11 Money-Making Ideas for New Moms on Maternity Leave

Traditionally, maternity leave is a time for a mother to bond with their newborn baby. However, for some mothers, this is not always the case. With bills to be paid and little or no income coming in, it can be difficult to make ends meet.

If you’re like most new moms, you’re probably looking for ways to make some money while on maternity leave. It can be tough to take time off from work and not have any income coming in. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

In this blog post, we’ll share 11 money-making ideas that are perfect for new moms on maternity leave. So whether you want to start a side hustle or just make a little extra cash, we’ve got you covered!

How can I make money while on maternity leave?

Money is always a concern for new moms, especially when they are on unpaid maternity leave. How will we make ends meet? How can I make some extra money? These are common questions that many new moms ask themselves. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make money while on maternity leave. Whether you are looking for a part-time job or want to find ways to make some extra cash, we have you covered.

What can I do to make money while on maternity leave?

As a new mom, you probably don’t have the energy to be up and about to handle certain stuff. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find something that fits perfectly into your schedule. Here are some options you may want to try out:

1) Become a virtual assistant:

A great way to make money while on maternity leave is to become a virtual assistant. As a VA, you can do things like social media management, data entry, and customer service. There are many online platforms that make it easy for you to find work as a VA.

If you have some administrative skills and want to work from home, then becoming a VA is a great option for you. You can make your own hours, and there are plenty of opportunities out there.

Check out this list of places where you can find work from home jobs as a virtual assistant.

2) Look for proofreading jobs

If you’ve always been the type to correct your friends grammar mistakes, proofreading might be something you can make some extra money doing. This is a great way to make money while on maternity leave because it doesn’t require much experience or training. You just need to have an eye for detail and know how to use Microsoft Word.

There are plenty of websites where you can find work as a freelance proofreader. And, if you’re a stay-at-home mom, this is a great way to make some money during nap time or bedtime.

Here are five websites that offer proofreading jobs:

• Upwork
• EditorLive
• Proofreading Pal
• American Journal Experts
• Enago

3) Become an online tutor

If you have a background in teaching or education, becoming an online tutor is a great way to make money while on maternity leave. There are many companies that offer tutoring services for students of all ages and subjects. You can make your own hours and work from home. Most online tutoring jobs pay about $25 an hour or per lesson.

If you’ve never worked as an online tutor before, check out our tips for working from home as an online tutor.

Here are some websites that offer online tutoring jobs:

• Preply
• VIPKid
• iTutor Group
• Cambly
• SayABC

4) Do transcription work

Transcription is the art of converting audio or video files to text. This is a great way to make money while on maternity leave because it doesn’t require much experience or training. With good typing speed and a good listening ear, you should be good to get start with general transcription. Medical transcription and other specialized transcription services may require additional training.

As a transcriber, you would be responsible for listening to audio files and typing out what you hear. Most transcription jobs pay about $15 an hour. Depending on your expertise and where you are finding clients, you can charge as high as $100 per audio hour.

There are many companies that offer transcription jobs, but most of them require that you have some experience. If you’re just starting out, check out these places that offer transcription jobs for beginners:

• TranscribeMe!
• Rev
• CrowdSurf
• Accutran Global
• Quicktate
• iDictate
• Daily Transcription
• Tigerfish
• Wordvice

5) Sell preloved clothes online

When pregnancy kicks in, most women put on some extra pounds. And thanks to this, you’ll probably not be able to fit into some of your clothes. As you work on changing your wardrobe, instead of throwing away your former clothes, consider selling them and making some money out of it.

There are many online platforms where you can make some cash by selling preloved clothes. If you want to make money while on maternity leave, this is a great way to get started.

Here are some websites that allow you to sell your preloved clothes:

• Poshmark
• ThredUp
• Tradesy

6) Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money while on maternity leave because it doesn’t require much experience or investment. Affiliate marketers are people who promote other people’s products and services in exchange for a commission.

If you have a blog or website, you can become an affiliate marketer. All you need to do is find a product or service that you are passionate about and make money by recommending it to your readers.

Affiliate marketing works best when you have a large following. But, if you don’t have one yet, check out how to get started with affiliate marketing without a blog for tips on getting started with affiliate marketing as a beginner.

Here are some popular affiliate marketing programs:

• Amazon Associates
• CJ Affiliate by Conversant (formerly Commission Junction)
• ShareASale
• Rakuten Marketing
• PeerFly
• Bluehost Affiliates
• HostGator Affiliates
• iPageAffiliates

You can also check out our list of referral programs that pay cash for additional resources.

7) Become a copywriter

Copywriting is the process of writing persuasive content. As a copywriter, you would be responsible for creating compelling sales letters, landing pages, and other marketing materials.

If you have a knack for writing and some experience in marketing, then becoming a copywriter may be a good option for you. Copywriters typically make around $50 per hour or more depending on their level of experience.

If you’re just starting out, check out these websites that help copywriters make money from home:

• Scripted
• ClearVoice
• Copify
• Textbroker
• Upwork (formerly Elance and oDesk) and Fiverr are also great places to find clients for your new freelance writing business.

If you want to learn more about becoming a copywriter, check out these online courses for writers.

8) Sell printables

From printable meal planners to printable coloring pages, there is so much to offer in the printables world. Most of the printable designs are created using Canva, PicMonkey or similar programs. And if you want to make money while on maternity leave, selling printables may be a good option for you.

If you love creating beautiful things that make life easier for others, then this is definitely something worth looking into. Printables make great gifts, too!

Here are a few places to sell your printables:

• Etsy
• Creative Market
• Canva’s Marketplace
• DesignBundles.net

9) Start a blog

Starting a blog is one of the most popular ways to make money while on maternity leave. Blogging can be very lucrative and, if you do it right, it will make you passive income for years to come. Also, blogging is fun!

If you want to make money blogging, start by choosing an in-demand topic or niche. A blog about make money online will make more money than a general personal finance blog because there are more affiliate marketing opportunities and ad networks in the make money online world.

Here’s how to start making money with your new blog:

Step #1 – choose an in-demand topic or niche for your blog

Step #2 – make a list of low-cost, high-quality hosting services

Step #3 – make a list of free blog themes to choose from

Step #4 – make sure that your blog is up and running before you start writing content (this will make things easier later on)

Step #5 – write at least 30 articles for your blog and make sure they’re all at least 500 words long

Step #6 – make sure you include relevant keywords in each post title and body text so that search engines can find them easily when people search for those specific terms on Google or other major search engines like Bing or Yahoo

10) Test websites

If you are searching for another great way to make money while on maternity leave, testing websites may be a good option for you. Most of the time, these jobs pay per project so it’s not an ongoing thing but it can still make make some decent cash in your spare time.

Here are a few sites that offer website testing opportunities:

• UserTesting – make $15 per website test
• EnrollApp – make up to $20 for every application you test
• TestingTime – make 50 Euros (around $56) per hour testing websites or apps from your home computer or smartphone. You must be a native English speaker and live in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or UK to qualify.

11) Start a freelance business

One of the best things about starting your own freelance business is that you can work from home, which is perfect for new moms on maternity leave. Plus, there are so many different types of freelance businesses to choose from – copywriting, social media marketing, web design, virtual assistant services, and the list goes on.

The great thing about freelancing is that you can start small and grow your business over time. If you’re not sure where to start, check out these online courses for freelance entrepreneurs:

• Skillshare – a variety of different courses on starting your own freelance business
• Udemy – also offers a variety of courses on freelancing
• LinkedIn Learning
• CreativeLive – offers classes in art, photography, design, marketing, entrepreneurship.

Tips to make money while on maternity leave

Making money as you watch your baby sounds like a win win situation. Here are some helpful tips to ensure you get the most out of it:

• Flexibility is key. Look out for work that allows you to work flexible hours.
• Don’t stress yourself. As much as you would like to make a million bucks in the shortest time, your body needs enough rest to function properly. Don’t take on more than you can handle.
• Grow your audience. Make use of social media and your network to grow your side hustle. Let those who know you know the services you are offering. This may lead to new business.
• Ask for help. If you don’t know how to do something or if you need help with anything, ask. There are plenty of people who are willing to help – for a price, of course!
• Make use of your free time. The more hours you put in, the faster you will see results. Utilize those late nights and nap times to your advantage.
• Have fun! Having a baby is one of the most exciting times in your life, make sure to enjoy it while on maternity leave and make some extra cash at the same time!
• Be patient. Making money online or offline takes time so don’t give up if things aren’t working out right away – just keep going and they will.

Good luck with your new hustle mama!

There you have it! Eleven different ways to make money while on maternity leave. It may take a little effort but it’s definitely worth it in the end. So get out there and start earning!