10 Ways Retirees Are Making Money in Their Spare Time

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about retiring is that it means they want to stop working entirely. While that may be true for some, I’ve known many retirees who immediately went to work, making money doing things they were passionate about or enjoyed. Others needed to find ways to supplement income.

Benefits of Working After Retirement

Working after retirement offers many benefits, including:

• Maximizing Social Security benefits.
• Increasing savings.
• Maintaining social connections.
• Supplementing income.
• Working (cognitive stimulation) helps keep your brain active and healthy.
• Healthcare benefits.
• Fight boredom.
• Give back to the community.

One of the more significant motivators for retirees to continue working is engaging in creativity and things that drive their passion. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but have yet to make the time?

Retirement provides ample opportunity to start that small business or take employment opportunities that allow you to utilize a particular skill set to help others. Here are several opportunities retirees take to make extra money, stay active, and give back.

1. Online Tutoring

If you’re a retiree with teaching experience who hasn’t lost your passion for helping educate others with your patience and expertise, virtual tutoring is the perfect opportunity for you.

There is a high demand for tutors in subjects including math across all grades and sciences like chemistry and physics. English tutors are needed to teach skills ranging from writing essays to reading comprehension, test prep, and English as a second language (ESL).

Numerous online platforms like Tutors, Chegg, and Revolution Prep will connect you with students who can benefit from your time.

2. Start a Home-Based Food Business

Are you a gourmet chef or an incredible cook who loves creating in the kitchen? Selling plates out of your home is another way to make money in your spare time while enjoying retirement.

Start by checking with your local health department or food safety agency to understand the regulations and requirements for operating an at-home food business. There may be mandated permits and licenses to obtain and health and safety standards to comply with.

Once you’ve taken care of the legal and health aspects, it’s time to showcase your culinary creations to your local community. And here’s the good news-people who sell food plates out of their kitchen often have great success promoting these services on social media. Others thrive on partnerships with businesses such as their local Elk’s Club.

3. Gardening

Do you have a passion for putting your hands in the soil or do you have that coveted green thumb? Retirees are making extra money with their gardens.

While you can sell seeds, you’ll make more money planting them and then selling them as seedlings. Additionally, you can make money selling excess produce through social media, Farmers’ Markets, or setting up a front yard fruit stand.

Other ways to make money with your knowledge and love of gardening include offering garden services, providing garden workshops, or renting out garden plots on your land.

4. Delivery Driver

Becoming a delivery driver is a quick way to start making money in retirement. There are numerous ways to use your vehicle to make money, including:

• Picking up and dropping people off through rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft.
• Picking up and dropping off food through delivery services such as Grubhub and DoorDash.
• Shopping and delivering groceries for platforms like Instacart.

Driving for extra cash also provides the perfect environment to take advantage of learning with educational audiobooks and podcasts, enjoy your favorite music, or listen to the ballgame you would listen to at home anyway.

5. Housesitting

Housesitting gigs are another wonderful way for retirees to supplement their income. Housesitting duties can range from caring for pets and plants to cleaning and basic home maintenance.

An alluring aspect of housesitting is it also provides an opportunity for international travel through online platforms like Mind My House, Luxury House Sitting, and Trusted House Sitters.

6. Dog Walking

Dog walking is ideal for retirees who are dog lovers and need to find a way to get exercise into their daily routines. Depending on location and how many dogs you walk in a day, dog walkers can earn between $15-30 an hour for loving what they do. Sign up with Rover or Wag! to see where your services are needed.

7. Sell Handmade Crafts

Crafty and creative retirees earn extra cash by making and selling handmade crafts, such as crocheted collections, handmade soaps, handbags, candles, jewelry, and home decor.

Depending on what you’re selling, people successfully sell art and handmade crafts on places like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Facebook Marketplace, and their personal websites.

8. Real Estate

Whether renting out extra space in your home or investing in rental properties to keep an incoming monthly cash flow, real estate is an excellent means of making extra money after retirement while building equity and wealth.

Real estate investment offers a range of benefits, including tax breaks and deductions, appreciation, and portfolio diversification. It’s a flexible and adaptable strategy, allowing you to earn income during your spare time.

If buying properties doesn’t align with your interests, there are numerous alternative ways to invest in real estate, putting you in control of your financial future.

9. Renting Out Your Vehicles

Are you an RV owner? Peer-to-peer platforms like Outsdoorsy and RVshare allow you to rent your RV to make extra money, especially during peak holidays and summer. Curious about the potential earnings? RVshare estimates that you could earn the following average rental prices:

• Class A: $150 to $450+ per night.
• Class B: $80 to $350+ per night.
• Class C: $125 to $450+ per night.

Discover the simplicity of earning passive income by renting out your vehicles, a process made easy by platforms like Turo and Getaround.

10. Customer Service Representative

Retirees can pick up part-time or full-time work-from-home customer service representative jobs to supplement their income. Search “remote customer service jobs” to find opportunities near you.

Customer service jobs can involve telephone calls but have evolved into chat and social media and can range from assisting with billing to selling services.

Final Thoughts

Whether you want to keep an active, healthy brain, combat boredom, or need to make extra income, there are many creative ways to make money after retirement. Be sure to choose something that is relatively low-stress and brings you joy.