How to Earn Money During Maternity Leave with Flexible Jobs

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Sep 14, 2024

How to Earn Money During Maternity Leave with Flexible Jobs

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Creating life is stressful enough without having to worry about financial security on top of that. Maternity leave in the US can be up to 12 weeks of unpaid time, which is ridiculous if you ask me. So, what can you do when caring for a new life and needing more financial support? Well, I’m here to tell you about some of your options.

In this article

Taking freelance jobs

Depending on your day job, there can be many options for you when it comes to doing freelance gigs during your maternity leave.

The good thing about freelancing is that you can work when and for how long you can, which is a very positive thing for new parents.

The downside to freelance work is that it may not always be worth it, or there may not be work available for which you are qualified.

There are many sites that can help you with freelance gigs, and depending on your qualifications, a lot of the work you will do will be very well paid. Here are the most popular freelance platforms to look into.

Upwork

Upwork is an amazing website where you can get freelance gigs. Signing up costs nothing (though you will have to get approved to start working on the site), and as soon as your profile is up and running, you can look for potential jobs. The more work you do, the more reviews you get from people who hired you, and the more work will be available for you to do.

PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is another excellent website for freelancers to find work on. It also has no cost to sign up, and unlike Upwork, there is no approval process. But, just like Upwork, it has the same way of functioning: you find freelance jobs that are good for you, and once you do the job, the person/company that hired you leaves a review in your portfolio, and that helps you get more jobs in the future.

Fiverr

Fiverr is yet another place where freelancers can thrive. With categories like programming and tech, graphics and design, writing and translation, and so much more, there is something for everyone looking to do freelance work. It has the same review system as the previous websites I talked about, so reviews are your best bet to get noticed on the website.

Completing online surveys

Signing up for survey sites is another quick and easy way to make money while on maternity leave. The biggest downside to survey sites is that they don’t pay enough to be considered a job, but they are a good side hustle.

Trust me, I know many of these sites look too good to be true, but many are legitimate ways for people to earn some extra cash. While waiting for your baby to be born, or even if they are already here and you have a little downtime when they are asleep (I know it is rare), taking a survey or playing a game for these sites may just be what you need to relax. So, why not get paid for it?

Kash Kick

Kash Kick is an online platform that rewards users for completing tasks, including surveys, playing games, testing apps, and testing/reviewing products. All the payouts for completing these tasks are via PayPal, so there is no need to worry about this site being a scam.

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Survey Junkie

With Survey Junkie, once you become a member and set up your profile, you can start making money. Just like Kash Kick, there are many options for making a buck. The payouts can vary, but it is still a good way to supplement your income while on maternity leave.

Prime Opinion

Prime Opinion is another really good survey site where you can get paid in a plethora of different ways, including but not limited to gift cards (e.g., Amazon or Walmart), cash payouts (e.g., Venmo or Paypal), or even payouts to your credit card (virtual or physical). The surveys themselves take a short time to complete, and with Prime Opinion, you can make money while being unable to work your day job.

Offering online tutoring

If you have any sought-after skills or knowledge, you can become an online tutor, teaching others those same skills and giving them the knowledge you possess. This can vary from person to person, but there are always people out there willing to pay to learn new life skills, especially in today’s economic climate.

Selling your breast milk

This is an option only if you produce more milk than you need and have no further plans to use it. The most important thing is ensuring your baby is fed and cared for.

If you do produce extra milk, selling it can benefit you and many others. Every pregnancy is different, or it’s an adopted baby, so some parents don’t have enough — or any — milk for their newborns. This is why milk banks exist. If you are able to, you can sell your breast milk, thus having a little extra income, and as an added bonus, you will have helped someone in need feed their baby.

However, like I said in the beginning, this is not an option for everyone, nor is it something you must do if you overproduce milk. It is your body, and you choose what to do with it!

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Selling things you don’t need

If you want to do something other than the things on this list during your maternity leave, you could always take this time to declutter your home and sell items you no longer need or want.

This can mean selling clothing that no longer sparks joy, getting rid of those mugs that you say you’ll use but never do, or selling any furniture in your home you no longer need or have to get rid of to make room for your baby.

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The bottom line

Navigating financial stability during maternity leave, which often comes without pay in the U.S., can be challenging. However, there are several practical ways to supplement income during this period. Engaging in freelance work on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour, completing online surveys, or even tutoring can provide flexible income opportunities. Additionally, unique options such as selling excess breast milk or decluttering your home to sell unwanted items can also contribute financially. These strategies offer viable solutions to help manage financial pressures while caring for a new life.

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