7 Creative Side Hustles Retirees Can Do From Home
Written by
Laura Bogart
Edited by
Kristen Mae
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
You’ve just retired — how are you bored already? Yet just months, weeks or even days after clocking out for the last time, you’re itching for your next adventure — or at least your next gig. You’d like to have a little extra income coming in, but you also want something that lets you flex your creative muscles. And it sure would be nice if you could work from home — you retired from office life for a reason.
Fortunately, finding a side hustle that nurtures both your wallet and your creative spark isn’t as hard as it might seem. Retirement can be the perfect time to rekindle an old hobby or take up a new interest that never seemed possible before — all while bringing in extra spending money. Here are seven creative side hustles retirees can do from home.
1. Making Art and Crafts
You’re experienced enough to know that you may not make a full-time living from watercolor paintings or clay sculptures — and that’s OK. With Social Security, retirement accounts, and other income sources as a foundation, you can spend your days in that extra bedroom-turned-studio creating art simply because you enjoy it.
Through commissions, digital storefronts or even booths at local art and craft fairs or farmers markets, you can net supplemental income for your creations. You could also partner with local cafes, galleries or gift shops to sell your work on consignment, turning your creative spark into additional income without pressure.
2. Freelance Writing
If you enjoy writing, freelance work can be one of the most flexible side hustles available. Whether you write articles about your own life and experiences or take on assignments for clients, there are plenty of ways to make money through writing.
By joining ad networks like Google AdSense or Mediavine, you could show ads on your personal blog or website and earn from the impressions (i.e., views) or clicks you receive. Earnings typically depend on traffic volume and reader engagement, meaning popular posts can generate modest passive income over time.
You can also search job boards for part-time or freelance writing opportunities in your areas of expertise — including the field you just left. Check in with former colleagues or others in the industry to see if they have a need for copywriting. The best part? You get to set your own rate and work at your own pace.
3. Tutoring
If you were a teacher or worked in the education sector during your career, sliding into a side hustle in online tutoring should be relatively easy. However, even if you weren’t a teacher, you can still join an online tutoring platform like Tutor.com or Wyzant if you have skills in high-demand areas such as math, science, reading, writing, computer science, coding or English as a second language.
Using a well-vetted online platform to start your side hustle can help connect you with students while allowing you to keep a majority of your earnings. At the same time, you’ll meet learners of all ages and backgrounds while tapping into your own love of knowledge.
4. Tailoring and Clothing Alterations
Have you always been the person friends and family turned to for repairing ripped jackets or taking in that dress that got too big? If you and your sewing machine — or needle and thread — can work magic, you can start bibbidi-bobbidi-booing yourself some money through clothing repairs and alterations.
After advertising yourself as a talented seamstress or tailor through ads at your community center or word-of-mouth referrals, you can perform simple services such as hemming, resizing and zipper replacement for extra cash.
5. Being a Virtual Assistant
If you miss some of the mental stimulation of office work — like playing Jenga with people’s schedules, developing meeting notes or even conducting market research — then a side gig as a virtual assistant may be for you.
Do all the stimulating parts of being an executive assistant without the in-person office politics sound appealing? Visit the Virtual Assistant Networking Association. It’s a nonprofit trade association offering continuing education, networking opportunities and a listing in a membership directory.
6. Reselling Collectibles
Was being a treasure hunter one of your childhood daydreams? While you won’t be following Indiana Jones on his latest crusade, your own attic might be a treasure trove of items that can help you make money on auction sites. Spending an afternoon at home sorting through vintage toys, dishware, clothing, baseball memorabilia, antiques and even coins may yield surprising returns — and a fun walk down memory lane.
As you learn more about what sells on Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Etsy, you might even venture outside the home to see which items from thrift stores or garage sales you can flip for more money.
7. Providing In-Home Doggie Daycare
While you don’t want your home to become the site of paw-demonium, watching some of your friends’ and neighbors’ well-behaved pooches while they’re off at the rat race sounds like a fun and cuddly way to make more money.
A fenced-in yard makes puppy potty time easy, but walking a leash-trained dog around your block can also provide light exercise and mental stimulation for both you and the dog.
Just make sure you’ve had a meet-and-greet with your new charge before you agree to puppy-sitting. You should also ensure your client has provided up-to-date records and contact information for a veterinarian in case of an emergency. After that’s been taken care of — and you’ve set your price — let the snuggles begin.
The Bottom Line
Retirement doesn’t have to mean the end of meaningful or stimulating work. With these creative side hustles you can do from home, you can stay mentally engaged, creatively fulfilled and financially flexible, all on your own terms.
Need a little extra breathing room in your budget? MoneyLion, a sister company of GOBankingRates, is giving away $2,000 a day through Jan. 24, 2026. Sign up here and see if a cash boost is in your future.
More From GOBankingRates
