Stacey Hillier was earning around £3,000 a month before starting maternity leave in January.
Now, the 32-year-old receives statutory maternity pay of around £187 a week – roughly £700 a month.
The dramatic drop in income left the mum-of-two looking for ways to ease the pressure on household finances.
Fortunately, an app she originally downloaded to declutter her home has helped bring in extra cash.
Over the years, Stacey estimates she has made around £2,000 selling unwanted baby clothes, children’s outfits and family items on Vinted.
The extra money has helped pay for family days out, holiday spending and everyday costs during what she describes as one of the most expensive periods of family life.
“Maternity leave has massively affected our household finances,” Stacey, from Warwickshire, said.
“Normally, my husband and I both pay into our joint account to cover the bills, but now I’m on statutory maternity pay I can’t contribute what I used to.
“That puts more pressure on my husband to cover household costs.”
The mum says many people underestimate the financial reality of maternity leave.
“One thing I’ve always found strange is that you can have up to a year off to spend with your baby, but financially it’s such a difficult time,” she said.
“People think maternity leave is time off, but it’s actually one of the most expensive periods of your life.”
Like many parents, Stacey has also been hit by rising living costs.
“Food has become much more expensive, and children’s clothes are a huge expense because babies grow out of things so quickly,” she said.
“They’ll wear something two or three times and suddenly it doesn’t fit anymore.”
She added that baby formula alone costs around £11 a tub, with her family getting through one every six days.
Knowing her income would fall sharply, Stacey started saving money as soon as
she found out she was pregnant.
But selling unwanted items online has provided valuable extra breathing room.
The side hustle has even changed how she shops.
After spotting a set of baby rompers in a shop for £22, Stacey checked Vinted and found the exact same set for £8, saving herself £14.
“I definitely shop differently now,” she said.
“If I see something expensive in a shop, I’ll check Vinted first.”
The mum says one of the biggest advantages is that she feels more comfortable selling through the app than using local marketplace groups.
“We used to use Facebook buy-and-sell groups, but I never liked the idea of strangers turning up at my front door,” she said.
Children’s clothes remain her best sellers because they are often barely worn.
“My youngest is four months old and some outfits have only been worn three or four times,” Stacey said.
“They still look brand new.”
While most individual sales only bring in a few pounds at a time, she says the money quickly accumulates.
“Most things I list are only £1, £2 or £3, but it adds up surprisingly quickly, especially when someone buys a bundle,” she said.
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Rather than cashing out immediately, Stacey leaves the money sitting in her account until she has built up a useful balance.
“I treat it as a little safety net if I need it,” she explained.
“I’ll often wait until I’ve built up around £100 and then use it to pay for something fun, like a family day out.
“Having my Vinted balance there as a backup gives me peace of mind.”
