Buying and equipping a warm dry cave up in N. Idaho. Preferably, on the north fork of the Clearwater River.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
A lot of people have some money with no idea what to do or how to do anything.
That makes for a bad plan.
Just invest in more conventional investment aka stocks, bonds, mutual funds etc.

Good advice if you’re unsure of a plan

Go to Sams and buy 4 to 6 folding plastic tables. Being in Florida as you are, find your local Flea Market and rent the lower cost outdoor spots. Get yourself a canopy to shade you from the sun. Dont go selling the cheap dollar chinese junk but come up with something on your own, tools, gun related, antiques, small electronics. I can tell you first, its easy money, very much fun, you get to socialize with people, its not hard work. The buyers come to you. You relax and sell things. Some at the Market I've spent too much time at, sell WalMart, Lowes, Target Store returns and discontinued items. They buy huge gaylord boxes of good to damaged or returned stuff. One lady sells mainly small appliance stuff and knocks down $1,000.00 to $2,000.00 in one weekend. I help a old timer sell on weekends outdoors and he sells handicap stuff, wheel chairs, walkers, power tools, toys, lawn tools, pet cages and transporters, much more. He buys all his junk cheap at a huge Goodwill auction and turns Summer weekends into $1,500.00. This, on top of his $2,600.00 monthly retirement. Not bad huh ?

Whatever you do don't buy a pressure washer and try to offer a washing service.

There are dozens of them around here, even my BIL thought he could make some side money doing it. He got 3 or 4 jobs from friends. Too many, too much competition and everybody knows someone or has their own.

I've sent you some pics for perspective, of the pile of stuff I help with on weekends at the Market. I dont advocate that you go this big as its a lot of work. No matter the weather we are out here.

If you like handi-man work you might consider buying property to flip or turn into rentals.

My neighbor is over 70 years old and is retired from owning a construction business that built apartment complexes. During the last year, he and his wife have started business doing estate sales. It keeps them very busy, and he says he is making as much, if not more, money as he did in construction. He uses his garage and leases a couple storage units to store property, and rents a small storefront to sell items.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
If I was physically able (and I currently am), I'd start a lawn care business. Not out of any expectation to make a bunch of money, but to give myself something to do I enjoy, that would get me outside, and be physically demanding.

I agree with the above

plus it'd be year-round in FL...

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Grinders, belts, heat treating forge.

There is an older guy I see almost weekly who, upon retirement, bought a small hot dog cart that he tows behind his Cadillac. I stopped to get lunch one day and chatted with him a bit and he says he makes more money than he thought possible slinging dogs and sausage. He has several businesses that let him set up during the week and he loves being outside and talking to people

Seriously: If you have, or can get, documented evidence of being passed over even though more qualified than the successful candidates, maybe you could "invest" getting a lawyer for age discrimination lawsuits.
That could be extremely lucrative!

Neighbor of yours, sort-of:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/5590014154
Don't know how much he wants, but maybe you can negotiate or work out some owner financing.

A coffee cart might be a cool business with minimal issues. Black Rifle is starting a franchise program.

Set up and equip a small wood shop behind my home to start building guitars and mandolins.

Back when I home roasted my own coffee, I used to daydream of buying a small commercial roaster and running a small coffee shop with a drive through. Hand crafted small batch roasts on premises and sold by the whole bean and ground, with a small area for a few customers to relax and enjoy a cup. Even had a name picked out ... Yalls Coffee. Figured the market was saturated but was a nice daydream none the less.

Three words:

Ice Cream Truck

quote:

Originally posted by Hobbs:
Back when I home roasted my own coffee, I used to daydream of buying a small commercial roaster and running a small coffee shop with a drive through. Hand crafted small batch roasts on premises and sold by the whole bean and ground, with a small area for a few customers to relax and enjoy a cup. Even had a name picked out ... Yalls Coffee. Figured the market was saturated but was a nice daydream none the less.

Back when I was picking beans in Guatemala, we used to make fresh coffee, right off the trees I mean. That was good.

Thanks everyone you have come up with some great ideas.

My background revolved around the fire protection industry years ago. I was a service manager for a fire protection company, A part time paid instructor for the county fire academy in the county I live in in New Jersey and a volunteer firefighter.

When I moved to Florida I worked for that big entertainment company in central Florida. I worked a front desk,advanced sales work and drove a van transporting guests.

I also worked in a shop with mechanics working on heavy equipment for a while then helped a friend at his gun shop/range.
From there I went into retirement.
I was thinking of some sort of home based business. I have also been looking at business for sale in my area but nothing so far.

Design and manufacture some USA made firefighting tools. Breaching tools and the like.

quote:

Originally posted by 71 TRUCK:
... and a volunteer firefighter.

Bingo! More volunteer work?

Local Library
Good Sam
Habitat for Humanity

No investment... walk away when it no longer makes sense.

Unless you are looking for an income stream... in that case never mind