7 Offbeat Jobs That Can Make You a Buck After 60

2020 is winding down, and all I can say is good riddance! I cannot recall a bleaker year. Like me, your job may have either gone POOF! or you are sitting by your phone waiting for that come-on-back call. I may be over 60, but I still get a thrill when I cash a paycheque.

Who was the genius who said when one window closes another opens? (I actually think it’s a door but that doesn’t fit my narrative). They omitted the fact that these windows are probably located in a far-off castle with hundreds of windows, and it is up to you to find the one that just opened.

Thinking Outside the Box

It is an overused phrase, but I think it works here. And when I say outside the box, I mean past the bleachers and scurrying gleefully through the forest beyond.

While sitting at the kitchen table doing my daily crossword puzzle, it occurred to me; who are these guys who create crosswords, and could you make a living at it?

The answer is yes, you can! Here is my list of real – if a bit odd – jobs to consider.

So, You Think You Can Write

With my travel career on temporary hold, I have double downed on my writing career – furiously taking courses and plunging headfirst into that memoire I’ve been writing for two long years. My friends thought I’d gone quite mad when I told them, with great excitement, I was taking a weeklong course on punctuation.

If you too think this is pretty cool, you could be a writer! Not only that, I’ve created the website The Rant of a Late Bloomer to promote my work. Keeps me busy and relevant.

Pet Paraphernalia

Many of my friends and acquaintances treat their pooches as if they were adored children. No amount of money is too much when it comes to their comfort. My friend Gail is an excellent knitter, belongs to a worldwide club, and even goes on knitting junkets.

I suggested she should start knitting up a storm – creating sweaters, booties, neck warmers, and all manner of paraphernalia that pet owners would buy for whatever ridiculous sum she asked. Sell on Etsy.com or through an arrangement with a pet store.

If you’ve got the talent and the time, I think this idea is a winner. Fortunately for my pocketbook, I am the caretaker of a cranky, old cat who would claw my face off if I so much as suggested she would look attractive in a bonnet.

Are You Handy?

Speaking of pets, my elderly, 20 lb cat likes to sit in the window of my home office but is no longer able – or at least pretends to be unable – to jump up anymore. I couldn’t find what I wanted online, so I searched out a Facebook site for local businesses.

It turned out someone knew a master stair builder who just might be willing to custom build a set of stairs with a platform at the top for my primadonna’s bed. With my design and measurements, he created exactly what I wanted and left it to me to finish whatever way I liked.

I have now hired him to build me a staircase for my spoiled baby to get up on my bed.

Are you handy? Get yourself on a local business page and start making money!

Risqué Telephone Talk

Okay, this one is a wee bit cheeky but hear me out. There’s a story here. My older sister (who sadly passed away last year) had debilitating issues with diabetes.

Even though it was hard for her to get around, she still needed a paycheque. But she was blessed with something very special – one of the sultriest, sexiest, Jessica Rabbit voices you have ever heard. She could melt icebergs in Antarctica just saying bon voyage!

It so happened my hairstylist told me the story of a friend of a friend (of course) who had severe physical disabilities but using a phone was not an issue. Apparently, this lady was making a terrific living doing phone sex.

Now, I know nothing about how much this pays or exactly what you are supposed to say but I thought it worth passing along to my big sister. So, the next time I called her, I suggested this cheeky profession.

Prior to this notable phone call, I had already decided what my response would be depending on her reaction: A) This career could solve all your money problems; or B) I was kidding! Well, to make a long story short, Plan B was adopted and nothing further was said about the matter.

But hey, if you’ve got the pipes and the pluck, this might be right up your alley.

Actor

This career may depend on where you live.

Of course, we all know Clara Peller, aka “Where’s the Beef!” lady. Clara was a manicurist by profession, and this was her first acting gig at the age of 80. Wrap me in a muumuu and place a grey wig on my pate, and I will happily announce whatever you’re selling all the way to the bank.

Then there is Kathryn Joosten. Kathryn always wanted to be an actor but, as most of us know, life tends to blow up our well laid plans. Her acting career didn’t start until the age of 42, and by the time she passed away from cancer at 73, she had an impressive list of acting credits on such shows as Desperate Housewives, Alley McBeal, General Hospital and many more.

Kathryn did not have a golden ticket to Hollywood but nonetheless ended up making an exceptionally good living from acting. If you would like to read more about this spunky and determined woman’s remarkable journey, here’s a link to the Forbes article.

House/Pet Sitter

I know a couple of ladies who do this for a living. One of them travels all over the world (or did until 2020) babysitting people’s homes but you can do this job locally as well.

Whether it’s for business or vacation, people leave their homes vacant for lengthy periods and need someone trustworthy to water their plants, bring in the mail, keep the dust bunnies at bay, and maybe walk the dog.

Here is a trick one of my friends shared with me. On Day 1, she takes pictures of every room in the house carefully making photographic notes on where all the knickknacks, ornaments, and pictures are located.

She then packs everything up but the pets, so nothing accumulates any dust and saves herself a ton of work. When it is time to put everything back where she found it, her pictures show her the way. Some people are so smart!

Crossword Puzzle Authors

Each day while I eat my lunch, I do my favourite crossword puzzle in the hope of keeping my brain well oiled. We are not talking the New York Times puzzle here.

I have an app on my iPhone for a reasonably easy daily puzzle. This particular app informs me it has 30 authors who have been creating crosswords for years. If you think you have the knack, this could be worth looking into.

Where’s That Draft Coming From?

Put those little grey cells to work and start wandering the halls of the castle until you find where that draft is coming from. It might lead you to the window that just opened.

There must be hundreds of intriguing jobs out there hiding in plain sight. Someone is doing them and earning a paycheque, so it might as well be you!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What other out of the box careers and jobs can you think of? Do you currently have a job that is a bit out there? Please let us know below.