While maternity leave offers precious time to spend with your newborn, it’s often unpaid, leaving many without any income at all. Recent research has found that a quarter of parents need to use credit to fund their maternity leave, despite preparing their finances in advance. More importantly, if maternity leave is making you stressed for financial reasons, it’s likely to have a negative impact on both you and your baby.
That’s why in today’s article, we’re listing the best money making ideas to try at home during maternity leave LearntoTrade, with the aim to alleviate some of the financial strain that so many of us suffer with during this time. From trying your hand at freelance writing to taking up forex trading, these side-hustles will slot alongside your new family life and help to sustain you through your leave.
Catch the writing bug
If you have even the smallest flair for writing, freelance writing is one of the most flexible options out there, empowering you to work at any time of day. This side-hustle offers the freedom to write on any topic imaginable, whether that’s a ‘how to’ parenting guide or sharing your favourite recipe with an online community, the beauty of freelance writing is that you’re being paid to do it, whenever suits you.
Alternatively, blogging is another money-maker where you can set your own schedule, at liberty to work at day or night – in between feeds or during nap time. To monetize, start by creating a mailing list and placing ads on your site, then progressing to set up affiliate links when you have a couple of hours spare. As with freelance writing, you can write on whatever takes your fancy, from some savvy healthcare tips to the low-down on what you got up to last weekend – the choice is yours.
Get creative
Arts and crafts are not only a great way to make money during maternity leave, but also offer an opportunity to explore mindfulness and help to alleviate money worries as a result. You don’t need to wait until you’re on maternity leave to begin crafting either – this quiet task which requires little to no energy means that you can get started while your newborn is asleep, or even during pregnancy.
Whether you enjoy knitting new items of clothing or creating Christmas cards, home-made items have a unique appeal, making them an efficient way to make an extra couple of pounds. Whether you’re creating beaded bracelets or mosaic picture frames, making and selling crafts of all kinds can be a fun and lucrative way to make money.
Start forex trading
Whether you have some prior knowledge of the markets or are ready for a new challenge, although becoming a trader will take some time to understand, it’s a great chance to potentially make a lot of money. If you find yourself with some spare time during your pregnancy or during baby’s nap time, taking as little as half an hour to undertake some research or practice on a demo trading site is an efficient way to first get to grips with the market. If you have an interest in all things finance, this could be an ideal path for you to take.
The foreign exchange market is where currencies are traded – there’s no central market place, meaning trades are executed electronically all over the world and, therefore, making forex trading the perfect side-hustle for remote workers. The market is open 24 hours a day, five and a half days a week in several time zones – so is flexible to fit with your (and your baby’s!) day-to-day routine. You’ll only need to dedicate a couple of hours per day, which could lead to great returns in the long-term.
Sell, sell, sell
Why not make use of your spare time by having a clear out of some old items? That old phone you may find in a drawer could make you a small amount of cash that could come in handy when buying new baby clothes.
Whether you join an online marketplace such as eBay or prefer to take a trip to your local car boot sale, rummaging through your cupboards could make you more cash than you may have initially expected. Not only that, but having a clear out is an effective way to prepare for the arrival of your newborn, all while making some cash along the way.
Remote, flexible jobs are an ideal way to earn more on maternity leave and make some extra cash to supplement your baby budget. It’s all about finding which job or hobby is right for you according to your skill set in order to maximise your chances of success. So, our ultimate tip is to ensure that you do your research to find the best side-hustle for you.