(This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on a link to the Merchant’s site and purchase something I may earn a commission.The price you pay will be the same if you went to the Merchant’s site directly.)
You’re retired. How does it feel? Do you have investments that supplement your pensions and Social Security? You don’t? I am sorry to hear that. If so you are not alone. One in three Americans have less than $5000 in retirement savings. So you’d like to know how to make money in retirement.
The following is a quote from a newsletter called The Street.
“Sources differ, but the story remains the same. According to a 2018 study by Northwestern Mutual, 21% of Americans have no retirement savings and an additional 10% have less than $5,000 in savings. A third of Baby Boomers currently in, or approaching retirement age have between nothing and $25,000 set aside.”
Where do you fall in? If your pensions and Social Security when combined provide you with 60% of income of your last year in a job, you will have done well.
Here are three scenarios that could describe your situation:
- You’re rolling in money.
- Your retirement income barely pays your bills.
- Your retirement income is so low or nonexistent.
There may be other situations, but these are the ones I want to address.
You’re Rolling In Money!
Your retirement income not only pays your bills but also has enough left over to pay for the finer things in life. You have a sizable amount of savings that enables you to travel in style, go on cruises and live the good life. Congratulations! You were savvy enough to do the right things while employed so you’re now financially secure and free.
Perhaps you didn’t have a job, but ran your own business. Maybe even developed a business that pays you passive income. Whatever you did you are reaping the rewards of superb planning and implementation. Sadly, you are in the small minority.
Your Income Barely Pays Your Bills
What do you do? In order to stay above water you pay your bills and shop at budget stores to pay for food and clothes. There’s very little left over to pay for gas and car maintenance. There may be some savings but if an emergency strikes you’re in deep water.
The thought has risen to look for a job. Perhaps at Walmart and earn minimum wage. Actually that may not be a bad idea. Particular if you work part-time. This extra money will be enough to supplement your retirement income. There is another very good reason I’ll cover later.
Your Retirement Income Is So Low, Or Non Existent
If this is the case you probably continue to work in a job or two. And depend on Government benefits like food stamps and subsidized housing. Life is miserable. You’re living from pension check to pension check and paycheck to paycheck.
You feel trapped. When you look back over the last 30 to 40 years, you wish you had done things differently. Trying to get ahead now will require super human effort and help.
Since you did not know what to do by yourself to prevent this situation, I don’t think you know what to do now to get yourself out of this situation. Believe it or not, there is hope. Do keep reading to find out what is possible.
Would You Like To Earn Money Online?
What you need are the following:
- Computer
- Internet connection
- Website
- Online tools
- Training
- Business Vehicle
- About 2 hours a day
Let’s talk about each of these in a little detail.
Computer
Any PC or MAC that is two to three years old will work just fine. Either a laptop or a desktop will do. I personally use a desktop that happens to be an iMac that I got in 2016. The MacOS and Windows work perfectly on this one piece of hardware. You can’t do this on a PC so that is why I prefer to use a Mac. But you can use any PC.
The reason I prefer a desktop instead of a laptop is my iPad and iPhone enables me to work anywhere doing almost everything I can do on my iMac. And they are easier to carry around than a laptop. If I only had one computer to work with I would go with a laptop with at least a 15″ screen.
You can use any computer you wish. If money is tight, I suggest buying a two to three year old used one. Computer technology does not evolve as fast as it once used to. The Operating System evolves often. And these are updated automatically online. Gone are the days when you had to buy software in a box and install the software via a CD. It is all done over the Internet now. That leads us the next topic
Internet Connection
You MUST have a reasonably fast and reliable Internet connection. Most cable and phone companies provide this service. Since the use of video has become very important to communicate with people online, a fast Internet connection is a given. Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) usually offer speeds at various levels. You do not need the highest speed, as these are best for gaming. They also cost more. I recommend the next level down.
Most Internet connection comes bundled with cable TV and phone. If you use all of these, get them from the same company as you will get a better deal.
Here’s a trick you can play. All ISP’s offer first time customers really great deals for the first year. Before your year is up, call customer service and tell them that you plan to switch companies. Loosing customers is anathema to them. If they try to stop you from leaving, use that to bargain with them and ask if you can continue your service at the same rate.
If they really resist by saying those rates are for new customers, make them feel guilty by asking why is it that loyal customers do not get the best deal? Usually they will counter with a plan that costs something in between. Take it to avoid the hassle of changing companies. If they do not play ball, then switch.
Website
There was a time, going back to the turn of the century when you needed to be technically savvy to write HTML code to build a website. Today building a website is almost like using document creation tools. All the arcane work is done for you in the background. There are website building tools like Wix and WordPress that make it so much easier.
When I first began my training I was shown how to literally build a basic website in a matter of seconds. All it took was to answer a few questions and hit Create. And voila, there it was. Of course, it took more effort to add content and make it look useful.
Before you create your website you will need to purchase a Domain Name. After you have created your website you will need a company to host it. Wouldn’t it be great if the same company that trained you also supplied Domain names as well as hosted your website? Do you think that would be very convenient and take away a lot of problems dealing with different companies?
I have good news for you. Such a company does indeed exist. And I use it for my business. I will reveal all about it later. Let’s continue down the line first.
Online Tools
After you build your website the next step is to build traffic so that people can see what you have to offer. Instead of operating blindly, you need online tools to help you create this traffic and then monitor it to measure growth. Rome was not build in a day. Hence, it is going to take effort and time to create a fully fledged online money making machine.
Every move you make on your website will impact your progress in this area. Being able to monitor your results lets you know if you are doing things right or wrong.
Here is where online tools come into play. Most of these are available free or at very low cost. At this point in time do not worry about these details. There will be a right time for that.
Training
This is where the rubber meets the road. No matter how good your tools are or your website, if you lack the right training to use these as effectively as possible, you will be wasting your time. Frustration will set in. And you will probably give up.
There is more to training than just going through lessons. We learn by doing, getting feedback and asking questions to the experts. I will introduce you to a company where you can get all of this and more.
Like me you probably have come across companies online who promise you total success. But and this is a huge BUT, you will have to buy their courses that cost thousands of dollars.
Years ago I knew that making money online was the way to go. I signed up for one company after another. They initially offered me a low cost sign up fee that usually ran around $49.99 a month. It also included a free one hour mentoring session to make sure I was set up right. So exciting!
It felt so good to sign up and schedule that one on one. Nothing beats personal attention when learning something new. The mentor was really nice. They wanted to know what level of experience I had. And what were my goals. Like how much would I want to earn and when.
They congratulated me for taking this first step. I was told they had a program that could be tailored just for me. It would piggy back on the basic training I had signed up for.
Hello! What was happening here? Didn’t that $49.99 a month pay for everything I needed to create my business online? I was told sure it would. If I was willing to wait about five or more years. But the program they had in mind for me would put me on the fast track to success and I could be earning money in about three months. All the course cost was an annual fee of $1990.00. Yikes! I didn’t see that coming.
When I told them I coudn’t afford it, they offered me a monthly plan of $199. I told them I could barely afford the $49.99 I had signed up for so how could I afford $199?
You won’t believe what they told me next!
If I was really serious about building a successful, thriving online business that their training almost guaranteed as long as I followed everything they taught exactly, then, I would do anything to come up with the money. When I balked, they said then this was not for me. Because others who were in my situation borrowed from family and friends, got a bank loan, used their credit cards, and did whatever it took to give themselves the opportunity of a lifetime.
By then, I gave up and said when I could afford it I would call them back. And by the way, could I cancel the $49.99 course I had signed up for. They did.
So why am I telling you this? After several experiences like this I had given up all hope of being able to afford to build my online business.
Several months later that all changed. I discovered the company that provided me with the ticket to create a successful business online. You’re probably wondering how much did it cost me.
Well, it cost me nothing to register and see for myself what was offered. And if I liked it, I could upgrade from a free starter member to a Premium member within the week. All for under $20 for the first month. And after that I could either pay the monthly fee of $49 or the annual fee that worked out to less than $1 A DAY!
Drum Roll Please – The Best Online Business Training at Any Price!
The company is called Wealthy Affiliate, It was created about 14 years ago by two entrepreneurs who had to learn everything from scratch. The training and platform is second to none. I wrote this critical review to help individuals who are looking for ways to make extra money, especially if you are retired.
If you are fortunate enough to have sufficient retirement income to just about manage without having to continue to keep a job, you are in prime position to capitalize from this opportunity. I said that you can build this business devoting about 2 hours a day. Most people who have a job usually cannot devote more time.
Since you are totally retired, guess what. You have more time to spend on building your business. Logic says, you should make progress FASTER!
Business Vehicle
It’s time to reveal what is the business vehicle I am talking about.
Affiliate Marketing – You Sell Products You Do Not Own!
You may have heard this term. Or maybe not. Regardless here is how it works using a simple diagram. But how is this possible? I’ll explain.
You first need to apply to be an Affiliate for a company that has an online store like Amazon, Walmart or Best Buy, OR join an Affiliate Network like Clickbank or Etsy. When customers look for a product or a product review they find your website. Your objective is to help them make a purchasing decision through your value packed blogs. After they click through to the online store the following events takes place where you do not have any risk!
- Orders are taken for you.
- You do not need to bill your customers – this will be done for you.
- You do not need to ship them what they purchased – this will also be done for you.
- If there is a problem with the product you are not responsible.
- You do not have to deal with returns. This will be done for you.
- If the products cause a problem to the customer, you are not liable.
- When a sale takes place, you get paid the commission.
The role you play is in marketing the products for the company or companies you are affiliated with. Such as Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot etc. There are literally thousands of companies who have affiliate programs you can subscribe to.
You must be thinking how are you going to promote thousands of products sold on all these stores? The answer is YOU DO NOT! We do this business by finding a narrow niche that we are passionate and knowledgeable about and leverage these attributes to build our business.
I mentioned you need to find a niche. You can find out how to find a niche that is right for you by clicking
How To Find My Niche For Affiliate Marketing!
In order to help those who wish to create an Affiliate Marketing business online I have created a website called
Affiliate Marketing For Leaders!
Here you will find a wealth of information to help you along your path to a successful online business, This is a work in progress, so check back every week for new materials.
How Much Time Is Necessary
I stated earlier that you need about 2 hours a day to devote to building an online business, When you have a job, and a family to take care of, it is hard to find time to do anything else. From my past experience when I had a job, the most time I was able to carve out was about 2 hours a day. If you happen to be a retiree, meaning over 65, but you still have to keep a job to make ends meet, you would need about 2 hours each day.
However, if you are one of the lucky ones and have sufficient retirement income to just about pay the bills, there is a bright side. You will have a lot of free time on your hands that you can devote to your online business. You will divide this time between training, implementing what you were taught, monitor your results, rinse and repeat. The more you are able to do, the faster you will start to see results, and hence earning a passive stream of income.
How does that sound?
Closing Thoughts
As a retiree, I know how hard it can be. That is one of the reasons why I wrote this article.
My goal is to serve you. I want to help you to build a successful business online. When you sigh up with Wealthy Affiliate, I will see you on the other side and be your mentor.
But for now I need your help. Did you feel you got value reading this article? If it has helped you can you share your thoughts with me in the comments section below. And if you know of others who may be able to benefit from what I offer, can you share this link with them?
I wish you all the best in whatever you do in life.
Retirement is generally the time of rest and peace of mind without having to work under anybody again. However, it could be daunting and unexpected too.
So, transitioning and building a worthy business online would help a lot more in maintaining that extra flow of income. Like you suggested, affiliate marketing is perfect for retirees to serve as an extra means of generating income. Thanks
Thanks Roland for your supporting view.
Edwin
This is a really great post and I’m so glad I found it. Both my parents are coming close to retirement and they do not have enough saved up to live a comfortable life. They are constantly worried about money, always trying to get the best deals just to save a penny or two.
I’m glad creating an online income seems easier than what I previously thought. I never knew starting a website is just a click away. I like Wealthy Affiliate as it seems to offer the whole solution at an affordable price. I will refer both my parents to your blog post to see for themselves.
Hi Joe,
Glad to know this article could be helpful to your parents. This is a great time for the to build an online business. I wrote an article on how to pick ones niche for affiliate marketing that may also be helpful to them.
All the best to you.
Edwin
Wow Edwin, I really like the site. the pics and the way it is all put together is very helpful, and it flows well. I, too, have had my share of going through the sites that promised unbelievable success at unbelievable prices.
I actually work building websites and doing SEO or Search Engine Optimization for a living, and I couldn’t get ahead on my own. I agree with you that Wealthy Affiliate is one of the best, most supportive communities out there. That is the cool thing. Because if you join, you will not be alone.
Thanks for the beautiful site and the offer to help retirees. I’m not retired yet, but I’m way behind on the treadmill of life. I’m hoping affiliate marketing can help me get ahead.
All the best,
Jim
Hi Jim,
You are ahead of the curve by doing something to boost your income after you retire before that time comes. Glad you also found Wealthy Affiliate as it is the best deal in town at any price.
I wish you much success in your online business.
Edwin
Thanks for putting these articles together, they’re honestly so helpful and genuine. You go into detail about why people fall for get rich quick schemes and it’s a great eye-opener as well as a reminder for what we should look for ourselves even after being seasoned in sales for a while.
I used to work in outside sales and at the time I loved it and did pretty well for myself. When I came across the opportunity to begin affiliate marketing online I knew right away that I would love it and eventually do very well with it. You also go into some good details about what a newer person to the field should expect and its quite encouraging to know exactly what to look for and how to be patient about the process in the beginning.
Thanks Sonia. Patience and persistence are key attributes anyone involved in Affiliate Marketing, or for that matter in any business needs to have. I wish you all the best.
Edwin
Whoa, you’ve described the possible scenario that can make a retired person become financially free again. I have an uncle who earned a low salary all the way until he retired. He’s totally dependent on his low pension for life support. But the most heartbreaking part was that he just got dumped by a scammer just recently when trying to get another means of earning an income. This is sad.
This review can be of help to him. I won’t hesitate to share it with him right away. All these source of income are legit and confirmed. Am able to pay up some bills through one of these businesses.
Glad that Affiliate Marketing is working for you Stella. Your retired uncle will appreciate you sharing this with him.
Cheers.
Edwin
Many people around the world, when they reach retirement, are eager to start a new career and have a new source of income. However, they always ask how to make extra money in retirement to provide relief in rest of the lives.
in your article you have shown the overall fundamentals of online business that absolutely will help any person like my dad to take advantage of this great opportunity and getting started in a new business. So that they can keep themselves busy and as a result their mental health state will definitely be maintained.
I was looking for a way to show my father how the Internet provides a fantastic opportunity to meet his financial goals. I will elaborate about wealthy affiliate to my father and will also mention your post to anybody and emphasize they have a look at Wealthy affiliate.
Thank you
Hi Shirian,
Thanks for recognizing the value of Wealthy Affiliate and that my article can help your dad. I appreciate you sharing this with others who also want to earn money online.
Cheers.
Edwin