Let me tell you, motherhood is a whole vibe. But plot twist? Working to earn extra income while dealing with children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
I started my side hustle journey about three years ago when I had the epiphany that my retail therapy sessions were way too frequent. I needed some independent income.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Okay so, my initial venture was doing VA work. And I'll be real? It was ideal. It let me grind during those precious quiet hours, and all I needed was my laptop and decent wifi.
I started with easy things like organizing inboxes, managing social content, and entering data. Nothing fancy. I charged about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which seemed low but when you're just starting, you gotta prove yourself first.
What cracked me up? I'd be on a client call looking completely put together from the chest up—business casual vibes—while wearing my rattiest leggings. Main character energy.
My Etsy Journey
Once I got comfortable, I thought I'd test out the whole Etsy thing. All my mom friends seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I figured "why not get in on this?"
I began crafting digital planners and wall art. Here's why printables are amazing? Make it one time, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Actually, I've gotten orders at midnight when I'm unconscious.
That initial sale? I freaked out completely. He came running thinking the house was on fire. Nope—I was just, doing a happy dance for my glorious $4.99. Judge me if you want.
Blogging and Creating
After that I started blogging and content creation. This particular side gig is not for instant gratification seekers, let me tell you.
I began a family lifestyle blog where I shared real mom life—everything unfiltered. Keeping it real. Only authentic experiences about surviving tantrums in Target.
Growing an audience was painfully slow. For months, it was basically creating content for crickets. But I stayed consistent, and over time, things started clicking.
These days? I generate revenue through promoting products, working with brands, and ad revenue. This past month I made over two grand from my blog income. Crazy, right?
The Social Media Management Game
As I mastered running my own socials, local businesses started asking if I could help them.
Real talk? Most small businesses suck at social media. They realize they should be posting, but they don't have time.
This is my moment. I handle social media for a handful of clients—various small businesses. I develop content, queue up posts, engage with followers, and monitor performance.
I charge between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per account, depending on how much work is involved. Best part? I manage everything from my phone.
Freelance Writing Life
For the wordy folks, writing gigs is a goldmine. I don't mean literary fiction—this is content writing for businesses.
Companies constantly need fresh content. My assignments have included everything from the most random topics. You just need to research, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
Usually charge $50-150 per article, depending on what's involved. When I'm hustling hard I'll create 10-15 articles and make an extra $1,000-2,000.
Plot twist: I'm the same person who hated writing papers. And now I'm a professional writer. Life is weird.
The Online Tutoring Thing
During the pandemic, online tutoring exploded. I was a teacher before kids, so this was perfect for me.
I joined various tutoring services. You make your own schedule, which is absolutely necessary when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I mostly tutor elementary school stuff. Rates vary from $15-25 per hour depending on which site you use.
Here's what's weird? Sometimes my children will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. The families I work with are very sympathetic because they're parents too.
Flipping Items for Profit
So, this particular venture wasn't planned. While organizing my kids' closet and posted some items on Facebook Marketplace.
They sold immediately. Lightbulb moment: you can sell literally anything.
Currently I hit up thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, searching for things that will sell. I purchase something for cheap and resell at a markup.
It's labor-intensive? For sure. You're constantly listing and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding hidden treasures at a garage sale and turning a profit.
Bonus: the kids think it's neat when I score cool vintage stuff. Last week I grabbed a rare action figure that my son freaked out about. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Real talk moment: side hustles aren't passive income. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, doubting everything. I'm working before sunrise hustling before the chaos starts, then doing all the mom stuff, then back to work after everyone's in bed.
But here's what matters? That money is MINE. I can spend it guilt-free to buy the fancy coffee. I'm supporting the family budget. I'm teaching my children that you can have it all—sort of.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're considering a mom hustle, here are my tips:
Begin with something manageable. Don't try to do everything at once. Focus on one and become proficient before adding more.
Use the time you have. Your available hours, that's totally valid. Whatever time you can dedicate is better than nothing.
Stop comparing to Instagram moms. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She probably started years ago and has resources you don't see. Stay in your lane.
Learn and grow, but wisely. There are tons of free resources. Avoid dropping thousands on courses until you've tested the waters.
Do similar tasks together. I learned this the hard way. Use specific days for specific tasks. Monday could be making stuff day. Wednesday might be administrative work.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
Real talk—the mom guilt is real. There are times when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I hate it.
But then I remind myself that I'm modeling for them what dedication looks like. I'm demonstrating to my children that moms can have businesses.
And honestly? Making my own money has improved my mental health. I'm happier, which makes me a better parent.
The Numbers
The real numbers? Most months, combining everything, I bring in between three and five grand. It varies, some are slower.
Will this make you wealthy? No. But this money covers so many things we needed that would've been impossible otherwise. Plus it's giving me confidence and knowledge that could grow into more.
Final Thoughts
Here's the bottom line, hustling as a mom is challenging. You won't find a perfect balance. Often I'm improvising everything, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and praying it all works out.
But I don't regret it. Each dollar earned is validation of my effort. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.
So if you're considering launching a mom business? Start now. Start messy. You in six months will be grateful.
Keep in mind: You're more than surviving—you're creating something amazing. Despite the fact that there's likely Goldfish crackers on your keyboard.
Seriously. This is incredible, complete with all the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood was never the plan. I never expected to be building a creator business. But yet here I am, years into this crazy ride, supporting my family by being vulnerable on the internet while parenting alone. And honestly? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
How It Started: When Everything Fell Apart
It was three years ago when my life exploded. I remember sitting in my new apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), wide awake at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my 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 self-care at 2am, right? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I saw this solo parent sharing how she changed her life through posting online. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or crazy. Usually both.
I got the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, explaining how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' lunch boxes. I shared it and felt sick. Who wants to watch this disaster?
Plot twist, tons of people.
That video got 47K views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me breakdown over $12 worth of food. The comments section became this validation fest—people who got it, other people struggling, all saying "this is my life." That was my turning point. People didn't want perfection. They wanted real.
Building My Platform: The Honest Single Parent Platform
The truth is about content creation: finding your niche is everything. And my niche? It chose me. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started filming the stuff people hide. Like how I didn't change pants for days because washing clothes was too much. Or when I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner multiple nights and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my daughter asked where daddy went, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who thinks the tooth fairy is real.
My content was raw. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was honest, and turns out, that's what hit.
Within two months, I hit 10K. Month three, 50,000. By six months, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone felt impossible. Real accounts who wanted to listen to me. Me—a barely surviving single mom who had to figure this out from zero months before.
My Daily Reality: Content Creation Meets Real Life
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 screams. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me talking about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while discussing custody stuff. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in full mom mode—cooking eggs, hunting for that one shoe (where do they go), packing lunches, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom making videos while driving at stop signs. Not proud of this, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. I'm alone finally. I'm editing videos, engaging with followers, brainstorming content ideas, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. People think content creation is just posting videos. Nope. It's a whole business.
I usually batch-create content on Monday and Wednesday. That means filming 10-15 videos in one sitting. I'll swap tops so it appears to be different times. Life hack: Keep different outfits accessible for easy transitions. My neighbors think I've lost it, talking to my camera in the yard.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Mom mode activated. But here's the thing—frequently my viral videos come from these after-school moments. Last week, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I refused to get a $40 toy. I created a video in the Target parking lot once we left about managing big emotions as a single mom. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm completely exhausted to film, but I'll queue up posts, answer messages, or strategize. Often, after everyone's sleeping, I'll edit videos until midnight because a deadline is coming.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just managed chaos with moments of success.
Income Breakdown: How I Really Earn Money
Alright, let's get into the finances because this is what people ask about. Can you actually make money as a influencer? Yes. Is it easy? Not even close.
My first month, I made zilch. Second month? $0. Month three, I got my first brand deal—a hundred and fifty bucks to post about a food subscription. I cried real tears. That $150 bought groceries for two weeks.
Currently, three years later, here's how I earn income:
Collaborations: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that fit my niche—affordable stuff, single-parent resources, kids' stuff. I bill anywhere from $500-5K per deal, depending on what's required. Just last month, I did four partnerships and made $8K.
TikTok Fund: Creator fund pays pennies—$200-$400 per month for massive numbers. YouTube revenue is more lucrative. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Income: I share affiliate links to stuff I really use—ranging from my favorite coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If someone purchases through my link, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Info Products: I created a budget template and a meal prep guide. They're $15 each, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Coaching/Consulting: New creators pay me to mentor them. I offer private coaching for two hundred per hour. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.
Total monthly income: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month these days. Certain months are better, some are lower. It's up and down, which is nerve-wracking when there's no backup. But it's 3x what I made at my old job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Hard Parts Nobody Posts About
This sounds easy until you're crying in your car because a post tanked, or handling hate comments from strangers who think they know your life.
The negativity is intense. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm using my children, told I'm fake about being a single mom. I'll never forget, "I'd leave too." That one hurt so bad.
The algorithm changes constantly. Certain periods you're getting huge numbers. Next month, you're getting nothing. Your income varies wildly. You're never off, never resting, afraid to pause, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is worse beyond normal. Each post, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they be angry about this when they're older? I have strict rules—limited face shots, keeping their stories private, protecting their dignity. But the line is fuzzy.
The burnout hits hard. Certain periods when I don't want to film anything. When I'm touched out, over it, and at my limit. But life doesn't stop. So I push through.
The Wins
But listen—despite the hard parts, this journey has blessed me with things I never dreamed of.
Money security for once in my life. I'm not loaded, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an savings. We took a vacation last summer—Orlando, which seemed impossible not long ago. I don't panic about money anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or panic. I worked anywhere. When there's a field trip, I'm there. I'm in their lives in ways I wasn't with a corporate job.
Support that saved me. The other creators I've met, especially other moms, have become real friends. We talk, help each other, support each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They hype me up, support me, and validate me.
Me beyond motherhood. For the first time since having kids, I have an identity. I'm more than an ex or only a parent. I'm a CEO. A creator. Someone who built something from nothing.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a single mom wanting to start, here's my advice:
Begin now. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's normal. You grow through creating, not by waiting until everything is perfect.
Authenticity wins. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your actual life—the unfiltered truth. That's what connects.
Protect your kids. Set limits. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is the priority. I protect their names, minimize face content, and respect their dignity.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't rely on just one platform or one revenue source. The algorithm is unreliable. Multiple income streams = stability.
Create in batches. When you have quiet time, make a bunch. Future you will thank yourself when you're burnt out.
Engage with your audience. Reply to comments. Check messages. Be real with them. Your community is your foundation.
Monitor what works. Be strategic. If something takes forever and flops while a different post takes minutes and gets 200,000 views, change tactics.
Self-care matters. Self-care isn't selfish. Unplug. Guard your energy. Your sanity matters more than views.
Give it time. This requires patience. It took me half a year to make meaningful money. My first year, I made barely $15,000. Year two, eighty thousand. Year 3, I'm hitting six figures. It's a long game.
Don't forget your why. On tough days—and trust me, there will be—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's supporting my kids, being present, and proving to myself that I'm stronger than I knew.
Real Talk Time
Real talk, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This life is hard. Really hard. You're running a whole business while being the lone caretaker of kids who need everything.
There are days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the trolls hurt. Days when I'm burnt out and wondering if I should just get a "normal" job with consistent income.
But then my daughter mentions she's proud that I work from home. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I remember my purpose.
The Future
Not long ago, I was terrified and clueless how to survive. Today, I'm a full-time creator making triple what I earned in my 9-5, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals going forward? Reach 500K by December. Create a podcast for other single moms. Write a book eventually. Keep building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
Being a creator gave me a second chance when I had nothing. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be there, and build an in-depth guide something I'm genuinely proud of. It's a surprise, but it's meant to be.
To every solo parent thinking about starting: You absolutely can. It will be challenging. You'll struggle. But you're already doing the hardest job in the world—parenting solo. You're stronger than you think.
Start messy. Be consistent. Guard your peace. And don't forget, you're not just surviving—you're building an empire.
Time to go, I need to go create content about another last-minute project and nobody told me until now. Because that's how it goes—content from the mess, video by video.
For real. Being a single mom creator? It's the best decision. Even if there might be old snacks in my keyboard. Dream life, mess included.