Post-Retirement Earning Success: Easy, No-Hassle Ideas

By Patrick Rosario –

No Sleeping in a Hammock

You may not be quite ready to retire, but you might want to start thinking about how you plan to spend your time once you have walked away from the salaried, work-a-day world. Not everyone wants to sit on the porch or sleep in the hammock after they retire. Many look forward to turning hobbies into an avocation. Others just feel the need to supplement their retirement incomes. Don’t think that you have to have a special and unique niche carved out to make money.

No Exclusive Niche Required

Think of something you know you can do and do well. Then make your business the one that offers the best service or the best product in that niche. As you think about the possibilities, remember that the two most important venues are usually hobbies, stuff you already like to do for free, and doing things that most people are unwilling to do or cannot do themselves. Most ideas listed below can be started with about $100. Not meant to limit, use this list as inspiration.

• Computer Programmer or Trouble Shooter

Plenty of women are geeks, too. You might have a new idea for an app. Also, many folks, especially our elders, need help with computers occasionally. You could become a one-woman geek squad for people such as this.

• Blogger or Freelance Writer

Women usually do really well here. There are so many venues available for writers nowadays. Alone, the Web demands millions of words of new content daily. Making money by blogging isn’t the easiest way but it can be done with persistence. Writer agencies abound on the Web, avail yourself and make your writing the best in your field. Little ten-dollar a pop articles or big writing contracts can be found. You might consider writing letters or poems for folks who just don’t have that knack.

• Pet Services

Pet sitter. Dog walker. Pet pick up and drop off. Pooper-scooper. Bathing. People have less time. They go on vacation. One young person turned a part-time pooper-scooper business into a six-figure income. You’d be surprised how much folks are willing to pay to take care of their beloved animals. Drop by a client’s house to feed the fish and water the plants.

• Genealogy Researcher

Do you love research? Start off with your own family. Use that as your portfolio to expand into other families. You will become an expert, maybe a legend, in your town or circle of acquaintances. Folks will be willing to pay well for this very personal and rewarding service.

• Music Teacher or Performer

Those wishing to play piano, violin, or other instruments are always in need of tutors. You could specialize in adult teaching, unless you love youngsters. An easy, at-home job you can love. If you’re really good, offer your talent at community functions, parties, or even corporate functions. Join a band or ensemble.

• Tutor

If you know your stuff in an academic discipline and you can easily explain difficult concepts, consider this. Some college students tutor others between studies or classes. Languages and math are good subjects. Check with local schools to see if they keep lists of tutors for parents with struggling students.

• Dialing for Dollars

This is crazy. One woman just makes scores of calls everyday to remind people to do things. Another woman has set up a service wherein you can pay her ten bucks to call a friend with monkey sounds. Some use it for birthdays or just to be funny. She’s gone national and people across the land are sending her $10 to surprise their friends and relatives with a couple minutes of monkey sounds. Go figure. Dial-a-Santa or Dial-a-Easter Bunny?

• Holiday Displays

Seasonal work, of course. Many people love their holiday decorations, but hate the putting up and the taking down. Climbing around on ladders or roof eaves may not sound too womanly, but there are plenty of gals who aren’t afraid of heights and can lend their special touch to holiday decorations.

• Auto Care

Here again, this may not sound like a woman’s niche, but sometimes it does take a woman’s touch to put a special shine on a car. Detailing is very big nowadays, but sometimes just a simple car wash and some wheel shining is all that is desired. Take cars in for scheduled maintenance.

• Personal Chef

Some people can’t or won’t cook. A personal chef is an affordable alternative. You could even set up meals at home or in a commercial kitchen (check local ordinances) and just deliver them. Just four or five clients would keep you busy and funded. Prepare meals for folks with special needs.

• Personal Shopper or Gofer

Do the research. Tell which three laptops would be best for your client. Make flight arrangements. Run errands. Help with bookkeeping. Find that sweater replacement. Just go to the grocery store or the garden store for clients. You’d be surprised how many folks just need a helping hand to get through the week. Some agencies exist on the Web – sign up!

• Jill of All Trades

Do you enjoy lawn or garden care? Offer your services. Do you do windows? So many don’t. Sharpen knives and lawnmower blades. If you have a strong stomach, do those nasty things like clean a gross shower or clear out a cobwebby storage shed. Plenty of nasty jobs are out there and somebody’s gotta do ’em. Put homeowners on a retainer so they can call you whenever they have household problems, just as they would when they were renting.

• Videographer or Photographer

With decent equipment and lots of practice, you can be the one to record the important and meaningful moments in the lives of others. You can also sell your best shots with commercial houses such as Flickr or Stock Images. Find them on the Web.

• Personal Trainer or Fitness Instructor

You might have to have some training credentials to start helping others in this fashion. You could find a spot at the local gym. Some folks just enjoy an organised group for walking, jogging, or light exercise routines. Set some up.

• Teacher

Can you do origami? Scrapbooking? Some other art or craft? Look for openings at recreation centers or community organizations. Offer classes in calligraphy or something similar on a regular basis and find fulfillment and funds.

Antique refurbisher, builder of beautiful keepsake boxes, basket weavers, novelty item designer (t-shirts, mugs, posters, etc.); soap, jerky, cupcake, or candle maker; graphic designer; and the list only quits when the does the imagination. Retirement doesn’t have to be retiring. It can be the best time of your life as you realize some dreams and drag in some of the best bucks you’ve ever had the joy of earning. Of course, don’t let being a woman put any constraints on your ambitions.

Patrick Del Rosario is part of the team behind Open Colleges, one of Australia’s pioneer and leading providers of Open Colleges business management course. When not working, Patrick enjoys blogging about career and business. Patrick is also a photography enthusiast and is currently running a photography studio in the Philippines. If you have a blog and would like free content. You can find him on Google+ or drop a line at patrick@oc.edu.au.