Additional income

Or, making a few bob extra........

There can be few pensioners - certainly not those on the State Retirement Pension - who would not welcome a little extra income each week. I posted in our Age-Net forums, asking for ideas, and this article includes a number of those put forward. The truth is, there is plenty of work available - you just need to establish what will best suit your needs.

The first things you need to ask yourself are:

1.) How fit am I?

Could you for example take on a few hours gardening a week? Easy to get started - just a postcard in the corner shop and pass the word amongst your neighbours. It really is that easy, there are many people leading busy lives and desperate for some help to keep their garden tidy.

Could you do a few hours (often anti social hours) stacking supermarket shelves? Or B & Q for instance are well known for taking on older workers part time - their customers appreciate the experience and good manners which older people often bring to the workplace.

How about delivering leaflets or 'freebie' newspapers? Ask at your local news agents, they can probably point you in the right direction.

How about dog walking? You need to like dogs of course but it's very pleasant work out in the open air - sometimes not so pleasant in the cold & rain of course! - See HERE for one firm keen to expand their company across the UK.

2.) What skills do I have?

Can you sew or knit? In this age of 'off the shelf' buying, there are always people wanting alterations - hems raised, trousers legs shortened etc. Hand knit garments are back in fashion so many small shops will be happy to sell quality work on commission for you.

How about making Pet blankets or dog coats. People will always pay for pet 'treats'. Simple to do - you could always offer a 'bespoke' service' for different size dogs.........

Have you had interesting experiences in life? Could you talk about them for 20 minutes? Club Secretaries are always on the lookout for speakers. Rewards will be anything from a cup of tea and some cake (but more usually a small cash sum) up to the obscene amounts paid to ex. Prime Ministers. Public speaking isn't difficult and the word quickly goes around if you are interesting, funny, or both! Be prepared for some surprises though - I once ageed (as I thought) to address a small group of single-handed sailors. When I arrived at the venue there were 500 'Singles' of both sexes. As it turned out, the evening was a huge success!

Can you write? Now I am not going to suggest that you start off with a best selling novel - that takes time and also a considerable amount of persistence, but how about starting with simple letters to newspapers? The national newspapers pay well and they are always looking for short, pithy or funny letters. Keep them short - one or two paragraphs is good because it gives the editor something to slot in amongst the long-winded ones. Or try writing a short article (maximum of 1,000 words say) on your hobby or pet interest. If you can include a photograph or two to go with it, that certainly helps. Try offering it to your Parish magazine or the local 'Freebie' newspaper. It won't earn a lot, but it will help to get you started. Of course, you should still try and write that best seller, but that will take longer!

The Internet.

The Internet has opened up a whole new world for anyone who has to - or prefers to - work from home. Anyone with a new idea can become a Millionaire overnight, or so it seems. Truth of course is that it has to be a good idea, and also that you have to work hard to get it off the ground!

Nevertheless, the Internet does offer home based business oportunities from selling a few items on an auction site - E-Bay is the best known - to launching your own web-site just like this one. E-Bay is a good place to start. It's the best known and busiest and their instructions for registering and putting goods on sale are easy to follow. Look around the house and see what you no longer want or have need of and try offering a couple of items at auction.

Choose things you can describe accurately and think of imaginative (but truthful) descriptions which will capture the interest of potential buyers. Look at similar items already on sale to get ideas about what is selling and the sort of prices things fetch. Initially, avoid large items or heavy books because carriage/postal charges are a serious issue when long distance selling.

Not only does online auction selling work, it can also be huge fun! Watching your bid prices (hopefully) rising and often the last minute frenetic bidding as everyone tries to get a bargain can be quite exciting. You will probably find that not only do you make some cash, but you also enjoy it so much that you will quickly run out of things to sell. Well, one source of cheap items for re-sale is your local jumble sale or car boot sale. Remember though, you have to buy cheap if you hope to sell at a profit. Also, bear in mind that you don't want to buy things you like, you need to buy things you can sell!

If it's all so easy, why don't more people do it? The truth is that you still have to put the effort in and you have to stay on top of things. It's not for everyone. However; many people do go on to become professionals on E-Bay and do make big money. There are firms which will supply stock, packaging and everything else you need, but to make big money requires big effort and that is not what most people either need or are prepared to do. The choice is yours...............

Any comments on this article or ideas that have worked for you? Please let us know in the FORUM or e-mail us.

 

A hobby and a regular income from the internet

Could this be what you are looking for?

HERE

 

 

Remember! Any extra income has to be declared to the Inland Revenue at the end of your tax year. The small amounts we have been discussing are unlikely to make a difference to your overall tax liability but could affect your entitlement to additional Income Support payments.

 

 

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