Are you dreading the end of your maternity leave? Wondering how on earth you will balance going back to work, manage to have quality time with your little one (and your husband), the sleepless nights, and nursery drop-offs without losing your mind? – and still figure out how to make money online?
I`ve been there, and here is what I discovered…
“Dream Big. Start small. But most of all, Start” – Napoleon Hill
Why Returning to Work Is So Hard for New Mums – Us mums play a massive role in our babies’ lives — and like it or not, we often become the default parent. No disrespect to dads (Arek is amazing with our daughter), but let’s be honest: we’re usually the ones who keep track of all the little — but important — things. We sort the clothes, pack the baby bags for days out, holidays, and nursery. We remember the health visitor appointments, doctor’s appointments, when nappies are running low, and which toy is currently the favourite.
We carry an invisible mental load every single day. We’re rocking babies through the night and still the first ones up—making bottles, folding laundry, and holding it all together, even when we’re running on fumes.
And now, on top of that, we’re expected to just return to work as if nothing’s changed? Like we’re the same person we were before? It’s not just about fitting work around childcare — it’s about fitting work around our whole identity shift.
It’s exhausting. And it’s a direct path to burnout for so many of us.
Are you constantly brainstorming ways to earn income without missing a moment with your baby? I know I was! I even thought about becoming a plumbing and heating lecturer (I am a plumbing and heating engineer by trade) just so in the future when Amara would be in school full time I could have the school holidays off with her, but this is not a job I could realistically see myself enjoying. So, I kept searching for alternatives!
I even remember typing “how to make money on maternity leave” into Google while rocking Amara back to sleep. I didn’t want to miss her firsts. But I also couldn’t ignore the pressure of needing to contribute financially. That’s what led me to affiliate marketing—and I honestly never looked back.
The One Chance to Stay Home and Still Earn – Do you find yourself obsessing over all the moments you might miss? The first steps, the silly faces, the belly laughs—I didn’t want someone else to witness them instead of me. I was so cut up on the fact that I might miss her first steps, her first words, and all the silly things that just warm your heart to see them growing and developing. I was also thinking about when she would be in school and I want to be the one to drop her off and pick her up, hear from HER how her day was, have the time to go to the park and teach her to cook.
Feeling guilty about searching for a nursery? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with them—some are wonderful.
But let’s be honest—they just can’t match the one-to-one attention, the classes you could take your little one to, or the little adventures you dream of having.
What really broke me was the thought that someone else might become her comfort when I couldn’t be there.
The reality is you only get ONE chance to be present in their early years – that is it ONE CHANCE, No do overs, No re runs just one chance.
How Affiliate Marketing Changed My Life – The good news – You can earn money from home with affiliate marketing—without sacrificing nap times, cuddles, or your sanity.
Yes, the online world feels overwhelming at first, but the education program I joined made it all feel possible. You can start by watching the FREE intro videos (they’re super helpful!)—and if you ever decide to take it further, just know I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I’m only sharing this because it truly changed everything for me.
From me being so sceptical it took me 4 months to sign up to me now wanting to share this opportunity with all new mums who just want to be there for their kids. All my research led me back to this training!
“You are one decision away from a completely different life” – Mel Robbins
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. What Even Is Affiliate Marketing & How to Make Money on Maternity Leave
- 2. The Real Talk: Pros and Cons of Affiliate Marketing
- 3. How to build an online business around something you love
- 4. Why High-Ticket Affiliate Offers Are a Mum’s Best Friend
- 5. Authority Marketing and why this is so important
- 6. Community – Having likeminded people around you
- 7. Frequently Asked Question`s
Introduction
(Picture of me and my daughter Amara on our search for freedom)
Hi, my name is Rose, and this is my beautiful daughter Amara – she is the reason I am here.
Growing up on a farm as the youngest of three girls, I quickly learned the value of hard work. Whether it was feeding the livestock, helping with lambing, or carrying hay, we all had our hands full. My parents also ran a butchery business with an abattoir, so manual labour was just part of life. It’s fair to say that hard work was bred into me from an early age. After school, I decided to take on a four-year apprenticeship in plumbing and heating, and after completing my apprenticeship I became Gas Safe registered. For 10 years, I worked on the tools before moving into an office role as a mechanical estimator. This role technically required formal qualifications, but I worked my way up, and for 17 years, I made my mark in a very male-dominated construction industry—a journey I’m truly proud of.
In my 20s, I didn’t think I wanted children, but that all changed in my 30s when I met my now-husband to be (we get married in Sept 2025), Arek. We experienced the heartbreak of a miscarriage just before our 12-week scan (Nov 2021), and that was incredibly tough. Arek was my rock during that time, and after some healing, we decided to wait a little longer before trying again. When we did, it wasn’t happening right away, and we wondered if our age had anything to do with it. But then we learned that most women have a few days of ovulation, while I only had a few hours. That made all the difference, and soon enough, our little miracle was on the way. (Born Oct 2023).
Becoming a mum changed my world in ways I never expected. Suddenly, I didn’t want to return to work—even though I’d spent years building a career I loved. I wanted to be there for my daughter, to experience every moment of her childhood. So, I started researching how to make money online. Honestly, I never thought I’d be brave enough to start my own online business, but when you’re determined to be there for your child, you find the courage to try things you never imagined. That’s when I found an online education program that changed everything for me. The program guided me step-by-step and provided all the resources I needed to make it happen.
Now, I only work three days a week, which feels like a good balance for me right now. But there are still those days when I send her off to nursery (only 2 days a week as her dad has her one day), and she comes home so tired that all we have time for is food, bath, and bed. It’s not exactly quality time, and I’m so grateful I don’t have to do this five days a week—it honestly breaks my heart just thinking about it.
Thanks to my online business, I’m on my way to completely replacing my income. It’s taken me a bit longer than others. But that was my choice. I wanted to enjoy the journey and still be there for my daughter, especially since we don’t have any family nearby to help with childcare. One of the best things about affiliate marketing is that you can get started quickly—in just a few months—or take your time, like I have. It’s been so worth it, and I’m excited about what’s to come.
1. What Even Is Affiliate Marketing & How to Make Money on Maternity Leave
(Diagram of how affiliate marketing works)
Let’s break it down:
Affiliate marketing means recommending products or services online. When someone makes a purchase through your unique link, you earn a commission—without them paying anything extra. Simple.
It’s like when you tell a friend about your favourite coffee maker or skincare cream, and they go buy it. Now imagine if the company gave you a cut of that sale—just for sharing the love. That’s affiliate marketing in a nutshell.
You’re not selling anything face-to-face. You’re just helping people discover things they already want or need, and you get paid for being the connector. Pretty cool, right?
A report by Astute Analytica shows that the global affiliate marketing industry is going to reach nearly $40 MILLION by 2031
https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/affiliate-marketing-platform-market
How to start your affiliate marketing journey:
- Sign up to an affiliate program and search for products to promote
- You will get a unique affiliate link for each product, and this tracks all your sales or leads you generate.
- Promote the products with your affiliate link through your preferred marketing channels
- Earn a commission when someone purchases through your affiliate link
It’s honestly one of the simplest ways to start making money online. And you don’t need to be computer wizard to do it.
Top tips:
- As an affiliate marketer, it’s important to build a loyal audience because trust is the foundation of successful affiliate relationships.
- Focus on providing high-quality information, as this builds trust with your audience and actually helps them solve their problems.
- Try to promote products that you’ve actually used and genuinely love.
2. The Real Talk: Pros and Cons of Affiliate Marketing
(picture of a mum working on her affiliate marketing business during nap time)
I think it`s only right to share the whole picture so you can make an informed decision as it is important to know all the facts:
Pros of Affiliate Marketing
• Passive Income Potential
Once your content is out there—whether it’s a blog, video, or social post—it can keep earning for you long after you’ve hit publish. That means you can be earning while you’re sleeping, out on a family walk, or cuddling your baby on the sofa. This is the power of authority marketing (I explain about authority marketing further in this article)
• Freedom and Flexibility
You can work around your family’s schedule. Whether it’s during nap time, in the quiet hours after bedtime, or on the odd peaceful afternoon, affiliate marketing gives you the freedom to choose when and how you work.
• No Need to Create a Product
You don’t have to invent anything or handle customer service. You simply share products or services you love and earn a commission when someone buys through your link. Think of it like recommending your favourite pram to a friend—only now you get paid for it.
• Low Start-Up Costs
Unlike traditional businesses, you don’t need a big budget to start. With a laptop, internet connection, and the right guidance, you can begin from the comfort of your own home.
• Skillset
Once you have learned the skillset of affiliate marketing, this can really help to expand your online business into multiple online income steams.
Cons of Affiliate Marketing
• Learning Curve
It’s not just posting a few links and hoping for the best. You’ll need to learn skills like SEO (so people can find your content), marketing strategies, and how to write in a way that connects with your audience. This is all taught through the education program if you chose to sign up (not the free intro videos)
• It Takes Time
Affiliate marketing requires consistent effort and isn’t an overnight path to wealth. It usually takes 3 to 6 months (or more) of consistent effort to see meaningful results. Patience and persistence are key. But once set up and set up right then this can earn you money 24/7 and 365 days of the year
• Product Quality This is a difficult one as you can do you research and due diligence and when the product is shipped to the customer and its not to the standard as described then it can go against you – but unfortunately that is a manufacturer issue but you recommended it, this is why it is important to promote products you have personally used.
• Requires Consistent Effort
Even though income can become passive over time, you still need to put in regular effort to create content, stay current, and grow your platform. This helps to create up to date and accurate information which is what we all search for.
3. How to build an online business around something you love
(Picture of my family on a little adventure)
I know its easy for me to say build a business around what you love, what is that? It could be anything – are you passionate about animals? Then you could promote dog toys, dog training, etc, or are you into cooking like me and I plan to start doing blogs and product reviews for all the kitchen equipment I use. Basically choose something that you can talk about for hours and that you are passionate about. Once you figure this out you will have made fantastic progress. For me I took a while as I got “shiny object syndrome” and wanting to try and do everything.
Best bit of advice I can give is pick something and stick with it otherwise you will just be a busy fool.
I started as an affiliate for the education program I have completed and would highly recommend because its more than just an education program, it is real people with a genuine passion for helping and teaching with a community full of likeminded individuals. Stuart one of the founders takes you through each step and for me this is exactly what I needed as I didn`t have the time to do in depth research as well. I am just so grateful that I found this as it has truly made my journey fun, interesting and best of all Amara has been in on a lot of the live calls as well (and she steals the show as usual lol)
It taught someone like me who knew nothing and I mean nothing other than buying off Amazon lol about the online world how to create my own website – yes that’s right I built my own website and I have built my own business and brand around what is important to me and that is my family.
4. Why High-Ticket Affiliate Offers Are a Mum’s Best Friend
(Picture of a mum and baby enjoying bonding time)
What Are High Ticket Affiliate Offers?
High ticket affiliate offers are products or services that cost a lot of money—usually hundreds or even thousands of pounds/dollars. When someone buys one through your unique links, you will earn a BIG commission.
👉 For example:
If you sell a £1,000 course and earn 40%, that’s £400 from just one sale!
Why Are High Ticket Offers a Great Idea?
- You make more money with fewer sales
Would you rather sell 1 thing and earn £400 or 40 things to earn £10 each just to make the same amount?
High ticket = work smarter, not harder. - You save time
If you’re a busy parent or have other things going on, high ticket offers help you earn without working all day. Fewer sales, more reward. - They’re usually really good quality
These offers are often courses, coaching programs, or tools that solve big problems—like starting an online business or learning a new skill. They’re made by people who know what they’re doing, and they actually help people. - You build trust with your audience
When you share something valuable that actually works, people start to trust you. You’re not just pushing random cheap stuff—you’re recommending something that can change lives. That trust helps you grow a strong, loyal following. - You attract serious buyers
People who spend more money usually think more carefully before buying. They’re often more motivated and ready to take action, which means they get better results—and that reflects well on you!
5. Authority Marketing and why this is so important
(picture of a family enjoying time together while their affiliate marketing business is working for them)
What Is Authority Marketing?
Authority marketing is a smart and simple way to sell things online. It works for almost any product or service—whether you’re selling your own stuff, offering a service, or promoting someone else’s products as an affiliate for a commission.
What makes authority marketing so powerful is that it helps you build trust with your audience right from the start. Instead of chasing people or begging for sales, you position yourself as someone who understands their problems and can offer real help. People are more likely to buy from someone they trust—and that’s exactly what this method is built around.
Even better? Once your authority marketing system is set up, it can work on autopilot—finding the right people, sharing the right message, and turning visitors into buyers 24/7. That means less stress and more freedom for you.
How It Works (The 6 Simple Steps)
Let’s break down the six steps of authority marketing in a way that’s super easy to follow:
Step 1: Identify a Profitable Niche
Start by choosing a market (or “niche”) where people are already spending money. Look for something that’s popular, in high demand, and still growing. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—just enter a space where people are already buying, and grab your small slice of the pie.
Step 2: Pinpoint Your Audience
Next, get clear on who your product or service is for. This is your “target audience” or “customer avatar.” It’s all about knowing who you can help best. The better you understand your audience, the more your message will connect—and the easier it is to make sales.
Step 3: Understand What They Want
Now, dig deeper. What’s the real problem your audience wants to solve? For example, a new mum with a migraine won’t be drawn to general painkillers—she is looking for migraine relief that is safe while breastfeeding. When you can offer the exact solution to their specific problem, they’re far more likely to buy.
Step 4: Create Your Brand & Message
Once you know the problem and the audience, it’s time to build a message that speaks directly to them. This is your brand and voice. When done right, your message will feel like it was made just for them—and that kind of connection is powerful. It draws the right people in like a magnet.
Step 5: Launch Your Marketing System
This is where the system starts doing the heavy lifting. With tools like simple web pages, emails, and sometimes ads, you guide people through your message and help them make a decision to buy. This runs 24/7—even when you’re asleep or out with your family. No constant social media posting or chasing people.
Step 6: Promote Your Offer
Lastly, you use online ads to put your offer in front of the right people. You don’t need a big budget—you can start small with just £5–10 a day. And as your system starts bringing in sales, you can reinvest a portion to reach more people and grow faster. You can even hire someone to manage your ads once things are up and running.
Why It Works So Well
When you follow these steps, you’re not just pushing products—you’re helping people solve real problems. And when you help people before they buy, they trust you even more. You don’t need to be pushy, salesy, or loud. You just need to be helpful and real.
This approach helps you stand out online, especially in a noisy space filled with ads and gimmicks. People trust people—not brands or ads. And when they trust you, they’ll want to hear what you recommend.
What Authority Marketing Looks Like in Everyday Life
Think of it like this: if you’re always sharing great tips with your mum friends—about baby gear, meal ideas, or ways to save time—they start coming to you for advice. That’s authority marketing. You become the “go-to” person for a topic they care about.
Online, it works the same way. You share helpful posts, videos, or tips, and over time, people begin to see you as someone they can trust. So when you recommend a product, they’re more likely to buy—not just because of the product, but because they trust you.
Why It’s a Big Deal
- People trust people, not ads.
- You stand out in a crowded online world.
- You don’t have to chase people—they come to you.
- You can earn passively, meaning you can make money while spending more time with your family.
And the best part? You don’t need to be “techy” to do this. Authority marketing is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to build an online income—and it gives you the freedom to work from anywhere.
“Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow” – Robert Kiyosaki
6. Community – Having likeminded people around you
(Image of a person during a live call with the community)
When you start an online business, it can feel a little lonely at first. You’re often working from home, maybe during nap times or in the evenings, and there’s no team around you to chat with like in a regular job. It can be hard not having someone to ask questions, share wins, or just talk to about what you’re learning. That’s why having a community is so important.
Honestly, I didn’t give the community much thought when I first started. I was focused on just learning everything and figuring things out. But over time, I’ve come to feel like I’m part of an online family. We all share our wins, the struggles we’re going through—whether it’s business stuff or just everyday life—and it’s such a comforting space to be in. These people are so motivating and genuinely caring. It’s almost like if they don’t have something kind to say, they don’t say anything at all… which is pretty cool!
Being part of a supportive online community makes such a big difference. You get to connect with people who are on a similar journey. They understand the ups and downs, and they know how exciting (and sometimes scary) it can be to start something new. Whether you’re stuck on something technical or just need a bit of encouragement, there’s always someone who’s been there and can help. It’s like having your own team cheering you on.
Talking to like-minded people helps you stay motivated, too. When you see others taking action, it gives you that extra push to keep going. You can share ideas, celebrate small wins, and even learn from each other’s mistakes. It turns what could feel like a lonely road into a shared adventure—and that makes it so much easier to stick with it and succeed.
7. Frequently Asked Question`s
(image of FAQs)
Q1: Do I need any experience to start affiliate marketing?
Nope! You don’t need to be tech-savvy or have any prior marketing experience. If you can share your story, be honest, and follow a step-by-step process, you can do this—even during nap time!
Q2: How much time do I need to dedicate?
Even just 20 minutes a day can be enough to start building momentum. The beauty of affiliate marketing is that it fits around your schedule—not the other way around.
Q3: How long does it take to see results?
This varies from person to person, but most people start seeing some traction within 3 to 6 months of consistent effort. Remember, this is a long-term strategy, not an overnight success scheme.
Q4: Is affiliate marketing legit or just a scam?
Affiliate marketing is a 100% legitimate business model used by companies all over the world. The key is choosing a trusted education program and learning how to do it the right way.
Q5: Do I need to show my face online?
Not at all! While it can help build trust, many people succeed using blogs, email marketing, or even anonymous social media pages. You get to choose what you’re comfortable with.
Q6: What if I fail?
You only truly fail if you give up. This journey is full of learning curves, but with the right support system and education, you’re far more likely to succeed than you think.
❤️ Final Thoughts
If you’ve made it this far—thank you. I know how overwhelming it can feel to consider a new path when you’re already juggling so much. But if you’ve been searching for how to make money on maternity leave without losing precious time with your little one, affiliate marketing might just be the answer you’ve been looking for.