Retirement Jobs/Hobbies

[LearningMustachian72]

Hi All,

I am 33 now, plan to retire by 50.

When i am retired, I would like to travel around thrifting at stores/estate sales as a hobby and source of income.  I collect vintage items now with the goal of opening a store at some point.  Wouldn’t really have to be a huge money maker as I enjoy doing this and plan to not need the $.

Has anyone done something like this?  What other ‘jobs’/hobbies have others picked up?

[Ron Scott]

Most small shop owners do not make a lot of money, but they need to make enough to cover fixed expenses like rent, utilities and other ongoing needs. So that typically constitutes a job.

If you like collecting and selling, something like eBay might be a better alternative, where your expenses are mostly known and variable in nature.

[mizzourah2006]

Our local community college has a certified bike mechanic degree. I've thought about getting certified and working as a bike mechanic at a bike shop part time or maybe offering a mobile bike mechanic service.

[jlcnuke]

My side business/second job is as an independent scuba diving instructor. After buying the initial gear needed to accommodate teaching students, the overhead is quite low.

I take a hobby I enjoy, and introduce others to it or advance their training in it. Most classes are quite enjoyable for me, even if there is some stress at times (I am responsible for the safety of my students after all, and not all do things great right from the start).

[Ron Scott]

It seems to me many people in the FIRE community are interested in maintaining a fallback position, something they enjoy doing that can also enable them to make additional money. This is good.

The most efficient way for a young person to plan for this approach might be to prepare themselves by working in a job during their full-time years that can be done on a part-time basis later—rather than having to develop a new expertise once they “retire”.

If you work for 20 years at a job an employee is willing to pay you so well that you can save and retire early, why waste that talent by not using it on a part-time basis when needed and earn that high pay continually?

[Omy]

I worked in IT for 10 years and as a real estate agent for 15 years. I keep my real estate license active so I can make a little money as a referral agent now that we're FIREd. I made $10k last year by matching up buyers and sellers with good agents that I know.

[Greystache]

I go to thrift stores to buy items for myself and family.  I also design and build and refurbish furniture as a hobby.  When friends and family ask me to make a piece of furniture, I first try to find something that can be refinished or repurposed before I build something new. I don't try to make any money at it, but it is known that I will work for beer.

[Secret Stache]

My folks recently retired at the traditional age.  To my surprise my Dad got got his FAA drone license and occasionally takes aerial photos for local realtors. 

For myself, my wife maintains a side baking business and I enjoy 3d printing things like cookie cutters to support her.  I need to find a niche product that I could print and sell but haven't figured that out. 

[ixtap]

My folks recently retired at the traditional age.  To my surprise my Dad got got his FAA drone license and occasionally takes aerial photos for local realtors. 

For myself, my wife maintains a side baking business and I enjoy 3d printing things like cookie cutters to support her.  I need to find a niche product that I could print and sell but haven't figured that out.

If you are designing those cookie cutters, I bet they would go on Etsy.

[malachite]

Still three years from FIRE, but already have a side hustle as a lapidary making stone & metal jewelry. I have found some 'good' craft fairs to sell at that only allow hand-crafted items. Profit after fees/etc. is roughly minimum wage for practicing a hobby I enjoy. Not enough to live on, but certainly something I will continue.

If your collection is portable enough to transport have you looked into setting up at a flea market or something like that rather than having the permanent overhead of a storefront?

[clarkfan1979]

I was a snowboard instructor for a season in my early 20's. It was incredibly fun and was in the best shape of my life.

[uniwelder]

I’m at the cusp of FIRE— I’m done with my regular job but wife is still working for a couple more years. My regular job was designing and fabricating mechanical contraptions. Now I find ways to continue with that. I recently built a root vegetable washer (potatoes, carrots, etc) for a farmer friend in exchange for free produce. I plan to continue with similar projects.

[Fishindude]

I take care of all the maintenance and upkeep on our farms which involves a lot of summer mowing on a big tractor that I enjoy.
Also sit on the board of a financial institution which requires a couple days per month.    Spouse works at an ice cream stand in the summer for a fun job.

[Anon-E-Mouze]

I'm thinking of getting an English as a Second Language certification and then teaching people in my profession (law and financial services).

I've been offered commissions to do animal portrait photography, but I really prefer to do that work on a volunteer basis. However, I've made some money over the years selling fine art prints or licensing my images for use in books and magazines. (My biggest sale was US$1500 for one large print.)

[Dreamer40]

When I was in my early 30s, I had so many ideas for part time hobby jobs that sounded fun. Then I retired and none of that actually appeals at all! I have lots of hobbies and things I do, but it’s all for me and my family instead of for money. I was surprised how little I care now about those jobs that sounded fun. Mostly, it’s because I don’t want to deal with an employer and somebody else’s needs, even for freelance work. I don’t want to be on the hook for anything somebody else wants from me. Maybe not all jobs are like that, but the ones I had been interested in all had an element of needing to be or do things at specific times or do things the way someone else would want them.

[poxpower]

Done a bit of art here and there and sold it ( retired artist ) but I find that the second I start to do something with the intent to monetize it, it becomes boring and tedious.

I'd rather save money in other ways, like by cooking, optimizing purchases, finding free stuff on marketplace, repairing things etc.

Just feels like motivation / pleasure of doing things varies constantly to the point where making an income "as a hobby" out of anything doesn't seem to work.

[slackmax]

I inherited a hoard of stuff from a hoarder. I have thrown out a lot of it and donated a lot of it.

But I also sell a lot of it on weekends from April to November, at a flea market table. The table rent is $5 a day. I average $20 a day profit after the $5 fee.

Not getting rich, but I enjoy it, as a hobby. I get out of the house, and am able to socialize with the customers.

Another reason I do it is that even though these items are low value, the thought of donating them just rubs me the wrong way, lol.

 

[DaTrill]

In 17 years you could live on Mars or the moon.  Most of my free time is consumed by a hobby that was deadly 17 years ago.  You have no idea what will be available and what you will be able to do in 5 years, let alone 17. 

[Dreamer40]

Most of my free time is consumed by a hobby that was deadly 17 years ago.

Now I’m curious. What are you up to?

[wageslave23]

I worked in IT for 10 years and as a real estate agent for 15 years. I keep my real estate license active so I can make a little money as a referral agent now that we're FIREd. I made $10k last year by matching up buyers and sellers with good agents that I know.

If you are keeping your real estate license active, why don't you just keep them as clients for yourself? As someone who keeps my license active just to help friends and family, its the easiest money I know.

[Omy]

I thought about doing that, but friends and family can still be exhausting. And most of my past clients are now friends so it would be hard to say yes to some people and no to others. And I love not having to put my life on hold to be available to deal with deadlines and issues. And if the agent on the other side of the transaction is difficult or has difficult clients, I'd still have to deal with that.

And most importantly, we have more than enough. I loved the job and could pop back in easily if I changed my mind...but right now I'm enjoying my freedom and my quiet phone.

[davisgang90]

I'm going through the process to become an online instructor at the Naval War College. The pay is low (22K a year) but the hours are low as well (4-8 hours per week).

I'm eligible because of my background as a retired Navy officer, it keeps me engaged with my former life and it puts a little spending cash in my wallet.

[YttriumNitrate]

Most of my free time is consumed by a hobby that was deadly 17 years ago.

Now I’m curious. What are you up to?

Kitesurfing?

[YK-Phil]

Long before I retired, someone I don't know from Adam within the Government of Canada nominated me to sit as a Federal appointee on an environmental and regulatory board. It started at about one day a month for the first few 3-year terms, then since I retired a bit over a year ago and had time to get more involved, the chairperson asked me to sit on expert panels as needed so my "workload" has increased to 3-4 days per month, plus expenses if I have to travel to a hearing but since covid-19, everything has been done via Zoom. Easy work, a day of reading here and there, a day of prep time and meeting, the files are in my field so it keeps me involved and abreast of current issues in the field. From 2010 to 2020, I averaged about $30K per year, but in 2022, my part-time gig netted me over $40Ks so I have not needed to make any withdrawal from my stash. My appointment expires in May 2023 when I turn 65 (and start collecting OAS) but I will have to decide soon if I want to continue and ask to be re-appointed for a fifth term. 

[lutorm]

I will be building an airplane. If I like it, maybe I'll build more. If not, I'll fly my family around the world. Neither are likely to be money makers... ;-)

I think the key for doing something is to not sign yourself up to have to do it -- then it becomes a job. Having the freedom to grasp cool opportunities that intersect with your skills and happen to cross your path seems like the way to do it to me.

[DaTrill]

Most of my free time is consumed by a hobby that was deadly 17 years ago.

Now I’m curious. What are you up to?

Kitesurfing?

yep.  Big improvement in safety technology and why it's impossible to look further than a few years ahead. 

[CodingHare]

I knit and sew.  My Grandma had community around her from that her entire life.  She was always going to quilting conventions.  I basically plan to do the same until my hands fall off.