I'm gonna be honest with you, motherhood is literally insane. But here's the thing? Attempting to make some extra cash while managing children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
This whole thing started for me about a few years back when I realized that my random shopping trips were becoming problematic. I needed funds I didn't have to justify spending.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Right so, my initial venture was doing VA work. And real talk? It was ideal. I could hustle while the kids slept, and the only requirement was a computer and internet.
Initially I was doing easy things like organizing inboxes, scheduling social media posts, and basic admin work. Pretty straightforward. I charged about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which wasn't much but as a total beginner, you gotta begin at the bottom.
Honestly the most hilarious thing? There I was on a client call looking like a real businesswoman from the waist up—blazer, makeup, the works—while wearing my rattiest leggings. Living my best life.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
After getting my feet wet, I ventured into the Etsy world. All my mom friends seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I thought "why not start one too?"
I started crafting PDF planners and wall art. The beauty of printables? Make it one time, and it can make money while you sleep. Genuinely, I've earned money at 3am while I was sleeping.
When I got my first order? I actually yelled. My partner was like there was an emergency. Nope—it was just me, cheering about my five dollar sale. Judge me if you want.
Blogging and Creating
Eventually I got into blogging and content creation. This one is a marathon not a sprint, let me tell you.
I started a blog about motherhood where I posted about my parenting journey—everything unfiltered. Keeping it real. Simply real talk about surviving tantrums in Target.
Growing an audience was slow. For months, I was essentially talking to myself. But I kept at it, and after a while, things gained momentum.
At this point? I generate revenue through affiliate links, working with brands, and ad revenue. Recently I generated over two grand from my blog alone. Wild, right?
Managing Social Media
When I became good with running my own socials, local businesses started reaching out if I could help them.
Truth bomb? Most small businesses suck at social media. They recognize they need to be there, but they don't know how.
That's where I come in. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—various small businesses. I plan their content, plan their posting schedule, engage with followers, and analyze the metrics.
I bill between $500-$1500/month per business, depending on the complexity. The best thing? I can do most of it from my phone during soccer practice.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For those who can string sentences together, content writing is seriously profitable. I'm not talking becoming Shakespeare—I mean blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Companies constantly need fresh content. I've written everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
On average charge $50-150 per article, depending on length and complexity. Some months I'll write 10-15 articles and pull in a couple thousand dollars.
Plot twist: I was that student who barely passed English class. These days I'm a professional writer. Life is weird.
Tutoring Online
When COVID hit, everyone needed online help. As a former educator, so this was an obvious choice.
I signed up with several tutoring platforms. It's super flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have unpredictable little ones.
I mainly help with K-5 subjects. Rates vary from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the platform.
Here's what's weird? Sometimes my children will photobomb my lessons mid-session. There was a time I teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. The families I work with are incredibly understanding because they understand mom life.
Reselling and Flipping
Here me out, this one wasn't planned. During a massive cleanout my kids' room and posted some items on copyright.
Stuff sold out within hours. Lightbulb moment: there's a market for everything.
These days I hit up anywhere with deals, hunting for quality items. I purchase something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
It's definitely work? For sure. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But it's oddly satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at Goodwill and making money.
Plus: my kids are impressed when I bring home interesting finds. Last week I found a retro toy that my son lost his mind over. Sold it for $45. Mom win.
Real Talk Time
Let me keep it real: side hustles aren't passive income. There's work involved, hence the name.
Certain days when I'm exhausted, asking myself what I'm doing. I wake up early working before my kids wake up, then all day mom-ing, then working again after 8pm hits.
But this is what's real? These are my earnings. No permission needed to get the good coffee. I'm adding to our household income. I'm showing my kids that women can hustle.
What I Wish I Knew
For those contemplating a side gig, here are my tips:
Begin with something manageable. Don't try to do everything at once. Focus on one and master it before adding more.
Be realistic about time. If naptime is your only free time, that's fine. A couple of productive hours is a great beginning.
Avoid comparing yourself to other moms. The successful ones you see? She's been grinding forever and has help. Run your own race.
Learn and grow, but wisely. Free information exists. Be careful about spending massive amounts on training until you've validated your idea.
Batch tasks together. This saved my sanity. Dedicate certain times for certain work. Monday could be making stuff day. Wednesday could be administrative work.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
Real talk—I struggle with guilt. There are times when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I struggle with it.
However I remember that I'm modeling for them how to hustle. I'm proving to them that moms can have businesses.
And honestly? Making my own money has improved my mental health. I'm more content, which makes me more patient.
Income Reality Check
The real numbers? Generally, total from all sources, I pull in $3K-5K. Certain months are higher, it fluctuates.
Is this millionaire money? Not really. But this money covers stuff that matters to us that would've stressed us out. It's giving me confidence and skills that could turn into something bigger.
Wrapping This Up
At the end of the day, doing this mom hustle thing takes work. There's no magic formula. Often I'm improvising everything, running on coffee and determination, and crossing my fingers.
But I'm proud of this journey. Every dollar I earn is evidence of my capability. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.
If you're thinking about launching a mom business? Do it. Don't wait for perfect. Future you will thank you.
Keep in mind: You aren't only getting by—you're creating something amazing. Even if you probably have Goldfish crackers on your keyboard.
No cap. The whole thing is the life, chaos and all.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
Let me be real with you—becoming a single mom wasn't on my vision board. Neither was making money from my phone. But here I am, three years into this wild journey, making a living by posting videos while doing this mom thing solo. And real talk? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Imploded
It was 2022 when my life exploded. I remember sitting in my bare apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had barely $850 in my account, little people counting on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The panic was real, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's the move? in crisis mode, right?—when I came across this solo parent discussing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through being a creator. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or crazy. Usually both.
I got the TikTok studio 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 hit post and panicked. Who gives a damn about my broke reality?
Spoiler alert, a lot of people.
That video got 47K views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me nearly cry over processed meat. The comments section became this incredible community—women in similar situations, other people struggling, all saying "me too." That was my aha moment. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted authentic.
Building My Platform: The Unfiltered Mom Content
Here's what they don't say about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It chose me. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started creating content about the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I didn't change pants for days because laundry felt impossible. Or when I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner all week and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my child asked about the divorce, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who believes in magic.
My content was rough. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was authentic, and turns out, that's what connected.
After sixty days, I hit ten thousand followers. Three months later, 50,000. By half a year, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone blew my mind. People who wanted to listen to me. Plain old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to figure this out from zero recently.
The Actual Schedule: Balancing Content and Chaos
Here's the reality of my typical day, because this life is nothing like those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my work time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a getting ready video talking about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me making food while talking about co-parenting struggles. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in full mom mode—cooking eggs, locating lost items (seriously, always ONE), packing lunches, referee duties. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks at stop signs. Not proud of this, but the grind never stops.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. House is quiet. I'm editing content, engaging with followers, planning content, reaching out to brands, checking analytics. People think content creation is just making TikToks. It's not. It's a entire operation.
I usually batch content on Monday and Wednesday. That means filming 10-15 videos in one session. I'll change clothes so it appears to be different times. Hot tip: Keep different outfits accessible for outfit changes. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, filming myself talking to my phone in the driveway.
3:00pm: School pickup. Parent time. But here's where it gets tricky—sometimes my best content ideas come from this time. Just last week, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I said no to a toy she didn't need. I made content in the vehicle later about surviving tantrums as a single parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm usually too exhausted to film, but I'll schedule uploads, check DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Some nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll stay up editing because a deadline is coming.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just managed chaos with random wins.
The Financial Reality: How I Actually Make a Living
Look, let's get into the finances because this is what you're wondering. Can you legitimately profit as a creator? Absolutely. Is it simple? Hell no.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Second month? Still nothing. Month three, I got my first collaboration—$150 to promote a meal kit service. I cried real tears. That one-fifty paid for groceries.
Now, three years in, here's how I earn income:
Brand Deals: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that my followers need—affordable stuff, parenting tools, children's products. I ask for anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per campaign, depending on deliverables. Just last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made $8,000.
Platform Payments: Creator fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for tons of views. YouTube revenue is better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Marketing: I share affiliate links to products I actually use—ranging from my go-to coffee machine to the bunk beds in their room. If anyone buys, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Info Products: I created a financial planner and a meal prep guide. $15 apiece, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
One-on-One Coaching: New creators pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer private coaching for two hundred per hour. I do about 5-10 a month.
My total income: Typically, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month at this point. Some months are higher, some are tougher. It's up and down, which is stressful when you're the only income source. But it's 3x what I made at my corporate job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Hard Parts Nobody Mentions
From the outside it's great until you're sobbing alone because a video didn't perform, or dealing with cruel messages from internet trolls.
The negativity is intense. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm a bad influence, questioned about being a single mom. One person said, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm is unpredictable. One month you're getting millions of views. Then suddenly, you're struggling for views. Your income varies wildly. You're constantly creating, never resting, nervous about slowing down, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is worse exponentially. Every video I post, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Are my kids safe? Will they be angry about this when they're teenagers? I have firm rules—minimal identifying info, nothing too personal, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is fuzzy.
The burnout is real. Some weeks when I can't create. When I'm touched out, over it, and completely finished. But life doesn't stop. So I show up anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But here's what's real—despite everything, this journey has given me things I never imagined.
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 actual vacation last summer—Disney, which was a dream two years ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to ask permission or panic. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school thing, I'm present. I'm there for them in ways I couldn't manage with a traditional 9-5.
My people that saved me. The other influencers I've met, especially other single parents, have become real friends. We vent, collaborate, lift each other up. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They hype me up, send love, and show me I'm not alone.
Something that's mine. For the first time since having kids, I have an identity. I'm not defined by divorce or someone's mom. I'm a CEO. A content creator. Someone who made it happen.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single parent considering content creation, listen up:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. It's fine. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Be yourself. People can spot fake. Share your real life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That's the magic.
Prioritize their privacy. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I keep names private, minimize face content, and protect their stories.
Multiple revenue sources. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one way to earn. The algorithm is fickle. Diversification = security.
Batch your content. When you have free time, record several. Next week you will be grateful when you're unable to film.
Engage with your audience. Respond to comments. Respond to DMs. Build real relationships. Your community is everything.
Monitor what works. Time is money. If something takes four hours and tanks while something else takes 20 minutes and blows up, change tactics.
Take care of yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Unplug. Create limits. Your sanity matters more than anything.
Be patient. This is a marathon. It took me months to make any real money. The first year, I made fifteen thousand. Year two, eighty thousand. Now, I'm hitting six figures. It's a long game.
Stay connected to your purpose. On bad days—and there are many—remember your reason. For me, it's independence, flexibility with my kids, and validating that I'm capable of anything.
Being Real With You
Real talk, I'm telling the truth. Content creation as a single mom is tough. So damn hard. You're basically running a business while being the single caregiver of demanding little people.
There are days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the nasty comments sting. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and asking myself if I should just get a "normal" job with insurance.
But but then my daughter mentions she's happy I'm here. Or I look at my savings. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I remember my purpose.
The Future
A few years back, I was terrified and clueless how to survive. Now, I'm a full-time creator making more than I imagined in traditional work, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals moving forward? Get to half a million followers by this year. Launch a podcast for single moms. Maybe write a book. Continue building this a detailed post business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
This path gave me a way out when I needed it most. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be there, and build something real. It's unexpected, but it's perfect.
To any single parent thinking about starting: You absolutely can. It will be hard. You'll struggle. But you're handling the hardest job in the world—doing this alone. You're more capable than you know.
Start imperfect. Keep showing up. Prioritize yourself. And know this, you're not just surviving—you're building something incredible.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go record a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and I just learned about it. Because that's how it goes—making content from chaos, one post at a time.
Honestly. This life? It's everything. Even when there's probably Goldfish crackers everywhere. Living the dream, chaos and all.