Real talk, being a mom is not for the weak. But you know what's even crazier? Attempting to make some extra cash while managing toddlers and their chaos.
My hustle life began about three years ago when I figured out that my random shopping trips were reaching dangerous levels. It was time to get cash that was actually mine.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Okay so, I kicked things off was doing VA work. And honestly? It was exactly what I needed. It let me work during naptime, and literally all it took was a computer and internet.
My first tasks were basic stuff like handling emails, doing social media scheduling, and data entry. Nothing fancy. My rate was about $15-20 per hour, which felt cheap but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta build up your portfolio.
The funniest part? I would be on a client call looking all professional from the waist up—blazer, makeup, the works—while wearing pants I'd owned since 2015. Living my best life.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
About twelve months in, I decided to try the handmade marketplace scene. Everyone and their mother seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I thought "why not join the party?"
My shop focused on designing downloadable organizers and wall art. Here's why printables are amazing? Make it one time, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Genuinely, I've gotten orders at midnight when I'm unconscious.
The first time someone bought something? I actually yelled. My husband thought there was an emergency. Not even close—I was just, celebrating my $4.99 sale. I'm not embarrassed.
Content Creator Life
After that I got into writing and making content. This particular side gig is definitely a slow burn, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I began a family lifestyle blog where I wrote about my parenting journey—the messy truth. Not the highlight reel. Simply authentic experiences about surviving tantrums in Target.
Growing an audience was a test of patience. Initially, I was essentially my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I persisted, and after a while, things started clicking.
Currently? I earn income through promoting products, brand partnerships, and display ads. This past month I generated over $2,000 from my blog alone. Insane, right?
SMM Side Hustle
As I mastered my own content, small companies started inquiring if I could run their social media.
Here's the thing? Many companies suck at social media. They understand they need to be there, but they don't have time.
That's where I come in. I now manage social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I develop content, queue up posts, handle community management, and monitor performance.
I charge between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on how much work is involved. Here's what's great? I manage everything from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
Freelance Writing Life
If writing is your thing, content writing is incredibly lucrative. I don't mean literary fiction—this is blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Companies are desperate for content. My assignments have included everything from literally everything under the sun. You just need to research, you just need to be good at research.
Usually bill $50-150 per article, depending on how complex it is. Some months I'll produce a dozen articles and bring in one to two thousand extra.
Plot twist: I was that student who struggled with essays. Currently I'm making money from copyright. The irony.
The Online Tutoring Thing
After lockdown started, online tutoring exploded. I used to be a teacher, so this was right up my alley.
I started working with various tutoring services. The scheduling is flexible, which is essential when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
I mostly tutor elementary school stuff. The pay ranges from $15-$25/hour depending on which site you use.
The awkward part? Sometimes my kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I've had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. The families I work with are totally cool about it because they understand mom life.
The Reselling Game
Okay, this one started by accident. During a massive cleanout my kids' closet and tried selling some outfits on copyright.
Things sold instantly. Lightbulb moment: people will buy anything.
These days I hit up secondhand stores and sales, hunting for name brands. I purchase something for a few dollars and make serious profit.
Is it a lot of work? Absolutely. You're constantly listing and shipping. But there's something satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at the thrift store and earning from it.
Bonus: my kids think I'm cool when I score cool vintage stuff. Last week I grabbed a collectible item that my son freaked out about. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Victory for mom.
Real Talk Time
Let me keep it real: side hustles take work. They're called hustles for a reason.
Some days when I'm running on empty, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm working before sunrise working before my kids wake up, then being a full-time parent, then back to work after 8pm hits.
But you know what? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to buy the fancy coffee. I'm supporting my family's finances. I'm showing my kids that you can have it all—sort of.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
For those contemplating a hustle of your own, here's my advice:
Start small. Avoid trying to start five businesses. Start with one venture and become proficient before expanding.
Be realistic about time. Whatever time you have, that's okay. A couple of productive hours is better than nothing.
Comparison is the thief of joy to the highlight reels. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? She probably started years ago and doesn't do it alone. Do your thing.
Spend money on education, but smartly. Free information exists. Don't waste huge money on programs until you've proven the concept.
Batch tasks together. This is crucial. Dedicate time blocks for different things. Use Monday for content creation day. Make Wednesday administrative work.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
I have to be real with you—mom guilt is a thing. Sometimes when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I feel terrible.
Yet I remember that I'm demonstrating to them what dedication looks like. I'm proving to them that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
And honestly? Earning independently has been good for me. I'm more content, which makes me more patient.
The Numbers
How much do I earn? Most months, combining everything, I earn three to five thousand monthly. Some months are lower, it fluctuates.
Is this millionaire money? Nope. But this money covers family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been impossible otherwise. And it's giving me confidence and a useful article expertise that could become a full-time thing.
In Conclusion
Listen, being a mom with a side hustle isn't easy. It's not a secret sauce. A lot of days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and doing my best.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Each penny made is proof that I can do hard things. It demonstrates that I'm more than just mom.
If you're thinking about beginning your hustle journey? Do it. Don't wait for perfect. Your future self will appreciate it.
And remember: You aren't only surviving—you're hustling. Even though there's likely old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
Not even kidding. It's the life, mess included.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—becoming a single mom wasn't on my vision board. I also didn't plan on making money from my phone. But fast forward to now, years into this crazy ride, supporting my family by being vulnerable on the internet while handling everything by myself. And I'll be real? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
How It Started: When Everything Imploded
It was a few years ago when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my half-empty apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), wide awake at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had less than a thousand dollars in my bank account, two mouths to feed, and a job that barely covered rent. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I was scrolling social media to numb the pain—because that's how we cope? when everything is chaos, right?—when I found this divorced mom discussing how she changed her life through being a creator. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But desperation makes you brave. Or crazy. Usually both.
I downloaded the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, venting about how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' school lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Who wants to watch my broke reality?
Spoiler alert, way more people than I expected.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. 47,000 people watched me get emotional over $12 worth of food. The comments section became this unexpected source of support—fellow solo parents, others barely surviving, all saying "this is my life." That was my turning point. People didn't want perfect. They wanted honest.
Finding My Niche: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started filming the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because executive dysfunction is real. Or the time I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner several days straight and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content was rough. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was authentic, and turns out, that's what resonated.
In just two months, I hit 10K. Month three, fifty thousand. By six months, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone felt surreal. These were real people who wanted to follow me. Me—a broke single mom who had to figure this out from zero not long ago.
My Daily Reality: Balancing Content and Chaos
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because creating content solo is the opposite of those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm blares. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me talking about budgeting. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while talking about custody stuff. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in mommy mode—making breakfast, finding the missing shoe (seriously, always ONE), making lunch boxes, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom filming at red lights when stopped. I know, I know, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. I'm alone finally. I'm editing content, being social, thinking of ideas, doing outreach, reviewing performance. Everyone assumes content creation is only filming. It's not. It's a full business.
I usually batch-create content on Monday and Wednesday. That means shooting multiple videos in one session. I'll change shirts between videos so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep multiple tops nearby for easy transitions. My neighbors must think I'm insane, talking to my camera in the parking lot.
3:00pm: School pickup. Parent time. But here's the thing—frequently my best content ideas come from these after-school moments. Last week, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I refused to get a expensive toy. I created a video in the vehicle after about handling public tantrums as a solo parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm generally wiped out to make videos, but I'll schedule uploads, answer messages, or strategize. Often, after bedtime, I'll stay up editing because a deadline is coming.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just organized chaos with some victories.
Let's Talk Income: How I Actually Make a Living
Look, let's talk dollars because this is what you're wondering. Can you legitimately profit as a online creator? Yes. Is it straightforward? Nope.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Second month? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first collaboration—one hundred fifty dollars to feature a meal box. I actually cried. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.
Currently, three years in, here's how I make money:
Brand Deals: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that make sense—budget-friendly products, parenting tools, family items. I bill anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per collaboration, depending on what's required. Just last month, I did four partnerships and made eight grand.
Ad Money: The TikTok fund pays not much—$200-$400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube revenue is way better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Income: I promote products to items I love—ranging from my favorite coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If anyone buys, I get a cut. This brings in about $1K monthly.
Online Products: I created a financial planner and a meal prep guide. Each costs $15, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
Coaching/Consulting: People wanting to start pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer 1:1 sessions for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 a month.
My total income: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month these days. Some months I make more, others are slower. It's unpredictable, which is scary when you're the only income source. But it's three times what I made at my 9-5, and I'm home when my kids need me.
The Struggles Nobody Talks About
This sounds easy until you're having a breakdown because a post got no views, or reading hate comments from random people.
The trolls are vicious. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm problematic, accused of lying about being a divorced parent. I'll never forget, "I'd leave too." That one stung for days.
The algorithm changes constantly. Certain periods you're getting millions of views. Then suddenly, you're getting nothing. Your income goes up and down. You're always creating, never resting, scared to stop, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is intense to the extreme. Every video I post, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Am I doing right by them? Will they resent this when they're adults? I have strict rules—protected identities, no sharing their private stuff, no embarrassing content. But the line is fuzzy.
The exhaustion is real. There are weeks when I don't want to film anything. When I'm depleted, talked out, and at my limit. But life doesn't stop. So I push through.
The Unexpected Blessings
But here's the thing—despite the hard parts, this journey has given me things I never imagined.
Economic stability for the first damn time. I'm not rich, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an safety net. We took a actual vacation last summer—the Mouse House, which was a dream a couple years back. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or lose income. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a school event, I can go. I'm there for them in ways I wasn't able to be with a regular job.
My people that saved me. The other influencers I've befriended, especially solo parents, have become my people. We connect, share strategies, encourage each other. My followers have become this family. They celebrate my wins, encourage me through rough patches, and validate me.
My own identity. For the first time since having kids, I have an identity. I'm more than an ex or just a mom. I'm a entrepreneur. An influencer. Someone who built something from nothing.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a single mom curious about this, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Just start. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Be yourself. People can tell when you're fake. Share your honest life—the mess. That's what works.
Protect your kids. Create rules. Have standards. Their privacy is the priority. I protect their names, minimize face content, and keep private things private.
Diversify income streams. Diversify or one revenue source. The algorithm is unreliable. Multiple streams = safety.
Film multiple videos. When you have time alone, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will thank yourself when you're drained.
Build community. Respond to comments. Respond to DMs. Connect authentically. Your community is what matters.
Analyze performance. Time is money. If something requires tons of time and gets 200 views while another video takes very little time and goes viral, change tactics.
Take care of yourself. You matter too. Rest. Protect your peace. Your health matters more than views.
Stay patient. This requires patience. It took me eight months to make any real money. My first year, I made $15K total. Year two, $80,000. Year 3, I'm hitting six figures. It's a long game.
Know your why. On tough days—and they happen—remember your reason. For me, it's independence, flexibility with my kids, and demonstrating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
The Honest Truth
Listen, I'm being honest. This journey is hard. So damn hard. You're running a whole business while being the only parent of demanding little people.
Many days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the hate comments hurt. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and asking myself if I should get a regular job with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But then my daughter says she appreciates this. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I remember why I do this.
What's Next
Not long ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how to survive. Fast forward, I'm a full-time creator making more than I imagined in corporate America, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals for the future? Reach 500K by this year. Create a podcast for single moms. Maybe write a book. Keep growing this business that makes everything possible.
Being a creator gave me a path forward when I was drowning. It gave me a way to support my kids, be there, and create something meaningful. It's a surprise, but it's perfect.
To every solo parent thinking about starting: You can. It will be challenging. You'll consider quitting. But you're managing the hardest job in the world—parenting solo. You're more capable than you know.
Start messy. Stay consistent. Protect your peace. And don't forget, you're doing more than surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Time to go, I need to go create content about the project I just found out about and nobody told me until now. Because that's the reality—making content from chaos, one post at a time.
Seriously. This path? It's the best decision. Even when there's probably crumbs all over my desk. Dream life, one messy video at a time.