7 Great Paychecks for Golden Oldies

You may have planned to sip margaritas on the beach during your retirement, but if the recent stock market tumble has taken a good chunk of your savings with it, you may need to explore other options. Part-time work can help you pick up a few extra paychecks to cover basic expenses or perks such as travel and entertainment while your retirement portfolio rebounds.

While the job market has had better days, a range of options -- with good pay, flexible hours and interesting and meaningful work -- are available to people 50 and older. Here, experts share some of the key areas where experienced workers can snag great jobs.

Government
Uncle Sam needs you ... to take a job with the government. "Projections show that the federal government could potentially lose over a third of its work force to retirement over the next three to five years," says David Nathan, a spokesman for AARP. He notes that three federal agencies in particular -- the IRS, the U.S. Small Business Administration's Disaster Assistance office and the Peace Corps -- have been notably receptive to workers over the age of 50. Perks like job stability, good health care benefits and consistent raises make working for the government even more appealing. A dedicated Web site, www.usajobs.gov, can help people track down the best federal jobs in their area.