Let me spill, being a mom is not for the weak. But what's really wild? Trying to make some extra cash while dealing with toddlers and their chaos.
I entered the side gig world about three years ago when I figured out that my retail therapy sessions were way too frequent. I needed cash that was actually mine.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Okay so, I kicked things off was doing VA work. And not gonna lie? It was perfect. I could hustle while the kids slept, and all I needed was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
My first tasks were easy things like email management, scheduling social media posts, and basic admin work. Nothing fancy. I charged about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which seemed low but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta start somewhere.
The funniest part? I'd be on a Zoom call looking all professional from the chest up—full professional mode—while sporting my rattiest leggings. Main character energy.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
After getting my feet wet, I thought I'd test out the handmade marketplace scene. Every mom I knew seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I thought "why not start one too?"
I created creating printable planners and wall art. What's great about digital products? You create it once, and it can generate passive income forever. Genuinely, I've made sales at 3am while I was sleeping.
My first sale? I freaked out completely. My partner was like there was an emergency. Negative—I was just, cheering about my five dollar sale. Don't judge me.
Blogging and Creating
Eventually I started blogging and content creation. This venture is not for instant gratification seekers, real talk.
I started a blog about motherhood where I posted about my parenting journey—everything unfiltered. Not the highlight reel. Simply real talk about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Growing an audience was slow. Initially, I was basically talking to myself. But I kept at it, and after a while, things gained momentum.
Currently? I generate revenue through promoting products, brand partnerships, and advertisements on my site. This past month I generated over two thousand dollars from my website. Wild, right?
SMM Side Hustle
As a full explanation I mastered running my own socials, other businesses started reaching out if I could do the same for them.
Real talk? Most small businesses don't understand social media. They realize they need to be there, but they're clueless about the algorithm.
Enter: me. I now manage social media for several small companies—various small businesses. I make posts, schedule posts, engage with followers, and monitor performance.
They pay me between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per business, depending on the scope of work. What I love? I can do most of it from my phone during soccer practice.
Writing for Money
If you can write, content writing is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking writing the next Great American Novel—I'm talking about content writing for businesses.
Businesses everywhere are desperate for content. My assignments have included everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to know how to find information.
Generally earn fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on how complex it is. When I'm hustling hard I'll crank out fifteen articles and bring in one to two thousand extra.
The funny thing is: I'm the same person who thought writing was torture. Now I'm making money from copyright. Talk about character development.
The Online Tutoring Thing
During the pandemic, everyone needed online help. With my teaching background, so this was right up my alley.
I signed up with VIPKid and Tutor.com. The scheduling is flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
My sessions are usually K-5 subjects. Rates vary from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on which site you use.
Here's what's weird? There are times when my children will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've literally had to be professional while chaos erupted behind me. The parents on the other end are totally cool about it because they get it.
Reselling and Flipping
Here me out, this particular venture wasn't planned. I was decluttering my kids' things and tried selling some outfits on Mercari.
Things sold so fast. I suddenly understood: one person's trash is another's treasure.
Currently I shop at secondhand stores and sales, looking for good brands. I'll buy something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
This takes effort? Absolutely. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about spotting valuable items at the thrift store and making profit.
Bonus: the kids think it's neat when I score cool vintage stuff. Just last week I grabbed a rare action figure that my son absolutely loved. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.
The Honest Reality
Here's the thing nobody tells you: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. There's work involved, hence the name.
There are days when I'm running on empty, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm up at 5am being productive before the madness begins, then handling mom duties, then working again after bedtime.
But you know what? These are my earnings. I don't have to ask permission to splurge on something nice. I'm helping with the family budget. My kids see that you can have it all—sort of.
Tips if You're Starting Out
For those contemplating a hustle of your own, this is what I've learned:
Start small. Avoid trying to juggle ten things. Start with one venture and become proficient before starting something else.
Work with your schedule. If naptime is your only free time, that's okay. Two hours of focused work is valuable.
Don't compare yourself to the highlight reels. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? She's been grinding forever and doesn't do it alone. Run your own race.
Spend money on education, but strategically. You don't need expensive courses. Don't spend thousands on courses until you've proven the concept.
Do similar tasks together. This changed everything. Dedicate certain times for certain work. Use Monday for writing day. Wednesday could be administrative work.
The Mom Guilt is Real
Let me be honest—I struggle with guilt. There are times when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I feel terrible.
Yet I remind myself that I'm teaching them work ethic. I'm showing my daughter that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
Plus? Having my own income has made me a better mom. I'm more content, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
So what do I actually make? Generally, total from all sources, I make between three and five grand. Some months are lower, it fluctuates.
Is it life-changing money? Not exactly. But this money covers stuff that matters to us that would've caused financial strain. And it's giving me confidence and experience that could grow into more.
Wrapping This Up
Here's the bottom line, being a mom with a side hustle is hard. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. A lot of days I'm improvising everything, surviving on coffee, and praying it all works out.
But I wouldn't change it. Each dollar earned is evidence of my capability. It shows that I'm more than just mom.
If you're thinking about beginning your hustle journey? Start now. Start before it's perfect. Your tomorrow self will thank you.
And remember: You're more than making it through—you're creating something amazing. Even if there's likely old cheerios everywhere.
Seriously. It's where it's at, despite the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Let me be real with you—being a single parent wasn't part of my five-year plan. I never expected to be turning into an influencer. But fast forward to now, years into this crazy ride, supporting my family by sharing my life online while parenting alone. And I'll be real? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.
How It Started: When Everything Changed
It was three years ago when my marriage ended. I will never forget sitting in my half-empty apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids slept. I had less than a thousand dollars in my bank account, little people counting on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I was on TikTok to escape reality—because that's the move? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I came across this divorced mom sharing how she changed her life through posting online. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or crazy. Probably both.
I grabbed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, venting about how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Why would anyone care about my mess?
Plot twist, tons of people.
That video got 47K views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me get emotional over processed meat. The comments section was this unexpected source of support—fellow solo parents, folks in the trenches, all saying "I feel this." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted honest.
Finding My Niche: The Real Mom Life Brand
The truth is about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started sharing the stuff people hide. Like how I lived in one outfit because I couldn't handle laundry. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner several days straight and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my child asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who thinks the tooth fairy is real.
My content was rough. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was unfiltered, and turns out, that's what worked.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, fifty thousand. By half a year, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone felt surreal. These were real people who wanted to listen to me. Me—a struggling single mom who had to learn everything from scratch not long ago.
The Daily Grind: Balancing Content and Chaos
Here's what it actually looks like 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 sounds. I do NOT want to get up, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I get to work. 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 get up. Content creation stops. Now I'm in parent mode—pouring cereal, finding the missing shoe (seriously, always ONE), making lunch boxes, referee duties. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom creating content in traffic at stop signs. Not my proudest moment, but the grind never stops.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. House is quiet. I'm editing videos, engaging with followers, brainstorming content ideas, pitching brands, analyzing metrics. Folks imagine content creation is just making TikToks. Absolutely not. It's a whole business.
I usually batch content on specific days. That means making a dozen videos in a few hours. I'll swap tops so it seems like separate days. Life hack: Keep several shirts ready for fast swaps. My neighbors must think I'm insane, talking to my camera in the backyard.
3:00pm: School pickup. Parent time. But this is where it's complicated—frequently my viral videos come from this time. A few days ago, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I refused to get a $40 toy. I made content in the vehicle afterward about surviving tantrums as a solo parent. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm usually too exhausted to create content, but I'll queue up posts, answer messages, or plan tomorrow's content. Many nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll edit videos until midnight because a partnership is due.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just chaos with a plan with occasional wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Generate Income
Alright, let's talk numbers because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you actually make money as a creator? For sure. Is it straightforward? Hell no.
My first month, I made nothing. Second month? Zero. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—$150 to promote a meal box. I literally cried. That $150 fed us.
Today, years later, here's how I make money:
Brand Partnerships: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that align with my audience—things that help, parenting tools, kid essentials. I ask for anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per campaign, depending on the scope. Last month, I did four brand deals and made $8,000.
Ad Money: The TikTok fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for massive numbers. YouTube money is better. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Link Sharing: I promote products to things I own—everything from my favorite coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If someone clicks and buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Online Products: I created a budget template and a meal planning ebook. Each costs $15, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
Coaching/Consulting: New creators pay me to show them how. I offer consulting calls for $200/hour. I do about several a month.
Combined monthly revenue: On average, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month at this point. It varies, some are tougher. It's up and down, which is stressful when you're solo. But it's three times what I made at my corporate job, and I'm present.
The Hard Parts Nobody Shows You
It looks perfect online until you're crying in your car because a post tanked, or reading cruel messages from keyboard warriors.
The negativity is intense. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm exploiting my kids, accused of lying about being a solo parent. Someone once commented, "I'd leave too." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm shifts. One week you're getting viral hits. The following week, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income varies wildly. You're never off, always "on", scared to stop, you'll fall behind.
The mom guilt is worse beyond normal. Every upload, I wonder: Is this too much? Am I doing right by them? Will they regret this when they're adults? I have strict rules—minimal identifying info, no discussing their personal struggles, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is fuzzy.
The burnout is real. Certain periods when I have nothing. When I'm depleted, socially drained, and completely finished. But bills don't care about burnout. So I push through.
The Unexpected Blessings
But listen—even with the struggles, this journey has brought me things I never anticipated.
Economic stability for the first time ever. I'm not a millionaire, but I eliminated my debt. I have an safety net. We took a actual vacation last summer—Disney, which seemed impossible 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 worry about money. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a school event, I attend. I'm there for them in ways I couldn't be with a corporate job.
Community that saved me. The other creators I've met, especially solo parents, have become real friends. We support each other, share strategies, have each other's backs. My followers have become this beautiful community. They cheer for me, lift me up, and remind me I'm not alone.
My own identity. Since becoming a mom, I have my own thing. I'm more than an ex or someone's mom. I'm a CEO. A content creator. A person who hustled.
My Best Tips
If you're a single mother curious about this, here's my advice:
Just start. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. It's fine. You grow through creating, not by procrastinating.
Be yourself. People can spot fake. Share your true life—the mess. That's the magic.
Keep them safe. Establish boundaries. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is sacred. I protect their names, protect their faces, and respect their dignity.
Multiple revenue sources. Spread it out or one income stream. The algorithm is unstable. More streams = less stress.
Create in batches. When you have free time, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will thank present you when you're too exhausted to create.
Connect with followers. Answer comments. Check messages. Create connections. Your community is your foundation.
Track your time and ROI. Time is money. If something is time-intensive and flops while another video takes no time and gets 200,000 views, pivot.
Don't forget yourself. You matter too. Unplug. Protect your peace. Your sanity matters most.
Give it time. This requires patience. It took me ages to make any real money. The first year, I made $15K total. The second year, eighty grand. Now, I'm on track for six figures. It's a long game.
Stay connected to your purpose. On difficult days—and there will be many—remember your reason. For me, it's money, time with my children, and validating that I'm more than I believed.
Real Talk Time
Real talk, I'm being honest. Being a single mom creator is tough. Incredibly hard. You're managing a business while being the single caregiver of demanding little people.
There are days I doubt myself. Days when the negativity affect me. Days when I'm completely spent and questioning if I should go back to corporate with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But but then my daughter shares she appreciates this. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I understand the impact.
What's Next
Not long ago, I was lost and broke what to do. Fast forward, I'm a full-time creator making way more than I made in my 9-5, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals for the future? Hit 500,000 followers by this year. Start a podcast for solo parents. Maybe write a book. Keep growing this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
Being a creator gave me a way out when I was drowning. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be present in their lives, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's not the path I expected, but it's perfect.
To every single mom out there on the fence: You can. It will be challenging. You'll consider quitting. But you're currently doing the hardest job in the world—raising humans alone. You're powerful.
Start messy. Stay consistent. Keep your boundaries. And always remember, you're not just surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Time to go, I need to go make a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and I just learned about it. Because that's how it goes—chaos becomes content, video by video.
No cap. Being a single mom creator? It's everything. Even though there's definitely crushed cheerios all over my desk. That's the dream, imperfectly perfect.