With the cost of living on the rise and the desire to make the most of the golden years of retirement, it’s no surprise that some savvy seniors are turning to side hustles to supplement their income.
One such retiree is Denise Condon, a 70-year-old Brisbane local who has found a way to earn an extra $750 a week. This additional income has not only given her financial breathing room but has also allowed her to create lifelong memories with her grandkids, including a 10-day trip to Disneyland Hong Kong.
Denise’s journey into her side hustle began six months ago when she retired from her career as a systems analyst. Retirement gave her the time to care for a family member, but she soon realised that she needed more than just the age pension to maintain her lifestyle and stay active.
That’s when she discovered Amazon Flex, a flexible job opportunity that allows her to use her SUV to deliver parcels across the city.
The beauty of Amazon Flex, as Denise points out, is its flexibility. It’s a perfect fit for retirees who need to keep their schedules open for family commitments or simply don’t want the rigidity of a 9 to 5 job. Plus, it’s a great way to stay physically active.
‘I think it’s a terrific way to keep fit as well because you’re constantly getting in and out of the car. There’s not a whole lot of walking to it because you’re just going to drive up to where you’re going to deliver, but there’s a lot of movement,’ Denise told Yahoo Finance.
Denise works three to four days a week, taking on six-and-a-half-hour shifts, or ‘blocks,’ which nets her between $600 and $750 per week gross.
But Denise was careful to ensure her new income wouldn’t negatively impact her age pension. She consulted with an accountant and spoke to Centrelink about the Work Bonus scheme, which allows pensioners to earn up to $300 each fortnight from work without affecting their government payments.
This scheme even includes an ‘income bank’ to store unused income allowances for later use, which was increased from $7,800 to $11,800 last year.

Amazon Flex pays per delivery window, with earnings starting at a minimum of $116 for a four-hour sedan block, equating to about $29 an hour. For those with larger vehicles, the pay increases, and Denise takes advantage of the $174 minimum for her six-and-a-half-hour blocks.
While the job does require her to cover her own petrol costs, as a sole trader registered for goods and services tax (GST), she can claim expenses like car maintenance, registration, and petrol.
The extra cash has not only funded grand adventures but also practical matters like new fencing for her property.
Denise is a testament to the fact that retirement doesn’t mean the end of earning potential.
Are you a retiree looking to add a little extra to your income? Have you considered a side hustle like Denise’s? We’d love to hear about your experiences or ideas for making the most of retirement. Share your stories with the YourLifeChoices community in the comments below.
Also read: One small move, big rewards: $42,000 more per year for this couple