Having a child in Canada is a thing of joy but it comes with its own set of responsibilities as well.
You will have to take time off work and spend money on new clothes and furniture, formula, diapers and other baby equipment.
Also, with the rising cost of living and unexpected expenses coming up, it can be difficult to plan your finances while you’re away from work. As much as you may want to relax and enjoy your time off while taking care of your new baby, the financial burden of having a child may outweigh your expectations.
As a result, looking for ways to make money while on maternity leave is a great way to keep up with the additional expenses.
Fortunately, this article will provide you with several ways on how to make money on maternity leave in Canada.
So continue reading to find out!
Understanding Maternity Leave in Canada
Maternity leave is the time off a new mother takes after her baby is born. The purpose of maternity leave is to allow new mothers to bond with their babies and recover from the child birth.
It’s also an important time for mothers to take some time away from work to rest and focus on themselves and their newborn child. And the best part is, you have the right to take maternity leave without losing your job or career at all.
This means that you don’t have to worry about looking for another job when you are ready to resume work.
It is a legal right in most countries for women to take time off for the birth of a child. And the length of maternity leave varies by country and the nature of your job.
In some countries, maternity leave is unpaid. In some, it is paid at a lower rate, while in others it is paid at the same rate as other forms of leave.
Also, in some countries, it is paid until the mother has recovered from childbirth and returned to her original job or another similar position.
While mothers enjoy government benefits while on maternity leave in Canada, the benefits may not be enough to offset all the bills.
This explains why so many Canadians look for extra means of income while on maternity leave.
How to Make Money on Maternity Leave in Canada
Maternity leave is a great opportunity to spend time with your family and enjoy the new baby in your life. But if you have a lot of financial responsibilities, it may be difficult for you to take the time off without pay.
Fortunately, there are several profitable ways to make money while on maternity leave. Let’s look at some of them below:
1. Offer Freelancing Services
Freelancing is becoming more and more popular as people realize that it can be extremely lucrative.
If you’re looking for ways to make some extra cash while you’re on maternity leave, freelancing may be right for you.
Freelancers are hired by individual clients and can work from anywhere in the world. The freedom to work as much or as little as you want can be a great way to ease into the new role while getting used to the idea of being a parent.
There are many different types of freelance jobs – from writing articles to web development and even graphic design. No matter what your specialty may be, there are plenty of opportunities out there.
However, when it comes to freelancing, it’s not just about having a skill. You also need to be able to market yourself and your services.
But how do you find these opportunities? You can find an online portfolio platform like Freelancer or Upwork and start searching for jobs that fit your skillset.
2. Take Online Surveys
Taking online surveys can be another great way to make some extra money while on maternity leave in Canada.
You earn points for providing your opinion on certain topics which you can then redeem for cash or products.
Many different companies offer these surveys and they vary in terms of how much they pay you. Examples of survey companies are Swagbucks, InboxDollars and Survey Junkie.
The best part about taking online surveys is that most of them don’t require any skills or expertise. All you need is an internet connection and a smartphone or computer.
This makes them perfect for those who want to earn some extra cash during their maternity leave without having to invest time into training themselves in a particular skill set.
Learn more: Swagbucks Review
3. Become a Proofreader
A proofreader is someone that reads all the copy that has been written and checks for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation and sentence structure.
Proofreading is a great way to make money while taking maternity leave because it’s a relatively simple job that doesn’t require much skill or experience.
All you have to do is find an online platform that offers proofreading jobs such as Upwork and Fiverr. Each site offers different types of jobs and payments based on the type of work you do.
However, you will need to have good knowledge of grammar and spelling before you try this type of work because it requires a lot of reading skills.
4. Rent Out a Spare Room
If you have an extra room in your home, rent it out on platforms like Airbnb during your maternity leave to help make extra money to pay for most of the expenses that come with having a newborn.
Your room will be listed on the platform, which means that guests can book it directly from their mobile phones or computers.
However, you have to clean the room before each guest checks in. A clean house is an important first impression for potential guests.
You might be worried about the safety of renting out strangers, but there are precautions you can take to ensure that you feel comfortable and safe.
You can ask them to fill out a short questionnaire regarding their health and medical history. This will help you get a good idea of who they are so that you know whether they are reliable and trustworthy.
5. Teach an Online Course
If you have the ability and knowledge, teaching others can be a great way to supplement your income during the time that you need some extra help at home with babysitting.
It’s a flexible job that won’t interfere with your responsibilities as a new mom. For example, if you are a writer and want to make money by teaching people how to write better articles, then create a course on writing articles.
You could also create a course on social media marketing or even sell an ebook on how to make money online by teaching people how to do those things.
You can sell your courses on websites such as Skillshare or Udemy. Each of these sites has its own set of fees associated with selling courses, so make sure you understand what they entail before signing up for any of these services.
Related: 15 Best Online Tutoring Jobs
6. Sell Unused Stuff
Selling stuff is also a great way to cover some of the costs of being a parent. If you have any unused clothes, furniture or appliances in your home, consider selling them online.
You can get rid of these items by listing them on websites like eBay or Craigslist. These sites also allow people to trade their unwanted items with other people who need them.
All you have to do is set up an ad on any of the sites and write an honest description of what you’re selling. If possible, include pictures of the item so people can see what they’re buying before they buy it.
The great thing about selling stuff online is that there are tons of people looking for second-hand stuff so it will be easy for you to get rid of everything quickly.
However, it is essential to make sure the things you are selling are still in good condition before letting strangers come over and buy them from you.
7. Become a Virtual Assistant
One of the common ways to make money while on maternity leave in Canada is to become a virtual assistant.
As a virtual assistant, you’ll be responsible for a wide range of tasks. You may be responsible for managing social media accounts, writing press releases and business proposals, researching different areas of interest for them and more.
There are many ways to make money as a virtual assistant. Some people make their living by charging clients per hour, while others charge based on project completion.
However, to get started as a virtual assistant, you’ll need some basic qualifications. You should be able to:
- Be detail-oriented and organized
- Be comfortable with technology
- Be able to communicate clearly and effectively with clients over email or phone calls
If you have the right skills and experience, this can be a great way to make extra money while you’re taking time off.
8. Start Blogging
If you have experience as a writer or blogger, then blogging could be another option for making some extra money when you go on maternity leave.
It doesn’t take much to get started. All you need is a blog and the right audience.
You can start by choosing a niche that interests you and that your audience would be interested in too. Then research what topics are popular in your chosen niche and create posts based on those topics.
It doesn’t have to be long-form writing either; short, snappy posts are just as good as long-form ones if they’re engaging enough to keep readers coming back for more.
Finally, once you have a handful of posts up on your site, start promoting them through social media channels like Facebook or Twitter. This will help build an audience who trusts your advice and want to hear more from you.
There are many ways to generate revenue with your blog, including selling advertising space, selling sponsored posts (that is, posting content on your site that’s been paid for by the advertiser).
9. Become an Online Consultant
Many people are looking for advice from other people regarding their businesses or areas of expertise. You can provide them with this information and earn money by doing so.
As an online consultant, you will be able to work whenever you want and in any location where there is internet access.
You can set your hours and schedule your days so that you can work on a part-time basis while taking care of your new baby.
However, you need to have experience in the field that makes you qualified for this particular job.
You can render your services as an online consultant by writing articles or creating videos where you share your knowledge with others.
Also, you just need to create content that is valuable and relevant to your audience’s needs, so that they will be willing to pay for it.
Additionally, you should be able to create content fast because most people don’t want to wait long for their answers or solutions.
10. Sell Gift Cards
If you have a gift card you’re not using, you can sell it to someone else who might be interested in it. You can sell them at a discount and use that money to buy something else like groceries or diapers.
You can list items on Craigslist, Kijiji and other local classified ad sites. It’s important to be clear about what you’re selling and make sure your photos are clear so people understand what they’re buying.
This is a great idea for women who don’t want to take out loans or pay high-interest rates when they’re trying to get back on their feet after giving birth.
The price of the gift card will depend on how much time is left on it. If it’s still good for more than three months, you can charge more than its face value for it.
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Do You Get Paid on Maternity Leave in Canada?
Provincial and territorial governments in Canada provide a range of social benefits to mothers on maternity leave.
One of the benefits provided by the federal government of Canada is called Employment Insurance (EI) which provides benefits to individuals who are temporarily out of work through no fault of their own.
The program was established in 1940, and it’s one of the most important social programs in Canada. EI benefits are paid out every two weeks. To qualify for this benefit, you must have worked a minimum number of hours in the last 52 consecutive weeks before becoming pregnant.
The maternity leave pay under EI is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a set maximum amount. For 2022, the maximum weekly EI amount is $638 per week. Some employers may also top-up the pay to make up for any shortfall.
The Canadian government also offers child benefits. The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a payment that helps with the cost of raising children. The CCB provides assistance to qualified low-income families to help them with the cost of training children who are below 18 years old.
The amount of the benefit you will receive depends on how many children you have and your level of income.
Learn more about the CCB and how much you can receive in the linked post.
What is the Duration of Maternity Leave in Canada?
Maternity leave duration varies from province to province. The length of maternity leave is also determined by your type of job.
Generally, mothers on maternity leave in Canada are usually entitled to up to 15 weeks of EI maternity leave benefits.
However, some employers may allow their employees to take more than 15 weeks off after the birth of a child, depending on their specific circumstances.
After the maternity leave period ends, you can then take a paid parental leave through EI for up to 61 weeks.
Conclusion on How to Make Money on Maternity Leave in Canada
Maternity leave can be one of the most important times in a mother’s life; after all, your child is literally growing right before your eyes.
However, it can also be one of the most expensive periods. That’s why looking for ways to make money while on maternity leave is a great idea.
As discussed in this article, there are many ways to make money on maternity leave. You may stress a little, but the money is out there.
The thing is, there is no one-size-fits-all method for women to make money on maternity leave. The key is determining what would work best for you as an individual.
It may not be easy at first but once you can find a way that works for you then you only need to continue it and make it work for you.
Thank you for reading and good luck with whatever you choose!
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