Ways to boost income before maternity leave without risking scams- creating a buffer.

[smilingbee96]

Hi all,

Im due in October 2026, I will get smp paid at 90% of my average weekly earnings per month. Then the rest smp for 33 weeks.

I am trying to save as much as I can to cover the short fall as we’d be down by over £1000 a month.

Please has anyone got any side hustles or anything that has helped to gain extra money?

I’ve seen loads of things for MLM and high affiliate ticket sales and these £27 pdf things you rebrand as your own and sell. They look
too good to be true but then it’s tempting seeing what others can make, would literally solve all the money issues. Anyone done this, what’s the good and bad? Dont want to get sucked into a scam or anything. Also seen the things where you sell digital products on canva.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated! tried cashback things and playing games for money but it takes ages to even make a huge amount.

Thanks,

Holly

Are you able to do overtime at your current job?

Your maternity pay is calculated based on what you earn during a qualifying 8 week period (somewhere in june or July if you're due in September). If you do overtime you'd get paid for it but it would also boost that the 90% amounts to.

If you’re in contract with an employer claiming maternity leave I’m not sure you’re allowed to work even in a part time capacity for someone else even yourself. I could be wrong.

I believe the rules are:

• you can't do any work for your existing employer (except KIT days)
• HMRC allows you to do a side hustle on a self employed basis, declaring for tax as you would at any other time. This won't affect your SMP.
• Your employer may have a policy which prevents you from working for anyone else whilst in their employment. If it does, you may be in breach of contract and there may be consequences for your existing job.

If you cut back very heavily on luxuries (subscriptions, phone costs, trips away, eating out, new clothes etc) how much of the £1000 shortfall per month do you absolutely need? Go through the last three months of yours and your partner's bank statements and think about each item, "will the world fall apart if we hadn't bought that?" and see what it adds up to.

Also, I find it's often easier to save than earn! Buy second hand cribs and bouncers and prams, you'll save hundreds doing that. They're often only very lightly used and will look brand new after a quick wash.

Take any baby clothes that anyone gives you too, it saves an awful lot of money.

Facebook marketplace and Vinted are amazing. If you know anyone who's had a baby a few months before you they might have stuff they want to pass along.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to absolutely wreck yourself when pregnant trying to earn more money.

Honestly the best place to start is spending less - and doing so now to save up that buffer.

following as currently on SMP and struggling so any ideas would help!

I know it’s not enough to make a huge difference but selling on vinted and saving the money for when you have nothing? Even if it’s just a bit of extra walking around money? I am nearly 4 months into mat leave and dreading the last 3 months! Trying to sell and save as much as I can x