Updated at: 06-05-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

As you await the arrival of your new baby, you’ll need to take care of everything from arranging the nursery to purchasing for all of the new parent necessities. Before and after the birth of a kid, many parents worry about how they’ll be able to afford their child’s many diapers and wardrobe items, as well as their child’s college education.

There are many methods to earn money while on maternity leave, regardless of whether you have six months of paid leave or only a few weeks without income. We’re going to cover 25 ways to make money when you’re taking time off to raise a family.

We provide a solution for you if you’re short on funds. A thorough guide on making money while on maternity leave can be accessed by clicking on the links below.

The gig economy is a great way to make money while you’re on parental leave, even if most of your time is spent preparing for your baby’s arrival or caring for them closely in the first few weeks. Check out these 25 ideas for earning money while on family leave.

What is parental leave?

Professionals who are expecting a new family member can take a long absence from work during a parental leave. Professionals who are on this leave are exempt from all work-related responsibilities. Because of this, new parents have a period of adjustment ahead of them. There are various kinds of parental leave, each with its own length and monetary compensation.

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

How to make money when on parental leave

Taking time off work to spend time with your children and adjust to your new position as a parent can be a wonderful experience for many professionals, while others would rather keep their jobs while on parental leave. Children’s care expenses and the loss of income due to unpaid leave are covered by this benefit. While on parental leave, consider following these strategies to earn extra cash:

1. Consider work-from-home jobs

It’s a good idea to look into jobs that allow you to work from home because of your new work schedule as a parent. By working from home, you may spend more time with your child. As a result, remote employment generally provides a higher level of personal freedom and comfort.

2. Try to find a job that offers flexible hours

Working from home often entails the ability to choose your own hours. As a parent of a newborn or recently adopted child, this is an especially useful tool, as your attention is naturally drawn to your child and what he or she needs. Try to pick a task that can be completed in smaller chunks because children’s schedules are often unpredictable. Your child’s schedule will not be disrupted by this method.

If your infant has a daily nap between 10 and 11 a.m., you can take advantage of that time to get some work done.

3. Consider any environmental requirements the job may have

Professionals may need a specific working environment even if they operate from home. If you’re giving online music lessons, for example, you’ll need a place where you can record yourself with the least amount of background noise. Having a newborn in the house isn’t the best situation. You should instead look for a career that allows you to work from anywhere and doesn’t demand a lot of face-to-face interaction with clients.

Finding a career that allows you to be mobile and prioritize your children’s needs allows you to feel more at ease.

4. Communicate with your supervisor often

Being upfront and honest about your expectations for the job and your ability is especially important if you have to report to someone higher up on the company’s hierarchy. It’s not necessary to share personal details with your manager, but letting them know about your position may urge them to be more accommodating with your schedule…. You may also be able to work together to come up with a solution that is more in line with your personal preferences.

5. Ask your current supervisor for flexibility

Think about requesting flexible work hours from your present boss even if it isn’t an option for you. Negotiate a schedule with decreased hours and remote work if you’re able to do your existing job from home. This allows you to extend your time off without losing any money.. As a result, it may be easier for you to approach your existing employer for special considerations rather than look for a new employment.

16 ways to make money on parental leave

It is possible to make extra money while on parental leave through a variety of means. It all depends on how much time you have available and how much money you want to make. While on maternity or paternity leave, you can earn money in the following ways:

1. Offer transcription services

A transcriptionist is a remote professional who listens to audio recordings and creates a written record of the audio contents. Many industries seek to hire these professionals, including medical companies, legal offices and educational institutions. Many companies pay transcriptionists per audio they transcribe, which allows these professionals to set their own hours.

2. Find freelance writing opportunities

When a transcriptionist is working remotely, they are listening to audio files and writing down what they hear. Medical, legal, and educational institutions are among the organizations that are interested in hiring these individuals. Transcriptionists are often paid on a per-audio basis, allowing them to choose their own hours and work when they want.

Thinking of starting your own business? Maternity leave's the time to go for it - MadeForMums

Make an effort to identify writing jobs that will allow you to put your professional experience to work. In the case of nurses, for example, some companies may be interested in opinion pieces or comprehensive essays on medical matters.

3. Resell items

When it comes to making money, reselling products is almost like a job. Consider getting rid of things you no longer wear or use. Organizing your home and making money at the same time is possible by selling some of your belongings. Customers can be found on a multitude of websites and online marketplaces. Buying and reselling used goods is an easy way to make money because you can establish your own prices and thus have greater control over your earnings.

4. Create craft products

You may sell crafts online if you’re creative or have the necessary resources. This allows you to establish your own prices and even have some fun while developing a product, similar to reselling products. Decide what you can make and sell based on your own abilities and resources. Make stickers, artwork, or customized office and home products for sale online on a crafting platform.

5. Offer care services

Consider providing care to those in your community who need it. You may be able to improve your skills to care for children and pets by taking up babysitting and pet-sitting jobs at home. You may even be able to watch another youngster or pet from the comfort of your own home. As a result, you are able to devote all of your time and energy to caring for your child while also earning a living.

Babiesitting services often have scheduled hours and a fixed hourly charge. Consider asking professionals in your neighborhood or other people in your network if they need child or pet care services to find clients.

6. Become a virtual assistant

Clients who work from home might rely on virtual assistants for administrative assistance. This can entail writing and sending emails, organizing a timetable, giving technical help, and keeping records. ” Because many VAs are employed on a contractual basis, new parents can arrange to work during their parental leave.

7. Tutor students

Consider being a student tutor if you have strong interpersonal skills and enjoy working with children. As a freelancer, you have the option of working with a wide range of customers and topics. Tutors can help students in person or online. It is common for tutors to just work weekends or after hours because that is when the majority of their students have free time.

8. Apply for call center representative positions

There are few requirements for call center occupations, and many can be done from home. When you work in a call center, your employer provides you with a list of people to call. While some contact center agents are in the business of selling, others are involved in fundraising or disseminating information. New parents with excellent communication skills will thrive in this position.

9. Take surveys

A paid survey profile can be set up by professionals on certain websites. Professionals on maternity leave can supplement their income by doing surveys, despite the fact that each one is paid at a different rate. These professionals can complete surveys at any time because they require no effort on their part. The majority of surveys will tell you how much money you can expect to make after finishing them. As a result, the number of surveys you complete determines how much money you make from this side gig.

10. Work as a bookkeeper

It’s feasible to get a remote bookkeeping job with little experience, even if you have a strong background in administration, organization, and math. Professionals on maternity leave can benefit from working as a bookkeeper because it provides a flexible schedule and is often lucrative.

11. Offer freelance translation services

Consider becoming a freelance translator if you are proficient in a second language. Translation work is generally done from home and can be done at any time of day or night. Translation is a job that involves listening and reading in a different language than the source material. Having a command of a second language is a highly sought-after skill, thus this type of work typically pays well.

12. Apply for disability benefits

Disability benefits may be available if you have recently given birth or are still pregnant, depending on your state and employer. When you’re on parental leave, you don’t have to go out and find a new work in order to keep earning money. Applying for disability benefits may allow you to get additional time to get used to your new family member before returning.

13. Start a blog

Start a blog to augment your income while on maternity leave if you’re a good writer. Determine what you’re most interested in writing about and stick with it until you’ve covered a lot of ground. There are several sub-topics that can be covered in a blog on rabbit care, such as how to feed your rabbit or how to treat a rabbit if it has a health issue.

Try to include affiliate links in your articles if you have a substantial readership. You can earn money each time a reader clicks on an affiliate link in your article.

14. Accept endorsements

If you have a huge social media following, you may be able to join up as a brand ambassador for a company. In order to promote a particular product, brand ambassadors use social media to post online. In return, the firm that sells the product pays you or allows you to keep the product you’re promoting in exchange for your endorsement. As a parent, you’ll benefit from these deals since you’ll acquire products that will assist you care for your child. Because you don’t have to buy these things, you save money in the long run.”

15. Sell pictures to stock photo companies

Another approach to get money without doing any work is to sell your photos on stock photo websites like Shutterstock. Using a stock photo website, upload a photo of anything generic, such as an oak tree or a coffee mug. Royalties are paid to you every time one of your images is viewed or downloaded. Selling your images allows you to make money without having to put in any effort.

16. Test new products and websites

Some companies pay professionals to test their new website or product for a free product or monetary compensation. After receiving a product to test or link to a website, you write an honest review to detail your experience. This helps companies with advertising and perfecting their products.

How much maternity pay will I get?

In exchange for a free product or monetary compensation, some companies pay experts to test their new website or product. Once a product or service has been provided for review, you write a detailed review to describe your experience with it. Advertising and product improvement are aided as a result.

Some companies pay experts to evaluate their new website or product in exchange for a free product or payment. After receiving a product to test or a link to a website, you write an honest review to describe your experiences. Advertising and product improvement are aided as a result of this.

You don’t work for the same job during the entire duration of your pregnancy. Full-time, part-time, or casual hours don’t matter; the most important thing is that you aren’t working for yourself. Even if you lose your work due to a layoff or reassignment before the conclusion of SMP, you may still be eligible for SMP.

Pregnancy And Maternity Discrimination Guidance Updated: 15 Signs You Are Being Discriminated Against At Work | HuffPost UK Parents

SMP is not a public fund, so it will have no impact on your immigration status or make obtaining a visa any more difficult (under the points-based system).

Because it’s not taxed while you’re out of work, your employer can contribute to an occupational pension and you won’t have to pay income tax on that money when you receive it at year’s end.

For the 2011/12 tax year, the statutory maternity pay was set at £139 per week; however, as of April 2012, this sum was raised by just over 20%, allowing women on maternity leave to receive up to £149 per week.

You can start Statutory Maternity Leave earlier if your doctor certifies that you are not fit to work prior to the due date of the baby.

Women on maternity leave are also entitled to statutory sick pay, so it’s worth checking to see if your employer would still pay some of your wages if you’re out of work due to illness at the same time.

For women who have a third child, the UK government has recently increased maternity leave to 52 weeks and this applies even whether they are self-employed or work for an agency.

During Maternity Leave – If you go back to work before the end of your Statutory Maternity Pay period because you don’t qualify for SMP (e.g..you only worked in one job during that 39 weeks), but then meet the criteria later after having had another baby, you can make National Insurance contributions towards any missed payments within three months of returning work which would enable you to claim SMP.

Maternity leave – If you return to work before the end of your Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) period because you don’t qualify for SMP (e.g., you only worked in one job during that 39 weeks), but then meet the criteria later after having another baby, you can make National Insurance contributions towards any missed payments within three months of returning work.

After three months, there are penalties of 20 percent of the amount outstanding and interest at eight percent above base rate until the debt is paid – so save all receipts! This is why it is important to keep all receipts.

Even worse, if the company goes bankrupt before paying back the money, no one needs to pay back these donations.

How do I start my maternity leave?

You will be eligible for 16 weeks of maternity leave after the birth of your child. Pregnant women are entitled to paid time off for four weeks of their leave, while those for the remainder are unpaid.

Your company may, however, provide more than the 39 weeks of statutory sick pay mandated by law, and that additional amount is legally binding and cannot exceed £139 per week in 2011/12 and rising slightly each year.

For example, parents may be eligible for Child Benefit throughout their maternity leave (although they won’t necessarily receive it immediately).

Visit Directgov or call 0845 608 8525 to learn more about the benefits available while you are out of work following the birth of a child.

With regard to tax-free allowances, many companies provide new moms with additional childcare costs after they have returned for a time longer than 24 months (for example 52 pay periods).

It is possible that if they do not grant such an allowance or offer less time, the additional amount that surpasses 12 weeks could still count as ordinary vacation leave earned during those years with them; this means that you can carry it over into future employment!

There are few exceptions, such as self-employed people, who do not receive any statutory benefits at all because there is no employer to be held accountable for providing them..

Conclusion

With or without paid maternity or family leave, there are several ways to take advantage of the shared economy benefits. Make money while on maternity leave by following these strategies and sharing your own ideas in the comments section below!