If you are planning on bringing a new life into this world in the near future, then you probably understand that this is one of the greatest joys that anyone can ever experience.
On the other hand, it is also one of the most expensive.
Whether you are lucky enough to have a few months of pay maternity leave or are stuck using your precious vacation time, you might be asking yourself, “can you earn money while on maternity leave?”
The answer is that, yes, you absolutely can make extra money on maternity leave as long as you know where to look.
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How To Make Extra Money on Maternity Leave
There are a lot of extra expenses that are going to accompany having a new baby. This includes baby clothes, baby food, baby diapers, and putting together a proper baby nursery.
Furthermore, you're going to be spending a lot of extra gas taking your baby to and from doctor's appointments during the first few months of life.
Therefore, it never hurts to have a little bit of extra cash to cover these expenses. Eventually, you are even going to have to save up for your child's education!
First, it is important to cover the current state of maternity leave. Sadly, the United States does not exactly have a strong track record of treating its new mothers well.
Furthermore, some women might be surprised to hear that they do not have access to as much paid maternity leave as they thought.
Even though there are some locations where families can save a lot of money in the form of short-term disability insurance, this doesn't necessarily help to cover lost wages for those who do not have access to paid maternity leave.
Sometimes, the social support structures that have been put in place or simply not enough to help someone cover the cost of missing work after they have recently had a baby.
For all of these reasons, there are a few helpful places that you can look to make a little bit of extra money while you are on maternity leave.
If you are looking for ways to earn money while on maternity leave, there are a few key examples to know!
How Can I Make Extra Money While On Maternity Leave: Give These Tips a Try
Turn up the steps that you may want to consider when it comes to making extra money on maternity leave include:
1. Consider Starting a Mommy Blog
First, consider starting a mommy blog. This is a great way for you to log your journey as a new mother.
For example, you might want to share information with the world regarding some of the challenges you are facing as a new mother.
Then, you can share information regarding how you were able to beat them. This can be incredibly helpful for people out there who are thinking about becoming mothers themselves.
Even though writing about your journey as a mother might not be an immediate source of cash, it can be a great way for you to generate passive income in the future.
For example, you may be able to take advantage of things such as affiliate marketing and advertising revenue directly on your blog.
Of course, you want to make sure that you know how much traffic is coming to your blog. That way, you can make adjustments if you have to.
For example, you may want to use a strong hosting platform, such as Bluehost, that and help you keep the speed of your website high.
That way, you will be able to keep not only search engines that also your visitors happy. Consider starting a mommy blog about your journey as a mother.
See Related: 20 Best Stay-at-Home Jobs for Moms & Remote Workers
2. Think About Completing Surveys for Some Gift Cards or Cash
If you are looking for a more direct way to make money, then you may want to think about taking surveys as a way to generate some extra cash or gift cards.
There's a good chance that you have been asked to take surveys in the past at school, at work, or even as a replacement for an advertisement before you are able to watch a video.
Imagine being paid to take surveys! This is a great way for you to make a few extra dollars when you have a few free minutes.
For example, you might be able to take a survey when you are waiting in line at the grocery store to check out.
There are plenty of places that you can look for surveys that you can complete.
Some of the most common options include Survey Junkie, Vindale, Life Points, and Quick Thoughts.
There are some websites that will provide you with cash in exchange for completing surveys. In other situations, they might provide you with gift cards instead.
Even though you would probably prefer to get paid in cash, there's a good chance that you can use your gift cards at stores that can help you cover the cost of having a new child!
As you get better at completing surveys, there may be other ways that you can make money as well.
For example, you may be able to complete online tasks, read emails, or even participate in research studies as a way to get compensated for your time.
This can provide you with plenty of extra spending money that can help you cover the cost of having any child.
One location you may want to consider if you were looking for something more than just surveys is Inbox Dollars.
Even though it might not be enough to replace all of the money that you are losing if you do not have paid maternity leave, this is a great way for you to make some extra cash on the side.
When you are raising a new baby, every dollar counts and these surveys can add up quickly.
3.Think About Starting an Investment Portfolio
If you have not already done so, then it is probably a good idea to start putting money aside.
For example, you may have a 401k through your work that helps you save for retirement.
You might also have an IRA that you used to save for retirement separately. The sad reality is that college is expensive.
Therefore, it is never too early to start saving for your child's education.
If you are looking for a way to make some extra money on the side, the stock market might be a good place to look.
For example, there are plenty of stocks out there that will pay a hefty dividend just for holding on to their shares.
The dividends can add up quickly and might be able to provide you with some extra cash that you can use to cover up the expenses that add up while you are on maternity leave.
If you are looking for a way to start investing without spending a lot of money, then you may want to consider something such as Stash.
Even though there are a lot of people who think that they need to be a financial wizard in order to make money in the stock market, this is not the case!
There are opportunities waiting for you in the stock market and you might even be able to strike it big!
4. Think About Taking a Freelance Job
There are plenty of jobs that you can work from home while you are on maternity leave.
Even though you might not be able to take a job that involves you walking around grocery stores or warehouses for hours on end, there are jobs that you can work using an internet connection and a computer.
You may even realize that you like your remote job better than your current job and would like to remain at home with your child even after maternity leave ends.
There are plenty of options that you should consider if you are looking for freelance work.
For example, if you have a degree in marketing, then you might even be able to work as an online marketer from the comfort of your own home.
Or, you might have experience in web development that you can put to use designing websites for other people.
You can even find a job as a graphic designer, helping people figure out how they can get the most out of their interior styles.
If you decide to take a freelance job, it is important to understand that there are going to be some significant tax implications that you need to consider.
Instead of having your taxes withheld from you in the form of a W-2 job, there is a chance that you are going to have to pay all of your taxes at the end of the year.
Therefore, do not spend all of your money on your baby, as the IRS is going to come looking for it eventually.
5. Consider Renting Out an Extra Room in Your Home
If you are looking to maximize your income while you are on maternity leave, one solid option might involve renting out an extra room in your home.
If you have the luxury of having an extra bedroom, then this is something that you might want to consider.
Before you consider renting out an extra room in your home, you need to understand what this is going to do to your lifestyle.
Having an extra body in your house is not going to be something that every new mother is able to tolerate.
Therefore, it is critical for you to do some research and figure out exactly who you want to rent out your extra bedroom.
Ideally, you would probably look for someone who is going to be you think the extra room solely as a bed and will not be around very much.
In addition, it is also a good idea to do some research regarding a local rental market.
That way, you can get a solid idea regarding how much money you will be able to make if you rent out an extra room in your home.
You also need to decide whether you are looking for a long-term renter who is going to be there for several months or if you want to use the separate service and rent out the extra room in your home like a hotel room.
Airbnb is a great place to look if you are interested in going with the latter option.
6. Consider Teaching an Online Course
Another option that you may want to consider involves teaching an online course in Udemy.
If you have an advanced degree, then there might be an opportunity to teach young, hungry minds from the comfort of your home.
For example, if you have a cooking degree, then you might be able to teach people how to make a few simple recipes from the comfort of your home.
Or, if you have a degree in technology, you might be able to teach people about the internet in an online course.
There are plenty of platforms or you can share your expertise.
Usually, these websites are going to charge you a percentage of the money that you make from your course in exchange for using their services.
If you are able to teach multiple classes, there is a chance that your audience may grow, providing you with a chance to make some serious cash.
You might even be able to put together a comprehensive curriculum that you can recycle in the future.
This is a great option because you won't have to go anywhere in order to do so.
Unlike a traditional classroom, where you have to stand at the front of the room, you can simply sit in front of the camera on your computer and teach people.
You do have to get familiar with handling online presentations, writing on the screen, and using audio technology effectively.
7. Look at Your Savings Account Options
One of the easiest ways that you can make a few extra dollars is to take a look at all of your options for various savings accounts.
If you have a traditional savings account, there is a chance that you might only be making a quarter of a percentage point on the money in your savings account.
Fortunately, you can be doing much better than that.
First, consider reaching out to your local bank to see if they have any other options for the money in your savings account.
Even if you are only able to make a couple of extra percentage points, this money can add up quickly.
Or, there might be another bank that is willing to offer you a better rate for the money in your savings account.
With the right bank account, you should be able to increase your interest all while minimizing your monthly fees as well.
A savings account is a great place to house your rainy day funds in addition to the money that you were going to be spending on your child.
Instead of going with the first bank you see, you want to be incredibly strategic.
Look for a bank that provides you with the opportunities and maximize your compound interest even while minimizing any fees you might have to pay.
That way, you can increase your flow of passive income, which can make a significant difference when you are trying to raise a child.
8. Think About Renting Out Advertising Space on Your Car
Finally, in addition to renting out extra space in your home, you might also want to consider renting out advertising space on your vehicle.
If you have ever seen vehicles driving around town with banners on them, that is exactly the goal.
There are plenty of companies that will generously pay you money to simply display their logo as you drive your car around town.
If you end up running a lot of errands, this provides other companies with a chance to maximize their advertising exposure thanks to the number of eyes that are going to be staring at your vehicle.
Yes, you are going to have to deal with someone else's logo on your car somebody calling however, you don't have to do anything except drive around.
There are certain car advertising programs that are going to require you to drive a certain number of miles in order to qualify.
Therefore, it is a good idea for you to take a look at how many miles you drive in a typical week. That way, you can figure out whether or not you are going to qualify for these programs.
Even though this might not be the most glamorous way to make money, it could be one of the easiest.
Therefore, take a look at a few websites such as Wrapify and see if they are willing to pay you to put a banner on your vehicle.
This could give you the extra money you need to make ends meet while on maternity leave.
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