Let me tell you, being a mom is no joke. But plot twist? Attempting to hustle for money while juggling toddlers and their chaos.
I entered the side gig world about several years ago when I realized that my retail therapy sessions were getting out of hand. It was time to get funds I didn't have to justify spending.
Being a VA
Right so, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And honestly? It was chef's kiss. I could hustle while the kids slept, and the only requirement was my laptop and decent wifi.
Initially I was doing easy things like email sorting, doing social media scheduling, and entering data. Pretty straightforward. I charged about $15-20 per hour, which wasn't much but for someone with zero experience, you gotta begin at the bottom.
Here's what was wild? I would be on a video meeting looking like I had my life together from the waist up—business casual vibes—while sporting my rattiest leggings. Main character energy.
My Etsy Journey
After getting my feet wet, I wanted to explore the Etsy world. Every mom I knew seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I figured "why not join the party?"
I started designing PDF planners and wall art. Here's why printables are amazing? One and done creation, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Actually, I've earned money at ungodly hours.
The first time someone bought something? I lost my mind. My partner was like something was wrong. Negative—I was just, cheering about my five dollar sale. No shame in my game.
Blogging and Creating
Next I ventured into writing and making content. This hustle is a marathon not a sprint, let me tell you.
I created a mom blog where I wrote about my parenting journey—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Keeping it real. Only the actual truth about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Getting readers was slow. For months, I was basically creating content for crickets. But I didn't give up, and eventually, things began working.
Currently? I generate revenue through affiliate links, collaborations, and display ads. Just last month I brought in over $2K from my blog income. Mind-blowing, right?
SMM Side Hustle
As I mastered my own content, small companies started inquiring if I could help them.
And honestly? A lot of local businesses don't understand social media. They understand they need a presence, but they're too busy.
Enter: me. I now manage social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I develop content, plan their posting schedule, interact with their audience, and check their stats.
They pay me between $500-1500 per month per account, depending on the scope of work. What I love? I handle this from my phone during soccer practice.
Writing for Money
If you can write, freelance writing is incredibly lucrative. Not like literary fiction—I'm talking about business content.
Brands and websites constantly need fresh content. My assignments have included everything from the most random topics. Google is your best friend, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
Usually bill $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on the topic and length. When I'm hustling hard I'll crank out 10-15 articles and pull in $1-2K.
Plot twist: I'm the same person who hated writing papers. Currently I'm getting paid for it. Life's funny like that.
The Online Tutoring Thing
2020 changed everything, everyone needed online help. I was a teacher before kids, so this was kind of a natural fit.
I joined VIPKid and Tutor.com. It's super flexible, which is essential when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I mostly tutor basic subjects. You can make from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on which site you use.
Here's what's weird? There are times when my children will interrupt mid-session. I've had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. Other parents are very sympathetic because they get it.
Flipping Items for Profit
Alright, this hustle started by accident. I was decluttering my kids' room and put some things on Mercari.
Stuff sold out instantly. That's when I realized: people will buy anything.
These days I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, hunting for name brands. I grab something for $3 and sell it for $30.
It's labor-intensive? For sure. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding hidden treasures at Goodwill and turning a profit.
Also: my kids are impressed when I score cool vintage stuff. Recently I discovered a retro toy that my son went crazy for. Sold it for $45. Mom win.
Real Talk Time
Real talk moment: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are moments when I'm completely drained, questioning my life choices. I'm working before sunrise being productive before the madness begins, then all day mom-ing, then more hustle time after bedtime.
But this is what's real? I earned this money. I can spend it guilt-free to get the good coffee. I'm supporting the family budget. I'm teaching my children that you can have it all—sort of.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're thinking about a side hustle, this is what I've learned:
Start with one thing. Don't attempt to juggle ten things. Start with one venture and become proficient before adding more.
Work with your schedule. Your available hours, that's okay. Even one focused hour is a great beginning.
Avoid comparing yourself to the highlight reels. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? They put in years of work and has resources you don't see. Do your thing.
Learn and grow, but carefully. You don't need expensive courses. Don't waste massive amounts on training until you've tested the waters.
Work in batches. I learned this the hard way. Use days for specific hustles. Use Monday for creation day. Make Wednesday administrative work.
The Mom Guilt is Real
I'm not gonna lie—mom guilt is a thing. There are times when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I feel guilty.
However I remind myself that I'm demonstrating to them what dedication looks like. I'm demonstrating to my children that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Also? Making my own money has made me a better mom. I'm more satisfied, which helps me be better.
Let's Talk Money
How much do I earn? Most months, between all my hustles, I earn $3K-5K. Some months are lower, it fluctuates.
Is this getting-rich money? Not exactly. But this money covers so many things we needed that would've been really hard. And it's creating opportunities and knowledge that could grow into more.
In Conclusion
Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing is challenging. You won't find a one-size-fits-all approach. Most days I'm making it up as I go, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and crossing my fingers.
But I wouldn't change it. Every dollar I earn is validation of my effort. It shows that I have identity beyond motherhood.
So if you're considering beginning your hustle journey? Go for it. Don't wait for perfect. Your future self will be so glad you did.
Always remember: You're not just getting by—you're hustling. Even if you probably have mysterious crumbs everywhere.
No cap. This is pretty amazing, mess included.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Let me be real with you—being a single parent was never the plan. I also didn't plan on becoming a content creator. But yet here I am, three years later, making a living by sharing my life online while handling everything by myself. And I'll be real? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was 2022 when my divorce happened. I will never forget sitting in my new apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my checking account, two mouths to feed, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to numb the pain—because that's how we cope? when we're drowning, right?—when I saw this single mom sharing how she changed her life through content creation. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But desperation makes you brave. Or both. Probably both.
I installed the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, explaining how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunches. I hit post and panicked. Who gives a damn about someone's train wreck of a life?
Apparently, a lot of people.
That video got 47K views. 47,000 people watched me breakdown over chicken nuggets. The comments section was this incredible community—women in similar situations, other people struggling, all saying "I feel this." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted honest.
Discovering My Voice: The Honest Single Parent Platform
Here's what nobody tells you 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 posting about the stuff no one shows. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I gave them breakfast for dinner several days straight and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who is six years old.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was honest, and turns out, that's what hit.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone blew my mind. These were real people who wanted to follow me. Plain old me—a financially unstable single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" not long ago.
A Day in the Life: Juggling Everything
Here's the reality of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is not at all like those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do absolutely not want to wake up, 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 talking about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while discussing co-parenting struggles. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation ends. Now I'm in mommy mode—making breakfast, finding the missing shoe (where do they go), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is real.
8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom making videos while driving at stop signs. Not my proudest moment, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. House is quiet. I'm in editing mode, replying to DMs, ideating, sending emails, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is just posting videos. Nope. It's a whole business.
I usually film in batches on specific days. That means making a dozen videos in one go. I'll swap tops so it appears to be different times. Life hack: Keep several shirts ready for fast swaps. My neighbors think I've lost it, talking to my camera in the parking lot.
3:00pm: School pickup. Back to parenting. But plot twist—many times my biggest hits come from the chaos. Recently, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I wouldn't buy a $40 toy. I recorded in the Target parking lot later about handling public tantrums as a single mom. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm generally wiped out to create content, but I'll plan posts, answer messages, or strategize. Many nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll edit for hours because a client needs content.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just managed chaos with random wins.
The Money Talk: How I Generate Income
Look, let's talk numbers because this is what you're wondering. Can you make a living as a online creator? For sure. Is it easy? Nope.
My first month, I made nothing. Second month? Zero. Third month, I got my first collaboration—$150 to promote a meal kit service. I actually cried. That $150 paid for groceries.
Now, three years in, here's how I make money:
Sponsored Content: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that my followers need—things that help, parenting tools, kids' stuff. I bill anywhere from $500-5K per partnership, depending on what's required. This past month, I did four collabs and made $8,000.
TikTok Fund: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—maybe $200-400 per month for massive numbers. YouTube revenue is better. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Marketing: I share links to stuff I really use—ranging from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If someone purchases through my link, I get a cut. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Downloadables: 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 $1-1.5K.
Coaching/Consulting: New creators pay me to guide them. I offer consulting calls for two hundred per hour. I do about five to ten a month.
Total monthly income: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month at this point. It varies, others are slower. It's unpredictable, which is terrifying when there's no backup. But it's three times what I made at my corporate job, and I'm present.
The Hard Parts Nobody Posts About
This sounds easy until you're having a breakdown because a video didn't perform, or managing hate comments from internet trolls.
The hate comments are real. I've been called a bad mom, 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 stuck with me.
The algorithm changes constantly. One week you're getting viral hits. The following week, you're getting nothing. Your income is unstable. You're constantly creating, 24/7, nervous about slowing down, you'll be forgotten.
The mom guilt is intense to the extreme. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Are my kids safe? Will they resent this when they're grown? I the document here have firm rules—protected identities, no discussing their personal struggles, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is fuzzy.
The burnout is real. Certain periods when I don't want to film anything. When I'm depleted, over it, and at my limit. But the mortgage is due. So I show up anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But here's the thing—despite the hard parts, this journey has brought me things I never anticipated.
Economic stability for the first damn time. I'm not a millionaire, but I cleared $18K. I have an cushion. We took a real vacation last summer—Disney, which seemed impossible a couple years back. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to call in to work or worry about money. I worked anywhere. When there's a field trip, I'm there. I'm there for them in ways I couldn't manage with a traditional 9-5.
Support that saved me. The other influencers I've befriended, especially other single parents, have become true friends. We vent, help each other, encourage each other. My followers have become this family. They support me, send love, and make me feel seen.
Identity beyond "mom". Finally, I have something for me. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or somebody's mother. I'm a content creator. A creator. A person who hustled.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a solo parent thinking about this, here's my advice:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. It's fine. You grow through creating, not by waiting until everything is perfect.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your real life—the unfiltered truth. That's what connects.
Guard their privacy. Set boundaries early. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is everything. I don't use their names, minimize face content, and protect their stories.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't rely on just one platform or a single source. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple streams = safety.
Film multiple videos. When you have quiet time, film multiple videos. Future you will thank yourself when you're burnt out.
Interact. Answer comments. Check messages. Be real with them. Your community is what matters.
Track metrics. Not all content is worth creating. If something requires tons of time and gets 200 views while something else takes minutes and blows up, adjust your strategy.
Prioritize yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Step away. Protect your peace. Your health matters most.
This takes time. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me half a year to make decent money. My first year, I made fifteen thousand. The second year, $80,000. Year three, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a process.
Don't forget your why. On hard days—and they happen—think about your why. For me, it's money, being present, and showing myself that I'm more than I believed.
Being Real With You
Listen, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Being a single mom creator is hard. So damn hard. You're managing a business while being the lone caretaker of demanding little people.
Some days I doubt myself. Days when the trolls affect me. Days when I'm drained and wondering if I should just get a "normal" job with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But then suddenly my daughter tells me she loves that I'm home. Or I see financial progress. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I understand the impact.
My Future Plans
Three years ago, I was scared and struggling how to survive. Now, I'm a full-time creator making triple what I earned in corporate America, and I'm present for everything.
My goals now? Hit 500K by end of year. Start a podcast for single moms. Maybe write a book. Keep building this business that makes everything possible.
Content creation gave me a lifeline when I was drowning. It gave me a way to provide for my family, show up, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's unexpected, but it's meant to be.
To any single parent wondering if you can do this: Hell yes you can. It won't be easy. You'll struggle. But you're managing the most difficult thing—single parenting. You're powerful.
Begin messy. Stay consistent. Protect your peace. And don't forget, you're not just surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go make a video about the project I just found out about and nobody told me until now. Because that's the reality—turning chaos into content, video by video.
For real. This journey? It's worth every struggle. Even if there's probably Goldfish crackers all over my desk. No regrets, imperfectly perfect.