Side Hustles for Seniors

When you retire, there is a drastic downturn in your income, even if you have planned well.  Seniors are living much longer now and the money saved for retirement needs to stretch out to last.  There is a great deal of interest in ways to earn money after retirement. So, let's look at what is available.

If you want to utilize your years of experience and expertise, there are these types of side hustles for you:

Freelance writing: 

Even if you have never written anything since school days, you can start this gig by simply writing about your life experiences.  There are numerous magazines (both in print and online) who are constantly looking for good pieces about life in "the old days".  There is so much in our past lives that the younger generation knows nothing about.  I just read an article written by a 20 something who found a dial phone and could not figure out what it was or how it worked.  Technology has been a boon but there is much that has been lost unless we write about it.

You can offer your writing services to websites, magazines, to bloggers, etc. Once you get going, you can start charging small fees for your work.  You may never become a #1 Best Selling Author (or you might), but you can bank a bit of extra cash this way quite easily.

Editing and copywriting:

There are many places that you can offer editing services to.  Authors everywhere need someone to edit their manuscripts.  New authors usually don't have anyone to do this, so you can offer to do it for a decent amount of money. 

Copywriting, though something quite technical, is always needed.  Bloggers, website owners, small business owners, all need copywriting done to help them bring in customers and make sales.  This is a good service to offer if you have some previous experience doing it.  You can make quite a bit of money as a freelancer doing this.

Teaching or Tutoring:

There is a lot of opportunity to make some money doing this.  Even if you have never taught before, there are websites that need English speaking people to teach to others who need to learn English.  There are also websites that need people to help children by tutoring them.  We all made it through some type of schooling and as such, can certainly help another person learn.  We usually have the correct temperament and patience to be good at both teaching and tutoring others.

Bookkeeping:

I know this sounds boring, but there are many small businesses that just need someone to do easy bookkeeping for them (help them stay organized and prepared for taxes).  Bookkeeping is a skill that you can learn quickly and because it is in high demand, you can make a lot of money doing this as a freelancer.

Consulting:

If you have 10-20 years of experience in your industry (no matter what it was) you are in a perfect position to offer your services as a consultant. You are in a position to see mistakes as they happen due to your own experiences.  You can help new business owners learn the ropes without all the heartache and headache.  By offering your consulting services, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field.  Consulting is highly profitable, so think about this option.  Consulting is a freelance type of work, so it is perfect for a senior.

Coaching:

There are many small, new businesses that could stand to have a person in their corner cheering them on and helping them make the right decisions.  With all of your experience in life, you are well suited to this type of side hustle.  

Then there are "side hustles" that you do on the internet, if you enjoy being on the computer.

Blogging:

Blogging is a perfect way to keep busy and stay up to date on things.  By establishing your blog in a niche, you can build an audience and monetize your blog.  There are many people who have a living income just from blogging, but you may have to take some courses from people who are doing just that to learn the ins and outs of making money blogging.  

Virtual Assistance:

Seniors with administrative or organizational skills can work as virtual assistants for businesses or entrepreneurs. They can help with tasks such as email management, data entry, or social media management. These positions are very much in demand and pay pretty well.  If you like organization and attention to detail, this might be the way to go for you.

User Testing:

There are quite a few websites that pay people to visit other websites and see if what you put in their search box is what you get.  This is called "User testing" and although the pay is not great, it can be done in your spare time and usually pays about $10 per test.  If you have a block of time to spend, you could easily make a hundred dollars or more just testing websites.

Doing various tasks online:

You would be surprised at the opportunities there are online to offer your services, even if you have more time than expertise.  You can find websites that offer various tasks to be done quite easily.

Other types of side hustles:

Reselling:

If you enjoy shopping and searching for bargains, you can always make a few dollars by reselling items you find cheaply.  There are many great finds at thrift shops, used shops, etc. and if you are good at spotting items that can sell for more, this may be the right hustle for you.

Pet and House Sitting:

If you enjoy new places and if you love pets, this may work for you.  There are many people who want to travel, but cannot because of their pets.  It is very expensive to board pets for lengthy stays, and pets are so much happier if they remain in their own homes.  You can offer both services to people for a decent amount of money.

Babysitting and Senior Care:

We all have more than enough experience with this type of work.  If you love children and enjoy spending time with them, then babysitting is a good fit.  If you enjoy keeping an elder company and helping with minor things, then senior care could work for you.  Both of these are high demand jobs that pay a decent amount of money.  As a freelancer, you would control how many hours and what days you would do this.

Gardening Consulting:

There is a major "back to basics" movement right now and people everywhere are wanting to grow their own vegetables in their backyards.  If this is your area of expertise, you could offer consulting services and charge for each visit.  Since growing plants is becoming a lost art, you may find yourself in high demand and as a freelancer can name your price, set your times and enjoy yourself.

This is just a list of possibilities.  I hope by reading this list, I have opened your eyes to the potential for making extra money after retirement.