The idea of “retirement” isn’t the same for everyone. Not all of us over 65 worked a 9-5 job, put money away in a retirement account, or have support other than Social Security. You may be at retirement age but don’t want to stop working or want to try new pursuits. There are a wide variety of fun and creative side jobs that will help you generate extra cash and ease financial stress.
Watch me talk about ways to make extra money in the video below
1. Work Remotely
Would you like to be able to earn extra income from anywhere in the world working from your computer? FlexJobs is the number #1 site to find excellent remote jobs with “no ads, scams, or junk.” They also offer events, webinars, and career advice. Use your expertise to thrive in retirement. You can work as an employee, freelance, or as a temp in a wide range of categories.
2. Amazon Influencer
I discovered this recently. I have been an Amazon associate for many years and insert links into my blog content to earn small commissions but this is different. If you have a social media following on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube you may apply to become an Amazon influencer. That means you can create an online storefront and qualify to upload shoppable videos directly to the Amazon platform. All you have to do is demonstrate using products in your home that are available on Amazon. You get three tries to qualify for this with three videos. I’ve found it to be quite lucrative. For more information, click here.
3. Paid pet sitting
If you love animals but need extra money why not care for fur babies? Sign up for paid side jobs petsitting at Rover.com or Petsitting.com. Opportunities include boarding pets in your home, house-sitting with pets, drop-in feedings, or working at a doggy daycare. If you want to get some exercise and doggie time, you can become a dog walker. Sign up on the WAG app which is popular for people with dogs who need to be walked.
If you love to travel, you can get free lodging by pet or house sitting for a service called Trusted Housesitters. It is a membership site that can book gigs domestically and abroad. You don’t get paid but can save tons of money by not having to reserve a hotel room. However, you must make the pet and home your priority.
4. Babysitting and caregiving
Rent-a-Grandma places older women in homes as nannies, babysitters, caregiving providers, chefs, tutors, and companions. It is free to sign up, but you may need to pay $25 for a background check in non-franchised locations.
5. Shop until you drop
Do you love to shop? Why not make money purchasing products at stores as a secret shopper? Market Force will give you that opportunity. Weekly pay averages about $500 for serious shoppers. It also has a smartphone app that allows you to complete shops immediately.
6. Sell your smartphone photos
Do you enjoy taking photos on your smartphone? FOAP is an app that pays you for your images. All you have to do is upload them on its smartphone app. When a brand or anyone else purchases your photo, FOAP gives you a 50/50 split in the profit. It also offers missions that ask for specific types of photos. You will get paid if your photo comes in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
Another service that will pay you 100% for your photos is Snapwire. Start as an explorer and submit your best shots to Snapwire Challenges. You can then level up to paid buyer requests. If your photo is nominated and if it is purchased, you get paid quickly and fairly.
Other sites where you can legitimately sell your photos are Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, and Alamy
7. Take photos for brands
Field Agent pays you cash to secretly take photos undercover in stores for various brands. It is a smartphone app. Just know you could get kicked out of a store if caught. It’s more of a gig for would-be spies with a sense of adventure.
8. Mock juror
Lawyers often hire mock jury members to get their input on upcoming cases. Mock jury duty is done online at home. If you have watched the TV series “Bull” you know how this works. A site like eJury.com pays $5 – $10 for each verdict, which isn’t much but can add up over time.
9. Digital Content Creator
Guess what? You don’t have to be young to make money online as a creator. Many older people are successful as bloggers and are on social media.
Affiliate Marketing
One way to get paid as a blogger is to promote affiliate products by inserting tracking links from brands you believe in on a niche website, YouTube, or some social media sites. If a reader clicks on a link and purchases something you will receive a small commission. This can range from a few cents to hundreds of dollars depending on the brand and how much they buy.
An affiliate tracking link has a cookie that lasts a pre-specified timeframe. If a customer purchases during that window you get paid. An Amazon cookie lasts 24 hours but some affiliate tracking links last for days or weeks.
Ad Networks
Another way to make passive income on a blog is to run ads by installing an ad network like Google Adsense. When a reader clicks on an ad you get paid. Bloggers also sell physical products, promote online courses, sell eBooks, or collect donations. SheMedia hosts the ads on this blog.
To set up a WordPress blog, click here.
Sponsored posts
Brands commission bloggers to write sponsored posts to review their products and services. A flat fee can be negotiated for a pre-determined workload.
Digital content creators also get paid by companies and brands to promote sponsored content on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. The amount depends on how many followers you have and your engagement stats.
User Generated Content
Some brands will pay you to create simple videos where you unbox or review a product. This is called UGC or User Generated Content. You don’t need thousands of followers or are required to create posts on social media. The brand or agency will pay you to use your video as an ad on their channels or websites.
Agencies are available online that will find UGC work for you or you can contact brands directly and offer your services. The videos you create do not need to be highly produced and are generally filmed with a smartphone.
YouTuber
YouTubers with a large following who make videos in popular niches can make a decent amount of passive income when viewers click on the ads that appear on their channel. Specific qualifications are required to become monetized on YouTube.
Many YouTubers have simple setups and use their smartphones rather than expensive video cameras. It all depends on what you are willing to spend and the type of quality you want to produce.
For more information on getting monetized on YouTube, click here.
Advantages of being a digital content creator
The overhead to get paid as a blogger, social influencer, or YouTuber is minimal compared to other business models. You own your business, have flexibility, and can work from anywhere with whomever you choose.
10. Content Writer
If you do not want to manage a blog or social media channels, you can become a content writer for other blogs or magazines. The Writer Magazine and Writer’s Digest are excellent resources for freelance writers. ProBlogger.com has a job board for bloggers and content writers.
Clear Voice allows you to write content for brands with no bidding involved. You decide your pay rate. Payment is via PayPal.
11. Love to read?
Get paid $5 – $60 to read and review books by signing up at OnlineBookClub.com. You can work as a proofreader for authors or website owners if you have excellent grammar and spelling skills. Try ProofreadingServices.com.
12. Entertainment services
Do you love to dance or know how to call a Square Dance? Bands, singers, speakers, children’s party characters, comedians, other entertainers, and event personnel can list their services and find gigs at Gig Salad.
13. Be an online techy
Are you tech-savvy and know how to set up websites, manage email lists, and social media profiles, create graphics art, or do virtual assistant work? You can easily build a freelance business by selling your services online.
To promote your business, you can join small business Facebook or Linkedin groups, sign up at your local chamber of commerce, or attend business networking meetings. Websites like Upwork or Fiverr will allow you to sign up for free, set prices, and list your services online. When a customer makes a purchase they take a commission. You will also need to build up credits to be moved forward on both platforms.
Here is a great list of remote work websites for freelance work.
14. Teach what you know
As an older adult, you may have gained expertise over many decades that you can teach to others. Do you play piano, know a language, or are good at math, chess, or pottery? Set up an online or offline consulting business to share your skills and knowledge with others.
If you love to travel, you can fund your vacations while you are away by teaching English online.
You can also provide useful information about topics you are an expert in on YouTube and monetize by earning ad income or upselling products.
Some retirees take side jobs as substitute teachers if they have the qualifications.
15. Set up an online shop
Do you sew, make jewelry, and crafts, create art, design notecards, or collect vintage items? Etsy makes setting up an online shop simple on their popular platform to sell goods. It makes a small commission off your sales.
Set up a print-by-demand business such as tee shirts, mugs, etc., on websites like Red Bubble, or Spreadshirt. You can also build an easy-to-manage shopping website on Shopify.
16. Declutter and make money doing it
Are collections of clothing, furniture, or objects taking up space in your home? Do you love to haunt flea markets? Make money selling collectibles, clothing, books, and even “junk” on eBay, Offerup, or Facebook Marketplace. They are all busy and effective platforms. Just be careful and aware of scammers.
Another way to make money from selling antiques and collectibles is to run estate sales, garage sales, or sell at flea markets. Items such as sterling silverware sold to buyers can rack in bucks.
17. Transcription services
If you are a decent typist you can transcribe audio recordings to text for medical and healthcare companies and other industries starting at $15 per hour. Check out TranscribeMe!
18. Baby, you can drive my car
My dad loved driving even in his 80s and took seniors in a van to doctor appointments. If you are like him, check with local senior ride services.
Many older adults have side jobs driving for Lyft or Uber. All you need is a decent car that passes inspection and the skill and eyesight to navigate safely through traffic. All transactions go through the app so you do not handle transactions and payment is direct deposit.
If you prefer not to drive long distances, you can deliver groceries with Uber Eats or Instacart.
19. Want to work as an actor?
Test out your acting chops by appearing in a Murder Mystery. Murders always include eccentric older characters, right? American Immersion Theatre may have a part for you on stage or Zoom.
If you live in an area with film production going on, you may be able to get work as an extra. Register with Central Casting.
20. Rent out your living space
Do you have an extra bedroom, guest house, or vacation home? Rent it out on Airbnb or VRBO. You can meet interesting people and get paid for your hospitality.
Side jobs I do not recommend
There are many opportunities for side jobs where you will spend more money than you make. This is not something we need to deal with as older adults. Often they are direct sales or multi-level marketing companies, real estate flipping scams, and sketchy cryptocurrency schemes. Instead, run like the wind.
I worked in direct sales for 10 years and even though the products I sold were high-quality, they came at a big cost. It included buying inventory, and promotional products, booking meeting venues, attending seminars, etc. Only about 2% of the people in these organizations become successful or make money and expenses add up fast.
If you know of other side gigs appropriate for older adults or have thoughts about any of the above, please leave a comment and share it.
A few of these ideas I’ve done, a few I’ve heard of before, but there are many here I’m going to look into.
Very cool! I hope they work out for you, Karen.
This is a pretty comprehensive list, rebecca!
Thanks, Carol. And I keep finding more. LOL
The pet sitting is something that needs a little bit of training more than just liking pets. We do require most our sitters to be certified in pet CPR, pet first aid, know where vet emergency is, etc etc.
What great ideas! Many I never heard of.