Here's the tea, mom life is not for the weak. But here's the thing? Attempting to make some extra cash while juggling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
My hustle life began about several years ago when I had the epiphany that my Target runs were getting out of hand. I was desperate for some independent income.
Being a VA
Here's what happened, I started out was jumping into virtual assistance. And real talk? It was ideal. It let me work during naptime, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.
I started with easy things like email sorting, scheduling social media posts, and entering data. Pretty straightforward. I started at about $20/hour, which seemed low but for someone with zero experience, you gotta begin at the bottom.
Here's what was wild? I'd be on a Zoom call looking all professional from the chest up—blazer, makeup, the works—while sporting pajama bottoms. Main character energy.
Selling on Etsy
After a year, I decided to try the whole Etsy thing. All my mom friends seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I thought "why not join the party?"
I created making downloadable organizers and digital art prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? One and done creation, and it can generate passive income forever. Genuinely, I've earned money at midnight when I'm unconscious.
My first sale? I lost my mind. My husband thought there was an emergency. Negative—just me, doing a happy dance for my glorious $4.99. I'm not embarrassed.
The Content Creation Grind
Then I discovered the whole influencer thing. This venture is playing the long game, let me tell you.
I launched a family lifestyle blog where I shared real mom life—the messy truth. Not the highlight reel. Only real talk about surviving tantrums in Target.
Getting readers was painfully slow. For months, it was basically creating content for crickets. But I kept at it, and after a while, things started clicking.
At this point? I earn income through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and advertisements on my site. Just last month I made over $2,000 from my blog alone. Crazy, right?
Managing Social Media
After I learned managing my blog's social media, small companies started inquiring if I could help them.
Here's the thing? Many companies don't understand social media. They know they have to be on it, but they can't keep up.
That's where I come in. I currently run social media for several small companies—different types of businesses. I develop content, plan their posting schedule, respond to comments, and track analytics.
My rate is between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I handle this from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
Freelance Writing Life
For the wordy folks, freelancing is seriously profitable. I don't mean writing the next Great American Novel—I mean commercial writing.
Businesses everywhere always need writers. 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 Google effectively.
I typically make $50-150 per article, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll write a dozen articles and earn an extra $1,000-2,000.
The funny thing is: I was that student who hated writing papers. Now I'm a professional writer. The irony.
Tutoring Online
During the pandemic, tutoring went digital. I was a teacher before kids, so this was perfect for me.
I registered on VIPKid and Tutor.com. You make your own schedule, which is absolutely necessary when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
My sessions are usually K-5 subjects. Rates vary from $15-$25/hour depending on the company.
The awkward part? Every now and then my children will interrupt mid-session. I've literally had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. My clients are usually super understanding because they understand mom life.
Reselling and Flipping
Okay, this particular venture happened accidentally. During a massive cleanout my kids' stuff and posted some items on copyright.
Stuff sold out immediately. I had an epiphany: you can sell literally anything.
At this point I hit up estate sales and thrift shops, looking for name brands. I'll find something for cheap and resell at a markup.
It's definitely work? For sure. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But there's something satisfying about finding a gem at a yard sale and making money.
Bonus: the kids think it's neat when I discover weird treasures. Recently I grabbed a retro toy that my son lost his mind over. Sold it for $45. Mom win.
The Honest Reality
Real talk moment: this stuff requires effort. There's work involved, hence the name.
There are moments when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I wake up early getting stuff done while it's quiet, then being a full-time parent, then back to work after 8pm hits.
But this is what's real? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to buy the fancy coffee. I'm adding to the family budget. My kids see that you can be both.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you want to start a side gig, this is what I've learned:
Begin with something manageable. Avoid trying to launch everything simultaneously. Choose one hustle and nail it down before adding more.
Honor your limits. Your available hours, that's perfectly acceptable. Even one focused hour is better than nothing.
Stop comparing to the highlight reels. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? They put in years of work and has resources you don't see. Run your own race.
Don't be afraid to invest, but strategically. Free information exists. Avoid dropping $5,000 on a coaching program until you've validated your idea.
Do similar tasks together. This changed everything. Dedicate days for specific hustles. Use Monday for writing day. Wednesday could be administrative work.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
Real talk—the mom guilt is real. Sometimes when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I struggle with it.
Yet I think about that I'm modeling for them what dedication looks like. I'm proving to them that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Also? Earning independently has helped me feel more like myself. I'm more content, which makes me more patient.
Let's Talk Money
How much do I earn? On average, total from all sources, I bring in $3K-5K. It varies, some are tougher.
Is it life-changing money? Not exactly. But it's paid for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've caused financial strain. It's also creating opportunities and experience that could turn into something bigger.
Wrapping This Up
Look, being a mom with a side hustle isn't easy. There's no magic formula. Most days I'm winging it, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and doing my best.
But I wouldn't change it. Each dollar earned is a testament to my hustle. It demonstrates that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're thinking about launching a mom business? Go for it. Start before it's perfect. Your future self will be grateful.
Always remember: You're not just making it through—you're hustling. Even when there's probably snack crumbs on your keyboard.
Not even kidding. This is the life, despite the chaos.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—single motherhood was never the plan. Neither was turning into an influencer. But fast forward to now, three years later, supporting my family by creating content while raising two kids basically solo. And not gonna lie? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was a few years ago when my relationship fell apart. I remember sitting in my bare apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids slept. I had $847 in my account, two humans depending on me, and a job that barely covered rent. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's the move? when we're drowning, right?—when I stumbled on this solo parent discussing how she changed her life through content creation. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or both. Sometimes both.
I grabbed the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, talking about how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Why would anyone care about my mess?
Plot twist, way more people than I expected.
That video got 47K views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me nearly cry over chicken nuggets. The comments section became this unexpected source of support—women in similar situations, people living the same reality, all saying "this is my life." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted authentic.
Building My Platform: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's what they don't say about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started sharing the stuff people hide. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I gave them breakfast for dinner multiple nights and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked where daddy went, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who believes in magic.
My content was rough. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what hit.
Two months later, I hit 10K. Three months later, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone blew my mind. Actual humans who wanted to listen to me. Me—a financially unstable single mom who had to ask Google what this meant six months earlier.
My Daily Reality: Content Creation Meets Real Life
Here's the reality of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is not at all like those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do not want to move, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me sharing about financial reality. Sometimes it's me cooking while discussing dealing with my ex. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in mommy mode—pouring cereal, the shoe hunt (seriously, always ONE), packing lunches, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom filming at red lights at stop signs. Don't judge me, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. I'm alone finally. I'm editing videos, being social, planning content, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. Everyone assumes content creation is just posting videos. Absolutely not. It's a real job.
I usually batch-create content on certain days. That means shooting multiple videos in one sitting. I'll change clothes so it seems like separate days. Hot tip: Keep several shirts ready for easy transitions. My neighbors must think I'm insane, recording myself alone in the driveway.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Transition back to mom mode. But plot twist—frequently my biggest hits come from these after-school moments. Recently, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I couldn't afford a expensive toy. I made content in the Target parking lot once we left about dealing with meltdowns as a solo parent. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm usually too exhausted to film, but I'll schedule uploads, answer messages, or prep for tomorrow. Certain nights, after bedtime, I'll work late because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just controlled chaos with some victories.
The Financial Reality: How I Actually Make a Living
Okay, let's get into the finances because this is what people ask about. Can you really earn income as a creator? For sure. Is it effortless? Not even close.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? Also nothing. Month three, I got my first collaboration—$150 to feature a food subscription. I broke down. That hundred fifty dollars covered food.
Now, years later, here's how I earn income:
Sponsored Content: This is my primary income. I work with brands that my followers need—affordable stuff, parenting tools, kids' stuff. I charge anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per campaign, depending on the scope. This past month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight grand.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: Creator fund pays basically nothing—maybe $200-400 per month for tons of views. YouTube money is actually decent. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Marketing: I promote products to stuff I really use—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If someone purchases through my link, I get a commission. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Info Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a food prep planner. $15 apiece, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Consulting Services: Aspiring influencers pay me to guide them. I offer consulting calls for $200/hour. I do about five to ten a month.
Combined monthly revenue: Generally, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month now. It varies, others are slower. It's inconsistent, which is scary when there's no backup. But it's 3x what I made at my old job, and I'm present.
The Hard Parts Nobody Posts About
From the outside it's great until you're crying in your car because a video didn't perform, or managing nasty DMs from internet trolls.
The haters are brutal. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm a bad influence, called a liar about being a single mom. I'll never forget, "Maybe that's why he left." That one hurt so bad.
The platform changes. Certain periods you're getting huge numbers. website The next, you're struggling for views. Your income is unstable. You're always creating, always working, worried that if you take a break, you'll lose momentum.
The guilt is crushing exponentially. Each post, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Is this okay? Will they resent this when they're older? I have strict rules—no faces of my kids without permission, nothing too personal, protecting their dignity. But the line is fuzzy.
The burnout hits hard. Sometimes when I don't want to film anything. When I'm done, socially drained, and at my limit. But rent doesn't care. So I create anyway.
The Wins
But the truth is—despite the hard parts, this journey has blessed me with things I never dreamed of.
Financial stability for the first damn time. I'm not rich, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an safety net. We took a real vacation last summer—the Mouse House, which felt impossible not long ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or panic. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a school event, I'm there. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't be with a corporate job.
Community that saved me. The fellow creators I've met, especially other moms, have become my people. We support each other, help each other, lift each other up. My followers have become this beautiful community. They celebrate my wins, send love, and validate me.
My own identity. For the first time since having kids, I have something for me. I'm not just an ex or just a mom. I'm a content creator. An influencer. A person who hustled.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a solo parent curious about this, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. That's normal. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Be yourself. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your true life—the chaos. That's what connects.
Guard their privacy. Establish boundaries. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I protect their names, minimize face content, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't rely on just one platform or a single source. The algorithm is unstable. Diversification = security.
Batch your content. When you have available time, create multiple pieces. Next week you will thank yourself when you're drained.
Build community. Reply to comments. Answer DMs. Connect authentically. Your community is crucial.
Track your time and ROI. Be strategic. If something takes four hours and gets 200 views while another video takes 20 minutes and gets massive views, change tactics.
Take care of yourself. You matter too. Rest. Guard your energy. Your mental health matters more than going viral.
This takes time. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me months to make decent money. Year one, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year two, $80K. Now, I'm making six figures. It's a process.
Know your why. On bad days—and they happen—recall your purpose. For me, it's financial freedom, time with my children, and showing myself that I'm more than I believed.
The Reality Check
Look, I'm keeping it 100. This journey is difficult. Really hard. You're running a whole business while being the single caregiver of demanding little people.
Many days I question everything. Days when the negativity sting. Days when I'm drained and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But but then my daughter tells me she's happy I'm here. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I know it's worth it.
The Future
A few years back, I was scared and struggling what to do. Fast forward, I'm a professional creator making way more than I made in traditional work, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals going forward? Hit 500K by this year. Create a podcast for other single moms. Consider writing a book. Keep growing this business that makes everything possible.
This path gave me a way out when I was drowning. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be there, and build something real. It's not what I planned, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To any single parent considering this: Yes you can. It isn't simple. You'll struggle. But you're handling the hardest job—doing this alone. You're more capable than you know.
Jump in messy. Stay consistent. Guard your peace. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go create content about the project I just found out about and surprise!. Because that's the reality—content from the mess, video by video.
For real. This journey? It's the best decision. Even when there's definitely Goldfish crackers in my keyboard. That's the dream, mess included.