5 Clever Ways Retirees Are Earning Up to $1K Per Month From Home
By Laura Bogart
Whether your retirement is filled with globe-trotting adventures or quiet days at home with family, chances are your earning power isn’t quite what it used to be. After all, you’re no longer clocking in (thankfully).
The freedom is great, but living on a fixed income can be challenging. The good news? Clever retirees are finding ways to earn an extra $1,000 a month — all from home.
1. They Grow Their Savings More Than 8x Faster Every Month
In retirement, it’s more important than ever to make sure your money is working for you. And if you keep it in a traditional savings account, you could be missing out on serious growth.
When you keep your savings with Cash App, you could earn up to 3.50% interest* — that’s more than eight times faster than the average savings account (which pays just 0.40%**).
Cash App pays a base 1.5% interest rate, but when you set up a direct deposit of just $300 per month, you’ll boost that rate to 3.50% interest. Even better? There’s no minimum balance or monthly/hidden fees, and Cash App monitors your money 24/7 to look out for any fraud.
Want to boost your savings to 3.50% interest every month with Cash App’s partner bank? It’s easy to get started here with as little as $1 and watch your money grow more than eight times faster than average.**
2. They Protect Their Portfolio With Precious Metals — And Get Up to $20K in Free Metals
If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that market disruptions can come out of nowhere and impact your retirement savings.
That’s why many people invest in precious metals to diversify and protect their wealth: Precious metals often rise in value during uncertain economic times.
One option is a precious metals IRA through a company called Thor Metals Group — right now, you can even get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.
Opening an account is easy, and you can roll over funds from existing retirement accounts or buy gold and silver directly from Thor Metals Group.
If you decide to sell your precious metals in the future, Thor Metals Group offers a no-fee buy-back program. Plus, they have an A rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Want to diversify and safeguard your investments? It’s easy to get started here and get your free report. Plus, you could get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases — and, you’ll pay no account fees for 2025.
3. They Grow Their Money More Than 13x Faster
As a retiree, you’ll want to make sure your money is working for you. Unfortunately, if all your savings are sitting in a regular savings account, it may not be pulling its weight. A Gainbridge® FastBreak™ annuity can snap your money into shape by growing it up to 13 times faster* than an average savings account. This annuity offers up to 5.40% APY**, a self-managed platform, and gives you the option to access your money without tax penalties before age 59 1/2.
If you’re new to annuities, here’s the gist: It’s a contract between you and an insurance company that promises regular, dependable payouts in the future — typically monthly, and better yet, often for life. It’s a reliable approach many people use to support long-term financial growth. The Gainbridge® FastBreak™ annuity comes in 3- to 10-year terms with premiums ranging from $1,000 to $1 million, and you can withdraw up to 10% of the account value each year.**
Ready to start growing your money 13 times faster? Get started with the Gainbridge® FastBreak™ annuity to start earning up to 5.40% APY.**
4. They Get Paid $17 a Day to Play Free Games on Their Phone
The grandkids might not know it, but you’ve become quite the gamer in your retirement, at least on your phone. If you’re already a pro at Candy Crush or love saving faraway realms from evil wizards, why not get paid for your skills?
You can turn that idle time into quick cash — up to $17 a day, if you use Scrambly.
Scrambly works with developers who want to get their games and apps in front of people just like you, and they’re willing to pay you to try them. When you sign up, you can browse more than 150 free games and apps. Just find one you like and start getting paid.
You don’t need to play long, either — you earn by playing just a few minutes at a time. As a retiree, you’ve got free time in abundance. And it’s all completely free. In fact, if you make an in-app purchase on a Scrambly-discovered app, they’ll give you cash back. Once you earn $1, you can cash out instantly via PayPal, Visa, Amazon, Google Play and Apple.
Ready to start pocketing up to $500 a month in extra cash just for playing free games on your phone? Get started here and see how much you can earn. Right now, you’ll even get a 500 coin signup bonus.
Not only can you use the money you earn to treat your grandkids, you can also wow ’em when you tell them how you earned it.
{{text: rateTexts.expertAdviceHeader.text}}
BROUGHT TO YOU BY {{image: rateUrls.logoPath}}
{{html: rateTexts.expertAdviceProTipsCopy.html}}
{{text: rateTexts.expertAdviceClientName.text}} Sponsored Tip {{tooltip: rateTexts.expertAdviceToolTipCopy.text}}
{{text: rateTexts.expertAdviceAdTitle.text}}
{{html: rateTexts.expertAdviceAdCopy.html}}
5. They Stopped Wasting $1,025 a Year on Car Insurance
Sometimes, the easiest way to put money in your pocket is to find out where you’re wasting it. And most retirees are seriously overpaying for car insurance — by as much as $1,025 a year.
Fortunately, Insurify lets you compare all your car insurance options at once — and it can put an extra $1,025 a year back in your wallet.
Just enter some basic details about your car and background, you’ll get customized quotes you can review on your own time and from the comfort of home.
Want to add up to $1,025 back to your wallet this year? It’s easy to get started here and see how much you can save.
Bottom Line
Retirement doesn’t have to mean the end of your earning power. First, make sure you’re using one of the best checking, savings and CD accounts of 2025. There are so many creative ways to earn extra money doing tasks you’re probably already doing anyway, like sharing your opinion and playing games. And exploring broadening your income by investing in real estate has never been easier — or more rewarding.
Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Direct Deposit provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.
*Cash App will pass through a portion of the interest paid on your savings balance held in an account for the benefit of Cash App customers at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. To earn the highest interest rate on your Cash App savings balance, you need to (a) have a Cash App Card or sponsor one or more sponsored accounts and receive at least $300 in paycheck direct deposits each month; or (b) have a sponsored account with sponsor approval to earn interest. Exceptions may also apply. Savings yield rate is subject to change.**The national average savings account interest rate is 0.40% APY, according to the FDIC, as of Oc. 20, 2025.
*Source: FDIC, national average of savings, week of 10/20/25. Rates subject to change.
**Gainbridge®: Annuity rates are subject to change at any time, and the rate mentioned may no longer be current. Please visit Gainbridge.io for current rates, full product disclosures and disclaimer. Withdrawals above the 10% free withdrawal amount are subject to a withdrawal charge and market-value adjustment. FastBreak™ is issued by Gainbridge Life Insurance Company in Zionsville, Indiana. FastBreak™ is not a tax-deferred annuity; instead, it is taxed annually.
GOBankingRates maintains editorial independence. While we may receive compensation from actions taken after clicking on links within our content, no content has been supplied by any advertiser prior to publication.
