I'm gonna be honest with you, being a mom is literally insane. But what's really wild? Attempting to get that bread while dealing with kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
I started my side hustle journey about three years ago when I had the epiphany that my Target runs were becoming problematic. I needed my own money.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Okay so, my first gig was doing VA work. And real talk? It was ideal. It let me hustle while the kids slept, and literally all it took was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
I started with easy things like organizing inboxes, posting on social media, and entering data. Pretty straightforward. My rate was about fifteen dollars an hour, which wasn't much but for someone with zero experience, you gotta build up your portfolio.
Here's what was wild? There I was on a client call looking like a real businesswoman from the chest up—looking corporate—while wearing my rattiest leggings. Living my best life.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
Once I got comfortable, I wanted to explore the handmade marketplace scene. Every mom I knew seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I figured "why not get in on this?"
My shop focused on creating PDF planners and digital art prints. Here's why printables are amazing? One and done creation, and it can make money while you sleep. Genuinely, I've made sales at 3am while I was sleeping.
My first sale? I lost my mind. He came running thinking something was wrong. Negative—I was just, cheering about my first five bucks. I'm not embarrassed.
Blogging and Creating
After that I started blogging and content creation. This one is a marathon not a sprint, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I began a family lifestyle blog where I shared real mom life—all of it, no filter. Not the highlight reel. Just real talk about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Growing an audience was slow. Initially, I was basically creating content for crickets. But I stayed consistent, and over time, things gained momentum.
Now? I generate revenue through promoting products, working with brands, and advertisements on my site. Just last month I generated over two grand from my website. Crazy, this source right?
Managing Social Media
When I became good with managing my blog's social media, local businesses started inquiring if I could manage their accounts.
Here's the thing? Most small businesses struggle with social media. They know they have to be on it, but they don't know how.
I swoop in. I oversee social media for three local businesses—different types of businesses. I develop content, plan their posting schedule, engage with followers, and analyze the metrics.
They pay me between $500-$1500/month per account, depending on what they need. What I love? I can do most of it from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
Writing for Money
If you can write, content writing is seriously profitable. Not like writing the next Great American Novel—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Websites and businesses need content constantly. I've written articles about everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Google is your best friend, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
On average make between fifty and two hundred per article, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll create a dozen articles and earn an extra $1,000-2,000.
Plot twist: I was the person who barely passed English class. Currently I'm making money from copyright. Life is weird.
Virtual Tutoring
After lockdown started, everyone needed online help. With my teaching background, so this was an obvious choice.
I joined various tutoring services. The scheduling is flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have children who keep you guessing.
I focus on elementary reading and math. The pay ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on where you work.
What's hilarious? There are times when my children will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I once had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. Other parents are incredibly understanding because they understand mom life.
Reselling and Flipping
Okay, this side gig I stumbled into. I was decluttering my kids' things and tried selling some outfits on Facebook Marketplace.
Stuff sold out immediately. That's when I realized: there's a market for everything.
Currently I visit estate sales and thrift shops, hunting for things that will sell. I'll buy something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
It's labor-intensive? Absolutely. You're constantly listing and shipping. But it's oddly satisfying about finding hidden treasures at a yard sale and turning a profit.
Also: my kids think I'm cool when I bring home interesting finds. Last week I found a collectible item that my son lost his mind over. Sold it for $45. Victory for mom.
The Honest Reality
Here's the thing nobody tells you: side hustles take work. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
Certain days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, doubting everything. I'm up at 5am hustling before the chaos starts, then doing all the mom stuff, then more hustle time after everyone's in bed.
But this is what's real? That money is MINE. I'm not asking anyone to splurge on something nice. I'm helping with my family's finances. My kids see that you can be both.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're considering a mom hustle, here's what I'd tell you:
Start small. Don't try to do everything at once. Start with one venture and nail it down before starting something else.
Use the time you have. Your available hours, that's fine. Two hours of focused work is a great beginning.
Comparison is the thief of joy to Instagram moms. Those people with massive success? She probably started years ago and doesn't do it alone. Stay in your lane.
Spend money on education, but smartly. Start with free stuff first. Be careful about spending massive amounts on training until you've tested the waters.
Work in batches. I learned this the hard way. Block off certain times for certain work. Make Monday creation day. Use Wednesday for organizing and responding.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—guilt is part of this. There are times when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I struggle with it.
But then I consider that I'm showing them how to hustle. I'm showing my daughter that moms can have businesses.
Additionally? Earning independently has been good for me. I'm happier, which translates to better parenting.
The Numbers
So what do I actually make? Generally, combining everything, I pull in between three and five grand. Some months are lower, some are tougher.
Is this getting-rich money? Not really. But it's paid for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been impossible otherwise. It's creating opportunities and expertise that could grow into more.
In Conclusion
Here's the bottom line, hustling as a mom isn't easy. You won't find a one-size-fits-all approach. Most days I'm making it up as I go, surviving on coffee, and praying it all works out.
But I wouldn't change it. Every single penny made is validation of my effort. It's evidence that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're thinking about launching a mom business? Go for it. Start before it's perfect. You in six months will be grateful.
Keep in mind: You're not merely enduring—you're creating something amazing. Even if you probably have snack crumbs stuck to your laptop.
For real. It's pretty amazing, complete with all the chaos.
My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom
Let me be real with you—becoming a single mom wasn't the dream. I never expected to be turning into an influencer. But fast forward to now, years into this crazy ride, earning income by creating content 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 Came Crashing Down
It was three years ago when my marriage ended. I remember sitting in my half-empty apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), wide awake at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my bank 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 how we cope? when we're drowning, right?—when I came across this single mom talking about how she became debt-free through being a creator. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But being broke makes you bold. Or crazy. Usually both.
I got the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, talking about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunches. I hit post and panicked. Who gives a damn about someone's train wreck of a life?
Spoiler alert, way more people than I expected.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me nearly cry over chicken nuggets. The comments section was this validation fest—other single moms, folks in the trenches, all saying "same." That was my turning point. People didn't want perfection. They wanted authentic.
My Brand Evolution: The Honest Single Parent Platform
Here's the secret about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started creating content about the stuff no one shows. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I served cereal as a meal multiple nights and called it "creative meal planning." 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 thinks the tooth fairy is real.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was honest, and apparently, that's what resonated.
After sixty days, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, fifty thousand. By half a year, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt impossible. Real accounts who wanted to follow me. Little old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to ask Google what this meant months before.
A Day in the Life: Juggling Everything
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because creating content solo is the opposite of those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do NOT want to get up, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a getting ready video talking about budgeting. Sometimes it's me cooking while discussing co-parenting struggles. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation stops. Now I'm in full mom mode—feeding humans, finding the missing shoe (why is it always one shoe), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom making videos while driving in the car. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. Kids are at school. I'm cutting clips, replying to DMs, ideating, pitching brands, reviewing performance. Everyone assumes content creation is only filming. Absolutely not. It's a entire operation.
I usually batch-create content on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means filming 10-15 videos in a few hours. I'll swap tops so it looks like different days. Hot tip: Keep multiple tops nearby for outfit changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, talking to my camera in the backyard.
3:00pm: School pickup. Mom mode activated. But this is where it's complicated—sometimes my biggest hits come from real life. Just last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I refused to get a $40 toy. I created a video in the Target parking lot after about managing big emotions as a single parent. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm usually too exhausted to create anything, but I'll queue up posts, check DMs, or strategize. Some nights, after they're down, I'll stay up editing because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just controlled chaos with occasional wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Actually Make a Living
Okay, let's talk numbers because this is what you're wondering. Can you really earn income as a influencer? 100%. Is it easy? Not even close.
My first month, I made $0. Month two? Zero. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—one hundred fifty dollars to post about a meal delivery. I actually cried. That hundred fifty dollars covered food.
Now, years later, here's how I monetize:
Collaborations: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that fit my niche—budget-friendly products, parenting tools, family items. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per collaboration, depending on the scope. This past month, I did four collabs and made eight grand.
TikTok Fund: The TikTok fund pays not much—two to four hundred per month for tons of views. AdSense is way better. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Links: I share affiliate links to things I own—ranging from my beloved coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If someone purchases through my link, I get a cut. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Info Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a meal prep guide. $15 apiece, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
One-on-One Coaching: Other aspiring creators pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for two hundred dollars. I do about several per month.
Total monthly income: Most months, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month now. Some months I make more, some are tougher. It's up and down, which is stressful when you're it. But it's triple what I made at my old job, and I'm there for them.
The Hard Parts Nobody Posts About
It looks perfect online until you're losing it because a video flopped, or reading nasty DMs from random people.
The trolls are vicious. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm exploiting my kids, called a liar about being a single mom. One person said, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one stuck with me.
The algorithm is unpredictable. One month you're getting viral hits. The next, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income goes up and down. You're always creating, always working, nervous about slowing down, you'll be forgotten.
The guilt is crushing exponentially. Every video I post, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Am I doing right by them? Will they be angry about this when they're adults? I have strict rules—limited face shots, no discussing their personal struggles, no embarrassing content. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The burnout is real. There are weeks when I have nothing. When I'm exhausted, talked out, and at my limit. But rent doesn't care. So I show up anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But the truth is—even with the struggles, this journey has given me things I never imagined.
Financial freedom for once in my life. I'm not a millionaire, but I became debt-free. I have an cushion. We took a vacation last summer—Disney, which felt impossible not long ago. I don't panic about money anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to use PTO or panic. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a class party, I attend. I'm available in ways I wasn't with a normal job.
My people that saved me. The other influencers I've befriended, especially other moms, have become actual friends. We vent, help each other, support each other. My followers have become this amazing support system. They hype me up, support me, and make me feel seen.
Me beyond motherhood. After years, I have something for me. I'm not just an ex or somebody's mother. I'm a content creator. A businesswoman. Someone who built something from nothing.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a solo parent curious about this, here's my advice:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. It's fine. You learn by doing, not by procrastinating.
Authenticity wins. People can tell when you're fake. Share your honest life—the chaos. That resonates.
Protect your kids. Set limits. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is sacred. I never share their names, protect their faces, and respect their dignity.
Build multiple income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one revenue source. The algorithm is unreliable. Diversification = security.
Create in batches. When you have free time, create multiple pieces. Next week you will appreciate it when you're drained.
Interact. Respond to comments. Answer DMs. Build real relationships. Your community is everything.
Monitor what works. Some content isn't worth it. If something takes four hours and flops while a different post takes no time and goes viral, adjust your strategy.
Prioritize yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Step away. Guard your energy. Your sanity matters more than anything.
Give it time. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me ages to make real income. My first year, I made barely $15,000. The second year, $80,000. Now, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a process.
Stay connected to your purpose. On hard days—and they happen—remember your reason. For me, it's money, flexibility with my kids, and demonstrating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
The Reality Check
Real talk, I'm keeping it 100. Content creation as a single mom is tough. Incredibly hard. You're running a whole business while being the lone caretaker of demanding little people.
Many days I second-guess this. Days when the trolls hurt. Days when I'm completely spent and questioning if I should quit this with stability.
But then suddenly my daughter says she's proud that I work from home. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I remember why I do this.
Where I'm Going From Here
Not long ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how to survive. Fast forward, I'm a professional creator making more than I imagined in traditional work, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals going forward? Reach 500K by end of year. Start a podcast for single parents. Possibly write a book. Keep building this business that changed my life.
Content creation gave me a way out when I had nothing. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's not the path I expected, but it's meant to be.
To every solo parent wondering if you can do this: You absolutely can. It isn't simple. You'll want to quit some days. But you're managing the toughest gig—parenting solo. You're powerful.
Start messy. Stay consistent. Prioritize yourself. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're building an empire.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go record a video about homework I forgot about and surprise!. Because that's how it goes—content from the mess, one video at a time.
For real. This life? It's everything. Even though there might be crumbs everywhere. No regrets, mess included.