You’re due to go on maternity leave. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. Excited because you’ll soon get to meet your baby, relieved that your pregnancy is very nearly over (even if you’ve enjoyed it) and worried about what’s to come. It’s totally normal. I’ve been there… Twice!
There are lots of unknowns when it comes to pregnancy and parenting. And that’s one of the greatest worries. We worry about how we’re going to cope as parents. We worry about how our bodies are going to look after we’ve given birth. We worry about how we’re going to survive on a maternity wage. There are no two ways about it, we’re worriers!
There are lots of things we can’t control during pregnancy, childbirth and parenting, but one thing we can take control over is our finances.
Going from a full-time wage (even on minimum wage) to a statutory maternity wage is quite a shock. It’s a daunting process, but thankfully for most of us we get 9 months to prepare.
There are numerous ways we can save money in the run-up to maternity leave, but today I want to give you a few tips on how you can make money on maternity leave.
How to make money on maternity leave.
1. Sell any unwanted items.
I’m a big believer in selling unwanted items. Not only do they make space in your home - Tidy home, tidy mind and all that - But they can give your bank balance a bit of a boost too whilst on maternity leave. I’ve found Vinted to be the easiest selling platform to use however there are numerous ones out there online. Failing that you could make a day of it at a local car boot sale. This isn’t something I’ve done personally, but car booting is definitely something I want to get into. I can imagine it's satisfyingly cleansing! Selling unwanted items is also great for sustainability and giving items a second lease of life. It’s a win win for all parties.
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2. Complete market research surveys.
Just think whilst you’re nap trapped or feeding your new baby you could be making money from the comfort of your phone by completing market research surveys. There are numerous facilities online you could go through. One of the easiest is YouGov as they send you regular emails asking for specific research surveys to be completed. In most cases you’ll complete a number of surveys, racking up points which you can then turn into cash.
3. Use cashback sites.
We can’t be 100% on it all the time with our money. There are going to be times on your maternity leave where you’ll need a ‘treat yourself’ purchase. Call me foolish, but I don’t believe in fully limiting yourself if you don’t have to. So make those purchases, but be clever about them. When it comes to online purchases sites such as Top Cash Back give you a percentage of the money spent straight back into your account. Or they can send you vouchers for a variety of stores. You can pick which suits you best at the time. They state that members on average earn £345 cash back a year, which is you ask me is 100% worth doing. It doesn't cost you anything to sign up, so it's a complete no brainer.
4. Start a blog.
One of the best ways (and in my opinion the most fun and most rewarding) to make money online is through a blog. Whether you want to blog about your experience as a mother on maternity leave, or any other passions of yours, there can be big money made in blogging. Granted money isn’t going to enter your bank account straight away, it’s a difficult process, but it’s one that can be super rewarding and open up a whole bunch of possibilities for you post-maternity leave. There are so many different ways you can make money through blogging whether it's by affiliate links, sponsored posts or link insertions, you can have your fingers in a lot of pies and make some really great money.
5. Utilise your KIT days.
Whilst on maternity leave you’re entitled to 10 paid keeping in touch / KIT days. In order to survive on a maternity wage I think it’s really important to use all ten days and use them wisely. With my first daughter I decided to take 12 months off work which meant I had 9 months paid leave and three months unpaid. I used my KIT days during the last three months as I knew they were going to be the hardest financially. Having the extra boost of income was great, but it also massively helped me acclimatise and get back into the working environment.
I know it’s daunting surviving on a maternity wage, but with these tips and tricks, your bank balance can definitely be boosted. Do let me know if you're going to try any of them.
