Honest Question about making supplemental income

After I retired I had contacts to sent contract work my way. Later I used "cheapo oddjob workers" web sites but that was just to keep my hand in. I could afford to bid low because I wasn't in it for the money.

I had accepted a hit on wages and professional standing to build toward a pension, and I've lived frugally and saved. I'm now more worried about navigating taxes as I look toward taking Social Security and tax-deferred investment RMDs over the next few years.

Of course that's no help once you've reached retirement. I had the benefit of seeing how rough things got for older relatives in the 1970s and 1980s and my mother in the 2000s.
 
I'm still working in my chosen profession, but I nearly derailed my career because of a vicious benzodiazapene addiction. While I resurrected it, I did all of the following part time: hotel breakfast host; commercial cleaner; domestic cleaner; and part-time morning stocker at Menards, a huge home improvement store like Home Depot and Lowes. All of those jobs were popular with retirees looking for a second income, especially the Menards job.
 
I'm asset 'rich' cash poor, I have a recent qualification and and a casual job so I get by quite well. I'm not sure how things would be if I was trying to live on a meager pension in this economic climate.
@KSav
I work with mental health and AOD issues so you have my respect for shaking off a benzo addiction. It's not easy to do.
 
I have a rental property. Without it I would be hard put to maintain my lifestyle. I also buy cheap properties and lipstick them. They are very slow flips…but can add significantly to my income. I will probably not be able to do that forever because without a skill set you can not afford the cost of rehab. I also watch and tweak my small 401k and stock trading account.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I’ve always found it easier to reduce my expenses than to increase my income.

Good luck!
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I remember reading some tips from an investment guru who pointed out that the best way to add money to your investment portfolio is not to spend it. There are several advantages in this. Of course, that is not possible when living from paycheck to paycheck. In the beginning of my career, my pay was a subsistence level income. Now that's no longer the case, but a lot of people work for a subsistence pay.
 
It depends where your interests lie.
I do small engine repair. Friends do plumbing, electrical, excavating, shuttle driver for dealership, boat engine repair, drivers for auto auction, cut hair, harvester and truck maintenance, drywall & plastering, Auto body repair, helping farmers during planting and harvest, greenhouse helpers, custom carpentry work, saw and chain sharpening, volunteer ambulance drivers, welding, auto body repair, ect...
Most of us can pick and choose which projects that we take on. Most of the work is for cash.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I’ve always found it easier to reduce my expenses than to increase my income.

Good luck!
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I have also done this since my divorce 3 years ago. I have had to prioritize what’s important to spend my money on. It’s also surprising how cutting little things adds up. I have a friend that is older than me who’s working part time instead of spending less. She can’t imagine buying her groceries at a cheaper place, etc. I don’t understand this at all.
 
Teacher Terry said:
I have also done this since my divorce 3 years ago. I have had to prioritize what’s important to spend my money on. It’s also surprising how cutting little things adds up. I have a friend that is older than me who’s working part time instead of spending less. She can’t imagine buying her groceries at a cheaper place, etc. I don’t understand this at all.
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I'm not sure what is hard to understand - so she likes working and by doing so can afford to spend as she wants to.
 
I took early retirement to better look after family and have a nicer life. That was three years ago and things are good. I still do the occasional freelance photography job for my former employer plus a few weddings here and there. I don’t regret a single day.
 
January said:
I'm not sure what is hard to understand - so she likes working and by doing so can afford to spend as she wants to.
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She doesn’t like working, is 84, really worries when she doesn’t get enough clients booked to pay her bills. She has no savings either.
 
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