I'm gonna be honest with you, mom life is no joke. But here's the thing? Attempting to earn extra income while juggling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
I entered the side gig world about three years ago when I realized that my impulse buys were reaching dangerous levels. I needed my own money.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Okay so, I started out was jumping into virtual assistance. And I'll be real? It was perfect. I could grind during those precious quiet hours, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.
Initially I was doing simple tasks like organizing inboxes, managing social content, and entering data. Super simple stuff. My rate was about $20/hour, which wasn't much but when you're just starting, you gotta prove yourself first.
The funniest part? I would be on a client call looking like a real businesswoman from the chest up—full professional mode—while sporting sweatpants. Main character energy.
Selling on Etsy
Once I got comfortable, I wanted to explore the selling on Etsy. All my mom friends seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I was like "why not join the party?"
I started creating PDF planners and wall art. What's great about digital products? Design it once, and it can make money while you sleep. Genuinely, I've earned money at 3am while I was sleeping.
The first time someone bought something? I literally screamed. He came running thinking something was wrong. Negative—I was just, cheering about my $4.99 sale. Judge me if you want.
The Content Creation Grind
Eventually I discovered the whole influencer thing. This venture is a marathon not a sprint, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I created a blog about motherhood where I shared the chaos an in-depth guide of parenting—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not the highlight reel. Only honest stories about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Building traffic was like watching paint dry. Initially, it was basically talking to myself. But I persisted, and slowly but surely, things gained momentum.
At this point? I make money through promoting products, working with brands, and ad revenue. This past month I earned over $2K from my website. Wild, right?
The Social Media Management Game
After I learned my own content, brands started asking if I could help them.
And honestly? Most small businesses suck at social media. They understand they need a presence, but they don't know how.
Enter: me. I oversee social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I develop content, queue up posts, respond to comments, and analyze the metrics.
I bill between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per account, 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 those who can string sentences together, writing gigs is seriously profitable. This isn't writing the next Great American Novel—this is commercial writing.
Websites and businesses are desperate for content. I've written articles about everything from the most random topics. Google is your best friend, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
Usually charge fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on the topic and length. On good months I'll create a dozen articles and earn an extra $1,000-2,000.
The funny thing is: I'm the same person who struggled with essays. These days I'm getting paid for it. Life's funny like that.
Tutoring Online
During the pandemic, online tutoring exploded. I used to be a teacher, so this was kind of a natural fit.
I joined various tutoring services. It's super flexible, which is essential when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
I mostly tutor basic subjects. Income ranges from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on the platform.
The funny thing? Sometimes my kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've literally had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The families I work with are usually super understanding because they understand mom life.
Flipping Items for Profit
Alright, this one wasn't planned. I was decluttering my kids' stuff and listed some clothes on Facebook Marketplace.
Stuff sold out instantly. Lightbulb moment: you can sell literally anything.
These days I visit secondhand stores and sales, looking for things that will sell. I grab something for $3 and sell it for $30.
Is it a lot of work? For sure. It's a whole process. But I find it rewarding about finding a gem at a yard sale and making money.
Plus: my children are fascinated when I find unique items. Last week I discovered a collectible item that my son lost his mind over. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Mom for the win.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Let me keep it real: this stuff requires effort. The word 'hustle' is there for a reason.
Some days when I'm exhausted, questioning my life choices. I wake up early getting stuff done while it's quiet, then handling mom duties, then back at it after 8pm hits.
But this is what's real? That money is MINE. I can spend it guilt-free to splurge on something nice. I'm supporting our financial goals. My kids are learning that women can hustle.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're considering a side gig, here's what I'd tell you:
Begin with something manageable. You can't launch everything simultaneously. Focus on one and nail it down before taking on more.
Be realistic about time. Whatever time you have, that's okay. Whatever time you can dedicate is more than enough to start.
Comparison is the thief of joy to the highlight reels. Those people with massive success? She probably started years ago and has resources you don't see. Run your own race.
Invest in yourself, but wisely. You don't need expensive courses. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've tested the waters.
Work in batches. This saved my sanity. Use certain times for certain work. Use Monday for making stuff day. Use Wednesday for administrative work.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Real talk—the mom guilt is real. There are days when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I feel guilty.
However I think about that I'm demonstrating to them how to hustle. I'm showing my daughter that you can be both.
Additionally? Having my own income has helped me feel more like myself. I'm more content, which translates to better parenting.
The Numbers
The real numbers? Most months, combining everything, I earn $3K-5K. Some months are lower, it fluctuates.
Will this make you wealthy? Not really. But I've used it for so many things we needed that would've been impossible otherwise. It's also developing my career and experience that could turn into something bigger.
Final Thoughts
Look, doing this mom hustle thing is hard. There's no secret sauce. Many days I'm making it up as I go, powered by caffeine, and doing my best.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Each penny made is a testament to my hustle. It's proof that I'm a multifaceted person.
For anyone contemplating beginning your hustle journey? Take the leap. Begin before you're ready. You in six months will appreciate it.
Keep in mind: You're more than getting by—you're creating something amazing. Even when you probably have old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
No cap. The whole thing is where it's at, complete with all the chaos.
My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—becoming a single mom wasn't the dream. Nor was making money from my phone. But here we are, three years later, making a living by posting videos while raising two kids basically solo. And real talk? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Changed
It was a few years ago when my relationship fell apart. I will never forget sitting in my bare apartment (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids slept. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my account, little people counting on me, and a salary that was a joke. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to numb the pain—because that's how we cope? when everything is chaos, right?—when I stumbled on this single mom discussing how she made six figures through being a creator. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But being broke makes you bold. Maybe both. Sometimes both.
I downloaded the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, talking about 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?
Apparently, a lot of people.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me almost lose it over processed meat. The comments section became this incredible community—women in similar situations, people living the same reality, all saying "me too." That was my epiphany. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted raw.
Discovering My Voice: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's the secret about content creation: finding your niche is everything. And my niche? It found me. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started filming the stuff no one shows. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because I couldn't handle laundry. Or when I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner multiple nights and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my child asked about the divorce, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who is six years old.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was honest, and apparently, that's what connected.
After sixty days, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, fifty thousand. By six months, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt surreal. These were real people who wanted to know my story. Plain old me—a broke single mom who had to learn everything from scratch months before.
My Daily Reality: Balancing Content and Chaos
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because this life is totally different from 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 hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me discussing single mom finances. Sometimes it's me making food while talking about dealing with my ex. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in survival mode—pouring cereal, locating lost items (where do they go), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom making videos while driving at stop signs. Not proud of this, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. Kids are at school. I'm editing content, responding to comments, planning content, pitching brands, checking analytics. People think content creation is simple. It's not. It's a entire operation.
I usually batch content on certain days. That means filming 10-15 videos in one go. I'll switch outfits so it looks varied. Life hack: Keep multiple tops nearby for easy transitions. My neighbors think I've lost it, talking to my camera in the yard.
3:00pm: School pickup. Back to parenting. But here's where it gets tricky—frequently my top performing content come from these after-school moments. A few days ago, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I said no to a forty dollar toy. I filmed a video in the Target parking lot after about managing big emotions as a single parent. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm completely exhausted to create content, but I'll queue up posts, answer messages, or strategize. Some nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll edit videos until midnight because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just managed chaos with moments of success.
The Financial Reality: How I Actually Make a Living
Alright, let's discuss money because this is what people ask about. Can you make a living as a influencer? For sure. Is it easy? Hell no.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—a hundred and fifty bucks to share a meal box. I cried real tears. That $150 fed us.
Today, three years later, here's how I monetize:
Sponsored Content: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that align with my audience—things that help, single-parent resources, kid essentials. I charge anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per partnership, depending on what they need. Last month, I did four brand deals and made $8K.
Platform Payments: Creator fund pays pennies—$200-$400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube money is more lucrative. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that required years.
Link Sharing: I promote products to stuff I really use—everything from my beloved coffee maker to the kids' beds. If someone clicks and buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Digital Products: I created a money management guide and a meal planning ebook. Each costs $15, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Teaching Others: People wanting to start pay me to mentor them. I offer private coaching for $200/hour. I do about 5-10 each month.
My total income: Most months, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month these days. Some months are higher, others are slower. It's variable, which is scary when you're the only income source. But it's triple what I made at my previous job, and I'm present.
The Struggles Nobody Shows You
From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a video didn't perform, or reading nasty DMs from random people.
The negativity is intense. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm using my children, questioned about being a single mom. Someone once commented, "I'd leave too." That one stung for days.
The algorithm changes constantly. Certain periods you're getting insane views. Then suddenly, you're getting nothing. Your income fluctuates. You're always on, 24/7, scared to stop, you'll be forgotten.
The guilt is crushing times a thousand. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Is this okay? Will they hate me for this when they're teenagers? I have non-negotiables—limited face shots, nothing too personal, no embarrassing content. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout is real. Sometimes when I am empty. When I'm touched out, talked out, and at my limit. But bills don't care about burnout. So I create anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But here's what's real—even with the struggles, this journey has given me things I never anticipated.
Money security for the first time ever. I'm not loaded, but I cleared $18K. I have an safety net. We took a vacation last summer—Orlando, which was a dream not long ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to call in to work or panic. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a field trip, I can go. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't manage with a corporate job.
Community that saved me. The creator friends I've met, especially other moms, have become real friends. We support each other, exchange tips, have each other's backs. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They celebrate my wins, support me, and remind me I'm not alone.
Identity beyond "mom". Finally, I have something that's mine. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or only a parent. I'm a content creator. A businesswoman. Someone who built something from nothing.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single parent wanting to start, here's my advice:
Don't wait. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You get better, not by waiting until everything is perfect.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your true life—the chaos. That's the magic.
Prioritize their privacy. Set limits. Have standards. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I don't use their names, limit face shots, and keep private things private.
Diversify income streams. Spread it out or one income stream. The algorithm is unstable. Diversification = security.
Create in batches. When you have time alone, film multiple videos. Future you will appreciate it when you're unable to film.
Engage with your audience. Reply to comments. Check messages. Build real relationships. Your community is everything.
Track your time and ROI. Be strategic. If something takes four hours and tanks while another video takes very little time and blows up, adjust your strategy.
Don't forget yourself. You matter too. Unplug. Create limits. Your sanity matters more than going viral.
Be patient. This requires patience. It took me half a year to make any real money. Year one, I made barely $15,000. Year two, $80,000. Now, I'm hitting six figures. It's a marathon.
Stay connected to your purpose. On hard days—and there are many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's financial freedom, being there, and demonstrating that I'm stronger than I knew.
Real Talk Time
Look, I'm telling the truth. This life is challenging. Like, really freaking hard. You're basically running a business while being the sole caretaker of demanding little people.
There are days I question everything. Days when the hate comments get to me. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with a 401k.
But then suddenly my daughter says she loves that I'm home. Or I look at my savings. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I know it's worth it.
My Future Plans
A few years back, I was terrified and clueless how to make it work. Currently, I'm a professional creator making way more than I made in traditional work, and I'm present for everything.
My goals going forward? Hit 500,000 followers by year-end. Begin podcasting for single parents. Write a book eventually. Expand this business that supports my family.
This journey gave me a second chance when I had nothing. It gave me a way to support my kids, be available, and build something real. It's not the path I expected, but it's perfect.
To any single parent considering this: Hell yes you can. It will be challenging. You'll struggle. But you're already doing the toughest gig—doing this alone. You're stronger than you think.
Jump in messy. Stay the course. Keep your boundaries. And don't forget, you're doing more than surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Time to go, I need to go film a TikTok about homework I forgot about and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's how it goes—content from the mess, one post at a time.
Seriously. This life? It's worth it. Even if I'm sure there's crumbs in my keyboard. Living the dream, imperfectly perfect.