Knowing if, when and how you should go back to work is a different call for most parents. In the first few months of a baby’s life, nothing sounds more impossible. Being a mother to a child that can do nothing for itself is, undoubtedly, a twenty-four-hour occupation, and heading back out into the world of the office on even a part-time basis is out of the question.
We do occasionally find ourselves with time on our hands, though Baby’s asleep, all our bits of life-admin are in order, and there’s nothing to do for a couple of hours. Many of us understandably take this opportunity to catch up on our sleep, but that isn’t for everybody. Many mothers crave something extra that they can do with this spare time that would help keep their minds sharp, and also assist with paying the bills. After all, nobody ever became financially better off by having a baby!
Because we live in the internet age, there are many types of job that can be done remotely, in our own time, and without having to report to anybody else. Most of the things you need to get yourself set up are already in place; you just need pointing in the right direction, and that’s what we’re here to do with this short guide to jobs that new mothers can do from home.
- Matched Betting
Don’t be put off by the name. Although betting is gambling, there is no gambling whatsoever involved in matched betting. You don’t even have to possess any knowledge about the sports or events that you’re betting on! Matched betting can sometimes sound like witchcraft or magic to the uninitiated, but all you’re doing is taking advantage of the offers that online bookmakers offer to new customers.
The premise behind it is simple; you place a free bet on the result of a sports game with an introductory offer from one bookmaker. You then use another bookmaker to place a bet on the opposite outcome. If your free bet wins, it cancels out the loss you made by backing the opposite result. If your paid bet wins, you’re already in profit, because the free bet costs you nothing. If you are a sports fan, online betting websites like Statistic Sports and others could help you with betting on sports. These websites could also, provide essential tips and tricks to increase your profit manifold.
As you win more money, the maths involved in precisely balancing your bets become a little more advanced. It helps to have a specialist calculator and to familiarize yourself with a few tutorials to make sure you don’t make mistakes when the ball starts rolling. The Wikipedia article on the topic is a good place to start, but you’re best advised to do your own further research before really getting started.
One of the major plus points about matched betting is that the returns are tax-free. That means you don’t have to declare or report them anywhere, or worry about being chased for tax at some point in the future when you’re back at work. Many people make hundreds of pounds per month doing matched betting. Some claim to make thousands.
- Amazon/eBay Retail
You used to need a shop if you were going to sell goods. Now, all you need is an internet connection, and a means to transport items. You can buy and sell whatever you want, and take them to the post office if you’re happy to transport them that way. Alternatively, Amazon has a scheme whereby you can send all your goods into their warehouse, and they’ll transport them for you. Both eBay and Amazon are always on the lookout for new sellers, and would be happy to work with you if you had something to sell. There are plenty of guides on how to get started, too.
All you need is something to sell or trade. Here’s an idea; as a new mum, you probably know a lot about children’s toys that you didn’t know before your child was born. You may even have shopped around to find the best deals on toys you’ve bought. Simply put, you know where to buy them cheap, and you know what people will potentially pay for them. You could be a teddy-bear trader, and you don’t even realise it!
There’s a bigger market than just children for soft toys, too; plenty of people keep soft toys well into adulthood. You might even be one of them yourself. We mentioned gambling when we were talking about matched betting; the lure of soft toys is so strong that there’s even a Fluffy Favourites slot game which is all about cuddly toys and their adventures. Millions of players log on to online slot websites every week to spin the reels on that slot, and they choose it instead of more ‘traditionally’ themed slot games because of the subject matter. If there’s sufficient interest in the topic of stuffed toys for one of the world’s major slot game franchises to be built around the idea, you can rest assured there’s a big market for the real thing, too. If you’re creative, you could even customise and adapt them to make them more unique. People pay more for one-of-a-kind items!
- Proofreading
This sounds too good to be true, but it’s genuinely there as a money making opportunity. You can get paid reasonable amounts of money just to sit and read in your spare time. You already know you’re good a that; you’re doing it right now! It helps to have a great eye for spelling and grammar of course, and you should only really consider this if you’re very confident with your English Language skills, but if you’re sharp and shrewd, people will pay for your keen eye.
Proofreaders, like matched betters (and, to a point, eBay and Amazon retailers) can set their own hours and work as little or as much as they want. If you want to do your work in the bath, it’s an option for you. Last thing at night, first thing in the morning, same thing. Proofreaders are required for a number of purposes, so if you have a specialist profession that you’re currently on maternity leave from, your work skills might come in useful. Doctors and nurses can proofread medical transcripts, for example. Those with a legal background can do the same for court transcripts.
Until you look into it, you might struggle to believe that serious money can be made that way, but a glance at a reputable jobs website will tell you all you need to know about the opportunities that exist. A recent Forbes article contains practical advice on how to get involved in proofreading, and it’s worth your time to read it.
This is by no means a complete list of the options that are out there for mums at home who have time, and are looking for a profitable way to use it. Do you have a success story of your own? Would you care to share it with other readers? Let us know in the comments!