Money’s tight for millions of seniors.
One problem is that many are way too dependent on Social Security. The average benefit this year is $1,543, and yet 50% of married, elderly couples and 70% of unmarried elderly persons rely on this modest sum for 50% or more of their income, according to the Social Security Administration. Even more worrisome, 21% of married couples and about 45% of unmarried persons rely on this for practically all—90% or more—of their income.
Read: 6 tips for older workers who want to get a new job this year
That kind of money doesn’t go far. But there are things that many seniors can do to make a few bucks to stretch their income.
Read MarketWatch coverage of the latest jobs report
AARP lists some common jobs: bookkeeper or administrative assistant, for example—work that can be done in this COVID era from the comfort and safety of your home. Others involve getting out of the house, if you’re comfortable doing that: Bus driver, nanny or security guard for example. Here’s their list.
Here are three other jobs that always seem to be in demand:
Editing. Take it from me, having someone to go over what you’ve written is a highly valuable and needed skill. Companies are always on the prowl for people to review documents, presentations and other materials not only for spelling, punctuation and syntax, but overall readability.
Technical writing. How-to-guides, user manuals, and industry-specific booklets are in need of people who can explain procedures, guidelines and how things work to others. It helps to have knowledge of a particular industry, but isn’t always necessary. Technical writing is always in demand and can pay quite well.
Customer Service Representative. “To speak with a customer service representative, press one or stay on the line.” That’s where you come in. All sorts of businesses need “CSRs,” and with a bit of training, you can turn a corner of your home into a one-person call center. You might not even have to talk, given how some representatives talk with customers online—you know, in those boxes that pop-up on your computer screen inviting you to chat. Who’s hiring? AARP says try InfoCision, liveops, Prudential, Small Business Administration, Teladoc Health, or Williams Sonoma.
Nursing. A rapidly growing senior population, and shortage of nurses means it’s easy to find work—if you have the right qualifications. And don’t think you have to work in a hospital. Thanks to the boom in telemedicine—which is only to get bigger—some medical care and advice can be provided from home. Some hospitals and health-care providers are raising pay and benefits to lure retired nurses back into the fold.
There are also jobs I’ll bet you’ve never heard of. How about being a “Mock Juror?” It is what it sounds like: Mock jurors help lawyers prepare for cases by offering their feedback on how they’d rule if they were an actual juror. You don’t need any experience at all, and can make up to $60 an hour.
Here’s a job that definitely didn’t exist a year ago: Contact tracer. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a need for people—sort of like detectives—to help track down people who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus, let them know about their possible exposure, and what steps they should take. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says contact tracing is a very important part of slowing down and ultimately halting the virus’s spread. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health estimates that some 100,000 tracers are needed, and it offers this free online course.
The pandemic has also increased the need for tutoring, which can be done in person or online. This can be ideal for teachers who are interested in coming out of retirement for a few hours (or more) a week, but you don’t have to be an actual teacher. Your corporate background could be all you need to help kids with math, science, English, computer science and more. Skype, Zoom, FaceTime make it easier than ever to connect.
So how to get started? Two ideas. Many senior-focused organizations can help. AARP’s “Work Reimagined” database is a good place to start. Its database is terrific.
And instead of you reaching out to employers, Upwork lets you advertise your skills, and employers come to you. Let’s say you’re a bookkeeper and you’re looking to provide short-term tasks, get involved with recurring projects or be a full-time contractor. Just state your parameters, suggest an hourly price, and sit back. You can list one skill or several. This kind of flexibility may be exactly what you’re looking for—and a good way to bring in some extra bucks.
Are you working in retirement? Have any stories, ideas or tips to share? Let me know: RetireBetterMarketWatch@gmail.com—and thanks.
February 06, 2021 at 01:11AM
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/easy-moneymaking-ideas-for-seniors-11612548694
Easy moneymaking ideas for seniors - MarketWatch
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