10 Hobbies Retirees Can Turn into an Income

Retirement period is a very nice opportunity for those who would like to pursue passions and supplement their incomes. Many retirees have spent years developing areas of expertise in craftsmanship, gardening, and a host of other pursuits that relate in one way. 

The collection of hobbies seniors have learnt over the years could be one of their sources of income if well utilized. This conversion will enable retirees to stay independent without having to fall back upon their nest egg.  

Are you in your 50s and approaching retirement? Read on to find out how you can turn your hobby into a business empire!!

The Need for More Retirement Income 

Retirees passively enhance retirement through monetized hobbies in return for considerable amounts of money. The side hustle introduces more streams of income with minimal stress involved as would be experienced in a fulltime job.

Some of the reasons you would want to enhance your income by doing something you love include;

Financial Independence 

More money opens more opportunities for the 50+ generation to make independent financial decisions. With money in your accounts, you can freely make travels you wished you made when you were younger or invest in a hobby you learnt in your youth. 

Joy of Staying Active

Due to this, the transformations of hobbies into money shall enable retirees to lead a continuous life and finance themselves independent of reliant relative

Mental and Emotional Benefits

Aside from the money earned, being productive in retirement is very healthy for emotional well-being. 

The hobbies turned into enterprises would keep seniors active, intellectually stimulated and it is another way of socializing with people whether at craft fairs with customers or with other artists or even when interacting with their online marketing networks. .

More Purpose and Fulfillment

To most people, retirement signals the disappearance of rhythm and a reason to be; practicing a hobby with the intention of turning it into business will add meaning to every day. 

Indeed, pride and satisfaction are intrinsic rewards for seniors when one hobby metamorphoses into a successful business.

1. Arts and Crafts and Do-it-Yourself Projects

Etsy and Other Online Sites

Quilting, jewelry, home decor, it doesn't matter what it is; it's made from an artsy person's artistic hands. It can be quite lucrative with very little effort, mainly by building an online store on something like Etsy. 

Setting up an online store through sites like Etsy is perfect for getting one's talents out and connecting with those around the world who truly appreciate the uniqueness of  a handmade item.

Local Craft Fairs and Markets

Retirees who love direct interaction and communication can choose to attend local craft fairs and the farmers market create avenues for the sale of home-made items.

These guarantee a form of community atmosphere where the senior is free to interact with customers, negotiate and make sales in a manner that is more appealing.

2. Photography

Event Photography Services

Having spent years wielding the camera, selling event photography services can be a great way to convert passion into profit. Be it weddings or family reunions, seniors can offer value photography services for special occasions.

Sell Stock Photos Online

Selling your good old or current photos from your cloud storage or your phone on platforms such as Shutterstock or Adobe Stock could be a good source of passive income. 

The naturalscapes, travel shots, or even the mundane things that one sees along the way could generate passive income once the platforms buy the photos for their content.

Digital vs. Film Photography

With the resurgence of interest in vintage photography, a senior can develop either a traditional technique or learn how to adapt using digital tools that will help them expand their service offerings.

Your passion could shift from vintage to modern digital photography, or just love the feel of the film; there is a market for both.

3. Gardening

Sell Produce or Plants

Retirees may find that this hobby of gardening morphs itself into a commercial business through the sale of fresh produce or even ornamental plants. 

All farmers' markets within the local area, community-supported agriculture programs, and even that small stand by the roadside are great ways to attain real money from homegrown foods.

Selling Advice on Gardening or Landscaping

An experienced gardener can commercialize his experience by providing landscaping consultancy services or teaching people about organic gardening. 

It is because most of the people seek guidance in how to add beauty to their gardens, or while seeking to grow their own food hence a need for gardening consultants.

Starting a Small Nursery or Greenhouse

Those who can spare space and facilities may start a small nursery or greenhouse. Nowadays, the sale of seedlings, herbs, and houseplants is in demand because people are going towards sustainable and homegrown things.

4. Writing

Self-Publishing Books

If you have always wanted to write that book, then retirement isn't such a bad time for you to do so. Seniors can write instructional guides, memoirs, or whatever fiction and self-publish through places like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. 

It opens up an avenue to passive income through writing fiction about the experiences or lessons learnt from life.

Blogging

Blogging about issues like travel, cooking, or even experiences of retirement would, arguably, be one of the best ways of monetizing expertise or passion. This is by building an online audience and thereby generating revenues from advertisements, sponsored content, or affiliate marketing. 

Other Freelance Writing Opportunities

Others freelance newspapers, magazines, and online sites on sell-on service. Now writing for them on these content sites or columns is not going to be in the source of regulars but an exhibition of their years of experience.

Many seniors perfect the skills of baking throughout their lives. Starting a small in-home bakery whereby they can sell cakes, cookies, or bread either to the local customers or through avenues available online will bring in money. 

Perhaps they may also be able to make special orders for occasions as a means of extending the business.

Catering for Events or Local Markets

With so many people who actually enjoy cooking for large groups, the catering services for smaller events are equally as good a side hustle. These could be birthday parties or even small corporate gatherings; one can sell cooking services and have a neat profit.

Cooking Classes

Mentoring others about cooking, both simple family dishes, as well as cuisines, is another well-paying activity. These cookery classes can be provided either from the seniors home or in cooperation with local community centers. 

Dissemination of knowledge and earning in the process helps therein. The courses most in demand are those related to specific diets. For example, vegan courses and gluten-free courses.

6. Teaching or tutoring

Tutoring 

Apart from having teaching experience, or having a strong knowledge base in some subject, tutoring is an excellent avenue to share that with. 

The seniors can tutor students in mathematics, science, or literature, helping them try to ace the test or make them understand it better while adding income.

Training Artisan Hobbies

Apart from academics, the seniors may teach knitting, carpentry, and painting too as hobbies. Online tutoring or local tutoring will be at work in keeping the retired person active by sharing the know-how.

Online Platforms

The other avenue seniors could use is making courses about anything they want to sell on either Udemy or Teachable. 

This is, in fact, the best option, since after the initial creation, they might just rest and enjoy passive income as different students enroll and pay to access course material.

7. Pet Sitting/Dog Walking

Pet Care Business

Many elderly people love animals, and hence, this introduces another great way of utilizing active time and earning. 

A service can be provided for pet walking or even babysitting the animals. The venture requires small initial capital to set up. It would then spread rapidly by word of mouth. 

Benefits of Pet Therapy

Working with pets caters to emotional needs for the pet lovers, and time with such creatures equally has been known to reduce stress and improve mood. Time with your favorite animal friends perfectly juggles these reasons and can be of importance in helping you unwind and feel good. 

Using Applications Like Rover

Apps like Rover are making it remarkably simple for a retiree or older employee to connect with customers needing dog walking or any number of other varieties of pet care. 

An app could easily provide the avenue for a retiree to sell services as a dog walker or a pet sitter.

8. Art and Painting

Sell Artwork

Seniors who paint and create items can sell their work through the internet, in local galleries and/or at markets. Etsy and Fine Art America are two sites that enable artists to expand their reach to global customers and build an income from doing what they like. 

Teaching Art Classes

Retired artists can use art workshops to teach new learners painting, drawing, sculpturing among other skills. This can be done through face to face teaching or online teaching and sharing of your skills and encouraging other people.

Personal Commissions

Almost everybody likes personal art. The retirees can therefore offer personal commissions, paintings, portraits or pieces which just fit precisely what the client wants or likes .

9. Music

Music Lessons

Those with musical talents can make even more offering piano, guitar or voice lessons. These could be targeted to children, adults or even seniors trying to learn something new.

Play Locally

Seniors could also play in the local functions, churches or events and make some money from those activities. There will always be a demand for live music and most communities like the idea of supporting local musicians .

Online Music Lessons

Other ways would be online music lessons like on YouTube or Skillshare. You record a lesson online which you can sell and resell while sleeping; that's passive income.

10. Health and Wellness Coaching

Teach Yoga or Meditation

Many of those near retiring age have been teaching yoga or meditation and could continue teaching classes of interest specifically to other retirees or even to a younger generation of people. 

Activities in wellness are gaining in number and it can be very lucrative or more rewarding teaching these skills.

Exercise Classes Targeted for Seniors

If you are into fitness, why not design a low-impact fitness program targeted at older adults? More and more, seniors seek an age-related method of keeping healthy.

Wellness Coach

Veterans can further engage themselves in one-on-one coaching on nutrition, mental health or personal fitness. You can become a wellness coach for fellow seniors who look for changes to health.

Conclusion

Turning your hobby into income does not need to be an overnight transformation. It would be best if you started off small on projects that best suit your capabilities and scale up later on if wished. 

Whether selling in a nearby market, or teaching online classes, all of these options are recommendable, as long as you remain consistent and invest your passion into your projects.