When I finally decided to be a home-based career woman, I was also pregnant at the time with my third child. It was good timing, too - I was stress-free from not being in a toxic work environment, and being at home meant having a sense of security and privacy while I was preparing to give birth. At the same time, I was able to assess the kind of work I can do while gestating - how do I earn the kind of money that can ease the transition from being an office-goer to a full time work-at-home mom? Also, save enough for the inevitable expenses that go with having a newborn baby: diapers, formula, baby clothes, accessories, toys, etc.?
I tried several jobs (and failed a couple of times at them), upon the recommendation of family and friends. Eventually, I managed to stick to several that, while they didn’t pay the same amount as a full-time job, did help me save enough money for baby essentials while keeping me busy until the day I was ready to give birth. Here are five of the best ones I’ve tried (even beyond pregnancy!).
1) Clothes consignment
If you have kids, you will probably be familiar with how fast they grow up, especially during babyhood to toddlerhood! My middle child got hand-me-downs from her older sibling, so it wasn’t such a wrench to see them outgrow clothes quickly. However, infant clothes, in particular, seem to be the ones that hardly get used - or even not at all! Babies have a magical way of growing longer and wider in weeks, it seems, so my husband and I were left with lots of unopened layette sets and baby clothes that still have their price tags on them.
Good thing I discovered thredUP, which calls itself “the world’s largest online secondhand shopping destination”. It’s like a virtual thrift shop selling “like-new” items which are carefully curated by their in-house stylists, so you know you’re getting good quality clothes. They have an online consignment platform, which I found especially useful when I needed extra cash for new baby stuff.
2) Ghostwriting
I wrote about the pros and cons of ghostwriting in a previous article and concluded that it’s a good gig to get by during a period like pregnancy, or in-between more permanent jobs. While pregnant, I found ghostwriting tasks via Textbroker, a site that “brokers” content between writers like myself and clients that need fresh content.
What I can’t deny about ghostwriting though, is how good it pays if you’re lucky enough to get a serious client. The pay scale varies depending on the client, the type and scope of work, and how long the project will be for. However, there is an average of $47.50 according to PayScale.com for ghostwriters who charge hourly!
3) Website testing
Being a website tester is easy, and pays quite well! We’re looking at $10 for at least a 20-minute work, and that’s pretty much it! I applied at WhatUsersDo to become a tester, and it was a simple matter of signing up in a couple of minutes and then getting paid to test websites! With no previous experience required! If you’ve ever signed up and worked for GPT and paid survey sites, the structure is pretty similar, but the pay is a lot better with website testing.
4) Paid survey taking
Speaking of paid survey sites, it would be criminal if I don’t mention what most of us here in this forum do for extra income
The advantages of being a member of a survey site are numerous - you have control of your time and schedule, you can choose which ones offer the kind of rewards that are worth your time (cash, gift cards, or just about anything!), and you could collect your earnings as a passive income before choosing to cash out!5) Online tutoring
Much has been said in this forum and elsewhere about the merits of being an online tutor. There are so many sites and apps out there using the online tutorial platform that it’s not going to be hard to get a job as a tutor at all. You can choose to teach elementary-level lessons up to senior high school, or if you have the kind of teaching experience required for it, even college and grad school levels! The pay rates vary but most sites make sure their tutors are happy with what they earn, so they can be competitive prices.
I personally like Tutapoint (reviewed here) for the kind of tutorial subjects they offer, plus the fact that they have a flexible schedule for pregnant moms (like me during that time).
The verdict?
There are many other home-based jobs for expectant moms who can choose them according to their lifestyle, schedules, and other personal issues that need to be considered. What makes the ones I listed above legit is that they are all online and relatively pressure-free, so no commuting, being around people (for both mental and physical hygienic reasons), and you’re going to be working in a place you’re familiar and secure with! For me at least, that is the main and greatest reason to try them out while waiting for your precious little one to pop out.
Your turn!
Are you a mom with a bun in the oven, or have you ever been one and decided to work from home while pregnant? What kind of work did you do, and is it something you would recommend to other expectant moms? Please share your thoughts and experiences with us.
