbnb Hosting is the perfect side gig for retirees looking to make some extra money, especially if you have extra space in the house now your children have all moved out. You can choose to rent out your space for a few days or months, depending on how much time you have available and how often you want to host guests.
You can also choose what type of people stay in your home, whether it be families or friends looking for an immersive experience in the city, or business travelers who need a place near their office but don’t want to pay hotel prices.
While most Airbnb hosts rent their primary residence when they’re away, there are also plenty of retirees who choose this option to supplement their retirement income. In fact, some retirees have found so much success with Airbnb rentals that they’ve grown them into full-time businesses.
I have personally stayed in an Airbnb that was owned by an elderly man and his son. Their personal touches were amazing and it was so much better than a hotel.
Rent Out Your Car
Just as you can rent out your house, the same type of services are available to allow you to rent out your vehicle for some extra cash! If you know your car is going to just be sitting there collecting dust on certain days, you can instead put it to work for you!
TURO is a peer-to-peer vehicle rental company that charges by the hour or day. Also check out, Getaround who will rent out your vehicle, clean it, and keep it in good hands until you get it back!
Freelance Writing
If you have a passion or talent for writing, retirement is the perfect time to put your skills to work for extra money. You can:
- Write articles for online publications
- Write blog posts
- Write white papers
- Write eBooks
- Write books
- Write magazine articles for print publications
- Greeting card verse for card companies
- Do copywriting for local businesses
If you’re into creative or fiction writing, you could self-publish on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or iBooks Author. You’ll have more success if you choose a niche and specialize.
There’s no shortage of places to list your services. One of my favorites is Upwork, but here’s a list of many more.
Sell Crafts on Etsy
Etsy is a marketplace where people can buy and sell handmade items. And as a senior citizen, this is what we do best!
There are tons of options, and it’s a fun way to make money from your hobbies.
What do you love to make? Do you sew or knit, for example? There’s a big market for handmade items on Etsy.
To get started, set up your own store on Etsy using the guide from Etsy itself. Make sure your photos are crisp and clear. You want potential customers to see something that makes them want to buy right away (or at least scroll through to see what else is available).
Use good lighting and props to help add context or show how it would be worn/used in real life. Create an interesting description, so people know why they should buy what you’re selling. Some people have started small and built mega-businesses from home on Etsy. Others just make a nice consistent side income.
Sell Homes As A Real Estate Agent
It might sound like a crazy idea but, as a retiree, you will have more free time than ever before–so why not use it to make money in real estate?
If you have experience in real estate and are already licensed, this job would be an easy transition for you. But even if this is your first foray into the world of property sales and marketing, there are benefits to being an independent real estate agent. You get to choose who you work with (and when), which means there is no boss telling you what to do. And if you don’t like sitting behind a desk all day but love talking to people about houses and land, working as a freelance agent might be right up your alley.
Here’s a great in depth article on seniors becoming real estate agents.
Tutor Students Online
Around two-thirds of kids who graduate from high school proceed to college according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means there’s a huge demand for tutors, especially online tutors who can help students with everything from algebra to anatomy.
You can earn anywhere from $15-25 per hour as an online tutor, and you don’t even have to leave the house. Sign up for websites like Tutor.com or TutorVista and start working without any prior experience or training – all you need is a computer and a decent internet connection.
Another benefit of being an online tutor is that you can choose what hours you want to work. Whether it’s during your lunch break at home or after dinner on Wednesday nights, there’s no reason why this side gig can’t fit into your busy schedule.
Idea: Teach English as a second language online. Meet with students one-on-one over the computer and teach something you already know from the comfort of your home!
With so many options available today, such as Skype video conferencing software (which has made communicating easier than ever before), finding someone within reach who needs help learning something isn’t difficult.
On top of the money, it’s a rewarding experience to help someone!
Sell Print-On-Demand Art
If you’re an artist or just have a knack for design, you can sell your work online. Print-on-demand services like Printful allow artists to upload their work and set prices for each piece.
You don’t need to invest in an inventory or deal with shipping — the customer pays for each item when they purchase it, and the print-on-demand site uses your artwork to fulfill the order. You can sell t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and more with your unique designs. Some sites for selling print-on-demand art include Zazzle, TeePublic, RedBubble, and Fine Art America.
Grow And Sell Mushrooms
If you’re looking for something that can also double as a hobby and you can do some gardening, consider growing and selling mushrooms. They don’t require a whole lot and there are plenty of websites and blogs outlining the best ways to do so. Gourmet mushrooms can really be profitable, and you can start growing them at home today!
Do Tasks & Run Errands For Others
This is another one of those “safety first” kind of side gigs, but many of these favors can be exchanged in public during the day or even completed without ever seeing the other person.
A website called TaskRabbit helps bring together the people who need some little things done with those who are willing to complete the tasks. Want to make some money doing someone else’s gift wrapping for the holidays or birthdays? Willing to do some cleaning? Or something as simple as waiting in line for someone? Search any and all tasks today!
Take Online Surveys
There are many websites that offer money, coupons, gift cards, and/or rewards simply for sharing your opinion and filling out surveys. The trick, as always, is to find and use legit companies. Branded Surveys is a top option with high payouts and a loyalty program, along with Survey Junkie which has a user-friendly interface and daily earning opportunities.
So, if you’re finding yourself with some extra time where you’re just sitting in front of the television and feel like knocking out some surveys with your feet kicked up, try this out today!
Store People’s Things
If you have any extra space — maybe a room, basement, garage, or parking spot — and could use the extra money, consider making use of it and renting out your unused property. A website called Neighbor makes it easy as you can list your space for free and passively collect the income! You choose who, what, and when things are stored, and you are covered with a $1,000,000 liability insurance. It’s a seamless process, and you don’t have to lift anything more than your finger; Renters move their things in and out and you receive monthly deposits to your bank account!
Enter Online Sweepstakes
How does an extra $10,000 sound? The online sweepstakes website PrizeGrab is safe, easy, and real! With actual winners every day and new prizes added weekly, you could snag some cash or gift cards or even some cool gadgets just by simply signing up!
PrizeGrab was started by two people over eight years ago who just wanted to do some good and add joy to people’s lives. More than $2.3 million in prizes have been given out to date, and the team has grown to 15 employees and is now the #1 sweepstakes site in America!
Just register an account (you can use your Facebook account or an email address), check your email daily, and have fun! The more you enter, the better your chances. There’s no limit to the number of prizes you can win! It’s always…
- Real with guaranteed winners every day
- Genuine with transparent intentions and experiences, and
- Simple and easy to sign up and play for free!
Conclusion
A lot of seniors just aren’t aware of how to do it, but technology has changed things so much. There are many opportunities to add income right at our fingertips!
These are just some of the many ways that retirees can make some extra money. There are countless other options available. If you’re looking for something that will allow you to make money while doing something you love (or at times, nothing at all!), then this list should be helpful!
