I’ve never been a fan of the word “maternity leave.” It implies that you’re on vacation, which for me was rarely the case. Plus, it’s gender-specific to women and doesn’t include men or other people who want to take time off to care for their newborns.
So I like to call it parental leave instead. And while I was on parental leave, I decided that I would try my hand at what’s called “side hustling,” which means finding part-time work to make extra money.
The result? I made over $10,000 on my maternity leave! Here are the ways I did it:
| Takeaway |
|---|
| Embrace freelancing during maternity leave to |
| achieve financial independence. |
| Prepare and plan ahead to balance work and |
| family responsibilities effectively. |
| Explore different income-generating options |
| suitable for your skills and interests. |
| Leverage online platforms and remote work |
| opportunities for flexibility. |
| Prioritize self-care and maintain a healthy |
| work-life balance during this phase. |
Renting Out A Room On Airbnb
Renting out a room on Airbnb is a great way to supplement your income.
You can use the extra cash to pay off student loans or save up for a trip to Europe or something. Or you can just spend it on an island somewhere and live in luxury. The choice is yours!
Here are some tips that will help make sure you get started renting out your place:
Find a good location where people will want to stay. Don’t pick a place where there’s nothing to do but sit around and watch TV, or else your guests might be bored out of their minds!
For example, if I was going on vacation I’d probably want to go somewhere with good food (like Italy) rather than somewhere like New Mexico where all they have are tumbleweeds rolling down the street.
Get price estimates from local hotels so that you know how much money you should charge per night. Marketing is key you need people who will stay at your place even if they don’t know anything about it beforehand!
You could put up flyers saying “My house is available for rent!” around town; many people walk by those anyway so they’ll see them without any effort required from you.
Keep track of how much money comes in each month so that when tax season rolls around next April everything will be ready when it comes time to pay taxes due later this year.
Make sure everything stays clean so as not to attract bugs which would upset any guests staying during their visit!
Freelancing during maternity leave can be a great way to maintain financial independence and career growth while taking care of your newborn. Learn some valuable insights on freelancing while on maternity leave to balance work and family life effectively.
Taking Online Surveys
There are many websites out there that pay for your time and effort. You can, for example, take surveys about products and services you use regularly. Sometimes the surveys are quick and easy, sometimes they’re more involved with in-depth questions.
Some sites even ask you to complete simple tasks like watching videos or answering questions about something that interests you you get paid for giving them feedback. Usually, more time spent participating in these activities means higher rewards as well!
A great way to start making money online this way is by signing up for Swagbucks (link). They have an entire section dedicated to taking online surveys that pay cash rewards so it’s a good place to begin if this is all new to you!
Selling Clothes You Can’t Fit Anymore
Selling clothes online can be a great way to make some quick cash. Depending on the site you use, there are several different options and ways to sell your clothes.
Here are some popular sites where you can sell your old items:
eBay
You’ll need an eBay account to sell on this platform, but it’s one of the best platforms for selling your stuff due to its large user base and traffic volume.
You’ll also need pictures of each item so that buyers know what they’re getting before they buy it from you (and avoid buying something that looks different than in person).
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Poshmark
If you want more control over what goes out into the world, consider using Poshmark a newish app that lets users get rid of unwanted clothing by “pinning” those items from their closets onto a virtual board for sale.
Users then shop other users’ boards for clothes at varying prices; once an interested party buys an item from someone else’s board, it automatically gets shipped directly from its current owner to the new recipient (which means no time spent trying on stuff).
You don’t have as many options here as with other platforms since everything must be brand-new or gently used but if you wanna test out how much people will pay for what’s hanging in your closet anyway? This is a great place!
Selling Classes On Udemy
There are many ways to make money with Udemy, including selling courses and teaching your classes.
Selling courses on Udemy is one of the most lucrative ways for a new teacher to make money. But if you’re thinking of getting into it, you should know that it’s not always easy.
Several things can go wrong when selling your course on Udemy and if one of these things happens to you, then it could ruin your chances of making any money at all!
Fortunately for us both, though, and for anyone who wants to start making money with Udemy, I’ve been able to overcome every single obstacle I’ve come across in my time as an online instructor.
So now I’m going to tell you exactly what those obstacles were and how I overcame them so that by the time we’re done here today they’ll seem like nothing more than mere speed bumps in your path toward success (which they are).
Selling Your Old Tech
Selling your old tech can be a great way to make some extra cash. There are several ways to do it, but I’ll cover the most popular ones here.
Craigslist and eBay are two of the more popular options for selling items online. Both sites have their pros and cons, so it’s best to weigh those before deciding which one is right for you.
Selling on Amazon will require some work upfront (setting up an account and listing), but there are plenty of buyers who love shopping from its platform.
Plus, if you’re not looking for a quick sale or don’t mind waiting until you get full price, Amazon has fantastic customer service when something goes wrong with your item after delivery or during shipping.
Something that isn’t guaranteed with other sites like Craigslist or eBay since they don’t hold any responsibility for what happens after someone purchases an item through their site.”
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Freelance Writing Online
Freelance writing is a great way to make money while taking care of your family.
There are lots of different types of freelance writing jobs, but the one I’m going to focus on is online freelance writing. This type of work involves you writing articles for websites or blogs.
The good news about this career choice is that it’s flexible, so you can work whenever and wherever you want!
The first step in becoming an online freelancer is finding places where people need content written for them. You should start by searching on Google for “write for us” or “online writers wanted” (something like that).
There will be tons of sites listed in the search results don’t worry too much about choosing one over another; just pick whichever one looks best based on its design and whether or not it seems trustworthy.
Then send some emails out! Be sure to include links back to examples of your previous work when applicable.
Make sure they know how much experience you have doing this kind of thing before they hire you; sometimes they may want someone who already has tons more experience than what they do themselves so that all they need from day-to-day are fresh ideas.*
Taking Paid Surveys Online
Paid surveys are a great way to make some extra cash online. They’re simple, easy, and can be done from anywhere with an internet connection.
All you need to do is sign up for a few paid survey sites, then work your way through their list of available surveys until you’ve earned enough for your goal.
How Much Can I Earn?
Depending on how many surveys are available, making $10k with paid surveys is possible. Most people who do it consistently earn at least $500 per month!
When I first started, I was making around $50-$75 per month nowadays my average monthly income ranges between $250-300 (depending on how much time I have).
How Do I Get Started?
The first step is signing up for as many survey sites as possible (we recommend using [this list]()).
Once you’ve found all the ones that pay well or seem legit enough for your needs and interests/personality type (i.e. if someone doesn’t like getting mail or doing chores but enjoys shopping at Target or watching TV shows about vampires).
Set aside time each day or week to take them in order without skipping any days so that they add up faster!
Get Creative With Sponsored Posts
If you don’t want to focus on getting paid for products and services, consider writing a blog post that is sponsored by someone else’s product or service. In exchange for writing about your experience with a particular product or service, the company will pay you for doing so.
You can also make money by posting links to affiliate offers on your social media accounts or website. Don’t worry if this seems foreign at first there are plenty of resources online that can help you get started!
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Become A Virtual Assistant
What Is A Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant is someone who works remotely for clients, performing administrative tasks (organizing schedules, emailing clients, and managing social media accounts) and sometimes other work that has nothing to do with being an executive.
You can find opportunities on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork.
How Do I Find Virtual Assistant Work?
The best way to find VA jobs is by signing up for a few different online platforms that connect businesses with potential employees or contractors.
It’s also helpful if you have some experience in the field of event planning or marketing because these skills will come in handy when working from home as a contractor.
What Are The Benefits Of Being A Virtual Assistant?
There are many benefits to being a part-time VA: – Flexibility – You’ll be able to choose your hours so you can make time for family obligations or even take off when necessary;
Low barrier to entry – The process of becoming vetted by various companies takes less than 15 minutes each; – High hourly rate – VAs typically earn $15-$20 per hour (plus bonuses), which equates to roughly $325-$400 per day!
Write Ebooks And Sell Them On Amazon’s KDP Program
I’m going to teach you how to write a book, publish it on Amazon’s KDP program, and sell it for at least $10/month. The software I use is called Scrivener (it’s not free), but there are plenty of other options out there.
Here are the steps:
Write an ebook that people want; don’t just write whatever comes into your head. Research the topic thoroughly and make sure you’re qualified to write about it before jumping in!
Get a good cover and description design. Make sure everything looks professional – if someone buys your book online, they’ll judge its quality based solely on what they see in their browser window or app screen. No cheating here!
Find A Part-Time Job As A Brand Ambassador
As a parent, finding a part-time job can be difficult. But it’s not impossible. You just need to find the right job for you.
Many different jobs can be done from home and your phone. I have found one of my favorite jobs by working as a brand ambassador for several large companies, including Google and Amazon.
As a brand ambassador, you get paid by companies to talk about their products on social media and in real life (IRL). This sounds like an easy way to make money but there are many steps involved before you start earning money with this type of work.
First things first: You need to know what kind of work is available? There are two types of work as a Brand Ambassador: Product Reviewers/Influencers and Content Creators/Bloggers/Tubers (these terms will be used interchangeably throughout this article).
The difference between these two roles is that content creators create their content based on the products they promote while product reviewers simply review products that have been sent directly from brands in exchange for free samples or discounts on future purchases.[4]
Get Into The Beauty Industry
There’s no denying it: getting into the beauty industry can be intimidating. You might not know where to start, or how much money you’ll need to get your own business up and running. But don’t worry; I’m here to help!
The first step is simple: find a job that pays well, but also gets your name out there as an employee who goes above and beyond. This is especially important if you have no idea how much time or money will go into starting a salon of your own.
Once you’ve got that down pat, it’s all about building up relationships with clients and making sure they’re satisfied with their services whether it’s through social media or just talking with them directly at work events like happy hours or birthday parties (yes, these happen).
And then once all those steps are in place? It’s time for one last thing: making sure everyone gets paid on time (which means no more excuses).
Are you seeking a rewarding part-time job? Discover the potential of freelancing by checking out how freelancing can be a rewarding part-time job. Embrace the flexibility and benefits of freelancing while pursuing other aspects of your life and career.
Become An Editor Or Proofreader
If you’re an English major and want to put your skills to good use, becoming a freelance editor or proofreader could be a great way for you to make money on the side. There are plenty of sites that will connect you with potential clients looking for editors and proofreaders.
You can also find some good leads by networking at events where other writers hang out (for example, if there’s an event in your town called “Author Day” or “Writers’ Workshop,” go check it out).
Once you’ve got some clients lined up, try sending them samples of your work so they have confidence in what they’re paying for.
Do this before accepting any job offers so that if there are any issues (like typos or grammatical mistakes), they’ll come to you first instead of giving bad reviews online later on down the road!
Once people know who they can trust when it comes time for editing services.
Word will spread quickly among their circle who is trustworthy and easygoing about deadlines and changes needed until everyone wants their services at which point it may be time to start charging more than $10 per hour!
Conclusion
I hope my story will inspire you to do the same. It’s not necessarily an easy road, but it can be a very fulfilling one.
I learned a lot about myself and my work ethic throughout this process and gained a much greater sense of accomplishment. Who knows? Maybe next time I’ll try for $20,000!
Further Reading
How to Make Money on Maternity Leave: Boss Single Mama provides valuable tips and strategies for earning an income while on maternity leave, empowering new moms to balance work and family life.
Making Money on Maternity Leave: More Than a Mummy offers insights and creative ideas to generate income during maternity leave, helping moms make the most of their time while caring for their newborns.
Ways to Make Money on Maternity Leave: Vital Dollar explores various income-generating opportunities for women on maternity leave, providing financial guidance and support during this crucial phase.
FAQs
How can I make money on maternity leave?
There are several ways to make money during maternity leave. Some options include freelancing, starting an online business, selling handmade crafts or products, and participating in remote work opportunities.
Is it legal to make money while on maternity leave?
The legality of making money during maternity leave depends on the laws and regulations in your country or region. It’s essential to check with your employer and local labor laws to ensure compliance.
How much time can I dedicate to making money while on maternity leave?
The amount of time you can dedicate to making money during maternity leave will vary depending on your individual circumstances, your baby’s needs, and your health. It’s crucial to prioritize self-care and ensure a healthy work-life balance during this period.
Can I work from home during maternity leave?
Yes, working from home during maternity leave is a popular option for many new moms. Remote work, freelancing, and online businesses can provide flexibility and convenience while caring for your baby.
What are some low-stress ways to earn money on maternity leave?
Low-stress ways to earn money during maternity leave may include selling items online, participating in online surveys, freelance writing, or virtual assistance work. These opportunities allow you to set your own schedule and work at your own pace.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.