Updated at: 26-04-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

While on maternity leave, it might be difficult to figure out how to make money. What if a stay-at-home mother could be paid for her work? Fortunately, there is! Find out how to make money while on maternity leave and how to make the most of your free time in this guide.

Freelancing is the ideal option to make money while on maternity leave. At the same time, you can work from home and be with your child. As a freelancer, you’ll be able to work when and how much you want now that this arrangement has been made available to you.

In order to not miss out on any of life’s most precious moments because mommy is working, look for online employment that permit working women to bring their children along with them.

Moms who wish to earn money while on maternity leave while still being at home with their children, either full-time or part-time, have a wealth of options thanks to the internet. While on maternity leave, there are literally hundreds of methods to make money.

How To Make Money on Maternity Leave

1. Find Unclaimed Money

How many times have you heard the phrase, “There’s money just waiting for you to locate it?” A total of $42 billion in unclaimed money and property exists in the United States at this time, according to estimates. Even if you don’t have any unclaimed money, it’s worth a shot if you’re looking for some extra money now that you have a baby to care for.

25 Ways to Make Money While on Maternity Leave - MintLife Blog

A lot of unclaimed money is the result of uncashed dividends, stocks, bank accounts, and refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Identifying and accessing your unclaimed money can be done in a variety of ways, including contacting institutions like the IRS or your bank, as well as using websites like unclaimed.org or missingmoney.com.

2. Sell Gift Cards

Everyone has been there. As a Christmas or birthday present, you receive a gift card that you know you’ll never use. A “poor gift card” can ruin any event, whether it’s for a service you currently use or a store you’ve never been to. The good news is that these vouchers can be redeemed for essentials for your children, such as diapers, clothing, and other necessities. Buying and selling gift cards on websites like GiftCards.com or Cardpool.com can be done for cash or the chosen electronic gift card of the buyer.

3. Freelance

Working from home while you’re on maternity leave is an excellent way to keep your income steady while you’re taking care of your newborn. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that people with advanced degrees are more likely to work from home than those with less advanced degrees. Professional parents, what does this mean? Increasing numbers of senior-level jobs are becoming more flexible, allowing parents to work from home while caring for their children.

Remember: Freelance taxes are a completely different beast from the traditional w-2, but you may make the best of life as a parent and professional by planning and preparing ahead of time. Careers that allow you to work from home include:

  • Writer/Editor
  • Customer Support Agent
  • Aesthetician
  • As a Web Developer
  • Marketer for the Web

4. Rent Out an Extra Space in Your Home

While on maternity leave, you may want to consider taking on a part-time job. Gig workers utilizing other task-service and ride-sharing platforms make an average of $824 per month on Airbnb, which is roughly three times more than Airbnb hosts, according to Earnest data.

It’s possible that you have a spare room in your house that isn’t being occupied with baby equipment. You may want to think about renting out an extra room, a guest house, or even a patio. Owners can rent out rooms on vacation rental websites like Airbnb for a weekly rate. Owners can then choose when, how much, and how often they want to rent out their properties. When it comes to paying your mortgage and other living expenditures, this can be a convenient option. Money, of course, isn’t given away. As a host, you’ll be expected to put in the time and effort necessary to ensure that your visitors have a positive stay by providing assistance and responding to issues.

Hipcamp may be a better option if you don’t want to deal with the upkeep of having guests in your home on Airbnb, HomeAway, or VRBO. Instead than renting out the entire home, Hipcamp allows owners to rent out a portion of their property. It’s far easier for hipcampers to put up their tents or trailers on the site than reserving space on a holiday property.

5. Start Investing

To maximize your assets, you may want to think about how you may invest the money you already have. It’s okay if stock market graphs and reports give you the creeps, because we’ve got you covered. Your spare change can be put to good use in a variety of ways (other than on the traditional stock market).

  • Contribute to a 401(k) or Roth IRA with company match.
  • Set up automatic contributions to an IRA or a tax-deferred investment account
  • Use an investment app like Acorns, Robinhood, or Stash to make microinvestments.
  • Invest the additional money you earn from your part-time job throughout your maternity leave.

6. Recycle

On the internet, you can easily find electronic waste recycling sites in your area, and you could be on your way to receiving maternity pay and properly disposing of domestic waste. Even if you don’t think your products are recyclable or marketable, there are services that will pay you for them.

  • On BoxCycle, you may sell cardboard boxes.
  • Buy or sell moving boxes on Craigslist, OfferUp, or Facebook Marketplace
  • a local biodiesel manufacturer will buy your leftover cooking oil for recycling
  • Staples, for example, is a good place to donate your used ink cartridges.

7. Sell Your Art

Putting your creative talents to work by selling your handiwork on Etsy may help you save money if you’re itching to take some time off. From knitwear to homemade kitchen utensils, you can sell your handmade goods on this platform.

8. Save with Online Coupons

When it comes to saving money, it’s sometimes as simple as changing the way you spend your money. You’ll likely begin to feel at home when perusing internet store sites for everything from diapers to baby food and clothing. Online shopping might save busy parents time, but there is some technique involved in preventing going overboard. Shop for baby and home needs with the help of a browser plugin like Honey or an online coupon site like Groupon. You can also access coupons and offers on the shop’s app (if it is available) when you are shopping in-store.

9. Become an Influencer

When it comes to affiliate marketing, “mommy bloggers” have risen to prominence. They are compensated with merchandise and cash for their blog posts and photographs that promote specific brands and items. Within five to ten years, the influencer marketing sector is predicted to reach a $5-10 billion dollar industry.

10. Teach an Online Course

Why not get paid to share your knowledge with the world? There are many ways to turn your years of work into money, whether it’s teaching others how to paint, or advising others on how to improve their careers. You can create your own curriculum and share your knowledge with others by using online platforms such as Udemy, Skillshare, and Video School.

11. Get the Right Savings Account

Using money to earn money while on maternity leave may seem contradictory, but with the correct bank account, you can cash in on interest and minimize your monthly expenses. It’s a good idea to do some research before deciding which bank to open a savings account with. Compound interest on a bank account can help you save money while you do nothing except sit around and wait for it to grow. Some savings accounts allow you to maximize your interest if you leave the account undisturbed for a predetermined period of time.

In order to evaluate the long-term benefits of saving money, use our compound interest calculator.

12. Minimize Your Bills

We all know that most of our money goes toward paying our mortgage, utility bills, streaming subscriptions, and so on and so forth. All of these things are necessities, and if you want to keep living your existing way of life, you will have to keep paying for them. However, while you may not be able to completely eliminate bills from your monthly spending, utilizing programs like Billshark and Truebill, you may be able to lower the amount you pay.

These money-saving programs analyse your monthly expenses and combine prices where possible, and even negotiate with authorities to minimize the amount of money you spend each month. ‘

13. License Your Photos

It’s possible to make money while on maternity leave if you’re a photographer like Ansel Adams or Annie Leibovitz. No matter how much time you have on your hands while you wait for the arrival of your new baby, you may use your photographic skills to earn some additional cash online. It’s not hard to find stock photo sources, such Getty Images, Shutterstock and Adobe Stock, among others.

14. Use Your Credit Card Rewards

Cash back incentives, travel points, and gift cards can all help you afford the costs of becoming a new parent, depending on the credit card you use. Additional cash back points and benefits may be offered by some credit card companies at particular times of the year. When you’re doing your daily grocery shopping or stopping for a bite to eat, these rewards programs can be useful.

Check out our partners’ cashback credit card deals.

Maternity leave entitlements in Australia - Bub Hub

15. Rent Out Ad Space on Your Vehicle

It’s no secret that parents have a lot going on. Even if it’s only going to the grocery store or taking a carpool route, you’ll undoubtedly see an increase in mileage when you have children. If you’re concerned about your monthly gas expense, renting out advertising space on your vehicle is a great way to offset the cost. There are a number of websites that allow drivers to market their vehicles with the help of advertisers. This is a simple method for you or your partner to earn a little extra money from something you already do.

It’s a good idea to follow this advice when you get back to work and start commuting again, as some automobile advertising websites demand drivers to travel a particular number of miles to qualify for the program.

16. Explore Peer-to-Peer Lending

It is possible for small enterprises and individuals to obtain capital from private investors through peer-to-peer lending, often known as “marketplace lending.” Using services like Upstart and Funding Circle, you can earn interest on the money you loan as a private lender.

17. Pet Sit or House Sit

Even once the baby is born, it can be difficult to move them around with all of the conveniences of home—but if you can spare a weekend or two away from home before delivery, consider housesitting. Before the baby arrives, if you’re lucky enough to discover a home with luxurious amenities, you may even feel like you’re on vacation.

18. Drive for a Rideshare Company

According to Benenson Strategy Group, nearly half (48 percent) of Uber drivers have children under the age of 18 living at home in 2015. Uber claims that their drivers’ schedules are not dictated by the company’s structure, but rather the other way around. This app’s adaptability may be one of the reasons why it is so popular with parents who are always on the go.

With the flexibility to work when and how long they want, both Uber and Lyft are ideal for parents who alternate watching their children or who just have a few hours to spend while they are at school. You may also qualify for Uber and Lyft XL programs, which charge more for larger and more luxurious vehicles, thanks to your mother’s SUV or van.

19. Deliver Food

Federal Reserve data shows that three out of 10 adults use the gig economy as a supplement to their full-time employment. Delivering food for Ubereats or Postmates is one of the most popular ways to make money in today’s market.

20. Sell Your Clothes

If you’re a first-time mom, you’ve probably accumulated a closet full of things you’ll no longer need, as well as baby clothes your child has outgrown much too quickly. Why not turn these unwanted items into cash? It’s also a good idea to make place for new goods while you’re on maternity leave, as your kid may grow out of clothes quickly.

Adult clothes e-commerce sites:

  • Poshmark
  • Depop
  • thredUP

websites selling children’s wear:

  • In the Beginning There Was a Child
  • Clothes for My Child
  • Kidizen

21. Take Surveys for Cash

Taking online surveys for money is an easy method to earn money while on maternity leave. So long as you’ve got a lot of other things on your plate, this is a simple way to make money while the baby sleeps. Check out one of these survey sites during your leisure to earn some extra cash while you’re away from the office:

  • The Survey Junkies are out in full force.
  • Insight from Vindale
  • YouGov
  • Money in the Inbox

Depending on the website, you may be able to pay with cash, cheque, PayPal, or a gift certificate.

22. Start Babysitting

If taking care of a newborn isn’t enough of a challenge for you as a new parent, consider offering your services as a babysitter. Of course, you should check with the parents first, but if you know someone else who has a young child, you might be permitted to watch both of them at the same time. When they’re older, it can be nice to have a buddy to play with.

23. Test Websites

Many companies are looking for people to test out their websites in the same way that they look for people to fill out online surveys. Developers are eager to pay for this information in cash, check, PayPal, or gift cards because it provides them with crucial user experience data. UserTesting, Enroll, and UserFeel are some of the most popular tools for conducting online testing.

It doesn’t get any better than this. For this maternity leave position, you merely need to be internet-savvy and fluent in English.

24. Become an Online Juror

Becoming an online juror is a great option for moms-to-be who want to earn money while on maternity leave from the comfort of their home. As a juror, you can participate in a simulated trial online where attorneys can practice their arguments and prepare their arguments before they go to court. This gives them a better sense of how a jury will react to their arguments in court. There are mock trial services that offer in-person trials, which are more expensive but require more time and effort on the part of the client.

You must meet the following requirements in order to participate as an online juror:

  • Aged 18 and up
  • a citizen of the United States
  • An indictment or conviction for a crime, whether felonious or misdemeanor, is not acceptable.
  • Must be able to read and write at a basic level
  • Cannot be a lawyer, paralegal, or assistance to a lawyer..
  • I am unable to work in certain insurance-related fields.

25. Sell Furniture

You’ll need to get rid of some of your baby’s old furnishings so that you can buy new items for the nursery or soon-to-be kid’s room, much like you do with clothing. You may sell used TVs, furniture, gadgets, and home goods on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, among other online markets..

FAQs

How to Make Money Pre-Baby

A budget is an essential first step. For those who currently have one, be sure to make the necessary changes to match your current spending. There are a number of ways to get started, including asking a friend for advice or looking up budget templates online.

You may discover that you need additional money to pay your expenses as you review your budget. Ten methods to get some extra cash before you become a mommy-to-be!

Most of these professions allow you to decide how much work you want to take on, so you can keep them even after your kid is born. While working full- or part-time, you can also work on a side project. Hopefully, you’ll find something to your liking here. To accommodate a wide range of interests, we created a variety of solutions. Find a job that makes use of your talents.

1.    Transcriptionist

There are numerous options for beginners to transcribe audio information because different firms require different levels of experience. Our recommendation is that you work for one or two companies to determine if it’s a suitable fit for you. Having strong grammar, the stamina to sit for lengthy amounts of time, and the capacity to listen intently are all requirements for this position. Because transcriptionists are often compensated by the number of hours they spend transcribing audio, it’s important to keep this in mind when estimating your hourly rate.

Amounts Owed

Hourly rate: $3–$20

Think about These Platforms

Transcripts by GMR

3Play Media – Spanish and English Versions

Rev

2.    Online Juror

Anyone who enjoys watching Law & Order is a great candidate for this position! You, the reader, will be serving as a jury in many of the lawyers’ practice cases. When you’re not reading a case, you’ll be watching it. Keep looking if you can’t find any open cases on one of the many websites that match people with cases.

Amounts Owed

Each trial costs between $5 and $60.

Think about These Platforms

The Final Call Is Here, Thanks to the Internet!

Testimony of the Jury

Jury selections in criminal trials

3.    Sell Clothes or Old Items

Why not make a little more money while you’re doing something you’ll need to do in the future? Consider attempting to resell any lightly worn objects that are no longer serving a purpose for you. While there’s a chance your clothes won’t sell in time for the baby’s arrival, listing them anyhow and clearing out some closet space is better than doing nothing at all. Maternity and newborn clothing can also be purchased on these platforms at lower prices.

Amounts Owed

Varies

Think about These Platforms

Ebay

PoshMark

ThredUp

A Guide to Maternity Leave in Australia 2021 | Bounty Parents

4.    Translator

If you’re fluent in two languages, you can make money by working as an internet translation. With a job like this, you can work from home and help people all across the world all at the same time, and it pays well.

Amounts Owed

The hourly wage ranges between $13 and $32.

Think about These Platforms

Acclaro

Appen

Associates in Language Services

5.    Online Tutor

As more and more students are taking online programs, online tutors are more important than ever. A bachelor’s degree is required by certain sites, while others demand you to demonstrate your proficiency in a particular field of study. You can work from the comfort of your own home if you qualify. As a teacher, you may help change the futures of children around the world.

Amounts Owed

For an hourly rate of between $9 and $25,

Think about These Platforms

Tutor.com

VipKid

K-12 education should be raised to a higher level.

6.    Drive for a Food Delivery Service

Drivers are in higher demand as more individuals stay at home and order meals and groceries to be delivered to their door. You can work whenever and for as long as you desire in this position. You can set your own hours and enjoy a high degree of freedom. Doctor’s appointments and bedtime can necessitate some degree of wiggle room.

Amounts Owed

It costs between $15 and $25 an hour

Think about These Platforms

Favor

UberEats

PostMates

7.    Babysit

If this is your first child, you may want to have some experience with children before you bring one into the world. Babysitting is a lucrative and flexible career choice. Without a long-term commitment to one family, you can pick how many jobs you apply for. Here are a few things you can do to increase your chances of being asked back: Stay on top of housework, be kind to the kids while maintaining a strong relationship with the adults in your life, and have a good time while doing it! Remember that you’re always interviewing for a new position, so keep that in mind. This could lead to a recommendation from their friends if you make a good impression.

Amounts Owed

Hourly rate: $10–$25

Think about These Platforms

Sitter.com

Care.com

SitterCity

8.    Housesit

Additionally, house-sitting is a fantastic choice! With a few important duties like watering the flowers, checking the mail, or caring for their pets it can sometimes feel like a staycation. You can choose when and where you wish to accept work.. Pay depends on location, job responsibilities, and the individual.

Amounts Owed

Per day, the price ranges from $25 to $45.

Think about These Platforms

Housesitters You Can Trust

Nomador

HouseCarers

9.    Odd Jobs

This is the all-purpose side hustle. As a result, you can go through a wide range of job openings and pick out the ideal position for you on any given day. Cleaning, running errands, taking pictures of things at a store, developing CAPTCHA systems, and many more tasks are all options.

Amounts Owed

$8-$43 an hour

Think about These Platforms

Rabbit Work

Mechanical Turk, powered by Amazon

Shifting is a breeze.

10.    Wrap Your Car with Advertisements

It’s possible to get your car wrapped in advertising if you have a personal vehicle and a clean driving record. You only have to agree to drive around in a car that has an advertisement on it; the rest is up to you. Wrapping rented autos is permitted by some firms.

Amounts Owed

$100 to $500 a month

Think about These Platforms

Carvertise

Wrapify

Media in the Backseat of Your Car

How much of your salary do you get on maternity leave?

Talking about pregnancy can be tough for women when they find out they’re expecting a child. When it comes to maternity leave policies, many people fear discussing their salary with others.

However, this data is essential for expecting women who want to know how much they will be paid while they are not working after the birth of their child (and also if they will receive any financial assistance). Some of these questions are addressed in greater detail in this blog post.

How Long is Maternity Leave? | UK Guide

How can I get paid while on maternity leave?

Employers in the state of California are not required to offer paid leave for new mothers. However, there are still ways to get money throughout this period. Payed family leave and state disability insurance are a few of the options available to those who are unable to work due to a temporary disability.

Should I get my bonus while on maternity?

You’re still entitled to a portion of your bonus if your contract stipulates that you’ll be compensated for work completed over the course of a year. When you return to work, you’ll collect your bonus, but not when you’re on maternity leave. Your maternity leave is a great time to keep in touch with friends and family.

Is maternity leave paid or unpaid?

Because maternity leave is unpaid, some businesses have understood this to suggest that an employee is neither working or entitled to pay while on maternity leave, hence no yearly leave is accrued.

Can I get a part time job while on maternity leave?

When you are on maternity leave, your employer cannot force or insist that you work at any time. Instead, you and the employer must come to an arrangement in advance of you undertaking the work.

What happens if you don’t want to return to work after maternity leave?

Your contract will inform you how much notice you must give your employer if you decide not to return to work. If your contract doesn’t specify otherwise, you must give at least one week’s notice before quitting your job. Make sure you get paid for any vacation time you accrued while you were on maternity leave.

Is 6 months maternity leave paid?

According to the Maternity Benefit Act, maternity leave for female employees is limited to 12 weeks (84 days). Six of the 12 weeks of leave are designated for postpartum care. A worker is entitled to six weeks of paid maternity leave in the event of a miscarriage or medical termination of pregnancy.

Can I take maternity leave at 7 months?

If you have two surviving children under the age of 18, the Maternity Benefit (Amendment Act, 2017) has raised the maternity leave period from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. Women who have more than two children are only eligible for 12 weeks of parental leave.

How many weeks maternity leave do you get?

Your statutory maternity pay is made up of six weeks of 90 percent of your typical weekly income, followed by 39 weeks of maternity leave (before tax)

Is salary paid during maternity leave?

For new parents, the time of maternity leave is critical. While caring for a baby, they must also plan financially and ensure that their family’s health insurance coverage will continue throughout the months that they will be out of work.

Workers’ salaries are normally covered to the tune of 55% of their pre-maternity leave salaries, with certain states paying as much as 75% if short-term disability insurance is used.

Many businesses allow some expectant mothers to take several weeks off before returning to work to spend quality time with their newborns and prepare for childcare when they return to work. Only sick employees are eligible for paid sick leave at this time, while mothers are not.

For the first four weeks of a new baby’s life, some firms will pay full wages to employees who don’t use any form of short-term disability plan or other medical coverage advantages.

What are the rules for maternity leave?

Maternity leave benefits are available to employees who have worked for a year or more. If an employee plans to take time off from work, they are not legally obligated to notify their employer. However, many businesses do so because it takes time for the replacement to prepare and train.

Maternity leave should not jeopardize an employee’s compensation and seniority rights when she returns from maternity leave.

Employers are also required to give reasonable accommodations during pregnancy-related illness, as long as the impact on company operations and financial performance is not too severe.

Can you take maternity leave then quit?

What happens if you’re pregnant and take maternity leave? If this is the case, it’s possible. The amount of time you’ll be able to take off from work, as well as the stability of your job, should be taken into account before making this decision.

Ignoring workplace discrimination or harassment is not a valid reason for taking such action; instead, it should be a matter of health and family concerns.

If you’re happy in your current position but would like more freedom to work from home or for less hours, this can be an option to investigate. However, you should only move forward after thoroughly discussing these choices with your employer to ensure that they are aware of your requirements.

How do I announce my maternity leave?

Prepare a maternity leave announcement for your workplace when you’re ready. You don’t have to create a completely fresh announcement for official or unofficial leave.

Using our pre-built templates and looking at other teams’ policies on maternity leave is a fantastic place to begin.

When should I tell HR about maternity leave?

Pregnant women should inform their employers about maternity leave. Especially if you’re pregnant for a few weeks, so they can plan for your absence and find substitutes if necessary.

In the event that you work for a large company with a maternity leave policy, adhere to it to the letter. Parental leave must be paid (100 percent or 60 percent), depending on how long it lasts during regular working hours, if applicable.

Conclusion

If you do some research, you’ll be sure to locate a side work that fits your needs and interests. Many of these occupations allow you to be your own boss and set your own hours, schedule, and location. Make an effort and don’t be afraid to fail. Invest your time and abilities in a clever work and reap the benefits. Taking care of a growing family can be a lot of fun if you let it be.

As a side note, congrats on the birth of your first child, sis!