How to Earn Money on Maternity Leave

A new child can bring the joys of the world to your life. A little planning, budgeting, and strategy come in handy when you are planning a family. But the journey is more challenging than it seems. Financial stress is a massive part of it. Maternity leave often changes the whole economic situation and makes it difficult financially to manage expenses.

Most mothers on maternity leave are under a lot of stress due to hormonal changes and do not have much family support. Taking care of themselves and their finances and maintaining their stress levels are no easy tasks. This article explores how to earn money on maternity leave and handle financial challenges during the period. 

How to Earn Money on Maternity Leave

Maternity leave allows new mothers or mothers-to-be to leave for a few weeks to manage their pregnancy and get to know their children. This period can be paid or unpaid, depending on state law, and mothers can continue their jobs once the period is done. Paid maternity leave is great for ensuring a stable income source while enjoying pregnancy and new mom days.

Your maternity leave and its regulations depend on your employer and your state. You must discuss your maternity leave rules with your employer well in advance to ensure you are financially stable during your pregnancy. Every huge step must have financial backing to safeguard your and your kids’ future. 

The Financial Challenges of Maternity Leave

Maternity leave is valid for companies with over 50 workers for more than 20 weeks annually. If you do not have such an employer, you must become unemployed due to your pregnancy or delivery date. Most mothers manage to work during all nine months of their pregnancy, but if some complications arise, it is a financial challenge to handle their maternity leave.

You can work as a freelancer, take part-time jobs, or even teach kids online to sustain your finances. It is excellent to manage work while pregnant to overcome financial constraints. Even if you have a paid maternity leave, an extra income source is the icing on the cake.

Balancing Motherhood and Income Generation

Motherhood is one of the most amazing feelings you will ever experience. The birth of a smaller version of yourself is lovely. But it is essential to balance your career along with motherhood. Now, with a kid in your life, your expenses are higher, and so is the responsibility of income generation. You are waiting for your maternity leave to end or for your kid to grow up to start working again.

Most mothers do not plan their financial needs and requirements during maternity and often face turbulence later. With the right strategies and planning, you can balance motherhood and all the financial challenges that come with it. An additional income source can help you during unpaid maternity leave and help you manage your new economic needs. 

Read related blog: Side Hustles for Stay-at-Home Moms

How to Identify Your Skills and Time Availability

Every job opportunity requires your time and skills. Even if you are looking for a part-time opportunity, you must start by identifying your skill set and researching available job offers. Working a new job during maternity leave can teach you new skills, add experience to your resume, and offer new adventures.

People who plan their maternity leave can use their present skills and time to prepare for their jobs during maternity leave. You can explore new opportunities and use new skills in your resume for a higher salary after maternity leave. Sometimes, mothers who live alone most of the day prefer a part-time job to earn money and spend time doing a job. 

Online Income Opportunities

Freelance Writing and Editing

There are multiple writing and editing jobs available for mothers-to-be. During your maternity leave, you can work on writing and editing content jobs using Fiverr and Upwork. These jobs require a basic understanding of writing and can offer various positions at entry levels. It is easy to handle and can help you manage your time and earn money. 

Virtual Assistance

Virtual assistance is a type of secretarial support on calls. They work remotely and manage your calls, meetings, appointments, client data, and notifications. This job is a convenient option for working mothers, especially new mothers. 

Online Tutoring and Teaching

If you are passionate about teaching or tutoring kids, you can start as an online tutor. Online teachers and teaching positions cover many fields and skill sets. You can teach a new language, skills, or a professional course or try teaching a subject to kids. If you love teaching, you can also use your YouTube channel to educate your audience. 

Selling Products Online (Etsy, Amazon)

If you have prior sales experience selling products, you can use Amazon and Etsy to sell products online. Drop shipping and E-commerce job opportunities will help you earn higher margins from each product. You must learn more about these jobs from YouTube tutorials and explore the field to earn better. 

Blogging and Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is another way to earn huge profits while staying at home. Blogging, on the other hand, is similar to freelance writing, where you have to use your mind. Most writers often maintain blog posts to engage their audience with their content. You can explore the world of writing to learn skills and attract job opportunities. 

Read related blog: 10 Work From Home Jobs for Moms

Leveraging Existing Skills

Consulting and Coaching

Most mothers-to-be spend most of their time planning doctor appointments and caring for their baby bump. It might be difficult for them to learn new skills, and they often stay unemployed for over 15 weeks during their pregnancy. You can use your existing skills and knowledge to teach and consult students and earn money. You can also work as a career guide to help out teens and stay employed partially during your maternity leave. 

Social Media Management

Social media is not a new technology, and most of us are familiar with it. You can use your social media management skills to become a social media manager and freelancer to earn money. Some skills, such as social media management skills, are existing abilities and do not require any additional training. You can work at entry-level positions to explore the field and maintain an extra source of earnings during your pregnancy. 

Graphic Design and Web Development

Graphic design is another trendy job profile that one can quickly learn in a few weeks. If you have prior experience in graphic designing, web development, or any other software-based technology, you can use your experience to get freelancing job opportunities. Hundreds of work-from-home jobs are available for part-time intervals that can help you financially during your maternity leave. 

Proofreading and Editing

People who want time flexibility, regular pay, and jobs with minimum effort can try working as proofreaders and editors for various companies. Due to the high demand for such positions, there are jobs available for part-timers, freelancers, and full-time employees. You just need a basic outline of job requirements and enjoy regular earning from these jobs. Instead of learning a new skill, such jobs provide great money with basic skills. 

Transcription and Data Entry

If you are someone who is not familiar with working online, you can start with basic data entry skills. These skills are quick to learn and must be easy to handle. Transcription and data entry jobs offer basic pay and can be understood quickly. You can get various online tutorials to earn extra funds during maternity leave. 

Flexible Job Options

Customer Service Representative

You can also work as a customer service representative, which offers flexible hours. Customer service representatives handle and resolve customer complaints. You might need a stable internet connection, a phone, and a laptop to manage your representative position. 

Market Research Participant

Another flexible job option for women on maternity leave is market research participants. In this, you research market conditions based on a topic. This option is excellent for women who love writing and exploring new content online. Extensive study and data analysis are required to provide accurate and detailed information.

Online Surveys and Microtasks

Online surveys and microtasks are a type of online job where one earns money by answering quizzes online. The quiz might be a product review, personal interests, or based on one’s choice of products. Such surveys might add a short-term income source and are suitable for earning money quickly. 

Selling Stock Photos or Videos

If you are interested in photography and videography, you can start selling your photos and videos online. Shutterstock and various other platforms offer you the ability to sell your photos online and earn money for each copy. You can also ask for a premium rate for specific images and videos and earn money while following your passion. 

Creating Digital Products

Digital products have a new fanbase. People interested in such products can earn money by creating and selling them. Logo-making, website development, and other digital goods are great ways to generate an income source for women on maternity leave. You can also explore the world of digital products such as images, music, e-books, and videos. 

Read related blog: 5 Essential Tips for Moms Returning to Work

Additional Income Streams

Renting Out Spare Rooms or Property

You can also enhance your income streams by renting spare rooms in your house. Airbnb and similar platforms allow you to rent your property or spare rooms to guests and fellow travelers. Such income sources do not require additional effort and can help you boost your earnings. 

Selling Unwanted Items

If you have unwanted items at your home, it is better to earn money by selling them. An extra chair, dining table, center table, or your old cell phone can help you gain a few hundred dollars. Sometimes, these smaller earnings can help you save more money. Smart saving is essential to earning better.

Participating in Clinical Trials

Several clinics offer their clinical trial participants money for their participation. You can try reaching out to such clinics and check about their authenticity. Most mothers might avoid such jobs due to risk in their pregnancies, but you can check reviews and side effects of such trials to ensure a safe pregnancy. 

Babysitting or Childcare

Mothers-to-be can seek childcare and babysitting services to earn a few extra dollars daily. These jobs are a great way to start your pregnancy, as you will learn many new things about your future child. If you have had kids before, you are already a professional at handling kids. Most parents seek a mother or a woman with kids in the family to become their babysitter. You can earn great money per hour in these jobs. 

Pet Sitting or Dog Walking

Dog walking is one of the best bets if you are a pet lover and pregnant. Women can walk in nature, explore parks and nearby areas, and earn money by dog walking. Most women on maternity leave often spend all day at home and miss out on the fun of the outside world. It is better to involve yourself in these activities, where you can explore walks and nature for a few hours. 

Balancing Work and Motherhood

Time Management Strategies

Maternity leave provides ample time for working women expecting a baby in the coming months. Most women get bored and have financial constraints, leading to part-time work during pregnancy. With adequate time management strategies, maternity leave can provide fun and pleasure. Women can enjoy their pregnancy while earning money to support the baby.

Building a Support System

Partners and family members need to support working women while they are pregnant. Lack of support can lead to women either living in jobs, working in highly stressful conditions, or many other problematic circumstances. Women often undergo hormonal imbalances and require constant positive support from their loved ones. 

Setting Realistic Goals

Pregnancy is not just about maternity leave or your baby. It is a period of womanhood and self-positivity. You must set realistic goals for yourself and plan your part-time jobs accordingly. If you are not well physically, investing your time or money in working is not intelligent. You must select work that is flexible and possible with your pregnancy mood swings. 

Prioritizing Tasks

Pregnancy should be more about your health and fitness. It is essential to prioritize yourself over your work. Despite financial constraints, you must focus on your health condition and baby before overburdening yourself with work. 

Self-Care and Well-being

Self-care, well-being, and a positive support system will give you a more positive pregnancy experience. You just need relaxation and calmness in a low-stress environment to ensure you do not experience pressured conditions during your pregnancy.

Conclusion

Pregnant women are delicate and go through extreme hormonal imbalances most of their day. You need to relax and prioritize yourself while working, so you are not overburdened. Maternity leave, either paid or unpaid, offers you time and space to connect with yourself and your kid. You might work part-time or freelance to provide financial stability, but prioritizing your health is necessary. Beem offers financial assistance, guidance, and support during an economic crisis. The AI-powered app offers a personalized Budget Planner to help you spend, save, plan and protect your money like an expert.

FAQs (How to Earn Money on Maternity Leave)