10 Classic Boomer-Era Side Hustles
Before the internet made it easy to launch a side hustle from your couch, boomers got off the couch and serviced their neighborhood to earn a few extra bucks.
Whether it was selling cosmetics door-to-door or waking up before dawn to deliver newspapers, these gigs were responsible for the spending money in boomers’ pockets.
1. Paper Routes
Back in the day, before childhood labor laws ruined youth employment, all the cool kids had their own paper route. You could find them slinging newspapers from their bicycles to front stoops all over the neighborhood.
2. Babysitting
These days, babysitters are so expensive that most people prefer having their family members watch the kids for free when they can. But decades ago, babysitting was a solid gig to bring in some extra money … mostly for trustworthy teens.
3. Coupon Clipping
The digital coupons today are barely even a good deal, and most stores don’t let you stack them anymore for bigger bargains. But during boomers’ heydays, clipping coupons was a good way to save money. If you were extra savvy about it, you could even make money selling the stock you scored, or even by offering your coupon clipping services to other shoppers.
4. Avon Sales
Remember the good old days of the Avon lady stopping by for a visit? It was all about women helping women get their hands on more perfume, makeup, nail polish, and accessories.
5. Lawn Mowing & Yard Work
Before there were lawn care services galore, folks (especially kids and teenagers) would mow lawns, pull weeds, and do other lawn care in their neighborhood for some extra money.
6. Tupperware Parties
Ahh, the original multi-level marketing party — with less Zoom and more gelatin molds. Tupperware parties were half social gathering and half business strategy, where hosts could earn rewards (and bragging rights) by selling durable plastic containers in every pastel hue imaginable.
7. Selling Handmade Jewelry or Beaded Crafts
Before Etsy was a thing, crafters had to get creative. Kids and hobbyists alike sold beaded bracelets, shell necklaces, and hand-strung earrings at school, summer fairs, or straight from their backpacks. If you were an adult selling your beadwork, you could even buy a table at the local craft fair to rake in more customers.
8. Sewing & Alterations
Everyone knew an at-home seamstress during the ’60s and ’70s. If you had a sewing machine and new your way around a measuring tape, you were in for one of the most reliable side hustles around.
9. Shoveling Snow
In the off-season of mowing lawns, kids and teens would pound the snow-covered pavement of their neighborhoods, offering snow shoveling services for some extra cash.
10. Door-to-Door Sales
Whether it was encyclopedias, vacuum cleaners, or candy bars for school fundraisers, door-to-door selling was huge during the ’60s and ’70s. It took guts, charm, and a whole lot of walking — but for the right person, it could pay off big.