21 Ways to Make Extra Money in Retirement

Reader Comments
Back to article

how much can you make in income during "retirement" and still collect social security?

julie of OH 1:14PM January 23, 2012

still trying to find information that could be helpful to retired older seniors as we are. We live in senior community living - nice enough but all we could afford w/ strickly SS.and what our Lord provides. Because of certain health issues, it limits us and yet there has got to be something out there for us to to suppliment income hope from our apartment.
thanks for all the efforts

jean of TX 1:32AM January 07, 2012

There are ways to make money in retirement. You don't need to sell your personal belongings in order to survive. As a matter of fact, some of the opportunities allow you to make enough money to pay for living expenses and have enough left over to actually enjoy retirement.
I recently read information on http://www.imnotbrokeanymore.com and it made a lot of good sense. It is perfect for people preparing for retirement or who have already entered retirement.

James of TX 9:58PM September 07, 2011

Did you get a raise on your social security last year-- will you get a raise this year? The answer is NO but congress gave themselves a raise. Did you know that half (1/2 of this country pays no income tax)? Yet all the political leaders talk about is how social security is raiding the country while they raided the program through the years. Many of the young generation have children they cannot support so gov comes in to do it for them. The
elderly are getting short changed....

Carolyne Wilkes of FL 1:25PM August 09, 2010

Bam can't wait to take the Soc Sec that YOU worked for and give it away to some lazy welfare slug.GET YOUR SOC SEC THE MINUTE YOU TURN 62!

brown of NE 11:09PM August 07, 2010

Umm, your employer has to let you do it.
I was booted out at 59.5.
When HR sits you down the first thing they show you are the demographics on those being let go.
This is why I don't fly anymore.
If an airline mechanic is needed the first considerations are race, gender, and age. Only then do they consider how well the person can repair and maintain a plane.

cjg of TX 9:39AM August 06, 2010

Ms.Brandon,
How many of the above suggestions have you actually tried? How did they work out for you?
Are you retired and living on a fixed income?
Your publisher doesn't seem to be listing any of your bona fides anywhere.
Please tell us something about your personal retirement experiences.

jo star of VA 8:16AM August 05, 2010

I wud post a page in a high profile spot like the Seniors Community Centre with the title "Seniors helping Seniors" & under the title explain that it will be a group of seniors willing to share a hint as when I get a job & see that there is 1 or 2 more possibilities. Or, someone is going east to visit their kids and the cat needs to be fed & talked to daily....I will do theirs & they do something for me on a raincheck or whatever. Better than paying a pet sitter. Blueberries are selling for 2.29/lb., but that place just bought last year has them unsprayed and only $1.50....great for the lady making & selling the jam. No hard & fast rules or, make a few as it grows. People sign up name , address, phone no. & email address. There are many hints to share such as replacing detergent with other common commodities that work, are easy on our planet & cheap! Why not? Could take a once a week walk together, re better breathing & circulation for the heart etc etc. Hold a group garage sale twice a year. Get organ donation forms for those not taking it with them...many are waiting & wud B thrilled. Need an item? before paying retail, ck if someone in the group has one, then ck out thrift stores & garage sales....OK is all else fails try to get it on sale. The amount you save or earn, put in yr no touch account & let it add up. For those who dont know, Ads are free to sell items on Craig's List. Nothing to lose & it will be less stuff at home! Good Luck
Elaine
Vancouver BC
Canada.

elaine 5:22PM August 03, 2010

Frankly, I'd like to have Emily Brandon's job, and let her have my retirement so she could field-test her 21 ways to make money. Our retirement money does not increase as fast as our expenses do.
Part-time jobs are hard to find. So we try to stretch the money we have:
1. Many grocery stores throw out perfectly edible food. If you're there when they do it, they might give you some. Option -- dumpster diving -- gets harder as you age.
2. Cut gasoline costs by making a list of where you need to go, and consolidate those trips into fewer trips.
3. Shop at cut-rate grocery stores, using a grocery list.
4. Plant a square-foot garden and eat fresh veggies as they grow.
5. Freeze bread and thaw one slice at a time.
6. Buy things out-of-season.
7. Unplug instant-on TVs and computers, which use electricity on standby.
8. Use compact fluorescent bulbs to save electricity, but don't break them!
9. Set your thermostat higher in summer and wear less clothing. Reverse for winter.
10. Buy American, to keep jobs in our country.
I could go on, but you get the idea. Now, here's how to stay optimistic:
1. Help others, especially others who are in worse shape than you.
2. Go to church or synagogue or mosque, and thank God for what you have.
3. Pray for others.
4. Look around the world, and see how good you've got it!
5. Count your blessings. Often.
My apologies, Emily, for pirating your thread. Thank you for your article.

Mr. Brown of TX 1:22PM August 03, 2010

While the people who cashed on all the inside trading in the 80's, 90's have a so
called nest egg to retire on; the rest of us pay our rent and get our groceries
by employing one or more or these listed in our daily existence to squeek by until
the next garage sale, ebay/craigslist deal! Retirement now means you've been
laid off, or your job had been cut and now your too old to get hired else where!

Pat Cahill of OH 5:17AM August 03, 2010