How to Make Money When You Retire (14 Ways!)

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If you’re a retiree, the thought of going back to work may not be high on your list. Maybe, though, you’re looking for a way to feel productive, would like to earn extra cash for vacations, or need to  supplement your income. One compromise is to find a part-time job or gig that you can do on your own terms. In fact, I chose the following ways to earn money when you retire for their flexibility.

14 Ways to Make Money When You Retire

Nobody’s yet come up with a way to get rick quickly. Keep that in mind when checking out out any offers and claims, especially those that cost money.

Start a Digital Newsletter

Digital subscription newsletter sites like Substack and Patreon are a good option if you don’t want to manage your own site. With traditional sites like WordPress, you earn money with ads, affiliate sales, and sponsorships. With newsletter platforms, you earn cash by charging a subscription fee.

Take Substack, for example. If you were to charge your subscribers $5 a month for premium content, you’d earn $500 in extra income a month (minus the commission fee Substack takes) with just 100 subscribers.

Though all platforms require a learning curve, I find Substack pretty simple to use. And you can’t beat the price: Substack is currently free to use, aside from the small fees they take when you charge for subscriptions.

 

Write an Ebook

In her book Digital Retirement: Replace Your Social Security Income in the Next 12 Months & Retire Early, author Michelle Kulp says she generated $2,300 in monthly income nine months after starting the process. While there’s no guarantee you can replicate these results, there’s also no reason why you can’t do even better.

The trick is to find a topic that has both market appeal and is something you’re either knowledgeable about or are eager to learn and research. This step takes some time, but it’s important one. You don’t want to spend precious hours working on a book that nobody will buy.

Michelle’s books offer some solid insights about how to find profitable topics. Or you may want to consider paying for a service like KDSPY, software that helps you discover profitable book niches and keywords.

 

Sell Printable Products on Etsy

A main feature of running a printables business is that it doesn’t require you to store any inventory. Aside from Etsy fees and any design tools you need to purchase, it’s essentially a low-overhead business.

Some of the things you can create on a print-on-demand basis might include:

• pages for planners
• budget planners
• coloring pages
• invitations
• bookmarks
• habit trackers

If you’re intrigued by this concept but aren’t sure where to start, online print on demand courses are available, some of them even offered for free.

Participate in Online Mock Trials

When attorneys want insights into how real juries might react, they may turn to jury consulting companies. Some of these companies compensate mock jurors for participating in mock online trials.

Generally, when a lawyer posts a case you’re eligible for, the company will send you an invitation to review the case. If you accept the offer, you’ll agree to terms (like agreeing to keep it confidential), review the case, and answer questions about it.

Payment for these assignments vary (you won’t get rich!), though they tend to generally be in the $20 to $50 range.

A couple mock jury companies to consider are:

• OnlineVerdict
• ejury

Who among us hasn’t dreamed of appearing in a movie, television show, commercial, or print ad? While competition in this industry is absolutely fierce (and the money unsteady), casting directors do occasionally hire regular people for smaller, background roles.

One way to find out about acting and modeling gigs is by signing up on sites that post notices. A few to try?

• Auditions Free (They even have a page dedicated to seniors.)
• Backstage
• Casting Talent

Become an Online Tutor

If you love to teach and help people grow, online tutoring may be a solid way to generate extra cash. There’s a need for tutors at the elementary, high school, and college levels; as well as for adult learners who may want to pick up job skills. Credentials for these positions vary.

A few places to check for online tutor jobs:

• Tutor.com
• Outschool
• Wyzant

 

Proofread Books and Other Copy

Proofreaders check for things like incorrection punctuation, grammatical errors, and misspelled words. Proofreading is a good option if you thrive on detail, deadlines, and independent work.

Rates for proofreading services vary, though Reedsy says the pay for 1,000 proofread words is in the $13 to $15 range. And Indeed estimates the average hourly rate for proofreaders is about $24.95.

Taking a proofreading course can help, but you may already have the skills needed to find work. Before investing in a course, check job listings to see if you already have the qualifications. If you’re just starting out, consider signing up with a proofreading service like ProofreadingServices.com. 

 

Become a Freelance Writer

It’s hard to know how Artificial Intelligence (AI) will impact the market for writers in the coming years. For now, however, freelance writing opportunities are out there.

Though locating good-paying freelance writing clients that respect your work takes time and work, it’s not impossible. Some of the ways to find freelance writing jobs include using email marketing, joining niche writing organizations, and working with content agencies.

If you’d like to earn money by taking on freelance writing assignments, there are a few techniques I recommend. You can read my article about how to find freelance writing jobs here.

 

Narrate Audiobooks

As the audiobook market continues to grow, so do opportunities for freelancers who want to make money narrating books.

One way to break into this business is via the ACX, owned by Audible, which is an Amazon company. With the ACX program, you choose the number of narrating gigs you want to take on. Once you choose a potential gig, you’ll then audition; and if chosen, you’ll receive an offer from the author or rights holder.

You might find some of these resources useful in jumpstarting your audiobook narrator career.

• Carrie Olsen, a professional full-time voice over artist, offers a free starter course on her site.
• The Audio Publishers Association publishes some information about how to get started as a narrator.
• Though the book Voice-Over Actor is about voice-over work in general, you still might find it useful.

Write Book Reviews

If you enjoy reading and are adept at articulating concepts and details with brevity and clarity, reviewing books is a fun way to make some extra cash. Many of the publications (like magazines and newspapers) I reviewed offer rates in the $150 and $300 range, though they can go lower or higher.

You’ll likely have to start reviewing for smaller outlets and build up a compelling portfolio. One way to accomplish this is to write reviews for venues like Amazon. If you become part of the Amazon Vine Voices Program, you can even receive free books in exchange for honest write-ups. Amazon makes the program available by invitation-only, however; they look for established Amazon contributors who consistently write solid views.

Walk Dogs

If you have a genuine love of dogs and want a fun way to get some exercise, dog walking might be a good fit.

The easiest way to start is to work for a dog walking network like Wag! or Rover. Though the earning potential is typically more limited than if you ran your own business, it’s a good way to learn without having to find customers or maintain a website.

Need more ideas on how to make money as a pet lover? Check out 8 Fun Pet Jobs, Businesses, and Side Gigs

 

Take Surveys and Participate in Focus Groups

Though it can take some time to earn a reward -most often in the form of gift cards- it’s not a bad way to spend some spare time if you have it. Unlike scrolling social media, at least you’ll walk away with something tangible for your time.

Survey sites to consider are:

Branded Surveys

Survey Junkie

MyPoints

Focus groups usually pay more than survey sites, though they also require a bigger time commitment. Find Focus Groups lists opportunities across the country.

Sell Your Photos

If you’re good with a camera, you can sell your photos via microstock photography sites like Shutterstock or iStock.

Though earning potential varies greatly, the average income, per PhotoWorkout is $1 per download. (Microstock sites usually pay a commission when your photo sells.) So making decent money will depend on the number of photos you download and whether there’s a demand for them.

Create Templates for Canva

Canva is a popular design platform used by millions of people to create designs for websites, social media, and print. If you’re adept at creating compelling templates, you may want to consider registering for the Canva Creators program.

You’ll need a portfolio in place or some way to show that you’re good with graphic design.

Where to Find Flexible and Remote Jobs

Another way to earn extra money in retirement is to find a part-time job with a business. Here are a few places to look.

Apply to Companies That Welcome Older Workers

Some of the 20 best employers with flexible jobs for older workers as recommended by the job site FlexJobs include Aetna, American Heart Association, CVS Health, and H & R Block.

Also check out companies that have taken the AARP Employee Pledge Program. Companies that sign the pledge agree in part “that 50+ workers should have a level playing field in their ability to compete and obtain jobs.”

Search for Part-Time Gigs

Though there are several places you can look for jobs, like LinkedIn and Indeed, one specialized site I like is Rat Race Rebellion. They regularly post jobs you can do from home in a range of fields including customer service, virtual assistance, data entry, and writing.

 

This post contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support!