Retirement Hobbies That Make Money | Wicked Retirement (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links see our disclaimer page for more info

You’re retired and may or may not have a hobby, why not turn that hobby into a money-making machine. Ok maybe not a machine but you certainly can make some extra money from doing something you love doing.

Retirement plans are always a great way to start planning for your retirement. It is something that we should prepare for. It is a stage that most of us will reach where we are given enough time to focus on what we want to do while we live over what we need to do in order to live. But what if you found a possible hobby that could potentially help you pay the bills or earn you some extra spending money? Would you be willing to try it?

Retirement hobbies that make money is not a new trend. There are many possible choices to choose from. Some would appeal to your creative side while some would involve some form of physical activity and others would challenge your intellect.

Let’s explore further what these hobbies could be, who the perfect candidate for each hobby are and see if any of them would be something that you could picture yourself doing in the future.

Retirement Hobbies that Make Money – Photography

Retirement Hobbies That Make Money | Wicked Retirement (1)

Turn your love of taking pictures into something that could earn you some extra cash. If you are a camera owner then you can start making photography your hobby. This is especially applicable to those who own DSLR cameras or other high-end cameras.

You can take-up basic photography lessons and offer your amateur services to your family and friends. It would be a great market for you to tap into because professional photographers cost an arm and a leg and many a looking for alternatives.

Personally, this is something that I would probably recommend because it is a hobby that involves minimal physical activity but also appeals to your creative mind. It also gives you the opportunity to travel and explore if you are up for it.

Retirement Hobbies that Make Money – Tutoring/Teaching

You can be a music tutor or a math tutor, it really depends on what your specialty is. This has the potential to travel both locally and abroad. Right now, the market is looking for English tutors who are willing to travel abroad to become either a personal tutor or a class English teacher.

You can choose how you want your teaching lessons to be; one on one, formal classroom setting, informal classroom setting, part-time or full-time. This is a very versatile hobby option because you can be an academic tutor or a skill-based tutor.

This kind of hobby would be best recommended to people who already have a specific skill mastered or is very knowledgeable about a certain subject/topic.

Retirement Hobbies that Make Money – Craft-making

Retirement Hobbies That Make Money | Wicked Retirement (2)

This is a very good hobby to take up for both who are in retirement and not. Craft-making encompasses many different types; it can be beading, knitting or creating displays out of recycled materials. The list of the type of crafts are endless and it is up to you to choose which one you would like to learn.

This type of hobby is the easiest to monetize. All you have to do is to market and sell your creations in the mall or online. This is a perfect hobby for those who have a creative bone in their body or is trying to wake-up that creative side in them.

Retirement Hobbies that Make Money – Writing/Blogging

This is actually something that could really generate substantial income. Personally, I believe that this would be something that many should try. The best way to start this hobby is to find what you are passionate about and then talk about that. From there you can widen your reach into offering your input to many individuals and companies that you think could benefit from your specialty.

You can choose between either blogging or writing a book. With blogging, you have the ability to choose which specific market you want to tap into. Some use social media as their platform for their blogs while others own their own website. Successful bloggers usually earn through the advertisem*nt companies that partner with them and yes, it can be tedious sometimes. Writing a book, on the other hand, is more laid back in the sense that you are doing this on your own time and pace.

Remember you have years of experience and wisdom, why not share with the world.

This is a perfect hobby to take for those who are physically unable to engage in strenuous activities or those who already have the inclination in writing and blogging.

If you’re looking for more info on writing for more money and how to do it check out Carol Tice’s post here

Retirement Hobbies that Make Money – Proofreading/Editing

Retirement Hobbies That Make Money | Wicked Retirement (3)

Do you love reading? Do you notice every small error on the way certain article or book is written? If you answered yes to both then have you seen the websites that Google shows you when you do a search? Those sites underwent proofreading and editing before they are put up.

Now, if you answered yes to the first two questions above you can apply as a proofreader or an editor as a hobby. Start with your friends who have blogs or family members who are writing articles for a living. You may also do an online search for editing and proofreading jobs.

This is another perfect hobby for those who are physically challenged. It can even be done in the comfort of their own home.

Retirement Hobbies that Make Money – Music – Session Musician

Know how to play the guitar or any instrument for that matter? Turn that hobby of yours into an income-earning one by becoming a session musician.

Talk to local bar owners and offer your talent to them. You’d be surprised by the effects it can have on your self-esteem and confidence. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors on one of your performances and show them that talent knows no age or limit and therefore should not be suppressed. Show your love for music, enjoy your time performing and also the extra cash it brings you.

Retirement Hobbies that Make Money – Pet Walking/Pet sitting

If you are an animal lover then you will love this hobby. Many are employing dog walkers to take their dogs out for a walk because of their busy schedule.

This is a great hobby because it involves getting out of the house and soaking up some sun. It is a great exercise routine for people who are looking for some light activity to include in their daily lives.

Pet sitting, on the other hand, means that you will have to take care of other people’s pets while they’re away. Usually, owners would either leave their pets with you or give you access to their home to feed, groom and walk their pets.

Retirement Hobbies that Make Money – Umpiring/Refereeing

Sports lover would be perfect for this hobby. You sit on your couch and watch the games unfold through the television almost every day. You know the rules and regulation of the sport you love and can even consider yourself as an expert. Why not turn your love and expertise to the sport into something that could earn you some extra moolah to spend.

Be a referee during one of the matches in your community. You would be watching the game live, which is a lot better than watching through a television. Plus, this can get you off from that sofa and moving around and your doctor would praise you for doing so.

Retirement Hobbies that Make Money – Baking

The smell of butter gets anybody’s mouth watering every time. If you have the right equipment and possess the proper patience and temperament to bake, then you can make this a hobby that could bring in some cash during retirement.

Learn baking a cake for your neighbors birthday party, offer baking some cupcakes for the PTA meeting you will attend or bake a few cookies that you can sell during a school activity. The opportunities to sell your baked goods are endless.

A colleague at work who is from Lebanon brings in her moms delicious baking in once a week and it is all gone by lunch. She makes anywhere from $15-$25 a time. She loves to cook and bake and makes money doing it. I’m sure thankful for it when it shows up.

If you’re looking for more info on why you should plan to make more money read this

Other Related Topics

Profitable craft hobbies.

Beaded Jewelry making seems to be the top on the list for profitable craft hobbies and for a good reason. It is easy to learn and make, can be easily sold to your friends and family and is very therapeutic. Soap making is another hobby that can earn you a few bucks but not as easily as the beaded jewelry hobby can. Photography can be considered as a craft hobby if you sell your pictures in a creative way. These are just some craft hobbies you can take up but there are much more available.

23 Hobbies That Make Money From Home.

Back in 2018, an article published by a website called “The Work At Home Wife” talked about hobbies that make money from home. It enumerated 23 hobbies that can help stay at home moms earn income. Some of the hobbies mentioned above were included in the list which means that you don’t have to wait for your retirement to start making extra cash on the side, you can start now.

As you can see, there are a number of options to choose from. Just remember that they are not 100% guaranteed to bring in a large amount of money but any one of them can generate you some extra cash for spending.

Retirement does not have to mean that you get to laze around and do nothing. You have the option of turning it into a stage where you are able to do the things you love, enjoy the people around you, travel, make more friends and also make a small profit out of your hobby. Now wouldn’t that be living the American dream?

As always, I highly recommend if you are at all interested in creating your own blog I have had so much fun with it!

Consider Alex and Lauren’s courses at Create and Go. They have tried it all and now offer these courses on how to set up your own blog and avoid the mistakes they made.

You can make money Blogging, Alex and Lauren made $150K last month, so they know what they are talking about. It is an affiliate link, but I have purchased all their courses and they are by far the experts in this area.

My review of their Launch your Blog Course is here.

My review of their Pinterest Avalanche Course is here.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to drop me a line at theteam@wickedretirement.com

504 Shares

Retirement Hobbies That Make Money | Wicked Retirement (2024)

FAQs

What do retirees spend the most money on? ›

Housing. Unless you own your home and you've managed to pay off your mortgage, housing will be your biggest retirement expense. The BLS report found that, on average, people 65 and older spend $18,872 annually for housing.

How can a retired person make extra money? ›

Ways for Seniors to Make Money
  1. Become a Virtual Assistant.
  2. Sell Your Skills Through an Online Marketplace.
  3. Create Your Own Store.
  4. Create a Website as a Springboard for Your Business.
  5. Sell Affiliate Products on Your Own Website.
  6. Pet Sitting for Cash and Exercise.
  7. Watch Videos and Take Surveys.

What is the best source of income in retirement? ›

Sources of Retirement Income
  • Social Security. For many, Social Security will be a vital—and significant—source of retirement income. ...
  • Defined Benefit Plans. ...
  • Defined Contribution Plans. ...
  • Home Equity. ...
  • Reverse Mortgages.

How do I find my new hobby when I retire? ›

If you're looking for some ideas to get the conversation started, some common activities offered in senior housing communities include:
  1. Book clubs.
  2. Gardening groups.
  3. Cooking and baking classes.
  4. Pet, music, and art therapy.
  5. Exercise classes.
  6. Foreign language classes.
  7. Bingo nights.
  8. Computer skills classes.

How much does the average retired person live on per month? ›

The average American spends $4,345 per month in retirement, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's $52,141 per year. Retirement planning means making sure you can afford your lifestyle after you stop working.

What is the single biggest expense in retirement? ›

Housing. Housing expenses—which include mortgage, rent, property tax, insurance, maintenance and repair costs—remained the largest expense for retirees. More specifically, the average retiree household pays an average of $17,454 per year ($1,455 per month) on housing costs, representing over 35% of annual expenditures.

What is a good annual income for a retired person? ›

More? Financial planners often recommend replacing about 80% of your pre-retirement income to sustain the same lifestyle after you retire. This means that, if you earn $100,000 per year, you'd aim for at least $80,000 of income (in today's dollars) in retirement.

What is the best income when retired? ›

Get the best income in your retirement
  1. Work out your minimum desired retirement income. ...
  2. Take stock of your pension savings. ...
  3. Decide on your retirement journey. ...
  4. Consider your attitude to risk. ...
  5. Make the most of help from the tax man. ...
  6. Use your pension allowances from previous years. ...
  7. Avoid costly pension issues.

How to make $1,000 a month in retirement? ›

As a general rule of thumb, you will withdraw approximately 5% of your retirement income every year for expenses. The Balance breaks down the numbers below: Start with $240,000 and multiply it by 5%, which equals $12,000. Next, divide $12,000 by 12 months, which totals $1,000 per month.

Is $1500 a month enough to retire on? ›

While $1,500 might not be enough for non-housing retirement expenses for many people, it doesn't mean it's impossible to stick to this or other amounts, such as if you're already retired and don't have the ability to increase your budget.

Can you retire on $3,000 a month? ›

Top the amount with 401(k) savings, living on $3,000 a month after taxes is possible for a retiree. For those who only have social security benefits to rely on, there are many places where they can retire on their checks both in the USA and around the world.

What to do when you retire and have no hobbies? ›

What Do the Happiest Retirees Do?
  1. Travel the World. One of the most popular things to do when retired and bored is to travel the world. ...
  2. Get a Rewarding Part-Time Job. ...
  3. Exercise More. ...
  4. Be a Mentor. ...
  5. Take Classes. ...
  6. Read. ...
  7. Learn a Second Language. ...
  8. Volunteer.

How do you deal with boredom in retirement? ›

7 things to do when retired and bored
  1. Alter your mindset. Being bored is often a very personal state of mind. ...
  2. March to the beat of your own drum. You might find that you do not share the same passions as your spouse or friends. ...
  3. Get creative. ...
  4. Relive aspects of your youth. ...
  5. Play games. ...
  6. Learn a language. ...
  7. Volunteer and mentoring.
Apr 10, 2024

How do I start a new life after retirement? ›

20 tips for a happy retirement
  1. Get your finances in order. Organise your money so you can work out what you'll have to live on. ...
  2. Wind down gently. Ensure a smoother transition by retiring in stages. ...
  3. Prepare for ups and downs. ...
  4. Eat well. ...
  5. Develop a routine. ...
  6. Exercise your mind. ...
  7. Keep physically active. ...
  8. Make a list.

What is the biggest expenditure for senior citizens retirees? ›

Check out this list of the largest expenses the average household encounters during retirement, along with a few tips on how to minimize the same.
  • Housing. ...
  • Transportation. ...
  • Healthcare. ...
  • Food. ...
  • Utilities. ...
  • In sum: retiree household spending.
Jan 2, 2024

How much does the average 70 year old have in retirement funds? ›

The above chart shows that U.S. residents 35 and under have an average of $30,170 in retirement savings; those 35 to 44 have an average $131,950; those 45 to 54 have an average $254,720; those 55 to 64 have an average $408,420; those 65 to 74 have an average $426,070; and those over 70 have an average $357,920.

Do most retirees have a million dollars? ›

According to the Federal Reserve's latest Survey of Consumer Finances, only about 10% of American retirees have managed to save $1 million or more. This leaves a significant 90% who fall short of this milestone. Don't Miss: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement — How do you compare?

How do most retired people spend their time? ›

Happy retirees often engage in intellectual activities such as reading, learning new skills, or delving into creative ventures like painting or writing. They also prioritize physical wellness through consistent exercise, whether it's walking, yoga, or even team sports like Pickleball.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tyson Zemlak

Last Updated:

Views: 5801

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tyson Zemlak

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Apt. 662 96191 Quigley Dam, Kubview, MA 42013

Phone: +441678032891

Job: Community-Services Orchestrator

Hobby: Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Metalworking, Fashion, Vehicle restoration, Shopping, Photography

Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.