Here's the tea, motherhood is literally insane. But here's the thing? Trying to make some extra cash while juggling tiny humans who think sleep is optional.
I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I figured out that my impulse buys were way too frequent. It was time to get cash that was actually mine.
Being a VA
Right so, I started out was doing VA work. And I'll be real? It was chef's kiss. I was able to get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and all I needed was a computer and internet.
I began by basic stuff like email sorting, scheduling social media posts, and data entry. Nothing fancy. I charged about $15-20 per hour, which felt cheap but as a total beginner, you gotta start somewhere.
The funniest part? I'd be on a client call looking completely put together from the shoulders up—business casual vibes—while rocking pants I'd owned since 2015. Main character energy.
My Etsy Journey
Once I got comfortable, I wanted to explore the Etsy world. Literally everyone seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I figured "why not me?"
My shop focused on designing PDF planners and home decor prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? Make it one time, and it can generate passive income forever. Genuinely, I've earned money at ungodly hours.
The first time someone bought something? I actually yelled. My partner was like something was wrong. Nope—just me, cheering about my five dollar sale. No shame in my game.
The Content Creation Grind
After that I got into blogging and content creation. This particular side gig is a marathon not a sprint, trust me on this.
I began a blog about motherhood where I shared real mom life—the messy truth. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Just real talk about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Building up views was slow. At the beginning, I was basically talking to myself. But I stayed consistent, and slowly but surely, things took off.
Now? I make money through affiliate links, working with brands, and ad revenue. Just last month I made over two grand from my website. Crazy, right?
The Social Media Management Game
When I became good with my own content, other businesses started inquiring if I could help them.
Real talk? Most small businesses struggle 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 handle social media for several small companies—various small businesses. I create content, queue up posts, engage with followers, and track analytics.
My rate is between $500-$1500/month per account, depending on what they need. The best thing? I manage everything from my phone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
If writing is your thing, freelancing is a goldmine. Not like literary fiction—this is blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Brands and websites always need writers. My assignments have included everything from the most random topics. Google is your best friend, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
I typically make fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on the topic and length. When I'm hustling hard I'll crank out 10-15 articles and make one to two thousand extra.
What's hilarious: I was that student who struggled with essays. Now I'm a professional writer. Life's funny like that.
The Online Tutoring Thing
2020 changed everything, virtual tutoring became huge. I was a teacher before kids, so this was perfect for me.
I signed up with VIPKid and Tutor.com. You choose when you work, which is non-negotiable when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
My sessions are usually basic subjects. You can make from $15-$25/hour depending on where you work.
Here's what's weird? Every now and then my kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. There was a time I be professional while chaos erupted behind me. The parents on the other end are very sympathetic because they understand mom life.
Reselling and Flipping
So, this side gig I stumbled into. I was cleaning out my kids' things and listed some clothes on various apps.
They sold immediately. I suddenly understood: you can sell literally anything.
At this point I hit up anywhere with deals, searching for name brands. I purchase something for $3 and sell it for $30.
This takes effort? Not gonna lie. It's a whole process. But I find it rewarding about finding a gem at the thrift store and earning from it.
Also: my kids are impressed when I find unique items. Recently I scored a collectible item that my son went crazy for. Sold it for $45. Mom for the win.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Truth bomb incoming: this stuff requires effort. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
There are moments when I'm exhausted, asking myself what I'm doing. I wake up early being productive before the madness begins, then handling mom duties, then working again after 8pm hits.
But here's what matters? This income is mine. I don't have to ask permission to splurge on something nice. I'm helping with my family's finances. I'm teaching my children that women can hustle.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're considering a mom hustle, here are my tips:
Start with one thing. You can't launch everything simultaneously. Start with one venture and nail it down before taking on more.
Work with your schedule. Whatever time you have, that's okay. Two hours of focused work is more than enough to start.
Comparison is the thief of joy to the highlight reels. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? They've been at it for years and has support. Stay in your lane.
Spend money on education, but carefully. Start with free stuff first. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've validated your idea.
Work in batches. This saved my sanity. Dedicate specific days for specific tasks. Monday might be making stuff day. Use Wednesday for administrative work.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
I'm not gonna lie—the mom guilt is real. There are days when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I feel guilty.
But then I remember that I'm modeling for them what dedication looks like. I'm showing my daughter that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
And honestly? Making my own money has been good for me. I'm more fulfilled, which makes me more patient.
Income Reality Check
So what do I actually make? Generally, combining everything, I earn $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are better, others are slower.
Is this millionaire money? No. But we've used it to pay for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've caused financial strain. And it's creating opportunities and knowledge that could grow into more.
Final Thoughts
Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing isn't easy. There's no secret sauce. Many days I'm improvising everything, powered by caffeine, and hoping for the best.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every single dollar earned is a testament to my hustle. It's evidence that I'm not just someone's mother.
If you're on the fence about launching a mom business? Go for it. Start messy. Future you will thank you.
And remember: You're not merely surviving—you're building something. Even if there's likely Goldfish crackers everywhere.
No cap. This mom hustle life is pretty amazing, chaos and all.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—being a single parent wasn't the dream. Neither was turning into an influencer. But here we are, three years later, earning income by being vulnerable on the internet while raising two kids basically solo. And honestly? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.
How It Started: When Everything Imploded
It was 2022 when my relationship fell apart. I remember 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 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 what we do? when we're drowning, right?—when I found this divorced mom sharing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through being a creator. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Or both. Sometimes both.
I got the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, explaining how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunches. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Why would anyone care about my mess?
Spoiler alert, way more people than I expected.
That video got 47K views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me breakdown over frozen nuggets. The comments section was this safe space—women in similar situations, people living the same reality, all saying "I feel this." That was my aha moment. People didn't want filtered content. 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 single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started posting about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I didn't change pants for days because laundry felt impossible. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner several days straight and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my child asked about the divorce, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content was rough. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was unfiltered, and evidently, that's what worked.
In just two months, I hit ten thousand followers. Month three, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone seemed fake. Real accounts who wanted to listen to me. Me—a barely surviving single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" recently.
A Day in the Life: Managing It All
Here's the reality of my typical day, because creating content solo is nothing like those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a GRWM discussing money struggles. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while sharing co-parenting struggles. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation ends. Now I'm in parent mode—feeding humans, the shoe hunt (seriously, always ONE), making lunch boxes, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom creating content in traffic in the car. Not my proudest moment, but the grind never stops.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. House is quiet. I'm in editing mode, responding to comments, thinking of ideas, pitching brands, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is only filming. Absolutely not. It's a real job.
I usually create multiple videos on certain days. That means shooting multiple videos in one session. I'll switch outfits so it appears to be different times. Hot tip: Keep different outfits accessible for fast swaps. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, making videos in public in the parking lot.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Mom mode activated. But this is where it's complicated—many times my biggest hits come from this time. Last week, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I couldn't afford a expensive toy. I recorded in the Target parking lot later about handling public tantrums as a solo parent. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm completely exhausted to make videos, but I'll schedule content, reply to messages, or outline content. Many nights, after bedtime, I'll stay up editing because a deadline is coming.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just organized chaos with occasional wins.
Income Breakdown: How I Generate Income
Alright, let's talk dollars because this is what people ask about. Can you really earn income as a content creator? 100%. Is it simple? Absolutely not.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? Also nothing. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—a hundred and fifty bucks to promote a meal box. I broke down. That hundred fifty dollars paid for groceries.
Currently, three years in, here's how I generate revenue:
Sponsored Content: This is my primary income. I work with brands that align with my audience—things that help, helpful services, family items. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per partnership, depending on the scope. Just last month, I did four collabs and made eight thousand dollars.
Platform Payments: Creator fund pays not much—maybe $200-400 per month for tons of views. YouTube revenue is actually decent. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Link Sharing: I post links to stuff I really use—everything from my go-to coffee machine to the bunk beds I bought. If someone clicks and buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Downloadables: I created a single mom budget planner and a food prep planner. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
Consulting Services: People wanting to start pay me to mentor them. I offer private coaching for two hundred dollars. I do about five to ten per month.
My total income: Most months, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month at this point. Certain months are better, some are lower. It's up and down, which is terrifying when you're it. But it's 3x what I made at my corporate job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Dark Side Nobody Posts About
It looks perfect online until you're having a breakdown because a post tanked, or handling cruel messages from keyboard warriors.
The trolls are vicious. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm using my children, accused of lying about being a divorced parent. A commenter wrote, "Maybe that's why he left." That one hurt so bad.
The algorithm changes constantly. Sometimes you're getting huge numbers. The next, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income is unstable. You're always on, always "on", worried that if you take a break, you'll fall behind.
The mom guilt is intense times a thousand. Every upload, I wonder: Is this too much? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they be angry about this when they're teenagers? I have non-negotiables—minimal identifying info, no discussing their personal struggles, nothing humiliating. But the line is not always clear.
The burnout hits hard. There are weeks when I am empty. When I'm depleted, socially drained, and totally spent. But the mortgage is due. So I create anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But here's what's real—through it all, this journey has given me things I never expected.
Money security for the first time in my life. I'm not rich, but I eliminated my debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a real vacation last summer—Disney World, which I never thought possible two years a clear breakdown ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or lose income. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a school event, I can go. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't manage with a corporate job.
My people that saved me. The fellow creators I've befriended, especially solo parents, have become my people. We connect, collaborate, support each other. My followers have become this family. They hype me up, encourage me through rough patches, and validate me.
Something that's mine. Finally, I have something for me. I'm more than an ex or someone's mom. I'm a business owner. A creator. Someone who built something from nothing.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a single parent considering content creation, here's my advice:
Begin now. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. That's okay. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can tell when you're fake. Share your real life—the chaos. That's what works.
Protect your kids. Set limits. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is sacred. I don't use their names, rarely show their faces, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't rely on just one platform or one way to earn. The algorithm is unpredictable. Diversification = security.
Film multiple videos. When you have quiet time, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will be grateful when you're burnt out.
Connect with followers. Answer comments. Respond to DMs. Be real with them. Your community is your foundation.
Track metrics. Be strategic. If something requires tons of time and gets nothing while another video takes 20 minutes and gets 200,000 views, shift focus.
Take care of yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your health matters more than views.
This takes time. This takes time. It took me half a year to make decent money. My first year, I made $15K total. The second year, $80,000. Now, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a marathon.
Don't forget your why. On difficult days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's supporting my kids, being present, and proving to myself that I'm capable of anything.
Being Real With You
Real talk, I'm being honest. Being a single mom creator is difficult. Really hard. You're basically running a business while being the single caregiver of children who require constant attention.
Some days I doubt myself. Days when the trolls sting. Days when I'm drained and wondering if I should go back to corporate with consistent income.
But and then my daughter mentions she appreciates this. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I know it's worth it.
What's Next
Years ago, I was lost and broke how to survive. Today, I'm a professional creator making triple what I earned in corporate America, and I'm present for everything.
My goals for the future? Hit 500,000 followers by end of year. Begin podcasting for other single moms. Possibly write a book. Continue building this business that makes everything possible.
This path gave me a lifeline when I was drowning. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be available, and build something real. It's a surprise, but it's meant to be.
To every solo parent on the fence: You can. It isn't simple. You'll want to quit some days. But you're currently doing the most difficult thing—single parenting. You're more capable than you know.
Begin messy. Stay consistent. Guard your peace. And know this, you're more than just surviving—you're building something incredible.
Now if you'll excuse me, 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 the content creator single mom life—turning chaos into content, one video at a time.
For real. This journey? It's everything. Despite there's probably Goldfish crackers in my keyboard. Dream life, mess included.