5 Genius Ideas for Retirees to Earn Some Cash

Retirement doesn’t have to mean a fixed income and watching the dollars dwindle—especially if you’re tired of the corporate grind and ready to embrace something new. I've had some kind of side hustle going on for most of my adult life and so has my husband. It's helped us to pay off debt, take fun vacations, fix up things around the house, and just have a little breathing room!

In fact, we both retired exceptionally early just because of our side hustles. Both of us were in unhappy jobs and we felt like life was just too short to put up with that. It's an act of kindness to yourself to step away from a job that makes you miserable, and a side hustle can help a lot with that.

Here are 5 ways to hustle a little extra cash in retirement (because let’s face it, it’s never too late to make money your way!).

1. Plan Events If you’re the type who thrives on organizing, why not use that skill to plan fun events? Think ladies’ night parties, baby showers, or kids’ dance recitals. I know someone who made a killing teaching dance classes for little kids in daycares. Or you could do chess club, karate lessons, homework help, just about anything. This is a great way to turn your love of entertainment into cash while creating memorable experiences for others.
2. Start a Service-Based Business Got a knack for fixing things around the house or organizing clutter? Service businesses are booming, and they can be incredibly flexible. Whether it’s pet-sitting, handyman gigs, or teaching a skill, your talents can easily translate into a side hustle. My husband turned his DIY skills into a sought-after handyman business—he’s now a neighborhood hero!
3. Consult, Coach, or Speak If you’ve got expertise, why not get paid for it? Consulting or coaching in areas you’re already familiar with can be incredibly lucrative. I turned my financial expertise into a debt-free coaching business, and the variety of clients has kept me on my toes (in the best way!).
4. Create a Course on Something You Love What’s your passion? Cooking, DIY crafts, or how to train dogs, tutor kids, help mentor college kids? If you’ve got knowledge, there’s someone who wants to learn it. The best part? Course creation is passive income. It’s a bit of upfront work, but once it’s set up, it can run itself while you sit back and collect the cash.
5. Become a Local Tour Guide If you’ve lived somewhere forever, why not turn that knowledge into cash? Whether it’s local hikes, hidden gems, or the best places to eat, offering a personalized tour could be a fun way to meet new people and make extra income. I know 3 different people who've created online travel guides and sell them online - Barcelona, Hawaii, and National Parks (she's a former Park Ranger). They were super helpful when we were traveling and we didn't mind shelling out some bucks for them. Bonus points if you’re a people person!

The point is to find something you LOVE to do and figure out how to get people to pay you for it. I've got two different ways I can help you with this.

20 Side Hustle Ideas - I've got a list of 20 different side hustle ideas that are quick and easy. Most require no special skills and can be started in a weekend. What could an extra $500 - $1,000/mo do for your budget? A well managed side hustle can easily do that for you. If you'd like a copy, leave me a comment with your Email and I'll get it right out to you.

Side Hustle Coaching - Sometimes you need a little hand-holding to choose a side hustle and figure out how to get it going. Obviously, I've got a ton of experience with this, so I'll walk you through it step by step. I have a whole six-week program to walk you through it every step of the way. Leave me a comment and let's talk!

Don’t Let Retirement Be About “Just Getting By” Side hustles in retirement can help you feel alive, keep your mind sharp, and most importantly, add to your financial cushion. After all, it’s your time to enjoy life on your terms, and a little extra income never hurt anyone.

What side hustles have you tried—or are considering—during retirement? Let’s share some ideas!