Let me tell you, being a mom is literally insane. But what's really wild? Attempting to get that bread while managing tiny humans who think sleep is optional.
I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I realized that my retail therapy sessions were reaching dangerous levels. I had to find my own money.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Right so, my first gig was jumping into virtual assistance. And real talk? It was perfect. I could work during naptime, and literally all it took was a computer and internet.
I started with easy things like email management, scheduling social media posts, and entering data. Not rocket science. I started at about $15-20 per hour, which seemed low but as a total beginner, you gotta build up your portfolio.
What cracked me up? Picture this: me on a Zoom call looking like I had my life together from the chest up—looking corporate—while wearing pajama bottoms. Living my best life.
My Etsy Journey
After getting my feet wet, I thought I'd test out the whole Etsy thing. Everyone and their mother seemed to be on Etsy, so I thought "why not join the party?"
I started designing downloadable organizers and home decor prints. Here's why printables are amazing? Make it one time, and it can generate passive income forever. Actually, I've made sales at 3am while I was sleeping.
When I got my first order? I actually yelled. My husband thought something was wrong. Not even close—it was just me, doing a happy dance for my first five bucks. I'm not embarrassed.
Content Creator Life
Eventually I discovered writing and making content. This particular side gig is definitely a slow burn, real talk.
I launched a family lifestyle blog where I documented real mom life—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not the highlight reel. Simply honest stories about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Building up views was painfully slow. Initially, I was basically talking to myself. But I persisted, and eventually, things began working.
Now? I generate revenue through affiliate marketing, working with brands, and ad revenue. Just last month I earned over two thousand dollars from my website. Crazy, right?
The Social Media Management Game
As I mastered managing my blog's social media, other businesses started reaching out if I could run their social media.
And honestly? Most small businesses are terrible with social media. They realize they have to be on it, but they don't have time.
That's where I come in. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—various small businesses. I create content, schedule posts, handle community management, and track analytics.
I charge between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I manage everything from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
Writing for Money
If you can write, freelancing is where it's at. I don't mean writing the next Great American Novel—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Companies always need writers. I've written articles about everything from literally everything under the sun. You just need to research, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
I typically make $50-150 per article, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll crank out ten to fifteen pieces and earn an extra $1,000-2,000.
Here's what's wild: I was that student who barely passed English class. Currently I'm a professional writer. The irony.
The Online Tutoring Thing
2020 changed everything, virtual tutoring became huge. As a former educator, so this was right up my alley.
I joined VIPKid and Tutor.com. You make your own schedule, which is non-negotiable when you have unpredictable little ones.
I focus on elementary reading and math. The pay ranges from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on the platform.
The funny thing? Occasionally my own kids will burst into the room mid-session. I've literally had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they get it.
The Reselling Game
Here me out, this particular venture started by accident. During a massive cleanout my kids' closet and posted some items on Facebook Marketplace.
Items moved immediately. Lightbulb moment: people will buy anything.
Now I frequent estate sales and thrift shops, hunting for name brands. I'll buy something for a few dollars and make serious profit.
It's definitely work? Yes. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But it's strangely fulfilling about discovering a diamond in the rough at the thrift store and earning from it.
Additionally: my kids are impressed when I find unique items. Last week I found a rare action figure that my son went crazy for. Got forty-five dollars for it. Mom win.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Here's the thing nobody tells you: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
Some days when I'm completely drained, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm grinding at dawn being productive before the madness begins, then handling mom duties, then more hustle time after the kids are asleep.
But this is what's real? That money is MINE. I'm not asking anyone to treat myself. I'm adding to our household income. I'm teaching my children that moms can do anything.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're considering a mom hustle, this is what I've learned:
Start with one thing. You can't launch everything simultaneously. Pick one thing and become proficient before adding more.
Honor your limits. If you only have evenings, that's fine. A couple of productive hours is better than nothing.
Comparison is the thief of joy to the highlight reels. The successful ones you see? She probably started years ago and has help. Run your own race.
Don't be afraid to invest, but wisely. Start with free stuff first. Don't waste $5,000 on a coaching program until you've tested the waters.
Do similar tasks together. I learned this the hard way. Dedicate time blocks for different things. Monday could be content creation day. Use Wednesday for administrative work.
The Mom Guilt is Real
Real talk—I struggle with guilt. Sometimes when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I hate it.
But then I think about that I'm teaching them how to hustle. I'm teaching my kids that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Plus? Making my own money has improved my mental health. I'm more satisfied, which makes me more patient.
Let's Talk Money
The real numbers? Typically, total from all sources, I pull in between three and five grand. Certain months are higher, some are slower.
Will this make you wealthy? Nope. But this money covers vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've stressed us out. And it's creating opportunities and experience that could grow into more.
Wrapping This Up
Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing is challenging. You won't find a one-size-fits-all approach. Most days I'm winging it, surviving on coffee, and crossing my fingers.
But I'm proud of this journey. Every penny made is validation of my effort. It demonstrates that I'm a multifaceted person.
If you're on the fence about launching a mom business? Start now. Start before it's perfect. Your future self will appreciate it.
And remember: You aren't only surviving—you're building something. Even though there's probably mysterious crumbs stuck to your laptop.
Not even kidding. The whole thing is the life, despite the chaos.
My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—becoming a single mom wasn't the dream. Neither was turning into an influencer. But here I am, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by creating content while parenting alone. And not gonna lie? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Changed
It was 2022 when my relationship fell apart. I remember sitting in my half-empty apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had less than a thousand dollars in my account, two humans depending on me, and a income that didn't cut it. The panic was real, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when we're drowning, right?—when I stumbled on this solo parent talking about how she made six figures through content creation. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But desperation makes you brave. Maybe both. Often both.
I installed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, venting about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' school lunches. I hit post and panicked. Why would anyone care about my mess?
Spoiler alert, a lot of people.
That video got 47,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me get emotional over processed meat. The comments section became this incredible community—other single moms, folks in the trenches, all saying "same." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted honest.
Finding My Niche: The Unfiltered Mom Content
Here's the secret about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It found me. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started filming the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner multiple nights and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my daughter asked about the divorce, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content was raw. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what connected.
Two months later, I hit ten thousand followers. Three months later, fifty thousand. By half a year, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to follow me. Plain old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to figure this out from zero recently.
My Daily Reality: Juggling Everything
Here's the reality of my typical day, because creating content solo is totally different from those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a morning routine sharing about money struggles. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while sharing dealing with my ex. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation ends. Now I'm in full mom mode—feeding humans, locating lost items (where do they go), making lunch boxes, mediating arguments. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom filming at red lights in the car. Not my proudest moment, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. Peace and quiet. I'm editing content, responding to comments, planning content, reaching out to brands, checking analytics. People think content creation is just posting videos. Absolutely not. It's a full business.
I usually film in batches on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one session. I'll change shirts between videos so it looks like different days. Life hack: Keep several shirts ready for easy transitions. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, making videos in public in the backyard.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Transition back to mom mode. But plot twist—sometimes my best content ideas come from these after-school moments. Recently, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I wouldn't buy a expensive toy. I filmed a video in the vehicle after about surviving tantrums as a single parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm usually too exhausted to create content, but I'll schedule uploads, answer messages, or prep for tomorrow. Certain nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll work late because a client needs content.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just managed chaos with random wins.
The Money Talk: How I Support My Family
Okay, let's talk dollars because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you really earn income as a influencer? 100%. Is it straightforward? Hell no.
My first month, I made nothing. Second month? Still nothing. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—one hundred fifty dollars to promote a meal kit service. I cried real tears. That one-fifty paid for groceries.
Currently, three years in, here's how I make money:
Brand Deals: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that make sense—affordable stuff, single-parent resources, kids' stuff. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per campaign, depending on the scope. This past month, I did four brand deals and made eight thousand dollars.
Ad Money: TikTok's creator fund pays not much—$200-$400 per month for millions of views. YouTube money is actually decent. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that took forever.
Link Sharing: I post links to things I own—everything from my favorite coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If anyone buys, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Online Products: I created a money management guide and a meal planning ebook. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Consulting Services: Other aspiring creators pay me to mentor them. I offer consulting calls for two hundred per hour. I do about 5-10 per month.
Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month currently. Some months I make more, some are tougher. It's variable, which is stressful when you're it. But it's triple what I made at my corporate job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Hard Parts Nobody Shows You
From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a video flopped, or dealing with nasty DMs from internet trolls.
The trolls are vicious. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm using my children, called a liar about being a divorced parent. One person said, "No wonder he left." That one stuck with me.
The platform changes. One month you're getting millions of views. The next, you're struggling for views. Your income is unstable. You're always creating, always "on", scared to stop, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is worse beyond normal. Each post, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Am I doing right by them? Will they be angry about this when they're older? I have strict rules—protected identities, no discussing their personal struggles, no embarrassing content. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The exhaustion is real. Sometimes when I can't create. When I'm done, over it, and just done. But bills don't care about burnout. So I push through.
The Beautiful Parts
But the truth is—despite everything, this journey has given me things I never imagined.
Financial freedom for the first time ever. I'm not loaded, but I eliminated my debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a real vacation last summer—Disney, which I never thought possible not long ago. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or lose income. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a school event, I can go. I'm available in ways I wasn't with a corporate job.
My people that saved me. The creator friends I've befriended, especially single moms, have become real friends. We talk, collaborate, have each other's backs. My followers have become this beautiful community. They cheer for me, lift me up, and make me feel seen.
Identity beyond "mom". For the first time since having kids, I have something for me. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or just a mom. I'm a CEO. An influencer. Someone who built something from nothing.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single parent wanting to start, here's what I'd tell you:
Don't wait. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's normal. You get better, not by waiting until everything is perfect.
Be yourself. People can tell when you're fake. Share your honest life—the mess. That resonates.
Prioritize their privacy. Establish boundaries. Know your limits. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I never share their names, limit face shots, and keep private things private.
Diversify income streams. Don't rely on just one platform or one income stream. The algorithm is unpredictable. Diversification = security.
Batch your content. When you have quiet time, create multiple pieces. Future you will be grateful when you're drained.
Engage with your audience. Answer comments. Reply to messages. Be real with them. Your community is what matters.
Track your time and ROI. Be strategic. If the full overview something is time-intensive and tanks while something else takes minutes and gets 200,000 views, pivot.
Take care of yourself. You matter too. Unplug. Guard your energy. Your health matters more than anything.
Give it time. This takes time. It took me months to make real income. The first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year two, eighty grand. Year three, I'm on track for six figures. It's a process.
Stay connected to your purpose. On tough days—and there will be many—remember your reason. For me, it's independence, being there, and proving to myself that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
The Honest Truth
Look, I'm being honest. Content creation as a single mom is challenging. Incredibly hard. You're operating a business while being the lone caretaker of demanding little people.
Many days I second-guess this. Days when the trolls get to me. Days when I'm drained and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with insurance.
But and then my daughter says she appreciates this. Or I look at my savings. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I know it's worth it.
What's Next
Years ago, I was lost and broke what to do. Now, I'm a full-time content creator making more money than I ever did in my 9-5, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals going forward? Reach 500K by this year. Start a podcast for solo parents. Consider writing a book. Expand this business that makes everything possible.
Content creation gave me a way out when I was desperate. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be available, and build something real. It's unexpected, but it's perfect.
To any single parent on the fence: You absolutely can. It won't be easy. You'll doubt yourself. But you're handling the most difficult thing—doing this alone. You're stronger than you think.
Start imperfect. Be consistent. Protect your peace. And don't forget, you're beyond survival mode—you're creating something amazing.
Gotta go now, I need to go film a TikTok about homework I forgot about and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's how it goes—chaos becomes content, video by video.
No cap. This journey? It's worth every struggle. Even though there might be crushed cheerios stuck to my laptop right now. Dream life, imperfectly perfect.