There comes a point where maternity pay stops and a decision needs to be made on whether to return to work or extend leave from your job. In some circumstances, returning to work may be your only option. If you find yourself in in the situation where you can extend your maternity leave, but need money to make ends meet, here are some money making tips that can be done while your baby sleeps.

1. Make money from your clutter. Get your toddler and infant to help you with this. Allow them to get into the cupboards and empty them (providing its safe) and only put back items that you use or have used in the last 12 months. Sell any clutter in a garage sale or online to bring in some extra cash.

2. Change your shopping habits. If you do a weekly grocery shop, make a challenge to reduce your shop each week by $10 or whatever amount you think is doable. Save the change. The amount at the end of your maternity pay can be used to buffer extra time with your kids.

3. Rearrange your finances. Talk to your accountant or a financial adviser on what can be done to ensure your finances are suiting you current situation. If you are eager to stay home longer with the kids, your financial adviser may be able to find ways to ensure you can cover your debts for your current situation in life. It could be changing repayments to monthly or interest only for the time being so extra money is left for family expenses. While the changes may not be ideal in getting ahead financially, the changes can easily be changed back when you feel ready to go back to work.

4. Invest your tax returns wisely. That large sum of money could easily be used to treat the family to a holiday, but if you have credit card debt that requires paying off each month, the money is best to be thrown at that to save interest.

5. Can your existing skills be used in freelance work opportunities? Word-of-mouth is the best way to find these opportunities.

6. Discover a new craft or hobby that you can turn into a side business. Sell your wares on Etsy and Made it or at local markets.

7. Sign up to mystery shopping, online survey and focus groups where you can be paid in cash and vouchers for your opinion.

8. Enter competitions and giveaways. Store the prizes for Christmas and Birthday gifts. Find competition forums that list all the giveaways happening online and click on the links to enter. This can be done at night on the Ipad while watching TV.

If you’re looking for a career change, maternity leave is a great time to dream and work out exactly where you would like to work. It can seem like the most unlikely time to dream when you have little cherubs to entertain and feed, but remember your babies won’t stay that way for long and when they are in school, you may find yourself itching to work. Use the downtime during maternity leave to think about a plan of getting to where you want to be. This can be done while folding clothes or even breastfeeding your bub.

Did you extend your maternity leave and how did you make ends meet if you did? Got any money making tips to help other mums thinking about not returning to work?