Here's the tea, mom life is no joke. But here's the thing? Working to hustle for money while dealing with children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
My hustle life began about three years ago when I realized that my impulse buys were becoming problematic. I was desperate for some independent income.
Being a VA
Okay so, I kicked things off was jumping into virtual assistance. And real talk? It was exactly what I needed. I could work during naptime, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.
My first tasks were simple tasks like handling emails, doing social media scheduling, and data entry. Pretty straightforward. I started at about $15-20 per hour, which seemed low but as a total beginner, you gotta build up your portfolio.
Here's what was wild? I would be on a video meeting looking completely put together from the shoulders up—blazer, makeup, the works—while rocking my rattiest leggings. Main character energy.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
About twelve months in, I wanted to explore the handmade marketplace scene. All my mom friends seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I was like "why not join the party?"
I began making digital planners and digital art prints. The beauty of printables? One and done creation, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Genuinely, I've gotten orders at ungodly hours.
That initial sale? I freaked out completely. He came running thinking there was an emergency. Negative—just me, doing a happy dance for my $4.99 sale. Judge me if you want.
Blogging and Creating
Eventually I discovered writing and making content. This particular side gig is a marathon not a sprint, trust me on this.
I created a family lifestyle blog where I shared real mom life—everything unfiltered. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Only honest stories about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.
Getting readers was a test of patience. The first few months, I was basically creating content for crickets. But I persisted, and slowly but surely, things began working.
At this point? I earn income through affiliate links, working with brands, and ad revenue. Recently I brought in over $2K from my website. Insane, right?
SMM Side Hustle
As I mastered managing my blog's social media, other businesses started reaching out if I could help them.
Here's the thing? Most small businesses are terrible with social media. They understand they have to be on it, but they're clueless about the algorithm.
That's where I come in. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I make posts, schedule posts, handle community management, and analyze the metrics.
I charge between $500-1500 per month per business, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I do this work from my phone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For those who can string sentences together, writing gigs is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking literary fiction—I'm talking about business content.
Businesses everywhere constantly need fresh content. I've written everything from literally everything under the sun. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
Usually bill $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on length and complexity. Some months I'll create 10-15 articles and earn an extra $1,000-2,000.
The funny thing is: I'm the same person who thought writing was torture. Currently I'm getting paid for it. Talk about character development.
The Online Tutoring Thing
During the pandemic, everyone needed online help. As a former educator, so this was right up my alley.
I joined several tutoring platforms. You make your own schedule, which is absolutely necessary when you have children who keep you guessing.
I mostly tutor elementary reading and math. You can make from $15-$25/hour depending on the company.
What's hilarious? There are times when my kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I've had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. My clients are very sympathetic because they're parents too.
Reselling and Flipping
Alright, this one I stumbled into. I was cleaning out my kids' stuff and tried selling some outfits on Facebook Marketplace.
Things sold instantly. I had an epiphany: there's a market for everything.
Currently I visit estate sales and thrift shops, searching for name brands. I purchase something for cheap and resell at a markup.
Is it a lot of work? For sure. You're constantly listing and shipping. But it's oddly satisfying about finding hidden treasures at a garage sale and making profit.
Additionally: my kids think I'm cool when I score cool vintage stuff. Last week I discovered a rare action figure that my son absolutely loved. Sold it for $45. Victory for mom.
The Honest Reality
Real talk moment: side hustles take work. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are days when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then doing all the mom stuff, then back at it after the kids are asleep.
But this is what's real? That money is MINE. I'm not asking anyone to splurge on something nice. I'm contributing to our household income. I'm teaching my children that you can have it all—sort of.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
For those contemplating a hustle of your own, here's what I'd tell you:
Begin with something manageable. You can't do everything at once. Focus on one and get good at it before starting something else.
Honor your limits. Whatever time you have, that's fine. Two hours of focused work is more than enough to start.
Don't compare yourself to other moms. Those people with massive success? They've been at it for years and doesn't do it alone. Stay in your lane.
Don't be afraid to invest, but smartly. Free information exists. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've tested the waters.
Work in batches. This saved my sanity. Block off specific days for specific tasks. Monday might be making stuff day. Wednesday could be handling business stuff.
The Mom Guilt is Real
Let me be honest—I struggle with guilt. There are days when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I struggle with it.
Yet I think about that I'm teaching them that hard work matters. I'm teaching my kids that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
And honestly? Making my own money has improved my mental health. I'm happier, which makes me a better parent.
Let's Talk Money
My actual income? Typically, from all my side gigs, I earn three to five thousand monthly. Some months are better, some are tougher.
Is it life-changing money? Nope. But we've used it to pay for so many things we needed that would've been really hard. And it's building my skills and experience that could evolve into something huge.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, being a mom with a side hustle isn't easy. There's no magic formula. A lot of days I'm improvising everything, surviving on coffee, and crossing my fingers.
But I don't regret it. Every bit of income is validation of my effort. It shows that I'm more than just mom.
So if you're considering launching a mom business? Do it. Don't wait for perfect. Your tomorrow self will thank you.
Always remember: You're not just enduring—you're growing something incredible. Even if there's likely mysterious crumbs in your workspace.
Seriously. The whole thing is pretty amazing, complete with all the chaos.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—being a single parent wasn't part of my five-year plan. Nor was building a creator business. But fast forward to now, three years into this wild journey, making a living by being vulnerable on the internet while raising two kids basically solo. And honestly? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
The Starting Point: When Everything Imploded
It was three years ago when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my half-empty apartment (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had barely $850 in my account, two kids to support, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I was on TikTok to escape reality—because that's the move? when everything is chaos, right?—when I came across this solo parent discussing how she became debt-free through being a creator. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But being broke makes you bold. Maybe both. Often both.
I downloaded the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, sharing how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Why would anyone care about my broke reality?
Turns out, thousands of people.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. 47,000 people watched me almost lose it over frozen nuggets. The comments section was this incredible community—people who got it, other people struggling, all saying "this is my life." That was my turning point. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted real.
Building My Platform: The Honest Single Parent Platform
Here's what they don't say about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It found me. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started posting about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner three nights in a row and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked where daddy went, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who believes in magic.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was authentic, and evidently, that's what connected.
Two months later, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, 50K. By six months, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt surreal. People who wanted to listen to me. Little old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to learn everything from scratch six months earlier.
My Daily Reality: Balancing Content and Chaos
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is nothing like 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 work time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a GRWM talking about budgeting. Sometimes it's me making food while venting about co-parenting struggles. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation stops. Now I'm in full mom mode—feeding humans, hunting for that one shoe (seriously, always ONE), throwing food in bags, mediating arguments. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom creating content in traffic when stopped. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. House is quiet. I'm editing content, replying to DMs, brainstorming content ideas, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. People think content creation is only filming. It's not. It's a entire operation.
I usually create multiple videos on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one go. I'll swap tops so it seems like separate days. Hot tip: Keep several shirts ready for easy transitions. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, making videos in public in the driveway.
3:00pm: School pickup. Parent time. But here's the thing—often my top performing content come from the chaos. Recently, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I couldn't afford a $40 toy. I made content in the vehicle afterward about dealing with meltdowns as a lone parent. It got millions of views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm generally wiped out to film, but I'll plan posts, check DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Often, after everyone's sleeping, I'll work late because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just chaos with a plan with random wins.
The Financial Reality: How I Generate Income
Okay, let's discuss money because this is what you're wondering. Can you really earn income as a content creator? Yes. Is it easy? Hell no.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? Still nothing. Third month, I got my first paid partnership—$150 to post about a food subscription. I cried real tears. That $150 bought groceries for two weeks.
Currently, three years in, here's how I generate revenue:
Sponsored Content: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that my followers need—things that help, helpful services, kid essentials. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per campaign, depending on what's required. Just last month, I did four collabs and made $8K.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: The TikTok fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for huge view counts. AdSense is better. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that took forever.
Affiliate Links: I share affiliate links to things I own—anything from my beloved coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If anyone buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Online Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a food prep planner. They're $15 each, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
Teaching Others: New creators pay me to guide them. I offer private coaching for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 a month.
Overall monthly earnings: On average, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month these days. Some months are higher, some are lower. It's variable, which is terrifying when you're it. But it's three times what I made at my 9-5, and I'm home when my kids need me.
The Dark Side Nobody Posts About
From the outside it's great until you're having a breakdown because a video didn't perform, or dealing with hate comments from internet trolls.
The hate comments are real. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm exploiting my kids, questioned about being a single mom. A commenter wrote, "Maybe that's why he left." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm shifts. One month you're getting huge numbers. The following week, you're getting nothing. Your income varies wildly. You're always creating, never resting, afraid to pause, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is worse exponentially. Each post, I wonder: Is this too much? Is this okay? Will they be angry about this when they're teenagers? I have firm rules—no faces of my kids without permission, keeping their stories private, no embarrassing content. But the line is fuzzy.
The burnout hits hard. Some weeks when I don't want to film anything. When I'm touched out, talked out, and totally spent. But bills don't care about burnout. So I push through.
What Makes It Worth It
But here's what's real—even with the struggles, this journey has created things I never anticipated.
Economic stability for the first damn time. I'm not a millionaire, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an safety net. We took a family trip last summer—Orlando, which seemed impossible two years ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to call in to work or lose income. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school thing, I can go. I'm available in ways I couldn't be with a normal job.
Support that saved me. The creator friends I've found, especially single moms, have become actual friends. We support each other, exchange tips, lift each other up. My followers have become this beautiful community. They hype me up, lift me up, and validate me.
Identity beyond "mom". After years, I have an identity. I'm more than an ex or someone's mom. I'm a content creator. A businesswoman. Someone who created this.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single mom curious about this, listen up:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. That's okay. You get better, not by overthinking.
Authenticity wins. People can tell when you're fake. Share your true life—the mess. That's what works.
Protect your kids. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is everything. I never share their names, minimize face content, and respect their dignity.
Build multiple income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one way to earn. The algorithm is unstable. Multiple streams = safety.
Film multiple videos. When you have free time, create multiple pieces. Tomorrow you will appreciate it when you're too exhausted to create.
Engage with your audience. Engage. Reply to messages. Be real with them. Your community is your foundation.
Analyze performance. Some content isn't worth it. If something takes forever and flops while a different post takes no time and gets massive views, pivot.
Prioritize yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Unplug. Guard your energy. Your health matters more than anything.
Be patient. This takes time. It took me eight months to make any real money. Year one, I made fifteen thousand. Year 2, $80K. This year, I'm on track for six figures. It's a process.
Don't forget your why. On bad days—and trust me, there will be—remember your reason. For me, it's financial freedom, being present, and demonstrating that I'm more than I believed.
Real Talk Time
Listen, I'm telling the truth. Content creation as a single mom is hard. Incredibly hard. You're running a whole business while being the only parent of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Certain days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the hate comments get to me. Days when I'm drained and wondering 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 gave her courage. And I know it's worth it.
Where I'm Going From Here
Years ago, I was lost and broke how to survive. Currently, I'm a full-time content creator making more money than I ever did in traditional work, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals moving forward? Hit 500K by year-end. Create a podcast for solo parents. Consider writing a book. Keep building this the complete guide business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
This journey gave me a path forward when I needed it most. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be there, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's a surprise, but it's where I belong.
To every solo parent thinking about starting: Hell yes you can. It will be hard. You'll want to quit some days. But you're managing the hardest job in the world—doing this alone. You're tougher than you realize.
Start messy. Stay the course. Guard your peace. And always remember, you're not just surviving—you're changing your life.
BRB, I need to go film a TikTok about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and I just learned about it. Because that's the reality—turning chaos into content, video by video.
No cap. This path? It's worth every struggle. Even if there might be Goldfish crackers all over my desk. No regrets, chaos and all.