You may be retired or nearing the season of retirement and still feel vibrant. You have energy, ideas, and a desire to continue making a meaningful contribution to society. Perhaps you’d also like to earn income to maintain your lifestyle or have a little extra spending money. Starting a side hustle is a great way to support all of the above!
The term ‘side hustle’ refers to a flexible job you have on the side of your primary job, which can include retirement. While millennials made the concept wildly popular, plenty of baby boomers are getting their hustle on - and at all stages of retirement. According to a gig platform called Wonolo, they’re seeing a trend in boomers being more active in this space. One out of every three boomers completes 3+ gigs a week compared to only one in five millennials. And it doesn’t stop at ‘gigs’ here and there.
According to Kauffman Indicators of Entrepreneurship, when it comes to the biggest age group starting businesses in the U.S. today, the 45 to 55 age group is the highest at 39 percent, with the 55 to 65 age group following closely behind at 38 percent. All of that to say, if you’re feeling inspired to start a side hustle as a senior, you’re in good company!
With so many options available, which we’ll dive into in a moment, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are three specific areas to journal about when choosing a retirement side hustle:
Your interests and skills. What are you passionate about? Do you have special talents or knowledge that others might find valuable? Consider what kinds of businesses or services you could provide based on these specific interests and skills.
Your time & money. How much are you able to commit to your side hustle? If you're only looking for a part-time job, choose something that won't require too much time and energy. On the other hand, if you're hoping to build a business, be prepared to invest more of these resources. Depending on your idea, you may need startup capital. The goal of a side hustle is to make extra income, so ensure you have a clear understanding of the costs involved, so it’s a profitable endeavor.
Your overall goals. Take a moment to ask what you’re hoping to achieve. Are you looking to supplement your income or replace it entirely? Do you want to build something that can be passed down to future generations? Be sure you’re choosing a side hustle that aligns with your goals.
Once you have a clear understanding of your skills, resources, and desires, it’s time to get to work. Decide on the best side hustle for you. It may be helpful to start by brainstorming the most lucrative ideas that line up with your specific talents.
Here’s a list of fantastic side hustles to consider!
Tutor: The interesting thing about becoming a tutor, or even an online instructor, is that you don’t have to have a teaching background. As long as you’re knowledgeable in the subject you choose and can break it down to help others learn, you could be instrumental as a teacher. There are several different platforms where you can teach classes online, such as YouTube, Udemy, or Skillshare. Instruction comes in many forms, too. You can host a live stream, provide pre-written material and pre-recorded videos, or even provide 1:1 tutoring in person or online. To get started, register with one of these services or start by networking with people you know.
Music teacher: Similar to the idea above, why not turn a talent for playing a musical instrument into income? You can offer one-on-one instruction or facilitate group sessions for various age groups. The only requirement to be a successful music teacher is to be able to plan appropriate lessons and give good feedback. You may also want to host music recitals.
Pet sitter or dog walker: If you adore animals, you can offer your time as a beloved pet sitter or dog walker. On sites like Rover.com, Fetch, and Care.com (select ‘pet care’), you can set up shop as offering these services with rates usually ranging from $25-$65 a night. You’ll want to verify with each service on the pay as well as any terms and conditions. Overall, pet sitting or walking can be a great way to get some fresh air, exercise, and some loving companionship.
Online seller: Do you have items you no longer need or want? Sell them online as a side job! Marketplaces like eBay, Amazon, or Facebook are great places to start. If you enjoy making things, you can sell these items as well! Whether your craft is knitting colorful scarves, crafting unique party favors, or baking wholesome goodies, it can be lucrative to turn your passion into a side hustle. Sell to friends or neighbors, or hop online and check out Etsy. It's free to join and set up a shop. Note that you must pay small fees for listing, transactions, and payment processing.
Life coach: People hire life coaches to help them grow personally and professionally. As a senior, you have decades of life experience under your belt. As a life coach, you'd be instrumental in helping others move toward their goals. Simply by facilitating helpful exercises and holding people accountable for completing actions necessary to change their life, you could make a significant impact. It could be a gratifying experience, both personally and financially.
Consultant: If you have a wealth of experience in a particular industry or field, don’t take that for granted! You can offer consulting services directly to businesses or serve as a coach or consultant to individuals within an organization. Outside of being a rewarding experience, having a side hustle like this allows you to charge a premium, and the hours are highly flexible.
Photographer: Do you have a great eye for taking great pictures? Have people always told you you’re a great photographer? Why not offer your services for special events like birthday parties and retirement celebrations, or sell special photos online? The pay, hours, and events you choose to attend are all at your discretion. The main thing to consider is the initial cost and upkeep of equipment, and the cost of prints, if you choose to offer those as a service. Set your prices accordingly, so you’re able to truly make a profit.
Greeting Card Writer: If you have a witty writing style that makes people laugh or can express sentimental thoughts in words, becoming a greeting card writer could be the perfect side hustle. For example, Snafu Designs pays up to $100 for each accepted idea that's considered laugh-out-loud funny as well as clever and concise. Blue Mountain Arts pays up to $300 for each piece of accepted contemporary prose for its greeting cards and products.
Gardener: Gardening can be more than a hobby! f you have a green thumb and absolutely love gardening, consider offering this as a service to those around you. Help maintain gardens by pulling weeds or planting fresh blooms each season. Maybe you have a knack for which plants are best in a certain zone or landscape. You could offer garden consulting for a flat fee. If you have a rather large, productive garden, maybe sell your harvest at a local farmers market or on your neighborhood Facebook page.
Seamstress: If one of your talents is making alterations, and you own a sewing machine, offering alteration services can be a great side hustle with low overhead. You can work out of your home, and your clients can come to you. Or, if you want to be more competitive, you can offer free pickup and delivery. Print up business cards and ask the owners or managers of bridal shops, drapery studios, dry cleaners, and clothing boutiques in your area to refer you to their customers if possible. As you work with different clients, you might even gain additional business, such as making garments.
Personal trainer: Are you physically fit and love sharing your wellness journey with others? Consider becoming a personal trainer for your peers - or any age group, really. If you have experience in fitness training, that’s a bonus but not mandatory to help people set and achieve their fitness goals. Sometimes people just need an accountability partner to help them stay motivated to exercise. You can be that person for them!
Translator: If you’re a bilingual boomer, you can turn your language skills into cash. Professional translators convert communications from one language into another in a way that preserves its context, content, and intent. These can be written or verbal communications, depending on the gig. And, thanks to sites like Rev, it’s a job you can do from home, and you can work on your terms. Depending on the language, the site pays $1.50 to $3 per audio/video minute. If you are a professional translator, you can register and get gigs on One Hour Translation.
As you can see, there are a wealth of ideas. With a little thought and planning, starting a side hustle can be a fun and easy way to supplement your income and give yourself something new and exciting to focus on in retirement. Your golden years should be filled with joy and adventure, and all of us at Resort Lifestyle Communities wish you the best as you make this a reality.
Resort Lifestyle Communities (RLC) develops all-inclusive resort-style communities to provide a relaxing and worry-free retirement lifestyle for residents. The comfort, safety, and enjoyment of our residents are our top priorities. For this reason, every community is staffed with live-in managers, a 24/7 emergency alert system and concierge service, gourmet chefs, housekeepers, maintenance staff, a full-time lifestyle director, and more. For more information about RLC, visit RLCommunities.com.
Every independent living, assisted living, and memory care community has experienced it.A prospective resident and their family tour your community. They love the apartment. They are emotionally ready to make the move.Then comes the sentence that changes everything:"We have to sell the house first."Suddenly, what seemed like a straightforward move becomes filled with uncertainty.How long will it take to sell?How much will they actually receive?Will the buyer's financing fall through?Will repairs be required?Will inspections uncover expensive issues?Will the move be delayed for months?Unfortunately, these unknowns often result in families postponing their decision. Some decide to "wait until next year." Others choose another community with different availability. Sometimes a health event forces an emergency move that could have been avoided with better planning.In many cases, everyone loses.The family experiences unnecessary stress.The senior delays the next chapter of their life.And your community may lose a future resident.The Home Is Often the Biggest ObstacleFor many seniors, the home represents decades of memoriesbut it is also the largest financial asset they own.Many families simply cannot commit to a move until they know:When the home will sellHow much they will receiveWhether repairs will be necessaryWhen they will have access to the proceedsWithout those answers, planning becomes difficult.That's where we help.Did You Know?Many prospective residents delay moving into an independent living or assisted living community simply because they are uncertain about selling their home.In many cases, one conversation with an experienced real estate professional can eliminate that uncertainty and give families the confidence to move forward.One call gives families two professional options:A fast, guaranteed cash offer through Sarasota Cash Home BuyersA traditional MLS listing through Jeff Nemeth Real EstateThere is no obligation and no pressure - just honest guidance to help families choose the solution that best fits their goals, timeline, and financial needs.One Contact. Two Professional Solutions.Unlike most companies, we can provide both of the primary options available to homeowners.Our goal isn't to convince someone to choose one path over the other.Our goal is to help families choose the solution that best fits their situation.Solution One: Sarasota Cash Home BuyersSome families need certainty.Perhaps Mom needs to move within a few weeks.Perhaps Dad has already moved into assisted living.Perhaps the family lives out of state.Perhaps the home needs extensive repairs.Perhaps maintaining the property has become overwhelming.A direct cash purchase often removes nearly every obstacle.Benefits include:Sell completely as-isNo repairsNo cleaningNo paintingNo stagingNo open housesNo repeated showingsNo financing contingenciesNo appraisal concernsNo commissionsNo waiting for a buyer to qualify for financingChoose the closing date that works with the move-in scheduleGreater certainty throughout the entire processInstead of wondering whether the house will sell, families know exactly when the transaction will close.That certainty often makes scheduling a move into your community much easier.Solution Two: Jeff Nemeth Real EstateSometimes, selling through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is the better option.Every family's goals are different.If maximizing the sale price is the highest priority and the family has flexibility with timing, a traditional listing may produce the best overall outcome.With nearly two decades as a licensed Realtor and hundreds of successful real estate transactions, Jeff Nemeth helps families understand the advantages and trade-offs of listing their home traditionally.Our philosophy is simple:Recommend what's best for the clientnot what's best for us.That means families receive honest advice about both options before making any decisions.Why This Matters to Senior Living CommunitiesWhen a family delays selling a home, the move into your community is often delayed as well.Those delays can affect:OccupancyMove-in timelinesApartment availabilitySales forecastingFamily confidenceResident planningHaving a trusted housing resource available early in the conversation can eliminate many of these roadblocks before they become major problems.Even if a family ultimately chooses to list the property rather than accept a cash offer, they now have a clear roadmap and realistic expectations.Knowledge reduces uncertainty.And reduced uncertainty helps families move forward.We Become Part of Your TeamWe regularly work alongside:Independent Living communitiesAssisted Living communitiesMemory Care communitiesContinuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)Senior placement agenciesSenior move managersEstate planning attorneysElder law attorneysProbate attorneysTrust officersFinancial advisorsGuardiansHome health agenciesHospice providersProfessional organizersSenior relocation companiesOur role is simple:Help families solve the housing piece of the transition.When that obstacle is removed, everyone benefits.One Contact. Two Solutions.Sarasota Cash Home BuyersJeff Nemeth Real EstateImmediate cash offerTraditional MLS listingSell completely as-isProfessional marketingNo repairsMaximum market exposureNo showingsBuyer competitionNo financing contingenciesGuidance throughout the selling processFlexible closing dateMarket-based pricing strategyFast, predictable closingIdeal for families with more flexibilityThere is no "one-size-fits-all" solution.Every family deserves to understand both options before making one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.Why Families Appreciate Working With UsFamilies often tell us that what they value most isn't simply buying or selling a home.It's having someone who explains every option without pressure.We believe education comes before transactions.Sometimes the best recommendation is a cash sale.Sometimes it's listing on the open market.Sometimes it's waiting.Our responsibility is to help families make an informed decision based on their financial goals, timeline, and personal circumstances.Helping Seniors Move ForwardMoving into a senior living community is a major life transition.The process should feel supportednot overwhelming.If one of your prospective residents needs to sell a home before they can move, we'd be happy to provide a complimentary consultation, explain every available option, and help the family determine the best path forward.There is no obligation.No high-pressure sales presentation.Just experienced guidance from professionals who understand both the real estate market and the unique challenges families face during senior transitions.One conversation today could be the difference between a delayed move and a successful move-in.At Sarasota Cash Home Buyers and Jeff Nemeth Real Estate, we're committed to helping seniors, their families, and senior living professionals remove one of the biggest obstacles to a successful transition - selling the home with confidence.Together, we can help more seniors move forward with certainty.Contact Jeff Nemeth at 941-202-6957 for more information.
Living with hip pain can be frustrating, limiting your movement and affecting your overall quality of life. If hip discomfort is interfering with your daily activities, your primary care provider can help determine the cause and guide you toward the right treatment.Signs Your Hips Need AttentionSymptoms of hip deterioration that patients might first notice are a loss of motion, such as bending over to tie shoes. Another indication of hip injury is a sharp pain in the groin area. The first step to healing is scheduling a thorough exam with an orthopedic specialist specializing in hip repair.You don't have to be older to experience hip or joint pain. These issues can affect anyone, including active adults and athletes. At AdventHealth, our expert specialists use physical exams and diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, to better understand the cause of your discomfort and recommend the treatment options that best fit your unique needs and lifestyle.Will I Need Surgery, or Are Other Treatments Available?Only your doctor can determine if surgery is a good option for you, and they might offer other treatments to alleviate pain, such as cortisone injections. Its important to note that hip replacement surgery is completely your choice. Some treatments dont require surgery, like anti-inflammatory medications.Depending on the severity of your condition, there may be lifestyle changes you can incorporate to alleviate your pain, such as a weight-loss program or low-impact exercises.Another option for some patients is physical therapy. Sometimes, our muscles and joints get unaligned, and it takes the help of a trusted physical therapist to help you walk pain-free. They may also recommend heat therapy, which increases blood flow to the applied area and improves flexibility.Who Needs Hip Replacement Surgery?The good news about hip replacement surgery is that its very common. There are roughly 350,000 hip replacements in the U.S. every year. Patients are often good candidates for hip replacement surgery if they have:Benign tumorsContinued chronic pain even while sitting or asleepExhausted all other forms of treatmentHip dysplasiaMaintained an active lifestyleRheumatoid arthritisTotal hip replacement surgery does come with some risks and should be taken into consideration. Hip replacement is better tolerated than other joint replacements, and they can last a lifetime with appropriate care. Its important that you speak with your doctor to know if surgery is the best option for you.What Should I Expect Before and After Surgery?Your care team will start by performing a physical exam, including some tests before your surgery. They note all your symptoms and check your pain level and range of motion.Once your medical team recommends surgery as an effective option for treating your chronic hip pain, your primary care provider or orthopedic specialist will work with you to ensure that hip replacement surgery is safe.The surgery typically lasts one to two hours, with an additional two hours for prep and recovery in the operating room. During hip surgery, doctors may use the direct anterior approach, which is muscle-sparing with smaller incisions, ultimately leading to a faster and easier recovery. This surgery can be life-changing for patients who have lost mobility to injury or arthritis.Hip surgeries are typically outpatient procedures, allowing you to go home that same day. In some cases, you may need to stay overnight for your care team to examine the results.Hip replacement surgery is extremely effective at restoring your mobility and helping you get back to the life you love. Trust our leading orthopedic experts at AdventHealth to be there for you with a compassionate spirit and pioneering surgery options dedicated to getting you back on your feet.Will I Need Physical Therapy After Surgery?Physical therapy after surgery is essential to recovery. In just four to eight weeks, with physical therapy, you can be back on your feet with considerably less pain. The normal healing process takes about 16 to 20 weeks, as soft tissue takes longer to heal. As for scarring, the incision is only as big as it needs to be. Special care and concern are taken to minimize scarring related to the procedure.Live Pain-Free AgainOur hip replacement surgery experts are here to help you get moving through life comfortably again. To learn more about our orthopedic care services or to schedule an appointment today, visit AdventHealthPortCharlotte.com.
At times, it can feel easy to navigate our physical health. But sometimes, we can feel like we don't know where to turn. Whether youve been injured while seeking adventure or experienced an illness with severe symptoms, youve likely wondered where you should go. Knowing where to seek emergency medical attention can make all the difference in getting proper care.Did you know that there are different types of ERs? Onsite ERs are those connected to a hospital. Offsite, or freestanding ERs, stand independently and operate from an isolated location.While both ERs provide emergency care, there are some differences between them. Keep reading to learn the differences and benefits. While we hope youll never have to go to the ER, its good to be prepared should the need arise.What is an Onsite ER?An onsite ER, or a hospital-based ER, is an emergency room department staffed by medical professionals trained to care for life-threatening conditions. These ERs are physically connected to a hospital location and offer leading-edge technologies and treatments. If you have an emergency requiring surgery or extensive intervention, full-service, onsite emergency rooms are where you should go.Onsite emergency rooms offer access to specialists and advanced imaging, like MRIs, and can provide the expertise and support required to treat patients at high and ICU levels of care.Onsite ERs are also more traditional and widely known, and many patients tend to visit their local onsite ER for most emergencies. However, know that our hospital-based ERs follow a prioritization process with our patients known as triage. This process prioritizes patients who face life-threatening or critical conditions. Sometimes, patients who arrive after you in the ER may get treatment before you to ensure they get the immediate, specialized care they need.What Is an Offsite or Freestanding ER?When you think of an emergency room, you might immediately picture a hospital. However, our freestanding ERs, also referred to as mini ERs, are structurally separate from our hospitals as standalone buildings. Theyre designed to offer the same expert care as our hospital-based emergency rooms, but with added benefits like pediatric emergency care, locations closer to home, convenient parking and shorter wait times. When the unexpected happens, our freestanding ERs are ready to serve you and your family at a moments notice.Although our freestanding emergency rooms arent physically connected to our hospitals, theyre connected to our AdventHealth network. Their services and care are billed at hospital emergency department rates. Be comforted knowing youll receive the same high-quality care you need.Benefits of Freestanding ERsWe understand that seamless and coordinated care matters in an emergency. Thats why each of our facilities is equipped with state-of-the-art [HT1] technology to give our patients quick and accurate treatment and answers on their paths to recovery. Our freestanding ERs enhance our ability to provide lifesaving care quickly and efficiently by aspiring to provide shorter wait times than traditional ERs in a hospital setting. This allows us to meet the growing health care needs of our communities.Our freestanding emergency rooms are open 24/7 and are staffed with expert teams of emergency physicians and highly trained providers who compassionately and effectively treat your medical needs. Were delighted to have board-certified ER physicians, critical care nurses, chest pain experts and stroke specialists staffed at our facilities to meet your needs while keeping your whole health in mind.When you need emergency care for your little ones, you can trust theyll be in great hands with us. Each of our freestanding ERs is backed by the nationally recognized AdventHealth for Children. We take the extra steps to ease the stress of an ER visit and ease your mind as a parent or guardian. We offer dedicated pediatric rooms designed to be extra comforting for kids.Your Ever-Present Health PartnerWe know you may feel shaken and uncertain when an emergency arises, but were here to provide solid support. Our state-of-the-art onsite and freestanding emergency rooms provide comprehensive and accurate results, giving you access to advanced care in a safe environment with the compassionate approach you deserve.To learn more about our emergency room care, or find a location near you, visit TheERExperts.com.