13 Lucrative Side Hustles for the Savvy Retiree

By

Andreas Jones

Hey! I’m Andreas Jones and I am the founder of KindaFrugal.com. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and lifestyle businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur On Fire, Lifehack.org, Influencive and Goalcast.

| Published on September 6, 2024

side jobs for retirees

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When you retire, you may find your living expenses are a little higher than you’d expected. Even if you have a reasonable budget, things like inflation can make it hard to cover monthly expenses.

If this is the case, you may be thinking about taking on a side hustle to help bring in additional income. A side hustle is also a great way to pass some time during your retirement years, keeping you occupied and minimizing boredom.

A side hustle usually offers flexible hours or even the opportunity to work from home, so it’s easy to fit it into your regular schedule. Here are 13 lucrative side hustles ideal for the savvy retiree.

Customer Service Rep

Many companies hire customer service reps who work from home. Because of the years of experience, this is an ideal side hustle for any retiree. If you enjoy talking to different people and enjoy helping, this could be a great side hustle.

Drive for Uber or Lyft

13 Lucrative Side Hustles
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This is another great side hustle if you like meeting new people. Many retirees drive for Uber and Lyft to earn extra money. If your phone is too small to run the app on, get a tablet or iPad to make it a little easier.

Life Coach

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People go to a life coach to help them grow professionally and personally. As a retiree, you have years of experience you can share. As a life coach, you’d help people move towards their goals or even help them identify the goals they want to achieve.

Flea Market Flipping

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Renting a booth at a flea market is inexpensive and a great way to get out of the house. Selling at a flea market is extremely flexible, and finding items to sell is easy. Just check out classifieds, estate sales, apps, and liquidation closeouts. If you don’t want to rent a booth, you can sell your inventory on sites like eBay instead.

Dog Walking or Pet Sitting

Senior man with pet
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Most pet owners treat their furry friends like family and want them to have the best care. Offering a dog walking or pet sitting service feeds this need. If you love animals, it’s a fantastic way to earn some money.

Personal Trainer

Retiree Personal Trainer jogging with a younger man
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If you’re passionate about health and fitness, this might be the ideal side hustle for you. As a personal trainer, you’ll help others achieve their health and fitness goals and you’ll keep yourself in top shape too.

Bookkeeper

Middle aged female Bookkeeper
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This definitely would not be a good side hustle for me, but if you enjoy working with numbers, bookkeeping might be a great side hustle for you. As a bookkeeper, you’ll be making sure payments are made on time, recording data, and keeping your brain engaged.

Rent Out an Extra Room

If you haven’t downsized since retiring and have an extra room or two, you can rent them out by listing them on sites like Airbnb. If you’d prefer a more permanent roommate, consider advertising on local sites or in your newspaper. Hosting laws vary, though, so be sure to research your area to ensure you comply with all the rules and regulations.

Tutor

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You don’t need to be a retired teacher to be an online tutor. As long as you are knowledgeable in the subject you want to teach and you can explain it so others can learn, you’re good to go. All you need to do is register with a tutoring service, and you’ll have a ready-made pool of clients.

Backyard Nursery or Produce Sales

Unleash Your Green Thumb and Let the Garden Adventure Begin! Picture a world where your backyard transforms into a vibrant oasis, a treasure trove of homegrown delights. Each year, your garden proudly yields an abundance of corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, and dill, ensuring a constant source of pride and incredible savings on your family's food budget. But wait, there's more! The lawn-to-garden movement is sweeping across the land, breathing new life into growing our own delicious sustenance. From adorable windowsill herb pots that infuse your dishes with flavor to the camaraderie of neighborhood co-op garden programs, the trend of cultivating our own grub is cooler than ever. So, don your gardening gloves, grab your tools, and prepare for an exhilarating journey of soil, seeds, and mouthwatering rewards. Embrace the magic of growing your own and relish in the delectable fruits of your labor, all while joining the ranks of the hippest green thumbs. Let the garden adventure ignite, and watch as your world flourishes with nature's finest gifts.
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If you have a green thumb, enjoy gardening and have a decent sized yard, you can start a backyard nursery. You can either grow and sell plants or grow vegetables and fruits and then sell them.

Mobile Car Detailing

Man cleaning car
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All cars need a little care and a mobile car detailing service is easy and convenient for customers and flexible for you. You will need to get some supplies, but the initial investment is minimal. You’ll likely need to do some advertising to get started, but then your business will grow via references and word of mouth.

Freelance Writing

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I have been a freelance writer for over 10 years and love what I do. For me, it’s a full-time business, but it’s also a great side hustle that’s flexible and a great way to earn a little extra money. You can write various content, from marketing materials to blog posts. You only need a passion for the written word and a good grasp of grammar and spelling.

Virtual Assistant

Old woman working as Virtual Assistant
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Over the past few years, more businesses have embraced remote work, and the need for virtual assistants is growing. If you have some admin skills, you may be able to find a part-time, flexible side hustle scheduling, managing emails and performing other organizational tasks for small businesses.

15 Highest Paying Jobs That Nobody Wants

Group of happy Blue-Collar workers
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Truthfully, almost all of the best high-paying jobs that no one wants to work, are blue-collar jobs. Working in the trades can sound intimidating, but it comes with great benefits, high pay, and job security.

Despite the pros, not a lot of people turn to the trades. If you’re feeling stuck, you may want to consider one of these high-paying jobs.

To curate this list, we chose jobs where you could earn at least $25 an hour. These jobs are also high in demand. To find out how in demand, we used Indeed and ZipRecruiter.

Here are 15 high-paying jobs that nobody wants.

Never Put These 15 Things Down the Kitchen Sink if You Want to Avoid a Huge Repair Bill

Many people don’t think about what they put down the kitchen sink. They just scrape all of their food waste into the sink, turn on the garbage disposal, and watch it all disappear. But many things can damage your garbage disposal or plumbing.

Here are 15 things you should never put down the kitchen sink if you want to avoid a huge repair bill.

18 Jobs Where Skills Trump Intelligence

Old man or baby boomer working as tailor
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Our society often judges people’s intelligence based on their professions. While it’s an unfair practice, some jobs have unfortunately been associated with a stereotype of lower intellectual capabilities. Let’s dispel some misconceptions as we explore 18 professions unfairly branded as “requiring less brainpower.”

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