How To Make Money On Maternity Leave (2024)

Worried about being broke on maternity leave? The last thing you need to worry about is money when you are looking after a newborn which is why it’s important to know how to make money on maternity leave.

Maybe you just need to make some extra income or maybe you fancy starting a side hustle, whatever your needs are, there are many things to do on maternity leave to make money.

As a Canadian, I was lucky enough to enjoy two year long maternity leaves, partly funded by the government. However, money was still tight.

Many women need to making a bit of money on the side because bills still need to be paid plus you now have new expenses such as diapers, formula and other baby items. Plus you want to be able to for a stroller walk to Starbucks every now and again.

Below you will find some amazing side hustle ideas that will help you to make money while on maternity leave. The great thing is that you can make money while still enjoying time with your new baby, who knows, you may even discover a new money making hobby!

How To Make Money On Maternity Leave (1)

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How To Make Money On Maternity Leave

1.Start A Blog

I have to include this first because this is the side hustle that I started on my second maternity leave. Now to be fair, this is not a get-rich-quick scheme but if you are looking to create some supplemental income while on maternity leave, blogging is awesome.

I now make a full-time income from my blog and was able to quit my full-time job. Interested in getting started?

Read: How To Start A Blog That Makes Money

2. Make Money With Surveys

There are a lot of differentonline survey sites where you can make money for gift cards and even PayPal cash. My favorite site isSwagbucks. (Get a $5 bonus when you sign up throughthis link.)

3. Mystery Shop

Mystery shopping is not only fun, it is a great way to make some extra cash while on maternity leave. You can take your baby with you when you do your shop visits so you get an outing while getting paid!

4. Teach Online

If you have a baby that is on a schedule, consider online teaching. Online teaching often takes place really early in the morning so it is perfect if your baby naps in the mornings or wakes up a bit later.

How To Teach English Online (Who’s hiring now!)

5. Open An Etsy Store

If you would like to start a side hustle that you can continue after your maternity leave is done, an Etsy store is a great option. The easiest way to get started is byselling printables.

Learn how to get started with Etsy:

How To Start An Etsy Store Successfully

How To Start Your Own Etsy Printables Business

10 Best Things To Sell On Etsy To Make Money

6. Sell Beauty Products

I’m not talking about an MLM here. I mean starting a Soap Making Business From Home or makingbeauty products and selling them on Facebook groups or at craft fairs. There is a huge market for this around the holidays and also as teacher gifts.

7. Sell Your Used Clothes

As soon as your baby outgrows something, consider selling it for cash to buy clothing in a bigger size. Also analyze everything you have and see if you really need all the things you got at your baby shower and as gifts.

There might be some hidden cash there. Here are someplaces to sell used baby clothes for cash.

8. Sell On Amazon FBA

Private sellers on Amazon can make really good money from the comfort of home. This is a great opportunity to start your own small business with little cash down. Read more about Amazon FBA (this post is about selling on Amazon Canada but the principles and free resources apply to Amazon Worldwide.

9. Sell Your Photos

If you are a budding “momtographer,” you could start your own photo business from your home and make money with Christmas mini sessions and special family photos.

If landscapes and animals are more your thing, you can sell your photos online for cash. Here are the 15 Best Stock Photo Sites To Sell Images.

10. Become A Virtual Assistant

Everything is online now and there are tons of opportunities for virtual assistants to help with social media marketing, freelance writing and other online tasks. One easy way to get started is as aPinterest Virtual Assistant.

Pinterest VAs help brands and bloggers to promote on Pinterest by create images and pinning relevant content to their accounts.

11. Sell Crafts Online

If you are crafty, why not make and sell crafts on a site like Etsy? You could make money crocheting or choose some great things to sew and sell.

Of course, right now you are in baby mode so how about checking out these DIY baby items to make and sell?

More Side Hustle Ideas

15 Work From Home Jobs For Introverts

Start A Gift Basket Business From Home

How To Make Money From Your Spare Room

How To Make Money On Maternity Leave (2)

How To Make Money On Maternity Leave (2024)

FAQs

Can you make money on maternity leave? ›

You can work for a different employer while you are on leave and this will not end your leave. But working for any employer while you are on leave could affect your Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

How to survive unpaid maternity leave? ›

7 Ways to Prepare for an Unpaid Maternity Leave
  1. Understand your rights under the law.
  2. Plan when to use your personal time off.
  3. Buy disability insurance.
  4. Be strategic about baby registries and requests.
  5. Boost your savings.
  6. Talk to your boss about work options.
  7. Tap into community resources.
Jun 15, 2023

How can I make it through maternity leave financially? ›

11 Financial Tips to Survive Unpaid Maternity Leave
  1. Open a new bank account that pays you.
  2. Look into local resources and supplemental programs.
  3. Cut out unnecessary expenses.
  4. Reconsider current necessary expenses.
  5. Look into part-time work or side hustle jobs.
  6. Get paid for things you're already doing.

What jobs can I do on maternity leave? ›

maternity work from home jobs
  • Customer Operations Advisor. Thomas Cook Tourism. ...
  • Occupational Health Advisor. Wavin Limited3.0. ...
  • Peripatetic Care Home Manager. New. ...
  • Office Assistant (Remote) PriceBeam. ...
  • Occupational Therapist Functional Assessor. ...
  • Strengthen your profile. ...
  • Occupational Therapist. ...
  • Customer Service Concierge (Cruise118)

How can I make money while pregnant and unemployed? ›

Selling pre-loved items online can be a great way to cash in on items that you no longer need while decluttering your home. You can list your items on platforms such as eBay, Poshmark, Etsy, or even Facebook Marketplace. Setting up an online store can also be a great way to make some extra money during pregnancy.

What are the disadvantages of paid maternity leave? ›

The downsides of maternity and paternity leave
  • Paid family leave means paying someone who is not working and this is a drawback for many businesses.
  • There can be some variations in maternity pay depending on the jurisdiction. ...
  • Other employees may show signs of frustration when new mothers receive paid maternity leave.
Oct 4, 2022

How to survive 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave? ›

Other considerations for your maternity leave budget
  1. If your job offers paid time off, try to maximize your vacation days before the baby arrives. That way, you can count on at least a few paid days.
  2. Look into part-time work during your pregnancy. ...
  3. Rearrange your paycheck deductions. ...
  4. Find a support group.
Jan 14, 2024

What is maternity allowance? ›

Maternity Allowance is a payment you can get when you take time off to have a baby. You could get it if you: are employed but cannot get Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) are self-employed.

How do I survive going back to work after maternity leave? ›

6 Strategies to Help You Crush Your Return to Work after...
  1. Remember Your “Why” ...
  2. Reframe your mindset. ...
  3. Meet with your boss as soon as possible. ...
  4. Build relationships with colleagues. ...
  5. Start setting boundaries. ...
  6. Celebrate your wins. ...
  7. Know that you've got this.

Why is there no maternity leave in the US? ›

One reason is that the "USis the only advanced country that provides no public support to new parents." The US does not have a federal paid maternity and family leave act. Some states, however, include paid leave legislation for family members.

Does aflac cover baby bonding? ›

Leave (PFML)

Medical; new child bonding; care of a family member; military exigency; military caregiver Employees may receive up to 90% of their average weekly wage with a minimum of $50 per week and a maximum of $1,000.

Does Amazon offer paternity leave? ›

Six weeks of paid leave following the birth or adoption of a child. Parental Leave can be taken in one consecutive six-week period or split into two increments, and must be used within twelve months of birth or adoption. You do not need approval from your manager to take Parental Leave.

What happens if I don't return to work after maternity leave? ›

If you get contractual maternity pay you might only keep your full amount if you return to work. You won't need to pay back statutory maternity pay or Maternity Allowance, even if you don't return to work. Check what type of maternity pay you're entitled to if you're not sure.

What jobs have the longest maternity leave? ›

Companies That Offer 24 Weeks Paid Maternity Leave
  • Dropbox. A note from Dropbox: "Dropboxers welcoming a new child are eligilble to take 24 paid weeks off at birth or adoption, plus a Transition Week to help them transition back into their role. ...
  • Google.
  • Zynga.
  • Spotify.
  • eBay Inc.
  • ZestFinance.
  • 72andsunny.
  • Lenovo.

What is the enhanced maternity pay? ›

Enhanced maternity pay

Some employers offer more than statutory maternity pay. This can be called 'enhanced' or 'contractual' maternity pay. For example, you might get 26 weeks of full pay followed by 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay.

How much money do you need on maternity leave? ›

90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first 6 weeks.

How much is maternity benefit? ›

Rate of Maternity Benefit
Maternity BenefitWeekly rate
Standard payment€274
Jan 2, 2024

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