I’ve always dreamed of living in Amboise in the Loire Valley.
Have you ever dreamed about just packing your bag and leaving…PERMANENTLY? I sure have. I’ve dreamed about being an expat in the Loire Valley of France many times. But, I’m sure that earning a living while abroad was the first thing that stopped you.
Thanks to International Living’s editors and contributors for a list of 7 of the most convenient and available side gigs for retirees (including blogging, as I do). Of course, you don’t have to stop at seven, there are so many more.
Here is their list of ways to earn a living as an expat…
1. Sell Your Photos
With the widespread availability of low-cost, high-grade digital cameras, photography has become a way to earn an income that’s within the grasp of people who don’t want to make a significant financial investment, or who don’t have a specialized qualification or background.
Stock photography websites are huge repositories of photographs, covering almost every possible subject. Photographers from around the world simply upload their images to any one of a number of these huge databases, allowing magazine editors, designers, or practically any organization with a website to buy them.
The beauty of stock websites for photographers is that once they’ve uploaded a photograph, it can be sold any number of times, to different people, meaning that it can continue to make money in the background, again and again, without any more effort.
2. Rent Your Space on Airbnb
Airbnb is a website that allows people to monetize a spare room or whole apartment or house, advertising it to travelers from around the world. But it can be more than just a much-needed extra income boost. It can also be a great way to meet people from all over the world.
Running an Airbnb means low upfront costs, and it’s easy to operate and maintain. But it’s important to have a location that offers some direct benefit to the visitor. It should be close to public transport, historical sites, or offer a great view. There is also the option to rent out the whole place or to live in it and rent out rooms. Being a live-in host can be a full-time job, but it’s up to you how often you host guests.
3. Blogging
Blogging is likely the best-fit income opportunity for anyone who loves to travel. From foodies to culture fans to traveling with children — or solo — travel adventure is the perfect fodder for a money-making blog.
It doesn’t require being an Ernest Hemingway or J.K. Rowling. There are plenty of people who enjoy sharing experiences—good, bad, funny, inspirational, or practical—if it’s real life, anything goes.
And it’s easy to get started. A laptop, an internet connection, and something passionate to talk about. But specific topics from a unique perspective are best. It may be luxury travel or budget travel, a specific location, specific activities like hiking or shopping. The more specific, the easier it’ll be to attract an engaged audience and to earn money from a blog.
4. Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a method of retail where the seller doesn’t actually have a physical inventory of the items they sell. Instead, when a customer makes an order, the drop shipper purchases the item from a third party and ships it directly to the customer.
This means no overhead for products or inventory. Dropshipping eliminates some of the biggest expenses and hassles of doing business online. And it makes getting started in e-commerce possible with a much lower investment. This method can work in conjunction with a personal e-commerce website as well as online selling platforms like eBay or Amazon.
Moreover, you can partner with companies like Printify who can add your custom designs onto the products and even label them with your personal brand so the client will never know that this product was drop shipped. For example, you can design custom t-shirts, and Printify will do all the heavy lifting for you, including production and delivery. This allows you to concentrate mainly on the design work and digital marketing.
5. Life Coach
Life coaching is a thought-provoking and creative process that helps people focus on both personal and professional goals. It’s typically an “evocative” process—meaning it’s the life coach’s job to draw out the answers from the client, rather than tell them what to do. People use life coaching to overcome fears, boost their self-confidence, create goals, and instill success-oriented habits.
There are thousands of coaching training programs available online and in person. Many coaching certification programs offer an entire website setup once training is completed.
6. Pet Sitting
Most expats have at least one animal—many have more than one. Every expat wants to visit family from time to time or vacation. A dog hotel, where their pets are properly looked after, gives them the freedom to do so without worrying about their pets.
Overheads for this type of business are relatively low. But there are some regular costs to be aware of, including food, beds, toys, and climate control.
7. Become an Audiobook Narrator
Audiobooks are an increasingly popular form of entertainment. The convenience factor of smartphones has led to an industry boom. The Association of American Publishers reported a 38.1% increase in audiobook downloads in 2015…and that’s creating a demand for freelance narrators.
Narration is a job that anyone can do, regardless of age or experience. It’s flexible, portable, and, above all, fun.
The full report on these and dozens of more side gigs for Baby Boomers and retirees can be found at: Retirement Side Gigs for Baby Boomers
