Let me spill, mom life is absolutely wild. But plot twist? Attempting to hustle for money while managing tiny humans who think sleep is optional.
I started my side hustle journey about a few years back when I discovered that my retail therapy sessions were reaching dangerous levels. I was desperate for my own money.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Right so, I started out was doing VA work. And not gonna lie? It was perfect. I was able to work during naptime, and all I needed was my laptop and decent wifi.
I began by basic stuff like handling emails, posting on social media, and data entry. Nothing fancy. My rate was about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which seemed low but when you're just starting, you gotta begin at the bottom.
What cracked me up? Picture this: me on a client call looking like a real businesswoman from the waist up—blazer, makeup, the works—while wearing my rattiest leggings. Peak mom life.
Selling on Etsy
After a year, I ventured into the selling on Etsy. Everyone and their mother seemed to be on Etsy, so I thought "why not start one too?"
My shop focused on designing digital planners and wall art. The beauty of printables? One and done creation, and it can make money while you sleep. For real, I've gotten orders at midnight when I'm unconscious.
That initial sale? I literally screamed. My partner was like I'd injured myself. Nope—it was just me, cheering about my first five bucks. Judge me if you want.
Content Creator Life
Eventually I discovered creating content online. This venture is not for instant gratification seekers, trust me on this.
I began a blog about motherhood where I documented real mom life—all of it, no filter. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Simply authentic experiences about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Building traffic was slow. The first few months, I was basically writing for myself and like three people. But I kept at it, and slowly but surely, things gained momentum.
Currently? I earn income through affiliate links, brand partnerships, and advertisements on my site. Just last month I earned over $2K from my blog alone. Crazy, right?
Managing Social Media
Once I got decent at my own content, brands started reaching out if I could do the same for them.
Truth bomb? A lot of local businesses don't understand social media. They understand they have to be on it, but they're clueless about the algorithm.
Enter: me. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I make posts, queue up posts, engage with followers, and monitor performance.
I bill between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per account, depending on the complexity. Here's what's great? I do this work from my iPhone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For those who can string sentences together, content writing is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking becoming Shakespeare—I mean business content.
Businesses everywhere always need writers. I've created content about everything from dental hygiene to copyright. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to know how to find information.
I typically earn between fifty and two hundred per article, depending on the topic and length. Certain months I'll create 10-15 articles and bring in a couple thousand dollars.
Plot twist: Back in school I thought writing was torture. And now I'm a professional writer. The irony.
The Online Tutoring Thing
During the pandemic, tutoring went digital. As a former educator, so this was an obvious choice.
I joined several tutoring platforms. It's super flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I mainly help with elementary reading and math. The pay ranges from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on which site you use.
What's hilarious? Every now and then my own kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I once had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. My clients are totally cool about it because they're parents too.
Flipping Items for Profit
Alright, this side gig wasn't planned. I was cleaning out my kids' room and put some things on various apps.
They sold within hours. That's when I realized: there's a market for everything.
Currently I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, hunting for good brands. I'll buy something for $3 and sell it for $30.
It's labor-intensive? Yes. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding a gem at Goodwill and turning a profit.
Also: my kids think I'm cool when I bring home interesting finds. Just last week I found a collectible item that my son absolutely loved. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Mom win.
The Honest Reality
Let me keep it real: side hustles aren't passive income. There's work involved, hence the name.
Certain days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm working before sunrise working before my kids wake up, then handling mom duties, then more hustle time after everyone's in bed.
But this is what's real? That money is MINE. No permission needed to splurge on something nice. I'm helping with our financial goals. I'm showing my kids that you can be both.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you're considering a side gig, this is what I've learned:
Begin with something manageable. Avoid trying to start five businesses. Pick one thing and become proficient before starting something else.
Work with your schedule. If naptime is your only free time, that's perfectly acceptable. A couple of productive hours is a great beginning.
Avoid comparing yourself to what you see online. Those people with massive success? She's been grinding forever and doesn't do it alone. Focus on your own journey.
Don't be afraid to invest, but wisely. Start with free stuff first. Be careful about spending huge money on programs until you've tried things out.
Work in batches. This changed everything. Block off days for specific hustles. Use Monday for creation day. Use Wednesday for handling business stuff.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
I'm not gonna lie—the mom guilt is real. There are days when a simple overview I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I feel terrible.
However I think about that I'm modeling for them how to hustle. I'm teaching my kids that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
And honestly? Financial independence has improved my mental health. I'm more content, which makes me a better parent.
Let's Talk Money
The real numbers? On average, combining everything, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. Certain months are higher, some are slower.
Will this make you wealthy? Not really. But this money covers stuff that matters to us that would've been impossible otherwise. And it's giving me confidence and experience that could evolve into something huge.
Wrapping This Up
Here's the bottom line, hustling as a mom is challenging. There's no magic formula. Many days I'm making it up as I go, powered by caffeine, and praying it all works out.
But I wouldn't change it. Every single penny made is evidence of my capability. It's evidence that I'm not just someone's mother.
So if you're considering diving into this? Start now. Start messy. Your future self will appreciate it.
And remember: You aren't only making it through—you're growing something incredible. Even if there's likely old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
No cap. It's the life, chaos and all.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—single motherhood wasn't on my vision board. Neither was making money from my phone. But fast forward to now, years into this crazy ride, supporting my family by being vulnerable on the internet while parenting alone. And real talk? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was three years ago when my life exploded. I will never forget sitting in my mostly empty place (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had less than a thousand dollars in my account, two kids to support, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I was scrolling social media to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's what we do? when everything is chaos, right?—when I came across this divorced mom sharing how she changed her life through content creation. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But desperation makes you brave. Or stupid. Probably both.
I got the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, talking about how I'd just spent my last $12 on a cheap food for my kids' lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Why would anyone care about this disaster?
Spoiler alert, tons of people.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me breakdown over $12 worth of food. The comments section became this validation fest—fellow solo parents, other people struggling, all saying "same." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted raw.
Finding My Niche: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's the secret about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It chose me. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started creating content about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because executive dysfunction is real. Or the time I served cereal as a meal several days straight and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my kid asked where daddy went, 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 terrible. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was honest, and apparently, that's what resonated.
In just two months, I hit 10K. Three months later, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone felt impossible. These were real people who wanted to follow me. Plain old me—a struggling single mom who had to figure this out from zero months before.
My Daily Reality: Managing It All
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because creating content solo is the opposite of those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do not want to move, but this is my work time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a GRWM sharing about budgeting. Sometimes it's me cooking while discussing custody stuff. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation stops. Now I'm in parent mode—making breakfast, hunting for that one shoe (seriously, always ONE), prepping food, mediating arguments. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks in the car. Not my proudest moment, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. I'm alone finally. I'm cutting clips, being social, ideating, pitching brands, checking analytics. Folks imagine content creation is only filming. It's not. It's a full business.
I usually film in batches on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means shooting multiple videos in a few hours. I'll switch outfits so it looks like different days. Life hack: Keep multiple tops nearby for quick changes. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, recording myself alone in the driveway.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Back to parenting. But plot twist—frequently my viral videos come from real life. Recently, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I refused to get a forty dollar toy. I filmed a video in the vehicle later about dealing with meltdowns as a lone parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm completely exhausted to film, but I'll schedule uploads, answer messages, or strategize. Certain nights, after they're down, I'll edit for hours because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just organized chaos with moments of success.
The Financial Reality: How I Support My Family
Okay, let's talk numbers because this is what people ask about. Can you actually make money as a content creator? Yes. Is it simple? Nope.
My first month, I made nothing. Second month? $0. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—one hundred fifty dollars to post about a meal delivery. I literally cried. That hundred fifty dollars covered food.
Today, three years later, here's how I generate revenue:
Collaborations: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that make sense—things that help, mom products, family items. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per campaign, depending on deliverables. Last month, I did four brand deals and made $8K.
Ad Money: The TikTok fund pays not much—two to four hundred per month for huge view counts. YouTube money is actually decent. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Affiliate Marketing: I share links to stuff I really use—everything from my go-to coffee machine to the kids' beds. If they buy using my link, I get a kickback. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Online Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a meal prep guide. Each costs $15, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
Consulting Services: Aspiring influencers pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer 1:1 sessions for two hundred dollars. I do about 5-10 per month.
Total monthly income: On average, I'm making $10-15K per month these days. Certain months are better, some are less. It's inconsistent, which is nerve-wracking when you're solo. But it's three times what I made at my old job, and I'm present.
The Hard Parts Nobody Mentions
This sounds easy until you're losing it because a video didn't perform, or handling hate comments from internet trolls.
The haters are brutal. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm exploiting my kids, told I'm fake about being a single mom. A commenter wrote, "I'd leave too." That one hurt so bad.
The platform changes. Sometimes you're getting viral hits. The next, you're getting nothing. Your income is unstable. You're always on, never resting, afraid to pause, you'll fall behind.
The guilt is crushing exponentially. Every video I post, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Is this okay? Will they regret this when they're adults? I have clear boundaries—no faces of my kids without permission, keeping their stories private, nothing humiliating. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The burnout hits hard. There are weeks when I don't want to film anything. When I'm depleted, talked out, and just done. But bills don't care about burnout. So I push through.
The Wins
But here's the thing—even with the struggles, this journey has brought me things I never expected.
Money security for the first time ever. I'm not rich, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an safety net. We took a real vacation last summer—Disney, which seemed impossible not long ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or lose income. I worked anywhere. When there's a field trip, I'm present. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't manage with a traditional 9-5.
Community that saved me. The creator friends I've found, especially single moms, have become real friends. We vent, exchange tips, support each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They celebrate my wins, encourage me through rough patches, and remind me I'm not alone.
Something that's mine. After years, I have my own thing. I'm more than an ex or only a parent. I'm a entrepreneur. A content creator. Someone who built something from nothing.
My Best Tips
If you're a single mother wanting to start, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You get better, not by waiting.
Be yourself. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your real life—the unfiltered truth. That's what connects.
Keep them safe. Set limits. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I protect their names, minimize face content, and keep private things private.
Build multiple income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or a single source. The algorithm is unreliable. Multiple streams = safety.
Batch your content. When you have free time, record several. Future you will appreciate it when you're too exhausted to create.
Interact. Reply to comments. Respond to DMs. Be real with them. Your community is what matters.
Analyze performance. Time is money. If something requires tons of time and tanks while something else takes very little time and gets 200,000 views, change tactics.
Take care of yourself. You matter too. Rest. Create limits. Your health matters more than going viral.
Stay patient. This takes time. It took me half a year to make decent money. My first year, I made $15K total. Year two, eighty grand. This year, I'm hitting six figures. It's a process.
Remember why you started. On hard days—and trust me, there will be—remember your reason. For me, it's financial freedom, being present, and showing myself that I'm more than I believed.
The Honest Truth
Look, I'm telling the truth. Content creation as a single mom is hard. Incredibly hard. You're running a whole business while being the sole caretaker of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Some days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the hate comments sting. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and questioning if I should quit this with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But but then my daughter says she loves that I'm home. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I understand the impact.
My Future Plans
Years ago, I was lost and broke how to survive. Fast forward, I'm a full-time creator making triple what I earned in my 9-5, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals for the future? Reach 500K by December. Start a podcast for solo parents. Write a book eventually. Continue building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
This path gave me a second chance when I was desperate. It gave me a way to feed my babies, show up, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's a surprise, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To any single parent considering this: Hell yes you can. It won't be easy. You'll want to quit some days. But you're already doing the toughest gig—raising humans alone. You're tougher than you realize.
Begin messy. Stay the course. Guard your peace. And don't forget, you're beyond survival mode—you're creating something amazing.
BRB, I need to go film a TikTok about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and surprise!. Because that's the reality—turning chaos into content, one video at a time.
Honestly. This journey? It's the best decision. Even when there might be crumbs everywhere. Living the dream, chaos and all.