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It seems to me there would be two basic reasons to work a minimum wage (or nearly minimum wage) job as a senior.
1. The senior needs the money and can't find anything that pays better.
2. The senior was bored and/or felt a lack of social contact and the job provides that.
Personally I would find it discouraging and frustrating to work for minimum wage (or nearly so) because the small financial return would make it seem like a waste of time.
But I do something that many people might find contradictory - I work for nothing as a volunteer, not full time but three days a week for a total of about 9 or 10 hours. I find what I do extremely gratifying or I wouldn't be doing it. I look forward to it eagerly.
I know a retiree who started a computer repair business and another who does energy audits for the electric company. He's a retired electrician. Nether are getting rich but it's a few additional bucks each month.
In my previous city, Wal-Mart recently did away with the greeters -- at least in the locations where I shopped. I think it must be on a store-by-store basis, but my take on it was the stores in the nicer areas (ex-urban) probably had fewer theft issues, so just did away with the position.
We still have our greeters at my store. Not because of any theft problems but they have all been there for a lot of years so I don't think the store will simply 'let them go'. They'll let them work until they retire...again. Most of them can barely get around so I don't think they'll be there much longer. I honestly don't think any of them could do any other job in the store because of physical limitations.
I'm glad to see this thread bumped. When I retire I will look for a part time job for sure. No way I will be OK sitting around the house in my mid-60's and yeah the extra walk around money will be important.
I won't expect to make a lot, and our plans to move to a small town (Johnson City TN Pop 60,000) may limit my ability to find work, especially in a college town. I'm not so sure I would be happy standing on my feet for 8 hours in a retail store or as a greater and it seems like the clock never moves in those jobs. No I would prefer a job where I get around, maybe a merchandiser. Real estate may be an option too.
I'm not sure how common my part-time job is, but with three days left in this month, I've worked 55 hours and made $2,776 for an average hourly rate of $50.47. I worked from 11:00am - 7:00pm on Saturday and another 8 hours from 1:00pm - 9:00pm on Sunday, but I haven't gone back to the office since then. I don't normally put in that many hours at a time, but these were special circumstances. I have no specific plans to go back to work until this coming weekend, but I may pop in for a few hours later today or tomorrow just to try to get my earnings up to an even $3,000 for the month.
Last edited by MadManofBethesda; 02-26-2014 at 06:07 AM..
Reason: For those who don't know, this post is mostly tongue-in-cheek. My "work" is really a hobby, not a job.
Anyone could freelance on the skills from their former position, as I am thankfully able to do now. I do about 8 to 10 hrs a week most months and charge $30–$40/hour. It is at-home work so my old body isn't challenged as it was in the workplace. Sometimes I have strict deadlines, but more often not. So many of you who come from professional specialties could do much the same.
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isn't challenged as it was in the workplace. Sometimes I have strict deadlines, but more often not. So many of you who come from professional specialties could do much the same.
