Let me spill, mom life is absolutely wild. But you know what's even crazier? Attempting to make some extra cash while managing kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I had the epiphany that my impulse buys were way too frequent. I had to find my own money.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
So, I started out was becoming a virtual assistant. And real talk? It was chef's kiss. I was able to grind during those precious quiet hours, and literally all it took was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
I began by basic stuff like email management, posting on social media, and basic admin work. Super simple stuff. I started at about fifteen dollars an hour, which wasn't much but when you're just starting, you gotta prove yourself first.
What cracked me up? I would be on a Zoom call looking like I had my life together from the shoulders up—business casual vibes—while sporting my rattiest leggings. Living my best life.
Selling on Etsy
After a year, I ventured into the Etsy world. All my mom friends seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I figured "why not me?"
My shop focused on creating downloadable organizers and home decor prints. What's great about digital products? You create it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Genuinely, I've made sales at 3am while I was sleeping.
When I got my first order? I actually yelled. My partner was like I'd injured myself. Nope—I was just, doing a happy dance for my first five bucks. Don't judge me.
Blogging and Creating
Eventually I ventured into the whole influencer thing. This hustle is definitely a slow burn, real talk.
I started a parenting blog where a useful overview I documented what motherhood actually looks like—the good, the bad, and the ugly. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Only real talk about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Building traffic was like watching paint dry. At the beginning, I was essentially talking to myself. But I stayed consistent, and after a while, things began working.
Now? I make money through affiliate links, sponsored posts, and display ads. Just last month I brought in over $2,000 from my blog alone. Mind-blowing, right?
Managing Social Media
When I became good with running my own socials, local businesses started reaching out if I could manage their accounts.
Real talk? Many companies don't understand social media. They realize they have to be on it, but they can't keep up.
That's where I come in. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I plan their content, plan their posting schedule, engage with followers, and monitor performance.
I charge between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per business, depending on the complexity. What I love? I handle this from my phone during soccer practice.
Freelance Writing Life
If writing is your thing, content writing is seriously profitable. Not like literary fiction—I mean commercial writing.
Companies always need writers. My assignments have included everything from dental hygiene to copyright. You just need to research, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
Generally bill fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on what's involved. Some months I'll produce ten to fifteen pieces and pull in an extra $1,000-2,000.
Plot twist: Back in school I struggled with essays. These days I'm making money from copyright. Life is weird.
Virtual Tutoring
During the pandemic, everyone needed online help. I used to be a teacher, so this was an obvious choice.
I joined various tutoring services. You choose when you work, which is essential when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
My sessions are usually K-5 subjects. Rates vary from $15-25 per hour depending on the platform.
The funny thing? Occasionally my kids will interrupt mid-session. There was a time I educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. Other parents are incredibly understanding because they're parents too.
Flipping Items for Profit
Here me out, this particular venture happened accidentally. I was cleaning out my kids' stuff and tried selling some outfits on copyright.
They sold immediately. I suddenly understood: you can sell literally anything.
Currently I frequent estate sales and thrift shops, on the hunt for things that will sell. I purchase something for cheap and resell at a markup.
It's definitely work? Not gonna lie. You're constantly listing and shipping. But it's oddly satisfying about finding hidden treasures at a yard sale and making profit.
Also: my children are fascinated when I discover weird treasures. Last week I discovered a collectible item that my son went crazy for. Got forty-five dollars for it. Mom for the win.
Real Talk Time
Truth bomb incoming: side hustles aren't passive income. They're called hustles for a reason.
Certain days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm up at 5am hustling before the chaos starts, then handling mom duties, then working again after the kids are asleep.
But here's the thing? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to buy the fancy coffee. I'm adding to the family budget. I'm teaching my children that you can have it all—sort of.
What I Wish I Knew
If you want to start a mom hustle, this is what I've learned:
Start small. You can't juggle ten things. Focus on one and nail it down before adding more.
Use the time you have. Your available hours, that's totally valid. Even one focused hour is valuable.
Comparison is the thief of joy to what you see online. Those people with massive success? They put in years of work and has help. Stay in your lane.
Invest in yourself, but carefully. There are tons of free resources. Don't waste huge money on programs until you've tested the waters.
Work in batches. This saved my sanity. Block off time blocks for different things. Make Monday making stuff day. Make Wednesday organizing and responding.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
I'm not gonna lie—the mom guilt is real. There are times when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I hate it.
However I remember that I'm teaching them what dedication looks like. I'm demonstrating to my children that moms can have businesses.
And honestly? Having my own income has made me a better mom. I'm more satisfied, which translates to better parenting.
Income Reality Check
How much do I earn? On average, between all my hustles, I pull in three to five thousand monthly. Certain months are higher, others are slower.
Will this make you wealthy? Not really. But we've used it to pay for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've been really hard. It's giving me confidence and experience that could grow into more.
In Conclusion
Look, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship is hard. It's not a secret sauce. Most days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and doing my best.
But I don't regret it. Every single dollar earned is a testament to my hustle. It demonstrates that I'm not just someone's mother.
So if you're considering starting a side hustle? Go for it. Don't wait for perfect. Your tomorrow self will be grateful.
Don't forget: You're not just surviving—you're building something. Despite the fact that there's probably Goldfish crackers on your keyboard.
For real. This is incredible, chaos and all.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—becoming a single mom was never the plan. I never expected to be turning into an influencer. But fast forward to now, years into this crazy ride, making a living by sharing my life online while handling everything by myself. And I'll be real? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Imploded
It was 2022 when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my bare apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had $847 in my bank account, two kids to support, and a salary that was a joke. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to escape reality—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when we're drowning, right?—when I found this woman sharing how she made six figures through making videos. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But being broke makes you bold. Or both. Sometimes both.
I downloaded the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, venting about how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunch boxes. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who wants to watch my mess?
Spoiler alert, tons of people.
That video got 47,000 views. 47,000 people watched me get emotional over $12 worth of food. The comments section turned into this validation fest—fellow solo parents, people living the same reality, all saying "this is my life." That was my turning point. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted raw.
Building My Platform: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the real one.
I started creating content about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I lived in one outfit because laundry felt impossible. Or the time I served cereal as a meal several days straight and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my child asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who is six years old.
My content was rough. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was unfiltered, and evidently, that's what resonated.
After sixty days, I hit 10,000 followers. 90 days in, 50,000. By six months, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone felt surreal. Real accounts who wanted to know my story. Plain old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to ask Google what this meant not long ago.
The Actual Schedule: Balancing Content and Chaos
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is totally different from those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do not want to move, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a getting ready video discussing single mom finances. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while venting about parenting coordination. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in survival mode—pouring cereal, locating lost items (it's always one shoe), throwing food in bags, referee duties. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks at red lights. Not my proudest moment, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. House is quiet. I'm cutting clips, engaging with followers, brainstorming content ideas, pitching brands, checking analytics. People think content creation is just posting videos. Absolutely not. It's a real job.
I usually create multiple videos on specific days. That means making a dozen videos in a few hours. I'll change shirts between videos so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep wardrobe options close for fast swaps. My neighbors must think I'm insane, talking to my camera in the backyard.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Mom mode activated. But plot twist—frequently my top performing content come from this time. Recently, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I recorded in the Target parking lot later about surviving tantrums as a lone parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm generally wiped out to film, but I'll schedule content, reply to messages, or strategize. Certain nights, after bedtime, I'll edit videos until midnight because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just chaos with a plan with some victories.
Let's Talk Income: How I Generate Income
Okay, let's get into the finances because this is what people ask about. Can you really earn income as a influencer? Absolutely. Is it easy? Not even close.
My first month, I made zilch. Second month? Still nothing. Third month, I got my first collaboration—one hundred fifty dollars to share a meal delivery. I cried real tears. That $150 covered food.
Now, years later, here's how I make money:
Brand Partnerships: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that make sense—things that help, single-parent resources, family items. I get paid anywhere from $500-5K per partnership, depending on what they need. Just last month, I did four partnerships and made $8K.
TikTok Fund: TikTok's creator fund pays not much—two to four hundred per month for tons of views. YouTube revenue is more lucrative. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that took forever.
Affiliate Links: I post links to things I own—ranging from my favorite coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If they buy using my link, I get a cut. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Downloadables: I created a budget template and a meal prep guide. $15 apiece, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
One-on-One Coaching: Aspiring influencers pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200 hourly. I do about several per month.
Total monthly income: On average, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month currently. Some months are higher, some are tougher. It's inconsistent, which is stressful 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 Struggles Nobody Posts About
It looks perfect online until you're sobbing alone because a post got no views, or reading hate comments from keyboard warriors.
The haters are brutal. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm exploiting my kids, called a liar about being a single mom. I'll never forget, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one stung for days.
The algorithm is unpredictable. One month you're getting millions of views. The next, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income fluctuates. You're constantly creating, never resting, nervous about slowing down, you'll fall behind.
The mom guilt is intense times a thousand. Every video I post, I wonder: Is this too much? Is this okay? Will they be angry about this when they're adults? I have firm rules—no faces of my kids without permission, keeping their stories private, no embarrassing content. But the line is not always clear.
The exhaustion is real. Certain periods when I am empty. When I'm touched out, over it, and at my limit. But rent doesn't care. So I push through.
The Beautiful Parts
But listen—despite the hard parts, this journey has brought me things I never expected.
Money security for the first damn time. I'm not rich, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an savings. We took a family trip last summer—the Mouse House, which was a dream a couple years back. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to use PTO or stress about losing pay. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a class party, I attend. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't manage with a traditional 9-5.
Community that saved me. The creator friends I've found, especially other moms, have become my people. We support each other, exchange tips, support each other. My followers have become this family. They cheer for me, send love, and validate me.
Me beyond motherhood. Finally, I have my own thing. I'm more than an ex or somebody's mother. I'm a entrepreneur. A content creator. Someone who made it happen.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single parent thinking about this, here's my advice:
Don't wait. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's normal. You get better, not by procrastinating.
Be yourself. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your actual life—the mess. That's what connects.
Keep them safe. Set boundaries early. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is sacred. I don't use their names, rarely show their faces, and keep private things private.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't rely on just one platform or one income stream. The algorithm is unpredictable. Diversification = security.
Batch your content. When you have time alone, make a bunch. Next week you will thank present you when you're too exhausted to create.
Interact. Reply to comments. Respond to DMs. Connect authentically. Your community is crucial.
Track your time and ROI. Some content isn't worth it. If something takes four hours and gets 200 views while something else takes minutes and goes viral, pivot.
Prioritize yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Step away. Guard your energy. Your wellbeing matters more than anything.
Be patient. This requires patience. It took me eight months to make real income. Year one, I made barely $15,000. Year two, eighty thousand. This year, I'm hitting six figures. It's a marathon.
Stay connected to your purpose. On difficult days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's supporting my kids, flexibility with my kids, and proving to myself that I'm more than I believed.
Real Talk Time
Real talk, I'm being honest. This journey is challenging. Like, really freaking hard. You're running a whole business while being the sole caretaker of kids who need everything.
Some days I second-guess this. Days when the nasty comments hurt. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and wondering if I should quit this with stability.
But then suddenly my daughter shares she's happy I'm here. Or I see financial progress. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I remember why I do this.
What's Next
Three years ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how I'd survive as a single mom. Fast forward, I'm a full-time creator making more money than I ever did in corporate America, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals now? Hit 500K by December. Launch a podcast for single moms. Write a book eventually. Keep growing this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
Content creation gave me a lifeline when I was drowning. It gave me a way to provide for my family, show up, and create something meaningful. It's unexpected, but it's perfect.
To any single parent on the fence: Yes you can. It won't be easy. You'll consider quitting. But you're already doing the most difficult thing—raising humans alone. You're tougher than you realize.
Start messy. Stay consistent. Protect your peace. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're building an empire.
Time to go, I need to go record a video about another last-minute project and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's this life—making content from chaos, one video at a time.
No cap. This path? It's worth it. Despite there's probably crumbs stuck to my laptop right now. That's the dream, one messy video at a time.