7 Ways to Earn More Income in Retirement (2024)

407 Shares

7 Ways to Earn More Income in Retirement (1)

You could live to be 75 or even 100. You never know how many years you may live after retiring from your full-time job, which means extending your retirement savings is critically important for your quality of life. But, you can earn more income in retirement.

If you’re concerned about whether your current savings will last, here are some exciting and useful ways to generate more income during retirement.

Earn More Income

Contribute to Your IRA or 401(k)

Did you know that you can still contribute to retirement plans even after you retire? Doing so offers many financial advantages, such as growing your nest egg, prolonging your retirement savings, and potentially limiting your tax burden each year.

You can even continue making contributions to your 401(k) after retiring, or you might choose to roll over your 401(k) into a retirement fund managed by a robo-advisorto maximize the earning potential for your investments. While it might seem counterintuitive to put money into a retirement savings account when you’re already retired, this is a fantastic way to stretch your savings andearn more income that sadly, too few people are aware of.

If you’re looking for places to start investing and to earn more income, you might want to check out investing with M1 Finance,Betterment, orStash Invest.

M1 Finance - Start Investing Today for Free! Price: Free Trades Just pick your investments, and let M1's Intelligent Automation do the rest. No Fees or Commissions. 7 Ways to Earn More Income in Retirement (2) Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: 10/10/2018

Make Money from Investment Dividends

Dividends are a great way to replace your retirement income. When you buy dividend-paying stocks prior to retirement, you’ll be able to boost your monthly or quarterly income with dividends paid to shareholders by those companies you invest in.

While this could be risky to rely on if the stock market turns south, dividends are still highly valuable forms of ongoing investments that can supplement your retirement income for years to come.

If you’re looking for places to keep your investment accounts, you might want to check out investing with Betterment or Stash Invest. Both are easy ways to help you invest easily.

Withdraw Money from Permanent Life Insurance

Life insurance isn’t just for beneficiaries upon your demise. The cash-value portion of your permanent life insurance policy is a tax-advantaged savings account based on a portion of your premiums paid over time.

While your death benefit will reduce as you withdraw from your insurance fund, it’s still an incredibly useful way to cushion your retirement savings. And, if you don’t pay it all back, then the amount you borrowed will simply be deducted from your overall death benefit when you pass away.

Host Guests with Airbnb

Airbnb is the most well-known home hosting and short-term housing rental service in the world. Airbnb is particularly popular among homeowners who want to generate additional income to help them cover monthly expenses like insurance or mortgage payments, which makes it an ideal option for retirees who own their own homes.

Boost your income with ease and security. When you share your space on Airbnb, you’re covered by our $1 Million Host Guarantee.

If you don’t want to deal with guests, Airbnb even offers the option to have an “experienced host” essentially manage your Airbnb listing(s). Plus, you can add a cleaning fee to save money on any messes your guests might incur.

Some retirees are even using Airbnb to save on vacation expenses, so it’s truly a valuable platform for generating and saving money during your retirement years.

Rent Out Your RV

Do you own a travel trailer or RV? If so, then you could make decent money renting it out while you’re not using it with platforms like Outdoorsy. Described as the “Airbnb for RV owners,” Outdoorsy lets you rent out your motorhome or travel trailer to folks in your area for $50-140 per night, on average.

Since most of us don’t live in our motorhomes full-time, why let it gather dust on your driveway? Instead, you can generate income by renting it to other travelers.

Find a Fun, Flexible, Part-Time Job

You may be retired from your full-time career, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid working altogether. There are plenty of fun ways to make money on the side with platforms like Fiverr or FlexJobs.

You can find side jobs based on your current skill set and make money doing things you already enjoy. Things like writing, transcribing audio/video, translating, editing, designing, and so much more!

Make Money with Animals

7 Ways to Earn More Income in Retirement (3)

7 Ways to Earn More Income in Retirement (4)If you’re an animal lover, there are plenty of ways you can enjoy time and make money with animals during your retirement. You can volunteer at the local animal shelter, and if you want to make money working with pets, you might want to offer services on platforms such as Wag or Roverto earn more income.

You can walk other people’s dogs, pet-sit overnight, take photos of people’s pets, or design bandanas or leashes. The sky’s the limit when it comes to opportunities to get paid to work with animals.

Heading out of town?Book 5-star care that comes to you with Rover. It’s easy to book a pet sitter / house sitter to take care of your dog and your home. House sitting is great for dogs whoprefer to stay on their home turf, cats, caged pets, horses, pet parents on a tight schedule, or even someone to just keep an eye on your home while you’re away. Book a 5 Star Pet and House Sitter Today

We should always strive to overestimate how much money we’ll need to live on during retirement. Many folks retire with what they think is “enough” money to live on. They quickly realize several years in that their funds are running out.

To avoid this scenario, the above-mentioned strategies for generating income in retirement can help you extend your savings and give you new opportunities to socialize with and help other people along the way. It’s truly a win-win situation!

7 Ways to Earn More Income in Retirement (2024)

FAQs

How can I increase my retirement income? ›

Here are seven tips to consider when trying to maximize your retirement savings.
  1. Start saving today. ...
  2. Contribute to your 401(k) or workplace retirement plan. ...
  3. Use your employer's company match. ...
  4. Deal with your debt as soon as possible. ...
  5. Open an IRA. ...
  6. Budget spending. ...
  7. Plan your health insurance strategy.
Nov 7, 2023

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement? ›

One example is the $1,000/month rule. Created by Wes Moss, a Certified Financial Planner, this strategy helps individuals visualize how much savings they should have in retirement. According to Moss, you should plan to have $240,000 saved for every $1,000 of disposable income in retirement.

How can I make enough money for retirement? ›

Saving Matters!
  1. Start saving, keep saving, and stick to.
  2. Know your retirement needs. ...
  3. Contribute to your employer's retirement.
  4. Learn about your employer's pension plan. ...
  5. Consider basic investment principles. ...
  6. Don't touch your retirement savings. ...
  7. Ask your employer to start a plan. ...
  8. Put money into an Individual Retirement.

What is the best source of income in retirement? ›

Below are the best and most realistic ways to gather passive income in retirement.
  • Social Security.
  • Company or government pension.
  • Annuities.
  • 401(k) or independent retirement accounts.
  • Life insurance.
  • Short-term cash investments.
  • Stocks.
  • Bonds.

Is $1500 a month enough to retire on? ›

While $1,500 might not be enough for non-housing retirement expenses for many people, it doesn't mean it's impossible to stick to this or other amounts, such as if you're already retired and don't have the ability to increase your budget.

What is a good monthly retirement income? ›

Average Monthly Retirement Income

According to data from the BLS, average 2022 incomes after taxes were as follows for older households: 65-74 years: $63,187 per year or $5,266 per month. 75 and older: $47,928 per year or $3,994 per month.

Can you live off $3000 a month in retirement? ›

That means that even if you're not one of those lucky few who have $1 million or more socked away, you can still retire well, so long as you keep your monthly budget under $3,000 a month.

How long will $500,000 last year in retirement? ›

Yes, it is possible to retire comfortably on $500k. This amount allows for an annual withdrawal of $20,000 from the age of 60 to 85, covering 25 years. If $20,000 a year, or $1,667 a month, meets your lifestyle needs, then $500k is enough for your retirement.

Can I live on $2000 a month in retirement? ›

Retiring on a fixed income can seem daunting, but with some planning and commitment to a frugal lifestyle, it's possible to retire comfortably on $2,000 a month.

What is a realistic retirement income? ›

There are various formulas people rely on to estimate retirement expenses, all of which are rough guesses at best. One well-known method is the 80% rule. This rule of thumb suggests that you'll have to ensure you have 80% of your pre-retirement income per year in retirement.

Can I retire at 65 with no savings? ›

You can still live a fulfilling life as a retiree with little to no savings. It just may look different than you originally planned. With a little pre-planning, relying on Social Security income and making lifestyle modifications—you may be able to meet your retirement needs.

What happens if you have no retirement savings? ›

Individuals who have not saved for retirement and who still own homes can turn to their homes as a source of income. For some, this could mean renting a portion of their space as a separate apartment. Another option is to take a reverse mortgage on a home, although doing so can be costly and complicated.

What are the three most common sources of retirement income? ›

Here's a quick review of the six main sources:
  • Social Security. Social Security is the government-administered retirement income program. ...
  • Personal Savings and Investments. ...
  • Individual Retirement Accounts. ...
  • Defined Contribution Plans. ...
  • Defined Benefit Plans. ...
  • Continued Employment.

How to retire at 62 with little money? ›

If you retire with no money, you'll have to consider ways to create income to pay your living expenses. That might include applying for Social Security retirement benefits, getting a reverse mortgage if you own a home, or starting a side hustle or part-time job to generate a steady paycheck.

How long will $400,000 last in retirement? ›

Safe Withdrawal Rate

Using our portfolio of $400,000 and the 4% withdrawal rate, you could withdraw $16,000 annually from your retirement accounts and expect your money to last for at least 30 years. If, say, your Social Security checks are $2,000 monthly, you'd have a combined annual income in retirement of $40,000.

Can you increase your Social Security benefits after retirement? ›

Your benefits may increase when you work: As long as you continue to work, even if you are receiving benefits, you will continue to pay Social Security taxes on your earnings. However, we will check your record every year to see whether the additional earnings you had will increase your monthly benefit.

Can I retire at 62 with $400,000 in 401k? ›

If you have $400,000 in the bank you can retire early at age 62, but it will be tight. The good news is that if you can keep working for just five more years, you are on track for a potentially quite comfortable retirement by full retirement age.

How much should you expect from Social Security if you make $30,000 a year? ›

Deduct what you'll get from Social Security

The general rule is that Social Security benefits replace about 40% of pre-retirement income. With $30,000 in annual income, that means you could receive an estimated $12,000 per year in Social Security payments, without adjusting for inflation.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 5680

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.