Let me spill, mom life is literally insane. But you know what's even crazier? Attempting to make some extra cash while dealing with kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
I entered the side gig world about three years ago when I discovered that my random shopping trips were way too frequent. I needed some independent income.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Right so, I kicked things off was becoming a virtual assistant. And I'll be real? It was chef's kiss. It let me work during naptime, and all I needed was my laptop and decent wifi.
I began by easy things like email management, doing social media scheduling, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. My rate was about $15-20 per hour, which seemed low but for someone with zero experience, you gotta build up your portfolio.
Here's what was wild? I'd be on a client call looking like I had my life together from the chest up—blazer, makeup, the works—while rocking sweatpants. That's the dream honestly.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
Once I got comfortable, I decided to try the selling on Etsy. Literally everyone seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I thought "why not me?"
My shop focused on designing digital planners and digital art prints. The beauty of printables? One and done creation, and it can sell forever. For real, I've made sales at 3am while I was sleeping.
That initial sale? I literally screamed. He came running thinking I'd injured myself. Nope—just me, doing a happy dance for my $4.99 sale. No shame in my game.
The Content Creation Grind
Next I ventured into blogging and content creation. This hustle is not for instant gratification seekers, real talk.
I created a family lifestyle blog where I wrote about the chaos of parenting—all of it, no filter. Not the highlight reel. Only the actual truth about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.
Getting readers was painfully slow. For months, it was basically writing for myself and like three people. But I didn't give up, and after a while, things started clicking.
At this point? I generate revenue through promoting products, brand partnerships, and display ads. Last month I made over $2,000 from my blog income. Wild, right?
SMM Side Hustle
When I became good with my own content, small companies started inquiring if I could run their social media.
Real talk? Most small businesses struggle with social media. They recognize they have to be on it, but they can't keep up.
I swoop in. I now manage social media for three local businesses—various small businesses. I develop content, plan their posting schedule, respond to comments, and monitor performance.
I charge between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per client, depending on the scope of work. What I love? I can do most of it from my phone during soccer practice.
Writing for Money
For the wordy folks, freelancing is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking literary fiction—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Brands and websites are desperate for content. My assignments have included everything from dental hygiene to copyright. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
Usually bill $50-150 per article, depending on how complex it is. On good months I'll produce 10-15 articles and make one to two thousand extra.
Here's what's wild: I was that student who thought writing was torture. And now I'm earning a living writing. Talk about character development.
Virtual Tutoring
2020 changed everything, everyone needed online help. As a former educator, so this was kind of a natural fit.
I started working with VIPKid and Tutor.com. It's super flexible, which is crucial when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
My sessions are usually basic subjects. Rates vary from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on which site you use.
The funny thing? Sometimes my kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. There was a time I maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. The families I work with are totally cool about it because they get it.
Reselling and Flipping
Here me out, this particular venture started by accident. I was cleaning out my kids' stuff and listed some clothes on Facebook Marketplace.
Things sold within hours. Lightbulb moment: people will buy anything.
Currently I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, looking for things that will sell. I purchase something for cheap and resell at a markup.
Is it a lot of work? Yes. It's a whole process. But I find it rewarding about finding a gem at Goodwill and making profit.
Additionally: my kids are impressed when I discover weird treasures. Just last week I found a collectible item that my son absolutely loved. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.
Real Talk Time
Real talk moment: side hustles aren't passive income. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are days when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I wake up early working before my kids wake up, then handling mom duties, then more hustle time after bedtime.
But here's what matters? I earned this money. I don't have to ask permission to get the good coffee. I'm contributing to our financial goals. My kids are learning that moms can do anything.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're thinking about a mom hustle, this is what I've learned:
Begin with something manageable. You can't start five businesses. Choose one hustle and nail it down before starting something else.
Use the time you have. If you only have evenings, that's perfectly acceptable. Whatever time you can dedicate is better than nothing.
Stop comparing to the highlight reels. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She's been grinding forever and doesn't do it alone. Do your thing.
Invest in yourself, but carefully. There are tons of free resources. Don't spend $5,000 on a coaching program until you've proven the concept.
Batch your work. This changed everything. Dedicate days for specific hustles. Make Monday creation day. Wednesday might be admin and emails.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
I'm not gonna lie—mom guilt is a thing. There are days when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I feel guilty.
But then I remind myself that I'm teaching them what dedication looks like. I'm teaching my kids that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
Also? Financial independence has been good for me. I'm more fulfilled, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
So what do I actually make? Typically, total from all sources, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are better, some are tougher.
Is this getting-rich money? Nope. But we've used it to pay for so many things we needed that would've been really hard. It's also building my skills and experience that could grow into more.
In Conclusion
Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing is hard. There's no perfect balance. A lot of days I'm making it up as I go, powered by caffeine, and hoping for the best.
But I wouldn't change it. Each penny made is a testament to my hustle. It's proof that I'm more than just mom.
For anyone contemplating launching a mom business? Start now. Start messy. Your future self will appreciate it.
And remember: You aren't only making it through—you're hustling. Even when there's probably snack crumbs everywhere.
Seriously. This is the life, chaos and all.
Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—becoming a single mom wasn't on my vision board. I also didn't plan on building a creator business. But yet here I am, three years later, making a living by creating content while parenting alone. And real talk? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Imploded
It was 2022 when my life exploded. I can still picture sitting in my bare apartment (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids slept. I had less than a thousand dollars in my bank account, two humans depending on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The panic was real, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to escape reality—because that's how we cope? when we're drowning, right?—when I stumbled on this divorced mom discussing how she changed her life through being a creator. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or both. Sometimes both.
I downloaded the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, explaining how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Why would anyone care about this disaster?
Spoiler alert, thousands of people.
That video got 47,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me almost lose it over $12 worth of food. The comments section was this validation fest—women in similar situations, folks in the trenches, all saying "this is my life." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfect. They wanted honest.
Building My Platform: The Unfiltered Mom Content
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? It chose me. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started creating content about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I lived in one outfit because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I fed my kids cereal for dinner multiple nights and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my daughter asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who is six years old.
My content was raw. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was honest, and turns out, that's what resonated.
After sixty days, I hit ten thousand followers. Three months later, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to follow me. Me—a broke single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" not long ago.
A Day in the Life: Content Creation Meets Real Life
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is nothing like those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm blares. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that will get cold, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a GRWM discussing money struggles. Sometimes it's me making food while discussing custody stuff. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in mommy mode—feeding humans, finding the missing shoe (why is it always one shoe), throwing food in bags, stopping fights. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom making videos while driving at stop signs. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. House is quiet. I'm in editing mode, responding to comments, planning content, doing outreach, analyzing metrics. They believe content creation is simple. Wrong. It's a entire operation.
I usually create multiple videos on Monday and Wednesday. That means filming 10-15 videos in one session. I'll change clothes so it looks like different days. Hot tip: Keep multiple tops nearby for easy transitions. My neighbors think I've lost it, talking to my camera in the backyard.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Transition back to mom mode. But here's the thing—often my viral videos come from these after-school moments. Recently, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I couldn't afford a forty dollar toy. I filmed a video in the vehicle after about dealing with meltdowns as a single parent. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm typically drained to film, but I'll schedule uploads, reply to messages, or strategize. Some nights, after bedtime, I'll work late because a partnership is due.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just chaos with a plan with moments of success.
Let's Talk Income: How I Support My Family
Okay, let's talk numbers because this is what you're wondering. Can you actually make money as a online creator? 100%. Is it simple? Absolutely not.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Month two? Still nothing. Third month, I got my first brand deal—$150 to feature a food subscription. I actually cried. That hundred fifty dollars fed us.
Today, years later, here's how I make money:
Brand Deals: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that fit my niche—things that help, helpful services, children's products. I charge anywhere from $500-5K per partnership, depending on the scope. Last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made $8K.
Ad Money: TikTok's creator fund pays basically nothing—maybe $200-400 per month for tons of views. YouTube money is better. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Links: I post links to stuff I really use—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If someone purchases through my link, I get a kickback. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Digital Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a meal prep guide. They're $15 each, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Consulting Services: Aspiring influencers pay me to mentor them. I offer 1:1 sessions for $200/hour. I do about five to ten per month.
Total monthly income: Generally, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month currently. Certain months are better, some are tougher. It's variable, which is nerve-wracking when you're solo. But it's 3x what I made at my corporate job, and I'm home when my kids need me.
The Dark Side Nobody Talks About
Content creation sounds glamorous until you're crying in your car because a video didn't perform, or handling cruel messages from internet trolls.
The negativity is intense. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm problematic, called a liar about being a single mom. Someone once commented, "No wonder he left." That one stuck with me.
The algorithm is unpredictable. One month you're getting viral hits. Then suddenly, you're struggling for views. Your income varies wildly. You're constantly creating, never resting, afraid to pause, you'll fall behind.
The mom guilt is amplified times a thousand. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they regret this when they're teenagers? I have strict rules—no faces of my kids without permission, keeping their stories private, no embarrassing content. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The burnout hits hard. Certain periods when I don't want to film anything. When I'm done, socially drained, and totally spent. But the mortgage is due. a complete overview So I push through.
What Makes It Worth It
But listen—even with the struggles, this journey has brought me things I never dreamed of.
Money security for once in my life. I'm not loaded, but I became debt-free. I have an cushion. We took a family trip last summer—the Mouse House, which felt impossible a couple years back. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to use PTO or panic. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a class party, I attend. I'm there for them in ways I wasn't able to be with a traditional 9-5.
Connection that saved me. The creator friends I've connected with, especially single moms, have become my people. We connect, share strategies, lift each other up. My followers have become this amazing support system. They cheer for me, support me, and remind me I'm not alone.
Me beyond motherhood. Finally, I have an identity. I'm more than an ex or somebody's mother. I'm a entrepreneur. An influencer. Someone who created this.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a single mother thinking about this, here's what I'd tell you:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You get better, not by procrastinating.
Be yourself. People can spot fake. Share your honest life—the mess. That's what connects.
Protect your kids. Create rules. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is sacred. I never share their names, rarely show their faces, and protect their stories.
Build multiple income streams. Don't rely on just one platform or one way to earn. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple streams = safety.
Create in batches. When you have quiet time, record several. Next week you will be grateful when you're drained.
Build community. Engage. Answer DMs. Create connections. Your community is your foundation.
Track metrics. Some content isn't worth it. If something takes four hours and flops while another video takes very little time and goes viral, adjust your strategy.
Prioritize yourself. You need to fill your cup. Take breaks. Create limits. Your mental health matters more than going viral.
Be patient. This takes time. It took me half a year to make any real money. My first year, I made barely $15,000. The second year, eighty thousand. Now, I'm hitting six figures. It's a marathon.
Don't forget your why. On tough days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's financial freedom, flexibility with my kids, and showing myself that I'm stronger than I knew.
The Honest Truth
Here's the deal, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This life is tough. Like, really freaking hard. You're operating a business while being the single caregiver of tiny humans who need you constantly.
There are days I doubt myself. Days when the trolls sting. Days when I'm burnt out and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with insurance.
But but then my daughter tells me she appreciates this. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I remember my purpose.
What's Next
Years ago, I was scared and struggling how I'd survive as a single mom. Currently, I'm a content creator making more money than I ever did in traditional work, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals for the future? Get to half a million followers by year-end. Launch a podcast for solo parents. Maybe write a book. Keep building this business that supports my family.
This journey gave me a lifeline when I had nothing. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be present in their lives, and accomplish something incredible. It's not the path I expected, but it's meant to be.
To every single mom out there wondering if you can do this: Hell yes you can. It won't be easy. You'll want to quit some days. But you're currently doing the hardest job—raising humans alone. You're stronger than you think.
Begin messy. Stay consistent. Keep your boundaries. And don't forget, you're not just surviving—you're building an empire.
Gotta go now, I need to go create content about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's the reality—turning chaos into content, one video at a time.
Honestly. Being a single mom creator? It's worth it. Even though there's probably crumbs in my keyboard. Living the dream, imperfectly perfect.