“It’s better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret.”
~ Jackie Joyner-Kersey
I bet you think this Life Lesson will be about saving for retirement. Well, it’s not.
First of all, if you’re over 50, it’s probably already too late. If you’re younger, you don’t need me to tell you how to prepare for your financial future. Actually, you wouldn’t want my advice because I did a really lousy job of handling it myself. Instead, I’m going to suggest some ways you can cope if you reach retirement age and, like me, you aren’t well prepared for the reality.
When you start receiving social security benefits, you’ll realize very quickly it won’t even cover the basics. (I’m presuming you are eligible to receive SSI in the United States.) If you haven’t been able to save enough over the years or if your investments tanked, you’ll be forced to seek ways to supplement your income.
A part-time job is the simplest answer, but look beyond being a Walmart greeter or a lunch lady. You’ll want to find a job that doesn’t bore you, one where you’ll be happy to go to work. To help determine what type of job may suit you and your needs, answer the following questions:
- How much do you need to earn?
- How often do you want to work?
- Are you willing to work weekends and holidays?
- How far are you willing to travel?
- Do you have any physical limitations?
- What skills, talents, or abilities do you possess?
Use your answers to search for available job offerings. However, if you would rather not work for someone else, decide if you could earn extra money with what you know and can do. Here are some of the services you might offer:
- Catering
- Child Care
- Decorating
- Dog training
- Gardening
- Household repairs
- House painting
- Music lessons
- Organizing
- Tutoring
- Yard work
At this time of year, people are also looking for someone to decorate for the holidays, shop for gifts, address and mail cards, wrap presents, bake cookies, and help with entertaining. No matter what the season, there will always be an appropriate service you can offer. Here are suggestions for each month of the year:
- January: Teach someone how to ice-skate or ski.
- February: Host a stamping party for kids to create valentines.
- March: Help a busy woman do the spring cleaning and organizing.
- April: Plant a garden and leave instructions on how to care for it.
- May: Create tiny baskets for the kids to fill and distribute on May Day.
- June: Take a group of kids to a pick-it-yourself strawberry patch.
- July: Teach someone how to swim or waterski.
- August: Do the shopping for school supplies.
- September: Build a compost bin and fill it with the leaves you’ve raked.
- October: Sew custom costumes for Halloween.
- November: Bake a bunch of pies for Thanksgiving.
- December: Babysit for the kids so their mother can shop alone.
If you enjoy hobbies such as needlecrafts, jewelry making, or woodworking, you may be able to earn extra money by selling what you create. Market your handmade products on specialty sites such as Etsy and Handmade at Amazon or on your own website. Contact small shops and boutiques in your local area and offer to sell your handmade items at wholesale prices or place them in the store on consignment. Craft fairs and art festivals are another market for your creations.
You can also take advantage of your abilities and experience to do custom work for a fee. Here ar a few ideas for possible commissions:
- Draw or paint a portrait of a child or pet.
- Create an original song for a special occasion.
- Sew a quinceañera, prom, or wedding dress.
- Teach someone to play the piano, guitar, or other musical instrument.
- Knit or crochet a baby blanket for a newborn.
- Select and style a wig for a cancer patient.
- Help someone write a memoir or record their life story.
- Build a dollhouse for a little girl.
- Create a website for a local small business.
You can market your services, handmade goods, and custom work on social media, in online or print classifieds, and on your own website. Word-of-mouth and referrals will probably be your best method of acquiring new buyers and clients once you’re established.
Over the years, I’ve earned a side income off and on by drawing, sewing, crocheting, knitting, writing, and a variety of crafts, plus teaching others how to do the same. And, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. So, what service, handmade item, or custom work could you market to earn extra cash?
NOTE: This is the year I celebrate (?) seven decades residing on this planet. My journey so far has taught me many life lessons, so I decided to share some of them with you. I’ll be posting one each day from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Yesterday: Live for Today
Tomorrow: Seize Every Opportunity
