You’re pregnant and you want to stay at home with your new baby for a year. Easier said than done. Time is money, and if you can’t contribute financially during the time off, maternity leave can seem very expensive.
Whatever your reasons for taking maternity leave, whether you’re having a baby, adopting one, or taking time to be with family, you’ll be looking to make the most of your time off. If this is not your first maternity leave then you know that you’re about to lose a lot of money as well.
When you are on maternity leave you can either stay home and be bored, or you can look for ways to make money with newly found free time. Fortunately, maternity leave happens to be one of the easiest times to start making money. Let’s find out how you can earn money.
1. Rent out an extra room in your home
Lucky for you, there are many ways to make money on maternity leave. One way is to rent out an extra room in your home. If you own a single-family home, this is a great opportunity to make a little extra cash while taking care of your family.
You can use sites such as Airbnb to rent it out to help cushion some of your living expenses. The advantage of using Airbnb is that you can stay in your home, eliminating the need for travel.
Plus, you won’t be rubbing elbows with a bunch of strangers—instead, you’ll be meeting like-minded people looking for a place to stay.
It may seem unsettling to let someone live under your roof for a few weeks, but you would be surprised how many people will be willing to pay for the convenience. Not only is this great for extra income, but it’s also a perfect opportunity to build life experiences.
Learn more: How to make money with rental apartments
2. Maximize usage of Get-Paid-To (GPT) sites
Get-paid-to sites can be an excellent supplemental source of income. Some sites (most notably Swagbucks) let users earn a certain amount for doing what you normally would. From watching videos, playing games to completing surveys.
Here are some insights on how to maximize the usage of GPT sites:
- Sign up for as many GPT sites as possible
- Put your greatest focus on the highest paying sites
- Check these sites every day and complete tasks as soon as possible
- After completing a task, hunt for more relevant GPT sites.
- Use cashback sites to get money back on purchases
- Refer to other new mothers. Some GPT sites offer referral bonuses.
When you are on maternity leave, you have so much free time to make money. There’s no better time to sign up for several GPT sites and start making money. Use as many GPT sites as possible, thereby you have the opportunity of maximizing your earnings from them.
3. Start day trading
If you dream of making a fortune with each swing of the stock market, you may want to consider day trading as a mother on maternity leave.
Day trading is a trading style where you open one or more positions and then close them before the market’s close – often after only a matter of hours. It can be extremely profitable, but also risky if you do not have the knowledge or experience to effectively manage your trades.
Day trading can be done by setting up an account with an online broker and then following the market’s trend.
Here are some top day trading tricks for you;
- Find your trading style
- Do not have a predetermined holding period
- Try copy-trading an experienced trader or using bots
- Use a demo to look at different trading strategies
- Do not overtrade positions (cut your losses and let your wins run)
- Identify stocks that are volatile and trending in your favor
- Don’t trade with money you cannot afford to lose
The road to maternity leave can be paved with good intentions if you have the right tools.
Still, you’ll need an adaptable schedule as your day might consist of nursing the baby, making playdates with friends, and cleaning up afterward.
You can earn about $5,500/month or an 18% return on an effective strategy.
Learn more: The most effective ways of making money trading forex
4. Babysit other people’s children
You might be eligible to babysit other people’s children if you’re on maternity leave. Having a reliable way to make some extra cash can be very helpful, especially while you’re out on leave.
Many family members look for childcare while they work, and having experience caring for children can make you the perfect candidate for this type of job.
Babysitters can charge anywhere from $4 to $10 per hour, and depending on your location, a day rate could be as high as $30. You can also put your skills to work by giving music lessons (private guitar or piano lessons normally cost about $20 per hour).
Learn more: How to Make Money With Babysitting Services
5. Start a blog about pregnancy or new motherhood
Having a baby is life-changing. How about making some money on maternity leave? You can start a blog about pregnancy and motherhood, breastfeeding, and parenting experiences. Connect with other mothers and earn some extra cash. This may even replace your earnings.
To start a blog about pregnancy or new motherhood, consider the following;
- Choose your preferred blogging platform
- Decide on an audience: pregnant women or new mothers (or both)
- Use the right keywords to find your audience on google
- Use social media networks to drive traffic to your site
- Look into brand sponsorships and partnerships
- Be authentic in your voice and writing style
- Find ways to monetize your blog
- Blog for an audience and not for yourself
A blog will take time to develop an avid readership and build up a sufficient income to support yourself. However, you should consider creating a blog on your maternity leave about new motherhood, or related topics, not just for now but also for the future.
Bloggers in this niche make about $900 to $5000 monthly in the long run.
6. Start a home-based business
Moms have always understood the need for home-based businesses. Maternity leave can be a great time to launch a home-based business to make money. The flexibility of working at home is something many entrepreneurs dream of. Here are 10 ideas for doing that:
- Create a gift basket of homemade baby products and sell them online
- Bake and sell cookies
- Sell unwanted baby clothes and toy
- Wedding planning and decorations
- Craft something and sell it
- Affiliate marketing and dropshipping
- Freelance writing and ghostwriting
- Freelance photography and graphic design
For many new moms, time away from a full-time job is an opportunity to start or grow a business. You can make money from home if you have attractive skills and talents – everything from baking cupcakes to personal training.
A home-based business can bring in decent income if you know what to do and how to market your product.
Learn more: Quick and Easy Ways To Make Money From Home
7. Teach English online
There’s a reason that teaching English online is a popular gig. It’s flexible, it can be done anywhere, and there are a ton of companies looking to hire teachers. If you happen to be an English speaker, which nearly half the population is, this might be the perfect side hustle for you.
Tutoring English online has allowed many moms to stay home with their babies while earning an income. This can be a decent business if you live somewhere English isn’t the native language such as Kuwait or the Middle East.
Besides, it’s a work-at-your-own-pace gig, so you can set your hours around your family’s schedule. You can work on making lesson plans and assignments while your baby is napping. Once your child is in pre-school this can become full-time.
You can make about $2,000 to $5,000 if you teach English online, especially for countries in need of English teachers.
Learn more: Practical tips on how to make money speaking another language
8. Take on an online part-time job
Whether your company offers paid maternity leave or not, there’s a good chance you can still make some extra money while your baby is little.
Earn a little extra money by taking up a part-time job or two during your maternity leave. When you keep a healthy work-life balance, you can earn an additional income as a virtual assistant or a customer care representative. It could also be anything else that allows you to be with your baby and have both rewarding experiences.
9. Become an Online Juror
If you are on maternity leave and looking to make money, consider becoming an online juror. The concept of online juries is that they are created by lawyers or insurance companies to conduct hearings for cases or complaints with a large number of jurors needed.
In the United States, you need to meet certain requirements to serve as an Online Juror.
- You must be a US citizen
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Reliability
- You cannot have a felony conviction
- You cannot be a paralegal, a lawyer, or a legal assistant
- Computer/Internet skills
- An understanding of the English language
You can easily make $10 to $20 per hour by sitting on a jury. For some, it is a lot more than what you will get in tips (and probably more than your normal day job pays anyway.)
10. Apply for grants that give financial support to pregnant women
One way that you can make money while on leave with your baby is by applying for grants. There are many private and government grants available to pregnant women who are planning to have children.
Your pregnancy might qualify you to receive grants or funding, even if you’re not working. There are grants for everything: medical and dental costs, support for new mothers in various stages of their lives, childcare, education needs, and many more.
Before you start looking at grants that are offered to pregnant women specifically, see if you can find some general ones that will be suitable for you as well.
Then take the time to apply for grants that give financial support to pregnant women. You can find these grants on a variety of websites, but you should do your research before applying for them. One key here is to make sure you are eligible for the grant and it is legitimate.
FAQs
What is a maternity leave work plan?
A maternity leave work plan is a list of the tasks you will attempt to get done in your workplace, home, or other pursuits during your leave period. It is a practical plan that helps you set goals and break tasks down into manageable units.
As opposed to disappearing for the vacation, you can continue to engage in your business and also relax with your family. You can then determine your family’s financial priorities during this time, as well as a solid action plan to save for the future.
What are some of the advantages that come with starting a business while on maternity leave?
There are many benefits to starting a business while on leave. The biggest advantage of starting a business on maternity leave is the opportunity to spend time with your child. For starters, it’s a great way to make extra money, and it allows you to stay on top of your career.
Another advantage is that you get to experiment with what works and what doesn’t. Mothers who enjoy working end up making it permanent so that they can be at home full time with their children after their leave ends.
What if you work at a company without paid parental leave?
Since paid parental leave is not widely practiced in the United States, many companies do not offer it. If you work at one of these companies, you may be concerned about how you will pay for your maternity leave.
Luckily, the short answer is that this is the best guide for someone who works at a company without paid parental leave available.
What do you do if my boss won’t let me go on maternity leave?
If your employer refuses to grant you maternity leave, you should first politely insist that you are entitled to it by law. Ask your boss directly if you are eligible for leave per the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). You might find that your boss is not aware of the law.
If you are eligible and your boss still doesn’t allow you to take leave, talk to your HR department within the company. If all else fails, and you do not want to file a lawsuit, then this guide is for you.
Learn how to make money on maternity leave. This might be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.
Can you make money on maternity leave?
Yes, absolutely. With a little know-how and commitment, your time on leave can be filled with business ideas that generate income and bring in new opportunities. It can even help advance your career, improve your company’s brand, and influence public opinion.
Final thoughts
Let’s face it: maternity leave can be an expensive time. While your employers may offer some financial support to help you transition back into work after your leave, they likely won’t cover absolutely everything. If money’s tight while you’re at home on leave, here are 10 ways to make money on maternity leave.
Despite what some may think, making money isn’t as difficult as you may think. What’s even better is making money from home or doing things that you normally wouldn’t consider. In case you enjoy business, read my article on how to start a small business from the scratch without experience.
You may want to read my post about the best passive income ideas. I recommend it if you have a hard time coming up with ideas. It would be easy to continue listing several ways to make money, and I am certain they will intrigue you.
However, I would much rather teach you how to fish than give you fish. For more information about how to earn income online, visit the make money section on the blog.
Tosinajy teaches you how to make money online, the software you’ll need, and guides on how to deal with common issues you may encounter.
This post would make a great resource for antenatal classes. Share these ideas with your peers and make money together.
Thanks for reading.
