Easy Side Hustles and Gigs For Beyond Age 50
Just because you retire early doesn’t mean you stop earning money. With these side hustles and gigs you call the shots. How and when you work and how much you make is entirely up to you.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links or paid partnerships. I may earn compensation if you click a link or make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.
This is a pretty nondescript page on the FAWA site. But I hope that you consider bookmarking this page and sharing it with someone that may need it. Really.
This article is going to cover:
Differences between part-time jobs and side hustles
7 reasons why side hustles are great for pre-retirees and retirees
26 of the best low-cost side hustles and gigs for Gen X to start
What it the difference between a side hustle/gig and a part time job?
It can be summed up three words. You’re the boss. You aren’t on someone else’s payroll. You don’t have a schedule or quotas to meet. A part-time job is a traditional employment arrangement with a fixed schedule and an hourly wage set by a single employer. With an employer, you get a 1099 or a W-2 to file with your taxes. With many side hustles, it is more of a cash business so you will have to keep track of your own income.
The other big benefit is the flexibility. You get to choose exactly when, where, and how much you work. If you are travelling or need to care for family, you simply turn off the app or pause your hustle. You don’t ask the boss for permission to go on vacation…you are the boss.
Today, I’ll go over some the best side hustles and gigs for those in pre-retirement or retirement. We are going way beyond Instacart, Uber, and DoorDash. Whether you want to work from home, stay active in your community, or try something completely new, there’s an option for you.
7 Reasons Why Side Hustles/Gigs Are Great For Pre-Retirees and Retirees
1) YOU ARE IN CHARGE
Side Hustles and Gigs are terrific for pre-retirees and retirees, especially for independent workers like Gen X. This is where we shine. After 40 years of work experience, we don’t need a boss to tell us what to do and when to do it. When you run a side hustle, you cut the umbilical cord to employers.
2) YOU GET A RAISE WHEN YOU WANT ONE
Side Hustles and Gigs are flexible and independent. You have the ultimate control over your rates, hours, and workload. When costs of materials increase, you bump up your rates.
3) YOU GET OUT WHAT YOU PUT IN
A side hustle is the ultimate in entrepreneurship. You set your own terms, hours, and the scope of the work. Your earnings are unlimited and depend only on your effort and business growth plan.
4) IT WORKS WELL ALONG SIDE SOCIAL SECURITY
Retirement Earnings Limits: If you retire early, you can earn up to $24,480 a year before the Social Security Administration withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 you make above this limit. In the calendar year you 67, the earnings limit goes up to $65,160 before the month you reach 67. During this year only, for every $3 you earn above this limit, $1 is withheld. Once you reach 67, there are no earnings limits.
NOTE: There is chatter right now on Capitol Hill regarding The Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2026, a proposed bipartisan bill designed to eliminate the Retirement Earnings Limits completely under the Social Security Act. This is great news for Gen X as many of us will need to work to some extent while getting Social Security.
5) IT HAS THE ULTIMATE FLEXIBILITY
You choose your work schedule. You choose your hours. You choose when you start vacation and for how long.
6) IT ALLOWS YOU TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT YOU CAN DO
A side hustle can shine a light on your specific talents and skills. It allows you to build a personal brand, showcase your skill set, and give you the freedom and flexibility to maximize your money making potential when you want and how you want.
7) YOU CAN CHECK OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST
If there is a hobby or interest that you have held close to your heart, but you didn’t have the opportunity to make it a bigger part of your day-to-day life, now is the time! You may not have been able to be a performer, but you can now consider becoming a pub host. You may not have been able to become a professional photographer, but you can use your equipment to take photos of people and places in your community.
“A side hustle a day, keeps the bill collectors away”
What Are Some Of The Best Low Cost Side Hustles For Gen X To Start?
Gen X is looking for financial solutions going into retirement and side hustles and gigs may play a big part. Just because you retire doesn’t mean you stop bringing money in. FAWA is going to go over some of the most unique, low-cost entry ideas for you to consider. Let’s get into it.
1) Take Care of Graves
At first glance this seems a bit morbid but keep reading. Start a small business taking care of graves. You would clean the grave markers and make sure they are weed-free and well maintained. Bring flowers to the site at occasions significant to the family and email them a photo of the site with the flowers. Many family members live out of state these days and are unable to tend to sites themselves. They really value the service and they sign up for a year at a time. You would need to make a set of business cards and drop off a dozen or so at the front offices of cemeteries in your area as well as funeral homes. You set your own rates, but to give you an idea: $50/1x a year clean and weed, $70/2x a year, $120/4x a year, deep clean $25-75 depending on the size of the marker, $25 to place flowers for a special occasion.
2) Start a Gen X Retirement You Tube Channel
Our generation was born 1965-1980. We are all aware of how behind many of us are on retirement savings and look for content online on how other GenXers are navigating the transition. If you have a smart phone and know how to create video content, you will get a few thousand people following your story in no time. At some point you may begin to receive checks from YouTube for ad content revenue earned.
3) Dog Walking/Pet Sitting
You could start in your neighborhood with people you know, placing ads locally in your community, contacting dog boarding facilities, or sign up online at Rover.com, Wag!, or TrustedHouseSitters.com to see if you enjoy the work. Many retirees have said it is a fantastic way to get exercise, spend time in the great outdoors, have some lovely dog companions without ownership, and you of course get paid. For pet sitting, you may be in your client’s home for 30+ minutes ensuring Fluffy has food, water, a clean cat pan, and some play time (if they want it). Clients always appreciate a photo emailed/texted to them while they are away.
4) Flip Furniture on Facebook Marketplace
Take the saddest, scratched wooden dresser you can find on Craigslist or at garage sales and refurbish it to resell on Facebook Marketplace. If you have workspace in your garage, and are good with stripping, sanding, and repainting furniture, you can easily take a $15-25 find and resell it a week or so later for hundreds. Some resellers paint the furniture white, others research what the current upscale furniture color trends are and repaint in those shades.
5) Declutter on eBay and Vinted
It’s time my GenX friend. We have over 50 years of possessions and we can’t keep them forever. Ask your kids if they want your collectibles and tchotchkes. If you have already lost a parent, dealt with an estate, or had to help an aging relative downsize you know how important this is. Why not start on it now and make some money on eBay? This can be especially profitable if you have antiques, tools, collectibles, furniture, and clothing items. Pro Tip: Research the true value of your item by searching for the Sold or Completed listings most similar to your item within the last 90 days and price your item accordingly.
6) Thrift and Resell Online
Once you have decluttered your home, continue riding the money train by thrifting or going to garage sales for finds to resell online. You will soon get an idea of what things are going for and will know a deal when you see it. You can leverage your life experience and flip what you know. Example: If you all about guitars from the 60s, you can scout out deals and then flip them online for profit.
Pro Tip: Old Magazines from the 70s, 80s, and 90s are selling for top dollar on eBay. Two Glamour magazines from 1988, $40. 1983 Super Teen Magazine with Michael Jackson on the cover, $35. October 1987 Teen Magazine, $30. Our generation is getting old enough that they are buying back memories. ALSO, baby and kids clothing sell for a premium. New clothing is pricey and they grow out of it quickly. Many times they are barely used and in excellent condition. Buy brand names that you recognize and they will always sell.
7) Childcare
Daycare costs are through the roof right now. Many families must have both parents working full-time to make ends meet. If you love babies and kids, consider getting a daycare license in your state. You could start slow with a neighbor or two that have elementary age kids that need supervision for just a few hours in the afternoon on school days.
The going rate in my area is $50/week per child for after school only. You can ramp up from there if the side hustle clicks for you. Some schools have early release days (half days) once a week. And then there is summer vacation. Also, the younger the child, the larger the cost. Toddlers ages 1-3 average $800-1200/month and preschoolers ages 4-5 average $750-1200/month.
If starting a business is too much, look on Care.com, Sittercity.com, or Bambino to connect with families in your area that are seeking caregivers.
8) Pass Along Your Passion at Outschool
Outschool is a company based out of San Francisco that connects instructors and students in virtual classrooms. Every traditional topic is taught (math, English, history, science, etc) as well as many extracurriculars (world languages, music, art, crafts, coding, life skills, & health and wellness).
You will be required to pass a background check before working with minors, and you must demonstrate that you are very knowledgeable in your topic either from a school degree, native fluency in a second language, or a portfolio/demonstration of your art/craft/music/skill. You have the flexibility to set your own class schedule and pricing, and the platform allows students to sign up for your class. This can be a very gratifying experience as you are able to share your knowledge and love of a topic to a younger audience.
9) Handyman
If you are handy, you probably have already done work for others before. Once you get a contractor license and insurance, start with the tools you already have in your garage. Use your network of family, friends, neighbors, and actual networking events to get job leads in your area.
Rather than just working one or two days a week, this type of work is project based and tends to come in waves. Some weeks you may make up to $2000, while other weeks will be complete down time to spend as you wish — hanging out with friends or fishing.
Handyman work is service oriented and can help you feel good about assisting others. You can really help out by providing simple services such as hanging shelves or changing out a doorknob for folks in their 80s that can’t do that type of work anymore. The work can be mentally challenging as well, and you get to visit with a variety of people.
If you are not interested in starting a business, check out Handy.com to people in your area that are seeking handyman services.
10) Donate Plasma
Are you in good health? Donating plasma usually pays between $30 and $75 per session for regular, qualified donors depending on your weight, the donation center, and the specific week’s promotions. New donors can earn significantly more — upwards of $700-$800 — during their first month. Plasma takes longer to filter and regenerate than whole blood, so you are compensated for your time.
You can donate up to twice a week in a seven-day period, provided there are 48 hours between each donation. And…you get paid more money if you are heavier. You get the highest payout per donation if you are between 175-400 pounds as donation centers follow FDA guidelines that specify what percentage of plasma can safely be collected based on the donor’s weight. Finally, a benefit for being a higher weight!
11) Run Errands
Running errands is an excellent way to make extra cash because it doesn’t take much time and you can accept a task when you have time for it in your schedule. TaskRabbit.com or Thumbtack.com are sites that connect people who need things done with others that have the time to do it. You register on the sites as an errand runner and name the job categories that you are willing to do, your schedule availability, and your rates.
If there is a match with someone in your area that is looking for help, the app will let you know. Some of the work could be building furniture (think IKEA), home repairs, moving services, yard work, handyman services, cleaning, shopping, personal assistant, etc.
12) Sell Crafts on Etsy
Etsy is a great place for older folks to sell handmade crafts. If there’s a hobby that you enjoy, you may be able to turn it into a fun side job that makes money. You could make stickers, pottery, jewelry, painted artwork, or knitted items.
Many brides want custom items for their bridal party and have large budgets so be on the lookout for what is trending in that category. Custom ornaments for Christmas and trendy ‘holidays’ like Summerween (Halloween decor modified to look somewhat summery) are also highly sought after now.
Another trend is creating greeting cards or t-shirt design and having them set up to print and ship through a third party. Then when you make a sale you simply tell your printing partner to print and ship and you just collect the balance paid as a commission.
13) Fishing Guide
If you own a boat and are an avid fisherman in your neck of the woods, consider starting a charter business. You can take visitors out for a morning on the water, make $500/day, and be back at the dock by Noon. You would only need to operate 2-3/days per week to cover liability insurance, fuel, and equipment/supply costs plus a handsome profit for you.
14) Pub Host
Many bars and pubs are looking for events to keep patrons coming in. If you like to be in the spotlight and can invest in a speaker and microphone, consider starting a pub host business. You can MC special events on slower nights to bring in traffic such as karaoke, trivia/quiz, bingo, and comedy/improv nights at various bars in your area. You could do the same thing at coffee and tea houses by hosting poetry slams.
15) Hairdresser/Barber
if your background is in hair and personal grooming, you can transition into retirement by doing hair from home. Your long-time customers will appreciate a discount and you can enjoy a flexible schedule and greater profit without booth rent or salon overhead.
16) Photography/Drone
Do you own good quality cameras or drones? If this is one of your hobbies, consider making it into a side hustle. You can work with Realtors to take overhead arial photos of properties for sale with a drone. With a good quality camera you can take professional head shots for business people, high school or college graduation photos, engagement, pregnancy, or baby pictures, group pics at family reunions, seasonal shots of kids with Santa or the Easter Bunny.
17) Housesitting
Look into housesitting as an option for a flexible retirement side hustle. Homeowners that are on vacation may be looking for someone to reside in their homes while they are gone to keep an eye on things, You may be responsible for taking care of the pets, watering the plants, picking up mail and packages as they are delivered, etc. TrustedHouseSitters.com is the global leader and MindMyHouse.com and HouseCarers.com offer more budget friendly options.
18) Property Management
If you live in a area where there are residents that live only seasonally, you could offer your services as a property manager. In this role, you have a key to the property and would inspect and keep an eye on it to ensure it stays in good shape until the owner returns. In cold weather this could include turning on faucets to drip during extremely frigid weather to avoid pipes bursting and keeping the driveway plowed. In extremely hot areas, a property manager may enter the home to ensure the A/C is working properly, no insect issues, etc. No matter what climate the property is in, a property manager would make sure there are no break-ins, squatters, theft, etc.
19) On-Call Bartender
To find on call or event bartending gigs in your area, apply directly to local event staffing agencies, banquet halls, hotel chains, and catering companies. Your services may be needed for weddings, corporate events, and weekend parties.
20) Airbnb Experiences
Tourists can search for and book local experiences on the same Airbnb site they book vacation housing on. Check out the site to see what offerings are in your area. Is there some experience you could offer? It could be walking tours, cooking local cuisine, yoga classes, hiking guide, etc.
21) Self-Publish a Book
Some retirees feel the itch to write a novel and Amazon KDP is a publishing avenue that should be checked out. You can self-publish your book for free via Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) by creating an account and uploading your files. Your book can appear on Amazon globally in as little as 72 hours, with royalties up to 60%.
22) Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping for small businesses is a great side hustle for retired people. Many of these companies only require someone to manage their finances part-time, and very often you work remotely from the comfort of your own home. Having a background in finance can be helpful, but it is not required in many cases. The income is a steady source with experienced bookkeepers charging $25-50 per hour.
23) Airbnb Host/Landlord
If you or someone in your family owns a property they are not using, you can rent it out to travelers. You get to choose how frequent you host (you may choose to rent out a property only during summer tourist season for example) and set your own prices. If you have property that you are not using for a longer period of time, consider renting it out to a tenant.
24) Consulting
Everyone is sad to see you retire. You were the go to person that got the job done. You can choose to work on a project basis for your old company or use your years of work experience to help other businesses succeed.
Because consultants are given a clear scope of the project for which they are hired, many seasoned employees find the work easier than the job they retired from. The pay is great as you will be at the top of your career and the consulting experience is helpful in your transition into retirement. You still get to use your skill set, but on a less frequent, project basis.
25) Freelance Writing
You have a lifetime of experience. Have you considered becoming an online freelance writer as a side hustle? You can get paid to create content for magazines, websites, and blogs. Choose topics you are knowledgeable and passionate about.
When you are a freelance writer you get to work from wherever you wish, whether that is traveling or from home. You also choose your own hours — the publisher doesn’t mind just as long as you meet deadlines and communicate well.
26) Tutoring
Tutoring is a classic, great side hustle for retirement. If you were a teacher in your professional life, or if you have experience in a specific field of work, you can offer your services as a tutor.
Look around your local community for in-person tutoring opportunities. Schools and community centers may have openings posted or they have can give you an idea of where to search. SAT preparation is big business these days and companies in your area may be looking for tutors to assist.
If you would prefer working remotely with students, there are online tutor opportunities as well through sites such as Tutor.com and Wyzant.com.
Side Hustles and Gigs are excellent for older workers because they offer unmatched schedule flexibility and allow you to monetize decades of professional experience. Keep an open mind and research a few of the above ideas to see if they could be a fit for your background and financial needs.
Once you have found ways to bring in more money, keep reading on FAWA to ways to save money.
