6 Craft Hobbies That Can Turn Into Income for Seniors

If you are a retired person, or you have a loved one that is recently retired and he or she is looking for extra money, crafting may be a means of extra income.

It’s common for seniors that are retired to take up crafting as a hobby. Crafting is a great way to keep busy for seniors that are looking for productive ways to spend their time. The possibilities are endless when it comes to crafting and this is also a great way to stay social and meet new people.

Additionally, crafting is an outstanding way for seniors to make some extra income if their crafts are well-done and authentic. There are multiple ways for seniors to do this, below are some ways that you or a loved one can turn hobbies into extra income.

Ways for Seniors to Make Money After Retirement

With the various opportunities that crafting has to offer, seniors have the chance to turn their hobby into an income; here are some craft ideas that can make you or a loved one some extra cash:

Sell Hand-Made Blankets

Often seniors enjoy making blankets because it is a fairly involved craft that keeps both the mind and the hands occupied. Making blankets also takes a good amount of time so you or a loved one will be kept busy for a longer period of time compared to other crafts. With the vast variety of different colors, patterns, and designs of fabric, each blanket is sure to be unique.

Seniors can create a tie, sewn, or knitted blankets and can sell them on online platforms such as eBay or Etsy. These blankets can be custom made as well. Selling hand-made blankets could be an extremely lucrative way to make money as a retired senior citizen.

Sell Knitted Crafts at a Farmer’s Market

Building off of the idea of selling knitted blankets, a senior can sell knitted scarves or hats as well. Typically, these kinds of crafts make the most money when they are sold at a farmer’s market or flea market. Like the blankets, knitted items are a great craft for seniors because they take time and patience to complete.

DIY Candles and Sell Them Online

Candles are an easy craft to get into and can bring in extra money when sold online. Making candles is easy and doesn’t require much skill, so if you or a loved one either lack patience or have a hard time using your hands, making candles is a great craft to get into.

The supplies to make candles are affordable and there are typically only four:

Wax
Fragrance Oil
Color
A jar or tin

Selling candles online is a great way to bring in some extra money because candles are an item that will not be wanted or needed; they are an evergreen product.

Make and Sell Your Own Jewelry

This is a means of income for seniors that consider themselves to be creative and up to date with the latest trends and styles. Creating jewelry takes a lot of patience, and is a craft that requires a lot of time.

There are a variety of different kinds of jewelry that can be made, including:

Beaded necklaces
Custom pins
Wrap bracelets
Pendants
Hemp yarn bracelets

There are endless possibilities when it comes to making and selling jewelry. Jewelry is also a great craft when it comes to making extra money because it can be sold online, or it can be sold at places like a farmer’s market or flea market.

Take Up Painting and Sell Your Pieces

Painting is a popular craft for seniors to take up because of calming benefits it has to offer as well as health benefits. In fact, painting is so beneficial for seniors that a senior living community in New Jersey has daily workshops that offer painting for seniors because it can aid in arthritis pain as well as aid in stress.

Seniors that take up painting can improve their well-being while also making gorgeous art that they can sell for a profit if the finished product is well-done. Painting also offers a lot of room for growth so seniors can progressively get better at painting which will keep them occupied and busy during their retirement years.

Start a Custom Sign Business

Signs have become a popular part of interior design. Signs add a layer of personality and personalization to a space; that’s why creating a custom sign business may be a great way for seniors to turn their hobby into a moneymaker.

Signs can be sold online or at markets and are a great way to stay busy while also creating something meaningful. For seniors that are looking to turn their sign-making hobby into a business, it would be beneficial to offer the option for customers to pick out the kind of sign they want. By offering this option, your signs will set themselves apart from signs sold in stores.

More Advice:

About the Author

Kelsey Simpson enjoys writing about things that can help others.
She lives in South Jersey and is the proud companion to two German Shepherds and spends her free time volunteering in dog shelters.