Real talk, mom life is no joke. But you know what's even crazier? Attempting to make some extra cash while handling kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I discovered that my Target runs were becoming problematic. I was desperate for cash that was actually mine.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Okay so, I kicked things off was doing VA work. And real talk? It was exactly what I needed. It let me grind during those precious quiet hours, and all I needed was a computer and internet.
My first tasks were easy things like email management, posting on social media, and entering data. Not rocket science. I charged about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which felt cheap but as a total beginner, you gotta start somewhere.
What cracked me up? There I was on a client call looking like I had my life together from the chest up—blazer, makeup, the works—while wearing pants I'd owned since 2015. Living my best life.
My Etsy Journey
After getting my feet wet, I ventured into the Etsy world. All my mom friends seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I thought "why not join the party?"
I started making digital planners and digital art prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? One and done creation, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Literally, I've gotten orders at midnight when I'm unconscious.
When I got my first order? I freaked out completely. My partner was like I'd injured myself. Not even close—I was just, cheering about my $4.99 sale. No shame in my game.
The Content Creation Grind
Then I got into creating content online. This particular side gig is not for instant gratification seekers, trust me on this.
I launched a blog about motherhood where I documented real mom life—the good, the bad, and the ugly. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Only real talk about surviving tantrums in Target.
Growing an audience was like watching paint dry. For months, I was essentially talking to myself. But I kept at it, and over time, things took off.
Currently? I make money through promoting products, brand partnerships, and advertisements on my site. Just last month I earned over $2,000 from my website. Mind-blowing, right?
The Social Media Management Game
When I became good with running my own socials, small companies started reaching out if I could run their social media.
And honestly? Many companies are terrible with social media. They recognize they should be posting, but they don't have time.
Enter: me. I now manage social media for three local businesses—various small businesses. I create content, queue up posts, handle community management, and check their stats.
They pay me between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per client, depending on the scope of work. Best part? I can do most of it from my phone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
If you can write, freelancing is a goldmine. I'm not talking writing the next Great American Novel—this is content writing for businesses.
Companies always need writers. My assignments have included everything from literally everything under the sun. Google is your best friend, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
On average make fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on how complex it is. On good months I'll create 10-15 articles and pull in a couple thousand dollars.
The funny thing is: Back in school I hated writing papers. These days I'm getting paid for it. The irony.
Virtual Tutoring
2020 changed everything, tutoring went digital. With my teaching background, so this was right up my alley.
I registered on several tutoring platforms. You make your own schedule, which is crucial when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I mainly help with elementary school stuff. You can make from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on which site you use.
Here's what's weird? Every now and then my own kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I've had to be professional while chaos erupted behind me. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they get it.
The Reselling Game
Okay, this particular venture happened accidentally. During a massive cleanout my kids' stuff and put some things on various apps.
They sold within hours. I had an epiphany: you can sell literally anything.
At this point I shop at secondhand stores and sales, searching for quality items. I purchase something for cheap and resell at a markup.
It's labor-intensive? For sure. It's a whole process. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding a gem at Goodwill and turning a profit.
Plus: my kids think I'm cool when I bring home interesting finds. Recently I grabbed a vintage toy that my son lost his mind over. Made $45 on it. Score one for mom.
Real Talk Time
Here's the thing nobody tells you: side hustles aren't passive income. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are 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 back at it after everyone's in bed.
But here's the thing? That money is MINE. I can spend it guilt-free to treat myself. I'm contributing to our household income. I'm teaching my children that you can have it all—sort of.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
For those contemplating a mom hustle, here are my tips:
Start small. Avoid trying to juggle ten things. Focus on one and nail it down before adding more.
Use the time you have. Whatever time you have, that's fine. Whatever time you can dedicate is a great beginning.
Avoid comparing yourself to the highlight reels. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? They put in years of work and doesn't do it alone. Run your own race.
Invest in yourself, but smartly. Free information exists. Don't spend massive amounts on training until you've validated your idea.
Batch tasks together. I learned this the hard way. Block off days for specific hustles. Monday could be making stuff day. Use Wednesday for organizing and responding.
The Mom Guilt is Real
Let me be honest—mom guilt is a thing. Certain moments when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I feel terrible.
However I remind myself that I'm demonstrating to them work ethic. I'm teaching my kids that moms can have businesses.
Plus? Making my own money has improved my mental the source here health. I'm more satisfied, which makes me more patient.
Let's Talk Money
So what do I actually make? Generally, total from all sources, I pull in between three and five grand. Certain months are higher, some are tougher.
Is it life-changing money? No. But it's paid for stuff that matters to us that would've been impossible otherwise. It's also building my skills and knowledge that could become a full-time thing.
In Conclusion
Look, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship is challenging. It's not a secret sauce. A lot of days I'm making it up as I go, surviving on coffee, and crossing my fingers.
But I wouldn't change it. Every penny made is evidence of my capability. It demonstrates that I'm not just someone's mother.
If you're on the fence about launching a mom business? Do it. Begin before you're ready. You in six months will appreciate it.
Keep in mind: You're not merely getting by—you're growing something incredible. Even if you probably have old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
For real. The whole thing is pretty amazing, complete with all the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—single motherhood wasn't the dream. I also didn't plan on making money from my phone. But fast forward to now, years into this crazy ride, making a living by sharing my life online while raising two kids basically solo. And I'll be real? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Fell Apart
It was three years ago when my life exploded. I will never forget sitting in my mostly empty place (he got the furniture, I got the memories), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my checking account, two mouths to feed, and a job that barely covered rent. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to avoid my thoughts—because that's how we cope? in crisis mode, right?—when I stumbled on this solo parent discussing how she changed her life through content creation. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or stupid. Probably both.
I downloaded the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, explaining how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' school lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Who wants to watch my broke reality?
Turns out, way more people than I expected.
That video got 47K views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me nearly cry over frozen nuggets. The comments section turned into this validation fest—people who got it, folks in the trenches, all saying "same." That was my turning point. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted real.
Finding My Niche: The Unfiltered Mom Content
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the real one.
I started filming the stuff people hide. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I gave them breakfast for dinner several days straight and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my child asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who is six years old.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was real, and apparently, that's what resonated.
Two months later, I hit ten thousand followers. Month three, 50,000. By six months, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to hear what I had to say. Me—a struggling single mom who had to learn everything from scratch six months earlier.
The Daily Grind: Content Creation Meets Real Life
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is not at all like those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm blares. I do not want to move, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a morning routine discussing budgeting. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while discussing custody stuff. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation stops. Now I'm in survival mode—feeding humans, locating lost items (where do they go), throwing food in bags, referee duties. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom making videos while driving in the car. Not proud of this, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. I'm alone finally. I'm editing content, being social, planning content, doing outreach, analyzing metrics. They believe content creation is simple. Wrong. It's a whole business.
I usually create multiple videos on specific days. That means making a dozen videos in one session. I'll switch outfits so it looks like different days. Advice: Keep wardrobe options close for quick changes. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, making videos in public in the driveway.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Back to parenting. But this is where it's complicated—frequently my top performing content come from these after-school moments. Recently, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I wouldn't buy a $40 toy. I made content in the car afterward about handling public tantrums as a single parent. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm typically drained to create content, but I'll queue up posts, answer messages, or prep for tomorrow. Often, after bedtime, I'll edit for hours because a client needs content.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just controlled chaos with random wins.
The Money Talk: How I Really Earn Money
Alright, let's discuss money because this is what you're wondering. Can you make a living as a content creator? Yes. Is it easy? Absolutely not.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Month two? $0. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—$150 to share a meal delivery. I actually cried. That $150 fed us.
Fast forward, three years in, here's how I earn income:
Sponsored Content: This is my primary income. I work with brands that make sense—practical items, single-parent resources, family items. I charge anywhere from $500-5K per collaboration, depending on deliverables. Last month, I did four partnerships and made eight grand.
Ad Money: Creator fund pays very little—$200-$400 per month for millions of views. YouTube money is more lucrative. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Links: I share affiliate links to stuff I really use—everything from my favorite coffee maker to the kids' beds. If they buy using my link, I get a percentage. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Downloadables: I created a single mom budget planner and a food prep planner. $15 apiece, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
One-on-One Coaching: People wanting to start pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer private coaching for two hundred per hour. I do about several of these monthly.
Total monthly income: Typically, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month at this point. It varies, others are slower. It's variable, which is terrifying when you're the only income source. But it's triple what I made at my old job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Dark Side Nobody Posts About
It looks perfect online until you're sobbing alone because a post got no views, or dealing with cruel messages from keyboard warriors.
The trolls are vicious. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, 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 stung for days.
The platform changes. One week you're getting viral hits. Next month, you're getting nothing. Your income is unstable. You're constantly creating, always "on", worried that if you take a break, you'll be forgotten.
The mom guilt is amplified exponentially. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Are my kids safe? Will they hate me for this when they're older? I have clear boundaries—minimal identifying info, nothing too personal, no embarrassing content. But the line is not always clear.
The burnout hits hard. There are weeks when I am empty. When I'm depleted, talked out, and just done. But rent doesn't care. So I show up anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But here's what's real—despite the hard parts, this journey has brought me things I never imagined.
Economic stability for the first damn time. I'm not loaded, but I became debt-free. I have an safety net. We took a actual vacation last summer—Disney World, which seemed impossible a couple years back. I don't panic about money anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or worry about money. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a class party, I'm there. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't manage with a regular job.
My people that saved me. The fellow creators I've connected with, especially single moms, have become true friends. We support each other, collaborate, encourage each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They cheer for me, support me, and validate me.
Identity beyond "mom". Finally, I have something that's mine. I'm more than an ex or someone's mom. I'm a business owner. An influencer. Someone who created this.
My Best Tips
If you're a single mother thinking about this, here's my advice:
Just start. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. That's normal. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Authenticity wins. People can spot fake. Share your honest life—the unfiltered truth. That's what connects.
Protect your kids. Create rules. Have standards. Their privacy is sacred. I keep names private, limit face shots, and keep private things private.
Build multiple income streams. Diversify or one revenue source. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple streams = safety.
Create in batches. When you have time alone, record several. Tomorrow you will thank present you when you're burnt out.
Connect with followers. Engage. Reply to messages. Be real with them. Your community is everything.
Track metrics. Some content isn't worth it. If something takes forever and gets 200 views while a different post takes 20 minutes and blows up, shift focus.
Self-care matters. You can't pour from an empty cup. Step away. Set boundaries. Your mental health matters more than going viral.
Stay patient. This takes time. It took me half a year to make real income. My first year, I made barely $15,000. Year 2, eighty grand. Year three, I'm on track for six figures. It's a marathon.
Don't forget your why. On bad days—and there are many—recall your purpose. For me, it's independence, time with my children, and proving to myself that I'm capable of anything.
The Reality Check
Listen, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Content creation as a single mom is tough. Like, really freaking hard. You're basically running a business while being the only parent of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Many days I question everything. Days when the trolls sting. Days when I'm completely spent and questioning if I should quit this with consistent income.
But then suddenly my daughter mentions she's proud that I work from home. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I know it's worth it.
My Future Plans
Years ago, I was scared and struggling what to do. Today, I'm a professional creator making more than I imagined in my 9-5, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals moving forward? Get to half a million followers by year-end. Begin podcasting for other single moms. Write a book eventually. Keep building this business that makes everything possible.
This path gave me a second chance when I was drowning. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be there, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's not the path I expected, but it's where I belong.
To any single parent on the fence: Hell yes you can. It will be hard. You'll consider quitting. But you're currently doing the hardest job in the world—doing this alone. You're powerful.
Jump in messy. Stay consistent. Guard your peace. And don't forget, you're not just surviving—you're changing your life.
BRB, I need to go make a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and surprise!. Because that's how it goes—chaos becomes content, video by video.
No cap. This journey? It's worth it. Even though there might be crumbs everywhere. That's the dream, chaos and all.