Let me tell you, mom life is a whole vibe. But plot twist? Working to secure the bag while juggling kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
I started my side hustle journey about three years ago when I discovered that my impulse buys were reaching dangerous levels. I was desperate for my own money.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Here's what happened, I kicked things off was becoming a virtual assistant. And I'll be real? It was perfect. I could work during naptime, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.
I began by easy things like handling emails, scheduling social media posts, and entering data. Pretty straightforward. My rate was about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but as a total beginner, you gotta prove yourself first.
The funniest part? There I was on a video meeting looking all professional from the chest up—business casual vibes—while wearing pants I'd owned since a related post 2015. Main character energy.
Selling on Etsy
About twelve months in, I thought I'd test out the whole Etsy thing. All my mom friends seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I thought "why not get in on this?"
My shop focused on creating PDF planners and digital art prints. Here's why printables are amazing? One and done creation, and it can generate passive income forever. For real, I've gotten orders at midnight when I'm unconscious.
The first time someone bought something? I literally screamed. He came running thinking the house was on fire. Nope—it was just me, celebrating my five dollar sale. No shame in my game.
The Content Creation Grind
Then I discovered blogging and content creation. This particular side gig is a marathon not a sprint, trust me on this.
I launched a blog about motherhood where I wrote about real mom life—the messy truth. Not the highlight reel. Just authentic experiences about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Building up views was slow. The first few months, I was essentially writing for myself and like three people. But I persisted, and slowly but surely, things gained momentum.
These days? I generate revenue through promoting products, sponsored posts, and advertisements on my site. Just last month I generated over $2K from my blog income. Mind-blowing, right?
SMM Side Hustle
Once I got decent at my own content, brands started asking if I could manage their accounts.
Real talk? Many companies are terrible with social media. They understand they have to be on it, but they don't have time.
Enter: me. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I plan their content, schedule posts, engage with followers, and monitor performance.
I bill between $500-1500 per month per business, depending on what they need. The best thing? I do this work 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—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Businesses everywhere are desperate for content. I've created content about everything from the most random topics. You just need to research, you just need to know how to find information.
Usually make $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on what's involved. Some months I'll write 10-15 articles and earn one to two thousand extra.
Here's what's wild: I'm the same person who thought writing was torture. These days I'm making money from copyright. The irony.
Tutoring Online
After lockdown started, tutoring went digital. I used to be a teacher, so this was an obvious choice.
I signed up with various tutoring services. You make your own schedule, which is essential when you have children who keep you guessing.
I focus on K-5 subjects. You can make from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the platform.
The funny thing? Every now and then my kids will interrupt mid-session. There was a time I 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 happened accidentally. I was decluttering my kids' room and listed some clothes on copyright.
Items moved instantly. I had an epiphany: there's a market for everything.
At this point I shop at thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, on the hunt for quality items. I'll buy something for a few dollars and make serious profit.
This takes effort? Yes. It's a whole process. But there's something satisfying about finding a gem at a garage sale and turning a profit.
Additionally: the kids think it's neat when I bring home interesting finds. Just last week I grabbed a collectible item that my son lost his mind over. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Mom for the win.
The Honest Reality
Truth bomb incoming: this stuff requires effort. There's work involved, hence the name.
There are moments when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, doubting everything. I wake up early hustling before the chaos starts, then all day mom-ing, then working again after bedtime.
But this is what's real? I earned this money. I can spend it guilt-free to buy the fancy coffee. I'm adding to our financial goals. I'm showing my kids that you can have it all—sort of.
What I Wish I Knew
If you want to start a side gig, this is what I've learned:
Start small. Don't attempt to juggle ten things. Start with one venture and become proficient before starting something else.
Honor your limits. If you only have evenings, that's fine. A couple of productive hours is more than enough to start.
Stop comparing to the highlight reels. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? She probably started years ago and has resources you don't see. Focus on your own journey.
Don't be afraid to invest, but wisely. You don't need expensive courses. 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. Use Monday for creation day. Wednesday could be organizing and responding.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—I struggle with guilt. Sometimes when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I feel guilty.
But I think about that I'm modeling for them how to hustle. I'm showing my daughter that you can be both.
Also? Making my own money has made me a better mom. I'm more fulfilled, which makes me more patient.
The Numbers
So what do I actually make? Most months, between all my hustles, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. Certain months are higher, it fluctuates.
Will this make you wealthy? No. But this money covers vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've been really hard. It's giving me confidence and knowledge that could grow into more.
In Conclusion
Look, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship takes work. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. Often I'm making it up as I go, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and praying it all works out.
But I'm proud of this journey. Each bit of income is proof that I can do hard things. It's evidence that I'm more than just mom.
If you're thinking about starting a side hustle? Start now. Begin before you're ready. Future you will thank you.
Always remember: You're not just enduring—you're growing something incredible. Even when you probably have old cheerios on your keyboard.
Not even kidding. The whole thing is pretty amazing, despite the chaos.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
Let me be real with you—becoming a single mom wasn't the dream. Neither was making money from my phone. But here I am, years into this crazy ride, paying bills by being vulnerable on the internet while parenting alone. And not gonna lie? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was three years ago when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my half-empty apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my bank account, two kids to support, and a job that barely covered rent. The panic was real, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to numb the pain—because that's what we do? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I found this single mom talking about how she became debt-free through content creation. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Or both. Often both.
I grabbed the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, venting about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunch boxes. I hit post and panicked. Who wants to watch this disaster?
Spoiler alert, tons of people.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me get emotional over processed meat. The comments section became this validation fest—fellow solo parents, people living the same reality, all saying "this is my life." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfect. They wanted real.
Finding My Niche: The Unfiltered Mom Content
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started posting about the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because I couldn't handle laundry. Or when I gave them breakfast for dinner all week and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my kid asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who thinks the tooth fairy is real.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was honest, and turns out, that's what worked.
After sixty days, I hit 10K. 90 days in, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to listen to me. Little old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to learn everything from scratch not long ago.
The Daily Grind: Content Creation Meets Real Life
Here's the reality of my typical day, because this life is totally different from those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm blares. I do not want to move, but this is my work time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a getting ready video sharing about money struggles. Sometimes it's me making food while sharing custody stuff. The lighting is whatever I can get.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation stops. Now I'm in parent mode—making breakfast, locating lost items (seriously, always ONE), prepping food, stopping fights. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom creating content in traffic at stop signs. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. House is quiet. I'm editing content, replying to DMs, planning content, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is only filming. Absolutely not. It's a full business.
I usually batch content on Monday and Wednesday. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one sitting. I'll change shirts between videos so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep different outfits accessible for easy transitions. My neighbors must think I'm insane, filming myself talking to my phone in the yard.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Parent time. But here's the thing—sometimes my top performing content come from the chaos. Last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I wouldn't buy a toy she didn't need. I made content in the vehicle afterward about dealing with meltdowns as a lone parent. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm typically drained to create anything, but I'll schedule uploads, respond to DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Certain nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll work late because a partnership is due.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just organized chaos with random wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Generate Income
Look, let's talk dollars because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you make a living as a creator? Absolutely. Is it simple? Nope.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first collaboration—a hundred and fifty bucks to share a meal delivery. I cried real tears. That hundred fifty dollars bought groceries for two weeks.
Today, years later, here's how I generate revenue:
Brand Deals: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that my followers need—budget-friendly products, mom products, kid essentials. I bill anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per partnership, depending on the scope. Last month, I did four partnerships and made $8,000.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: The TikTok fund pays not much—two to four hundred per month for millions of views. AdSense is better. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Marketing: I share affiliate links to products I actually use—ranging from my favorite coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If they buy using my link, I get a kickback. This brings in about $1K monthly.
Digital Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a cooking guide. $15 apiece, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
Consulting Services: Aspiring influencers pay me to mentor them. I offer consulting calls for two hundred per hour. I do about 5-10 each month.
Combined monthly revenue: Most months, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month now. Some months I make more, some are less. It's unpredictable, which is nerve-wracking when you're the only income source. But it's triple what I made at my corporate job, and I'm there for them.
The Hard Parts Nobody Posts About
It looks perfect online until you're crying in your car because a post tanked, or dealing with cruel messages from random people.
The trolls are vicious. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm exploiting my kids, called a liar about being a single mom. One person said, "Maybe that's why he left." That one stung for days.
The algorithm is unpredictable. Sometimes you're getting viral hits. Next month, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income is unstable. You're never off, always working, scared to stop, you'll fall behind.
The mom guilt is intense times a thousand. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Am I doing right by them? Will they resent this when they're older? I have clear boundaries—limited face shots, nothing too personal, nothing humiliating. But the line is fuzzy.
The I get burnt out. Sometimes when I am empty. When I'm exhausted, talked out, and at my limit. But bills don't care about burnout. So I create anyway.
The Beautiful Parts
But listen—through it all, this journey has given me things I never dreamed of.
Money security for once in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I eliminated my debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a family trip last summer—Disney World, which felt impossible a couple years back. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or stress about losing pay. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a school thing, I can go. I'm there for them in ways I couldn't manage with a corporate job.
Community that saved me. The creator friends I've befriended, especially single moms, have become actual friends. We connect, exchange tips, support each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They cheer for me, support me, and remind me I'm not alone.
My own identity. Finally, I have an identity. I'm not defined by divorce or someone's mom. I'm a entrepreneur. A businesswoman. Someone who created this.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a single mother wanting to start, here's what I'd tell you:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. That's okay. You grow through creating, not by overthinking.
Keep it real. People can spot fake. Share your actual life—the mess. That's what connects.
Keep them safe. Set boundaries early. Have standards. Their privacy is sacred. I keep names private, rarely show their faces, and protect their stories.
Don't rely on one thing. Diversify or one revenue source. The algorithm is unstable. Multiple streams = safety.
Film multiple videos. When you have time alone, create multiple pieces. Tomorrow you will be grateful when you're too exhausted to create.
Engage with your audience. Answer comments. Reply to messages. Be real with them. Your community is what matters.
Analyze performance. Some content isn't worth it. If something takes four hours and gets 200 views while another video takes 20 minutes and gets massive views, shift focus.
Take care of yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your wellbeing matters more than going viral.
Be patient. This requires patience. It took me ages to make decent money. My first year, I made barely $15,000. Year two, eighty grand. This year, I'm making six figures. It's a process.
Don't forget your why. On bad days—and there are many—think about your why. For me, it's supporting my kids, flexibility with my kids, and demonstrating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
Being Real With You
Listen, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This life is challenging. Incredibly hard. You're basically running a business while being the only parent of kids who need everything.
Certain days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the trolls get to me. Days when I'm burnt out and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with stability.
But then suddenly my daughter mentions she's happy I'm here. Or I look at my savings. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I understand the impact.
My Future Plans
A few years back, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how to survive. Fast forward, I'm a full-time creator making way more than I made in traditional work, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals now? Hit 500,000 followers by end of year. Start a podcast for single moms. Possibly write a book. Keep growing this business that changed my life.
This path gave me a second chance when I needed it most. It gave me a way to feed my babies, show up, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's unexpected, but it's perfect.
To every solo parent wondering if you can do this: Yes you can. It will be hard. You'll doubt yourself. But you're currently doing the hardest job in the world—single parenting. You're more capable than you know.
Start imperfect. Stay the course. Guard your peace. And don't forget, you're more than just surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Time to go, I need to go film a TikTok about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and I just learned about it. Because that's this life—turning chaos into content, video by video.
Seriously. Being a single mom creator? It's worth it. Despite there might be crushed cheerios all over my desk. Living the dream, one messy video at a time.