Can Seniors Make Money From Home
This is the first year in decades that social security beneficiaries have not gotten an increase. There is talk that Obama is pushing another $250 one time payout to retirees, but this may not go that far when many seniors spend 1/3 of their social security checks just for medicare health plans. So is there anything that older people can do, even if they have limited mobility, to make some extra money?
I started thinking about this after I read this article about simple home business ideas. That article was intended for a general audience, and spoke to people’s concerns about raising more money to help during the economic downturn when lots of jobs have been lost and money is tight. I also considered my own experience, that I have hired a senior neighbor, to edit some of my articles when I was working under tight deadlines. This neighbor happens to be a retired teacher, and is probably much better than catching typos than I am!
So if you don’t happen to live next door to a webmaster who needs articles proofread, how can you find some work you can do from home, on a flexible schedule, and actually get paid for? I did my best to research some really valid ideas, but as always, when you are searching for ideas, beware of cleverly packaged work at home scams. But just because these scams exist does not mean you cannot find some real opportunities out there.
Opportunities For Older People Making Income Are Out There
Since money and credit are tight these days, many people have had to go back to work, or even take a second job. These people still have needs, and they are more likely to want to get things repaired than replaced. Think about things busy families may need, and see if you have some abilities to meet those needs.
Can you fix something? I have seen housebound seniors who could sew make extra money by altering clothes. This really can be as simple as sewing on buttons or scout badges for busy families. If you can shorten a pair of pants while watching tv, you may have a skill that has been lost in many younger people! And if you are more mobile, and could take a few hours of your day watching a child after school, installing a garbage disposal, or baking a birthday cake for a busy mom, you have a skill you could market. Some seniors who are mobile, have made quite a bit of extra income by performing yard care in their area. They work at their own pace, stay active, and can actually earn quite a bit of money!
Can you teach something? Could you help a first grader with homework, allowing some working parents time to handle other business? Kids these days, even in the youngest grades, have a lot more homework than we did. Many parents would be happy to pay a friendly adult to help Junior complete a project or Suzy learn her spelling words!
Can you sell something? Real companies do hire customer service reps who can work at home these days. Beyond that, I have seen many seniors who scout garage sales and then resell them. This could be as simple has holding your own yard sale with items you have purchased and fixed up a bit to learning how to use an online auction website like EBay.
Can you Cook Something? Many families these days have two working parents. When money is tight, those families still want healthy meals prepared, and cannot afford to eat out several times a week. If you could prepare meals, or make frozen, pre-prepared meals for pickup, you could strike a balance that might be attractive to many busy parents, and their kids!
Can Seniors Work Online? Yes, seniors can work online, but I hesitated before I added this section because there are also a lot of so-called services that want people to pay before they give out there big secret. I, myself, make a living online as an internet marketer, but it took me years to develop the required skills. This is not to say you could not do it, but many older people are looking for quicker money!
Selling Photos: There are companies like istockphoto.com which sell photos. They take all sorts of pictures, and even drawings. You offer your pictures for sale, and if they are sold by the website, you get a percentage of the sale. Your old pictures of your hometown or recent vacation may be in demand by somebody who needs it.
EBay – I am a big fan of EBay because they have helped many people make anything from extra money to a full time income. Again, there is a learning curve, but it won’t be as large as learning how to market a stand-alone website (in my opinion). If you have things around your house you don’t use anymore (books, gently worn clothes, movies, etc.), you may try to get your feet wet by selling them online. Make sure to charge for shipping. If you are housebound, you may need to get somebody to help you with a run to the post office, but there are also tools to print postage so you if you have shipping supplies, you can send things out from your own mailbox. If your own closets are clean, ask your neighbors if they need to sell something, and then charge them a commission. Be careful and do some research first though. You can check the “completed items” to see what sells, and how much you can probably charge for it.
Get Paid for Online Surveys – Ouch, again I hesitate because there are a lot of websites that just want you to pay money for a list of survey companies, and these lists vary in quality. This page has a list of free survey websites which you can examine. Do your own research, and do what you feel comfortable with. I don’t believe anybody gets rich from these, but some people do earn quite a bit of extra money.
So Can Seniors Make Extra Money?
Your ability to earn extra income will depend upon your skills, health, and mobility. But many active older people, even those who cannot really get out of the house much, can find ways to earn extra income.
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