Buzz
Retirement discussions often focus on finances—how much you’ll need, what defines ‘enough,’ and how to plan for unexpected costs such as home repairs or medical expenses. Similarly, side hustles in retirement are typically framed in terms of how much you can earn.
However, once you're retired, side hustles aren't just about the money. If Social Security plays a key role in your retirement strategy, there's a cap on how much you can earn before it impacts your benefits. Additionally, retirement should be more than just financial concerns. Without the right activities, retirement can feel dull and isolating, leading to a decline in physical and mental well-being—but the right side hustle can help avoid these challenges.
The Perks of Side Hustles in Retirement
In addition to earning some extra money, side hustles offer a variety of benefits for those navigating retirement:
Hobbies and passions. Engaging in hobbies and personal projects can be a powerful safeguard against depression, especially for older adults. While doing hobbies purely for enjoyment is beneficial, turning your passions into side hustles can provide an even greater sense of fulfillment and purpose.
Physical fitness. Staying physically active offers a wide range of benefits for seniors (including significant reductions in healthcare costs throughout retirement). Side hustles that involve physical activity can help keep you fit and moving.
Social interaction. Loneliness tends to increase after age 60, due to various factors, including the loss of social connections from past jobs. A side hustle can help restore that sense of “work family” or provide regular social interaction with others.
While the extra income from a side hustle is certainly valuable—and often essential—picking the right side gig for retirement can bring these additional rewards as well. Here are some top options.
Part-time retail
Although retirees in retail is a well-known trope, this type of work provides consistent social interaction. Engaging with customers daily strengthens ties to your local community while giving you a meaningful purpose as you assist others in solving problems or navigating challenges. Plus, finding a retail job that aligns with your previous career skills (such as retired tradespeople working at hardware stores) allows you to continue doing what you love, making use of your expertise and experience.
Pet Sitting or Dog Walking
If you find yourself stuck at home, feeling bored and isolated, it can take a toll on both your mental and physical well-being. Research shows that owning a pet can provide significant emotional and psychological benefits, but they can also be costly to care for.
Becoming a pet sitter or dog walker allows you to enjoy the emotional perks of spending time with lovable animals without the financial burden, plus you get the added bonus of increasing your physical activity (one survey revealed that dog owners walk an average of 30 miles per week). Platforms like Rover and Wag make it easy to start this side hustle, bringing more companionship and exercise into your life.
Local Tour Guide
You know your local area better than anyone, so why not share your knowledge, meet new people, and stay active while you’re at it? Websites like ToursByLocals are looking for locals to lead tours, giving you the opportunity to interact with visitors, share your insights, and stay fit through walking and other physical activities.
Career Coaching
After spending years honing your skills and gaining valuable experience, many could benefit from your expertise. If you're feeling disconnected or your profession was your true passion, career coaching could offer a way to connect with others while keeping that passion alive. Platforms like Hire Club are looking for experienced professionals to help others reach new heights in their careers, offering a fulfilling way to give back and make a real difference through mentoring.
Tutoring
If career coaching isn't the right fit for you or your expertise doesn't align with corporate advancement, tutoring can be another great way to stay socially active while sharing your knowledge. Platforms like Tutors.com allow you to sign up and find tutoring opportunities nearby, and there's always a demand for tutors helping students (or their parents) master various subjects. You can also explore sites like italki to tutor languages even without formal teaching credentials. Either way, tutoring connects you with a wide range of people while allowing you to turn your expertise into extra income.
Gardening
If you have a love for plants and find yourself needing more physical activity, seasonal work as a gardener or landscaper can help keep you fit while indulging your passion. Whether you’ve spent your career in landscaping or simply enjoy cultivating a beautiful garden at home, this side hustle allows you to stay active while doing something you love.
Renting Out a Room
If staying active isn’t your main concern, but you’re feeling isolated, renting out a room or an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) can provide extra income and the companionship of a roommate. Platforms like Nesterly specifically connect older homeowners with younger renters, where the homeowner offers reduced rent in exchange for some help around the house. This can ease the burden of household chores and also foster meaningful relationships and unexpected social bonds.
