Through July 31 only, you can get the eBook edition of Let's Make Money, Honey: The Couple's Guide to Starting a Service Business at half price -- just $3.50 -- if you order it through Smashwords. You can get the book in any format for any device, including a PDF. 

If you've ever thought about going into business with your spouse, this is the book for you. It tells the story of how my wife and I started a small service business and sold it seven years later. You'll find plenty of advice about what to do and what not to do when starting a business with your spouse. It has received excellent reviews and I know you will find it helpful.

To get your copy at half-price, simply go to: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/568837  When you place your order, enter the code SSW50 and you'll pay just $3.50 instead of the regular price of $6.99. This offer is only good at Smashwords and it expires on July 31, 2016, so order today!

I often opt for the word "rewirement" rather than "retirement" in describing a Boomer's next life phase. Now, along comes a novel term to describe what some members of the 50-plus crowd have adopted as a lifestyle: "consulteering."

Sixty-eight year old Dane Peters deserves credit for the term, at least for its first reported use in The New York Times. Formerly the head of a Montessori school, Peters tells Kerry Hannon that his new way of keeping busy is his "trifecta. Paid work, giving back and relaxation. I call it 'consulteering.' "

In Peters' case, the consulting part of the equation involves supporting independent schools "with my expertise in leadership and governance." It is easy to see how someone with his background could obtain consulting assignments, but what about other Boomers with completely different professional experience? Retirement transition coach Dorian Mintzer tells Hannon she believes consulteering is possible for others. She says her clients are “intentional in figuring out what’s next — realizing they benefit from some work structure and want to build social connection, mental engagement and meaning into their life.” Consulteering, says Mintzer, is "a great way to fit work into life rather than trying to squeeze time for life into your work schedule."

It turns out I have been "consulteering" in my post-career, even though I hadn't thought of it that way. I have used my marketing experience to take on select consulting assignments and my writing experience to do freelance writing projects. Meanwhile, I also volunteer and take time for myself.

Maybe you should consider "consulteering" as a new way to look at "rewirement."

In previous posts, I've discussed everything from part-time work to volunteering to starting a business in an effort to keep busy and supplement retirement income in your later years.

Another creative option is something called a "micro-enterprise." Chris Farrell, author of the book Unretirement, tells RetirementRevised.com, "micro-enterprises allow you to work from home, take advantage of technology, not touching your retirement savings and using just a little money to experiment.” Another plus of a micro-enterprise is, if you have a new business idea you can“find out if there really is a market–if there is, then you can commit more resources and perhaps round up more money,” says Farrell.

Mark Miller, who writes RetirementRevised.com, cites the stories of several individuals who have started successful micro-enterprises. He also points out that the new sharing economy offers micro-enterprise opportunities through such services as Uber because Boomers make little or no investment while generating modest income. This could be an attractive way to supplement retirement income, as long as you realize dabbling in a micro-enterprise is not the same thing as creating a business with the intention of making it a full-time, going concern. Says Farrell, “What a micro-enterprise allows you to do is buy a lifestyle–it’s not about creating a business with a five-year exit strategy.”

I've written about the gig economy before -- but it continues to make news as a new economic factor in our society. While gigs, or short-term freelance assignments, are appropriate for any age group, they seem to be tailor-made for Boomers who are looking for creative ways to generate income without the commitment of a full-time or even a regular part-time job.

As an example of what kinds of gigs are available for Boomers, Katie Little, writing for the CNBC website, offers "25 Side Gigs You Can Start in Retirement." Here you'll find some great ideas, everything from consultant and interim executive to Uber driver, Peace Corps volunteer, virtual assistant, and tutor.

Check out this helpful article. There are all kinds of opportunities for Boomers who are willing to think differently about employment. Start gigging!

A recent post on the Retired Brains website (highly recommended for Boomers) caught my eye. Entitled "5 New Ways to Own Your Own Business," the post listed some creative ways to make money on your own, primarily through the new "sharing economy." Among the ideas were becoming a driver for Uber or Lyft, renting your home through Airbnb or HomeAway, and becoming a pet sitter through Dogvacay.

What struck me is that non-traditional work opportunities like these never even existed a few years ago. Now, through a combination of our online-enabled world and the concept of taking on "gigs," options are opening up to Boomers to replace the the more typical part-time work with a former employer or in retail, fast food, or hospitality. Gigs can provide a means to generate income to supplement Social Security and retirement savings while also giving a Boomer the chance to enjoy greater flexibility and be self-employed. Boomers who have been pursuing professions or careers on a full-time basis for most of their adult lives may find this novel type of work to be different and maybe even invigorating.

So when you consider what to do next and you still want to make some money, you might find an opportunity among the many services that use independent contractors as part of the sharing economy.

By the way, have you considered another creative way to make money: starting a business with your spouse? My wife and I started a service business together and generated pre-retirement income for seven years. Then we sold the business. Learn how you can do this too in our book, Let's Make Money, Honey: The Couple's Guide to Starting a Service Business. For the month of July only, the eBook version is available from Smashwords.com for half price -- just $3.50! To get your copy in any eBook format, including PDF, visit: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/568837. When you check out, enter the code SSW50 to get the eBook for just $3.50. This special offer is only good at Smashwords.com through July, so order today!

If you've ever thought about going into business with your spouse, you need to read my book, Let's Make Money, Honey: The Couple's Guide to Starting a Service Business. It tells the story of how my wife and I started a small service business and sold it seven years later. You'll find plenty of advice about what to do and what not to do when starting a business with your spouse.

During the month of July, take advantage of a special half-price sale! The eBook edition of Let's Make Money, Honey: The Couple's Guide to Starting a Service Business is available this month only at Smashwords.com for just $3.50, half the regular price. You can download the eBook in a format for any device, including a PDF if you prefer.

To get your copy at half-price, simply go to: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/568837  When you place your order, enter the code SSW50 and you'll pay just $3.50 instead of the regular price of $6.99. This offer is only good at Smashwords.com through July 31, 2016, so order today!