Welcome to the Boomer Hustle—your chance to redefine retirement on your terms. With a wide range of best side hustles options, from consulting and coaching to selling your crafts or taking on local gigs, you can turn life’s wisdom, curiosity, and even your quirkiest hobbies into fresh income streams and fulfilling pursuits. The possibilities are endless, and your best chapters are yet to come.
Boomer side gigs are not just about earning extra income; they are about staying engaged, learning new things, and growing both personally and professionally. Whether it’s a simple task that provides quick cash or an entrepreneurial venture that leverages your years of experience and personal passions. The best side hustles can keep you stimulated and growing in your retirement years.
People dive into side hustles to bolster their finances, maintain an active lifestyle, build community connections, or simply because the thought of endless golf or gardening seems uninspiring. Whether driven by financial necessity or personal fulfillment, side gigs offer an ideal balance of flexibility and purpose. Follow along with me as I list some great side hustles for Baby Boomers.
| Statistic | United States (%) | United Kingdom (%) | Canada (%) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boomers | Gen X | Millennials/Gen Z | Boomers | Gen X | Millennials/Gen Z | Boomers | Gen X | Millennials/Gen Z | |
| Participation (2009) | 8 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 15 |
| Participation (2024) | 29 | 41 | 56 | 24 | 38 | 52 | 26 | 39 | 54 |
| Living Expenses | 41 | 52 | 59 | 37 | 50 | 58 | 39 | 51 | 57 |
| Disposable Income | 29 | 22 | 17 | 32 | 25 | 19 | 30 | 23 | 18 |
| Pay Off Debt | 16 | 20 | 23 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 15 | 21 | 24 |
| Savings | 9 | 4 | 0.5 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 1 |
While this isn’t what I did for my first gig, it is one of my favorite types of gigs. Like you, I’ve logged decades of experience. So, it’s about time I got paid for all my hard work.
Since my accident ten years ago, I’ve secured several consulting and coaching roles. I’ve tested the waters in everything from advising businesses on how to avoid common pitfalls (after all, there are plenty) to mentoring new consultants. Consulting and coaching are among the best side hustles.
Consulting helps you cash in on your seasoned perspective. Plus, I must admit that I really enjoy sipping coffee and sharing my wisdom while watching someone else’s dreams thrive because of my guidance. It’s a great feeling and a wonderful position to be in.
This is another favorite gig of mine and the one that launched my Boomer side hustle career. I consider this one of the best side hustles, and it proves that your craft obsession can help pay the bills. It helped me!
When my friend, Julie, made a black Santa hat for her husband, he wore it everywhere they went during the holiday season. Little did she know that demand would become so great that she soon needed an Etsy shop. The shop was a hit, and an order for forty hats made their way to Sacramento, California, to be used in the yearly Santa Parade. If you ask Julie, she will tell you that crafts are one of the best side hustles.
This is not a usual outcome, but it shows how hobbies can be a profitable side hustle. Many hobbies can be turned into a profit.
And More
I’ve done the local craft show circuit, and while it can be a lot of work, I loved interacting with all the interesting people I met.
I stopped creating handcrafted items for sale, but I teach and sell tutorials, and I love my blogging side hustle. Selling your handmade crafts or teaching others how to craft are excellent ways to turn your passions into a profitable venture.
Want a little cash without a huge commitment? Another one of the best side hustles, local gigs offer flexibility with quick payouts. Event staff, neighborhood handyman (or handywoman), and pet sitter are jobs that keep you active and plugged into your community. Plus, nothing beats the satisfaction of making extra money just helping your neighbors out.
Here are some ideas for local side gigs:
These are just a few of the best side hustles you can find locally for a profitable side business.
If working in pajamas appeals to you, welcome to the world of working from home side hustles. Opportunities such as virtual assisting, freelance writing, customer service, and by-the-piece work with Amazon Mechanical Turk, as well as online tutoring, offer the flexibility of no commutes and unlimited coffee breaks.
Not a tech genius? No worries. Boomers everywhere are mastering Zoom, Slack, and Google Docs every day—and often outpacing younger generations. Are you already tech-savvy? There is a huge opportunity to teach other Boomers how to navigate the technical landscape and make a buck or two.
Sometimes you just want a no-fuss paycheck. Quick gigs are fun, flexible, short-term tasks that won’t make you rich, but they add up. These can include tasks like rideshare driving for companies like Uber or Lyft, running errands for busy professionals, participating in online surveys for market research companies, or completing single tasks through work platforms like Upwork.
Some quick gigs to make a fast buck are:
These quick tasks are ideal when you need fast cash for your next vacation or presents for the grandkids.
E-commerce comes in many shapes and sizes. Everything, from consignment shops to eBay and Etsy, is an entrepreneurial dream come true. What you find at an area garage sale may be worth three or four times the cost on eBay or in an Amazon store. It takes some research to find the right products to resell, but once you do, the profit margin can be sizeable.
When a grandmother living in my area found it difficult to maintain her lifestyle, she asked me for help. One year later, Linda is selling vintage jewelry online. She enjoys spending time traveling to find her next great seller, and I have some great new vintage jewelry pieces in my collection. She earns more now than she did when she retired from her office job.
| Growth Period | United States (%) | United Kingdom (%) | Canada (%) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boomers | Gen X | Millennials/Gen Z | Boomers | Gen X | Millennials/Gen Z | Boomers | Gen X | Millennials/Gen Z | |
| 2009-2014 | 87% | 100% | 157% | 94% | 90% | 136% | 96% | 98% | 135% |
| 2014-2019 | 107% | 105% | 117% | 126% | 136% | 133% | 118% | 132% | 142% |
| 2019-2024 | 55% | 73% | 60% | 57% | 58% | 67% | 67% | 65% | 67% |
| Total Growth 2009-2024 | 500% | 609% | 793% | 588% | 607% | 821% | 614% | 660% | 851% |
Real-life inspiration is the secret sauce of the Boomer Hustle. Stories of boomers just like you, who have carved new paths, built successful side hustles, and rediscovered their purpose. Take Dave, for example, who turned his passion for vintage cars into a profitable YouTube channel. Or Margaret, who turned to coaching after retirement and has a never-ending smile.
Life after retirement isn’t about slowing down, it’s about gearing up for your next big adventure. Pick your category, start hustling, and who knows? Your success story might just inspire someone else.
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Kisha Couturier says:
Great read! I found some useful takeaways that I’ll definitely apply. Thanks for sharing.