How to make money on maternity leave - 7 top tips to get you started
Can I earn money on maternity leave?
Yes, you absolutely can. As an employee on PAYE, you can receive statutory maternity pay (SMP) and make extra money on maternity leave without jeopardising your SMP. So if you're planning on starting a little side hustle, now's a good time to get started (if your baby allows). This could also be freelancing if your work contract allows.
However, if you're already self-employed and receiving maternity allowance, you're not able to earn extra money while on maternity allowance.
That being said, you can earn up to £1000, by doing jobs such as babysitting, freelancing, or buying and selling a few items, without needing to declare it to HMRC. It's called a Trading Allowance. Find out more on the HMRC website.
How to make extra money on maternity leave - seven ideas to get you started
Let's be real, statutory maternity pay (SMP) is not making anyone rich. At a little over £180 per week, you're not even able to cover general household expenses. In some households, that might just cover the food shop. If you're lucky.
In the UK, we're allowed to earn extra cash up to a maximum of £1000 without needing to declare it to HMRC. This lets you earn a little extra for those coffees and cakes, or just to help with the general household expenses. For full details about the trading allowance, visit the HMRC website.
So to get you earning a few extra pennies and pounds, we've put together this list on what you can do to make extra money during maternity leave. Hopefully it'll give you a few ideas before you start searching for small change down the back of the sofa.
1. Use your KIT days
If you're on maternity leave, you can work for a maximum of ten days without jeopardising your maternity pay.
Many people wait until they're on statutory maternity pay or unpaid maternity leave before using their KIT days to boost their income.
Bear in mind that you will need to discuss how you use your KIT days with your manager. Some places will allow you to come in for a few hours, others may expect you to put in a full day. Either way, it can be a good way to ease yourself into work before properly returning to the office.
Check your company's maternity leave policy to find out more.
2. Check if you're eligible for any benefits such as child benefit
Depending on your income and your partners income, you may find you're eligible for additional government benefits. Have a look on the government website for more information about benefits.
3. Rent out your wardrobe
This one might not be up everyone's street but sites like By Rotation let you rent out items in your wardrobe.
Do you have an expensive wedding dress collecting dust in your wardrobe? That could help you earn extra money in mat leave. Think £40 per day or even a couple of hundred, depending on how desirable it is.
Do a little research and find out what's popular to rent on these websites and see if you have anything in your wardrobe that might be worth renting out.
4. Sell clothes on Vinted, eBay, depop, Facebook
You've probably heard this before. And it is probably the number one tip on how to make extra money on maternity leave but now is the time to declutter your whole house and get stuff sold. Granted, this may be dependent on whether you're able to get some hands-free time (hello contact nappers).
Vinted is absolutely the easiest place to list your clothes. Make sure you take good photos, list the items before pay day, and have some form of packaging - a bag for life is not a bag for the post box.
If you're not sure what you could sell, here's a list to get you started:
- Maternity clothes if you're not planning on having another baby
- Unwanted baby gifts that are perfectly good but just not for you
- Wedding guest dresses that you unlikely to wear again
- Bundles of baby clothes or toys that your baby has grown out of
For other bulkier items such as cribs, chairs, tables, and rugs, you can make extra money by putting them on Facebook Marketplace.
5. Offer services on your local Facebook community page
This could include ad-hoc dog walking, cat sitting or even offering to water gardens and houseplants while your neighbours are on holiday.
Pop up a few posters, spread the word by speaking with your neighbours and write a short post on your Facebook local community page. You might be surprised by how many people take you up on the offer of watering their plants while they're away.
6. Declutter your house, fill the car and head to a car boot sale on Sunday... And get rid of those old toys, forever!
Since you're already up at the crack of dawn some days, why not take a trip to your local car boot sale with a car load of clutter?
Car boot sales are a brilliant way of getting rid of things you no longer need and making a few pounds. All before lunchtime on a Sunday.
A few top tips on how to make money on maternity leave at a car boot sales:
- Load the car and check the forecast the night before
- Turn up nice and early, you don't want to be turned away after all that effort because you're late or there aren't any pitches left
- Take £20 worth of change 20p, 50p and £1s should be good depending on how much you're selling things for
- Take a flask of tea or coffee and a seat
- Take a collapsible table or plastic backed rug to lay out your things
- Don't be offended when people haggle
7. Last tip, buy used and save the difference
I know this isn't about making extra money on maternity leave, but don't forget to make your money go further by buying second hand clothes and baby things.
As a new mother, there is a feeling that you should get everything shiny and new for your baby. It's an easy trap to fall into when on social media. But before you end up spending thousands on baby carriers or baby bouncers (I've been there) check Facebook marketplace or Vinted first.
Making each pound work harder should help you relax about finances slightly.
Another top tip is to let the item sit in your shopping basket for 24 hours, before you click "Pay". If you still want it after 24 hours, then go ahead. However, you may just find that you don't want it so desperately after all.
Do you have any tips on how to make extra money while on maternity leave? Let us know in the comments below.