Silver and Gold Magazine Winter 2019/2020 | Page 28

EXTRA INCOME
FOR RETIREES
– By Norman Young
U nless you’ve done very well and can rely solely on your
pensions and savings (unlike myself and many of my friends),
you’ll need a little extra cash, once you quit working full time.
Not only for the money though! I believe we all have to do
something, otherwise we’ll get even older and greyer by sitting
around watching the boob tube! Might as well make some
money while we’re doing this “something” thing.
Us senior folks are often hired by coffee shops and drive
throughs, because we’re just that bit of extra awesome: We’ve
learned to be nice and polite to others, work hard, and quit
complaining because we know it won’t get us anywhere. So
that’s the way to go, unless you’re not into working for someone
else on a regular schedule (like myself – I will not wear a
uniform, and will certainly not abide by a weekly schedule.)
There’s lots you can do with your extra time, to make extra
money – you first have to look at what you did when you
were employed and follow that. Or, if you were not employed,
look at what you were good at anyway! Did you sew? Love
cleaning, or driving? Do you love animals? Are you good in
business, or with numbers? Are you an artist?
Everyone needs help with something, especially the younger
crowd with kids, and even seniors like us who are snow-birding
down south for the winter. They’re hiring someone to help,
right? Why not you?
Rent your car out
If being on-call as an Uber driver isn’t for you, then why
not rent out your car when you’re not using it? Turo.com is
a company that matches car owners with people who need
short term use of a vehicle, and the best part is, they look
after all the details – from finding customers, to insurance,
to managing payments. Typically you can make $60/day for
your car use, depending upon size and year/make.
Pet-sitting
Added on to house-sitting, it’s the
perfect combo to offer those busy
young professionals who would
otherwise have to rush home to
feed and walk the dog. Going
rate for a feed and a dog walk is
approximately $10-$15.
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Lots more online! www.silvergoldmagazine.ca
House-sitting
Start out by passing around a simple flyer to your neighbours
– who already know and trust you – and grow your time and
hours as you see fit. Everyone goes away sometime! Going rate
can be from $10 - $20/hour, for checking the house, turning
lights, getting mail, opening closing blinds, etc.
Tutor
Are you a retired teacher? Or maybe you have business
experience? If so, you could help kids or college students with
their studies, or work as a consultant to help small business
owners on a part-time basis. Depending on experience and
subject, tutors can make from $20-$40/hour.
Bookkeeper
If you’re experienced as an accountant or are good with
numbers, you could be helping out small business owners
by balancing their books and entering their receipts on a
computer. Easy peasy. Going rate is $15-$20/hour from home.
Seamstress/tailor
This is a fast-growing business, since nobody learns to sew
or fix hems anymore! It’s a lost art… can you do it? Most
seamstresses-from-home or tailors can make $15-$40 per
item, depending on work involved.
House-cleaner
Some people are just real good at this, but they’re hard to
find! If you’re good, and love it, set your own hours, and help
busy families by cleaning their home. You could work just a
couple of hours a week, or a dozen hours – the going rate is
approximately $25/hour.
If all else fails...
If you really want to do something but are not looking for the
income benefits, well you really should be volunteering. Our
hospital needs us, youth groups, churches, the animal aid needs
help, elementary schools need people to watch kids eat lunch
while teachers are on break... There’s a lot of opportunity out
there, and if you have 2 hours or so, why not volunteer?•