Working

You may be taking your foot off the pedal workwise around about now, or you may have actually retired and you’re looking for ways to keep yourself busy and bring in a few extra bucks. There’s literally thousands of ways to do just that and these ideas are among the best out there.

Get onto Airbnb

If retirement means you can finally do all that travelling you promised yourself then why not turn it into an opportunity as well as a dream? By renting out your home while you’re away, you could recoup some or all of your travelling expenses; depending on where you are, you could even turn a profit.

Start bullion dealing

Yes, seriously. Lots of people are getting into precious metals, whether it’s in the form of gold coins or silver bars from Golden Eagle Coin. It’s a fun hobby on one level and also a good investment for the future, especially if you have grandchildren to help through college.

Rent out your bad grandma-self

Or, rather, your good self. There are lots of rent-a-grandparent sites out there for people who live far away from the GPs. If you’ve got a lot of love and wisdom to give you could be the answer to someone’s prayer – and they could be the answer to yours.

Sell your digital photos

If you’re a keen amateur photographer then you could put your best snaps onto a stock photo site, where people can buy them. Even if you only sell a few each year, they’re working for you instead of just hiding away on a hard drive, right?

Set up your own pet-sitting service

Many pet-owners would prefer their darlings to be looked after by someone a bit more mature than the local tweenies (not that they don’t do a sterling job, but…). If you love all things furry, feathery and even scaly – and they love you right back – then you could get some exercise and some spare cash!

Rent out your parking space

If you have extra garage space or a big driveway you could help someone with their commute by letting them use it for a small fee. There are agencies to hook you up with people looking for convenient parking – they’ll take commission, but you’ll get the rest of the fee and it’s not like you’re breaking rocks in the hot sun…

Do some online translations

If you’re bilingual then your skills are in demand. There are many online agencies looking for people to do high-quality translations without the UN-style fees! With many agencies you can work as much or as little as you want.

Become a virtual admin assistant

If you were a hot-shot PA or secretary during your working years then the world still needs you and your years of experience. You might wonder why you’re going back to your old job, but you’re not. You’re working from the comfort of your own home on the tasks you want, when you want. On top of that, the coffee’s great at your place.