How much does the average American need to save for retirement in 2024? Here are 3 simple ways to 'cheat' if you're coming up short

Start an (easy) side hustle

And pay attention to the “easy” part! If you’re retiring from the work grind, don’t go out and find another job that’s equally as stressful — even if it’s just a few days a week. You want something lucrative, but ultimately a job that will fit in your retirement lifestyle, not bring you back to the feeling of working full time. It’s called retirement for a reason!

One great option is to monetize a hobby, passion, or even your professional expertise. You could turn your woodworking hobby into an online business. Or, if you’re a traveler, you could take photos to sell to online websites like Alamy and Shutterstock. You could even freelance your services from working in health care for decades, for example, and become a consultant.

Any of these routes could leave you with a [profitable side hustle](https://moneywise.com/managing-money/how-to-earn-money/6-side-hustle-ideas-that-you-can-do-from-home, resulting in a steady income source to put directly into your retirement savings.

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Invest in the stock market

If you’re looking to retire, you’ve probably already invested in the stock market over the years. However, when you start investing at 30 you can look forward to decades of growth and earnings to put towards retirement. At 70, the situation is quite different.

Now, you don’t want to risk your retirement savings by investing in some scheme, or falling for what someone tells you is going to be “the next big thing.” However, options such as safe individual dividend stocks, index funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETF) can be excellent options.

Meet with your financial adviser to understand how much risk you can afford to take on so you can make an informed investment decision and reach your retirement goal.

Rental income

There are a few ways to look at rental income. First, there’s the simple option of renting out a room, or even your home, with a company like Vrbo while you travel during retirement. This can provide a reliable source of income, especially if you’re able to get long-term or consistent rentals.

However, renting a property does include property and rental management. So you’d either have to take on this role, or hire someone to do it instead. If that sounds like too much to take on in your retirement, consider leasing a space for storage instead. Or a parking spot, or even tools. This can create a diversified, steady income that can create more retirement savings quickly.

There are even investment platforms that make it possible to become a landlord to major brands like CVS, Kroger and Walmart — and you’ll even get to collect stable grocery store-anchored income each quarter.

No matter what option you choose, always make sure to discuss it with your financial adviser. They’re there to help, especially as you look forward to making your retirement dreams come true.