I’m facing a tough future with Social Security—looks like I’ll get about $650 a month at age 67, and it doesn’t seem possible to raise it much. I have 32 years of work history, three zero-income years, and nothing to show except some small self-employment income.
For the last eleven years, I’ve been a full-time, unpaid caregiver for a family member who can’t care for herself. She refuses outside help or a nursing home, so I’m basically stuck in this role for as long as she’s here—could be months, could be years. My life stopped when I took this on at 48, after my dad died.
I have no real assets, just a car and part-ownership of a mobile home in a retirement park. There’s no inheritance coming.
Realistically, starting some kind of business is my only way out financially, especially since I need flexibility due to fatigue and don’t mesh with the 9-to-5 world. I have some freelance creative skills—photography and video—but my editing is limited by carpal tunnel, and my skills are a bit outdated. I’m introverted, not a natural networker, and dislike the self-promoting world of social media, but I’m good with clients one-on-one.
I dream of owning a small farm and having a business that can run itself, rather than being tied to time-based freelance work—something with long-term value. I’m trying to learn about investing and finance (listening to Tony Robbins’ “Money Master The Game” right now), but I’m starting from scratch.
In another life, I’d be painting, playing music, growing food, traveling for photography, and studying online. But right now, I’m just looking for something viable, tolerable, and flexible enough to work with my situation—no scams, MLMs, or get-rich-quick stuff.
If there’s a way to turn Social Security around or build a bit of security for the future, I’d like to know. Passion is a luxury at this point—I need a practical way forward.
Let’s get painfully real for a second: you are literally sacrificing your own retirement for the person you’re caring for. I get that you’re doing the right thing by stepping up for family, but let’s not sugarcoat what’s happening here. Every year you spend as an unpaid caregiver is a year you’re not building income, not saving, and not investing for your future. There’s a cost, and you’re the one paying it.
Social Security? At $650 a month, it’s not even going to cover your groceries, much less give you the retirement you want. The government isn’t going to swoop in and fix this. That’s on you.
You can’t afford to drift and just hope something changes. Your situation is hard, but the math is what it is. There’s no “nice” way to say it: You’re running out of time to secure your own future, and every day you delay is making it harder to catch up.
Here’s the tough love: No one’s coming to save you. The government isn’t. There’s no secret hack or magic investment that’s going to triple your check before you hit 67. You can listen to all the Tony Robbins CDs in the world, but knowledge without action won’t change your life.
You say you want a flexible business, that you’re not a people person, that you don’t like social media, and that your skills are outdated. Fine. But let’s get clear—if you want to build any kind of future, you have to focus on what you can do, not what you can’t. The market doesn’t care about your comfort zone. If you want income, you have to solve someone else’s problem, even if that means doing stuff that makes you uncomfortable.
The real choice isn’t between “follow your passion” and “give up.” It’s “find something people will actually pay for, get very good at it, and build systems so it doesn’t suck your life away.” That probably means taking your existing skills—even if they’re rusty—and repackaging them for today’s market. If your creative work is out of date, relearn it. There are thousands of free resources online. Your competition is hustling on YouTube and Udemy every single night, not waiting for motivation or the perfect business idea.
And yes, you may have to suck it up and do things you don’t love, or that make you uncomfortable. You may have to freelance for peanuts just to get your foot back in the door. You might have to call people, pitch your services, or use social media, even if you hate it. You can’t afford the luxury of “I’m not a people person.” You need income. You need skills. Period.
Stop dreaming about the farm and the easy life—at least for now. Build your foundation first. Start tiny. Can you offer local photo shoots? Edit videos for small businesses? Teach online? Run errands or offer caregiving services to others (you’re clearly an expert)? Don’t chase “passive income” from day one—chase real income. Stack cash, reinvest in yourself, and only then look for scalable, less hands-on models.
Final point: No MLMs, no get-rich-quick, no fantasy businesses. If you wouldn’t trust it for your own mother, don’t even touch it. Focus on honest work and relentless execution.
You’re not powerless, but you are responsible for what happens next. Decide what you’re willing to do, then go all-in—even if it’s uncomfortable as hell.
You can do this, but only if you drop the excuses and get moving today.