29 Creative Ways to Make Money in Retirement

When you think of retirement, you often think of not having to work anymore. Although this is true as far as a traditional job, chances are you would still like to make some money during retirement. However, you don’t want to have a traditional part-time or full-time job to do so. No worries, there are all kinds of creative ways you can make money in retirement. The best part? You may not even have to leave your home depending on your interests.

Creative Ways to Earn at Home

Write an ebook.

Writing a book is a great way to be creative and earn some income. To write an ebook, you’ll need a great cover and an even better editor. Consider hiring one on Fiverr. Then you’ll need to create a good book description and format your interior files. You can either do this through software like Vellum or Atticus or hire someone. Along with that, you’ll have to do some marketing, too. To achieve success, consider following Dave Chesson from Kindlepreneur and Alexa Bigwarfe from Write. Publish. Sell. 

Sell low-content books.

Low-content books are all the rage these days. A low-content book could be a journal, a weekly planner someone can fill out, or even a recipe book with blank pages. There is very little writing done with these books, and they often sell pretty well!

Do freelance writing.

If you have a way with words and love to write, freelance writing is a good option. It’s flexible and you can do it on your schedule as long as you meet deadlines. There are many ways to get started. You can sign up on some content mills like Textbroker or Draft. Content mills pay little but offer steady work. You can advertise your services on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, or you can start your own freelance business from scratch. 

Sell crafts online.

If you are crafty, you can sell your creations online. Most people think of Etsy, but there are many other platforms you can sell your goods on, like Shopify, Strikingly, and Maker Place by Michael’s. If you don’t want to start an online shop, then consider selling in person at Renaissance faires, craft fairs, and even fan conventions!

Teach English.

You can teach English online with the company Cambly. Other options are VIPKid, Skooli, and iTutorGroup!

Teach children.

If you have teaching experience, the following companies hire people to teach children online: Outschool, K12, and Connections Academy. Each company has its own requirements, so look before applying. However, so long as you meet the criteria, this can be a fun, easy way to earn a little extra cash!

Narrate audiobooks.

If you have a magnificent speaking voice or can be creative with your voice, consider becoming an audiobook narrator. You can make a profile on Fiverr, Freelancer, Upwork, or Guru to advertise your services. Some websites are more industry-specific, like Voices, ACX, and Voice Bunny. An outstanding book to learn more about being an audiobook narrator is Acting With The Voice: The Art of Recording Books by Robert Bluenfield. A narrator I collaborated with recommended this book when I interviewed him for my blog. 

Take surveys.

Taking surveys is a quick and easy way to make some money online. Although you may not qualify for every single one that comes through your inbox, it’s always worth a look. Some companies to start with are Pinecone Research and Paid View Point, which pay via PayPal.

Sell printables.

Printables are easy to make and in hot demand! A printable is something that you make your customers so they can then print it out and use it themselves. Some examples are invitations, worksheets, and chore lists. One Printable expert I recommend you follow is Pam Allen. You can sign up for her free course to learn how to use Canva to become a Printable expert like her!

Teach something.

If you’re an expert in a particular field, consider making a course and teaching it. You can do this on platforms like Teachable and Podia. For a more informal method, consider starting a YouTube channel or a podcast. Of course, you can always create a social media account on Instagram or Facebook to showcase your skills!

Sell your art.

If you’re talented at art, then sell your pieces online! You can try your hand at Facebook Marketplace or take commissions on places like Fiverr. Whatever the case, don’t hide your light under a bushel!

Do music reviews on SliceThePie.

Calling all audiophiles. With this site, you listen to snippets of music and leave a review. You won’t make much with this site, so it’s better suited for those who are looking to supplement their main source of income. However, if you love music and have some free time on your hands, you should give it a shot!

Do academic tutoring.

If you’re a former teacher with a Bachelor’s degree or you have your ESL teaching certification, you can tutor students. Every company has its own requirements, so make sure you check them carefully before applying! Skooli and Pear Deck Tutor are two great sites to check!

Sell your stuff.

Most of us have way too much stuff. Don’t let clutter and old junk take up more space in your home than it deserves. Instead, go through your bookshelves, entertainment center, and closets and see what you can get rid of. Then set your price and sell your stuff online!

Sell some photos.

Are you a shutterbug? Do people tell you that you could take photos for a living? Well, make that a reality! Consider selling your photos on a stock photo site like Shutterstock, iStock, or Pixabay. The coolest part is that you might be able to see your photos on articles, websites, and other places online.

Do tax prep or bookkeeping.

If you have either of these skills, you could start your own small business. A lot of people need help with both tax preparation and bookkeeping, so you should get some customers—especially around tax season!

Advertise graphic design.

If you have graphic design skills, you could design and sell logos on Fiverr and other freelance sites. A lot of people will pay top dollar for a nice design, so it’s an easy way to make some money. Create a portfolio of your work, start advertising your services, and watch the money come rolling in.

Sell your illustrations.

If you’re good at drawing, sell your illustrations online. You might get business from people all around the world. For example, the illustrator for all three of my children’s books lives in Cape Town, South Africa. Even with the time difference, working together is always a breeze. Plus, I know from experience that your illustrations can make other people very happy. What’s better than that?

Sell custom products.

There’s a demand for custom products, and if you’re talented enough, you can meet it! Design your own t-shirts, travel mugs, coffee mugs, and more, and sell them online. Check out CafePress or Zazzle to get started.

Sell baked goods.

If you have a passion for food, consider selling your food or baked goods. Make sure you check with your state to see what the requirements are to make sure you keep everything legal and on the up and up. The book How to Start a Home-Based Food Business: Turn Your Foodie Love Into Serious Cash with a Food Business by Sam Kerns is a good place to start.

Creative Ways to Make Money Outside the Home

Be a tour guide.

Some companies will hire you to be a tour guide in your town or a larger town nearby. If you know a lot about a specific area, put those skills to good use! Bonus point? You’ll get to meet a lot of new people!

Work at a cat café.

If you love animals, especially cats, consider working part-time at a cat café. Not only will you be surrounded by coffee and cats, but you’ll also be able to help some four-legged friends find their new fur-ever home. It’s a win-win!

Become a pet sitter.

Being a pet sitter is not only a great way to make some money, but it’s also highly flexible. You can sign up on a platform like Rover or Wag! or start your own business. Whatever the case, you’ll be able to spend some time with animals. What’s better than that?

Plan children’s birthday parties.

If you have a knack for event planning and organization, consider becoming a children’s party planner. It’s fun, rewarding, and can even be quite lucrative.

Give people a Lyft.

Ride-sharing has exploded in the past few years. Personally, my husband and I have met some awesome people when we’ve needed a ride over the past few years. Check out Lyft or Uber for this opportunity.

Sign up for Rent a Grandma.

What are the two best attributes that seniors have? Love and wisdom. The website Rent a Grandma lets people put up a profile to accept jobs for childcare, eldercare, tutoring, and more.

Teach gardening.

Start a business being a garden guide and teach people how to grow a garden. You could provide one-time consultations for those who are experienced but facing specific issues, or you could offer a certain number of sessions for a fixed fee.

Pet photography.

If you are fantastic behind the camera and love animals, consider becoming a pet photographer. While your subjects might not always sit still, they’re guaranteed to always be cute!

Become a car-buying consultant

If you had a job selling cars, you know what to look for and the ins and outs, good and bad, of buying a car. You could start a business where you go with people when they are buying a car to help them navigate the process and give them peace of mind that they are not getting ripped off. Teens, females, and seniors (who can sometimes be taken advantage of in these situations) would find this service especially useful. 

Takeaway

Making money in retirement isn’t as difficult as it sounds! With a little ingenuity and business acumen, you can transform a hobby or talent into cash flow. We hope that something on our list sparked your interest and ignited your creativity. Make sure that you choose something you want to do and get ready to live the creative life you’ve always wanted. Now, that’s what we call a retirement dream!

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