I'm gonna be honest with you, mom life is literally insane. But here's the thing? Attempting to earn extra income while handling tiny humans who think sleep is optional.
I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I discovered that my retail therapy sessions were reaching dangerous levels. It was time to get my own money.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Right so, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And not gonna lie? It was perfect. I was able to get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and the only requirement was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
My first tasks were simple tasks like email management, posting on social media, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. My rate was about fifteen dollars an hour, which felt cheap but for someone with zero experience, you gotta build up your portfolio.
What cracked me up? Picture this: me on a Zoom call looking like I had my life together from the chest up—business casual vibes—while wearing my rattiest leggings. Main character energy.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
After getting my feet wet, I wanted to explore the selling on Etsy. Every mom I knew seemed to be on Etsy, so I figured "why not get in on this?"
I began crafting downloadable organizers and home decor prints. The beauty of printables? Design it once, and it can sell forever. Literally, I've earned money at 3am while I was sleeping.
When I got my first order? I freaked out completely. My husband thought there was an emergency. But no—just me, cheering about my five dollar sale. No shame in my game.
Blogging and Creating
Eventually I got into the whole influencer thing. This hustle is definitely a slow burn, let me tell you.
I launched a mom blog where I shared my parenting journey—everything unfiltered. Keeping it real. Only authentic experiences about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Building traffic was slow. For months, I was essentially creating content for crickets. But I didn't give up, and over time, things gained momentum.
At this point? I generate revenue through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and advertisements on my site. Just last month I made over $2,000 from my blog alone. Crazy, right?
SMM Side Hustle
Once I got decent at social media for my own stuff, brands started reaching out if I could run their social media.
Here's the thing? Many companies don't understand social media. They understand they need a presence, but they don't know how.
Enter: me. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I create content, schedule posts, interact with their audience, and track analytics.
My rate is between $500-$1500/month per account, depending on what they need. Best part? I can do most of it from my phone.
Writing for Money
If you can write, writing gigs is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking becoming Shakespeare—I mean business content.
Brands and websites are desperate for content. I've written everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. You just need to research, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
Usually charge fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on what's involved. Certain months I'll write ten to fifteen pieces and bring in one to two thousand extra.
Here's what's wild: I was the person who struggled with essays. And now I'm getting paid for it. Talk about character development.
Tutoring Online
2020 changed everything, online tutoring exploded. I used to be a teacher, so this was right up my alley.
I started working with VIPKid and Tutor.com. It's super flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I mostly tutor elementary reading and math. You can make from $15-$25/hour depending on where you work.
The awkward part? There are times when my kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. There was a time I educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The families I work with are usually super understanding because they're living the same life.
Flipping Items for Profit
So, this particular venture wasn't planned. I was decluttering my kids' things and listed some clothes on copyright.
They sold immediately. Lightbulb moment: people will buy anything.
At this point I hit up anywhere with deals, looking for good brands. I'll find something for a few dollars and make serious profit.
It's definitely work? Absolutely. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But there's something satisfying about finding a gem at the thrift store and making profit.
Additionally: the kids think it's neat when I find unique items. Just last week I found a vintage toy that my son freaked out about. Sold it for $45. Victory for mom.
The Honest Reality
Truth bomb incoming: side hustles aren't passive income. There's work involved, hence the name.
There are days when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm up at 5am getting stuff done while it's quiet, then doing all the mom stuff, then back at it after everyone's in bed.
But this is what's real? That money is MINE. I can spend it guilt-free to get the good coffee. I'm contributing to the family budget. I'm showing my kids that you can be both.
Tips if You're Starting Out
For those contemplating a side hustle, this is what I've learned:
Start with one thing. Don't attempt to do everything at once. Focus on one and get good at it before expanding.
Honor your limits. Whatever time you have, that's perfectly acceptable. Whatever time you can dedicate is a great beginning.
Don't compare 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.
Spend money on education, but strategically. Start with free stuff first. Avoid dropping huge money on programs until you've proven the concept.
Do similar tasks together. This saved my sanity. Dedicate time blocks for different things. Use Monday for writing day. Make Wednesday administrative work.
The Mom Guilt is Real
I have to be real with you—I struggle with guilt. There are days when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I struggle with it.
But I think about that I'm demonstrating to them that hard work matters. I'm proving to them that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Additionally? Financial independence has improved my mental health. I'm more content, which helps me be better.
Let's Talk Money
My actual income? Typically, combining everything, I earn $3K-5K. Some months are lower, some are tougher.
Will this make you wealthy? Nope. But this money covers family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been really hard. And it's creating opportunities and experience that could evolve into something huge.
In Conclusion
Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing isn't easy. You won't find a perfect balance. Most days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, running on coffee and determination, and doing my best.
But I'm proud of this journey. Every single penny made is a testament to my hustle. It's proof that I'm more than just mom.
For anyone contemplating starting a side hustle? Start now. Start before it's perfect. Future you will appreciate it.
And remember: You're not just making it through—you're building something. Despite the fact that you probably have mysterious crumbs in your workspace.
For real. The whole thing is where it's at, chaos and all.
Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—being a single parent was never the plan. Neither was turning into an influencer. But here we are, three years into this wild journey, making a living by sharing my life online while parenting alone. And I'll be real? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
How It Started: When Everything Imploded
It was three years ago when my divorce happened. I will never forget sitting in my half-empty apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), wide awake at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had $847 in my checking account, two humans depending on me, and a salary that was a joke. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I was on TikTok to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's how we cope? when everything is chaos, right?—when I saw this solo parent sharing how she made six figures through being a creator. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But desperation makes you brave. Maybe both. Sometimes both.
I downloaded the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, talking about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who gives a damn about my broke reality?
Plot twist, 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 safe space—people who got it, people living the same reality, all saying "this is my life." That was my aha moment. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted raw.
Building My Platform: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's the secret about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started sharing the stuff no one shows. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because laundry felt impossible. Or when I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner multiple nights and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my daughter asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what connected.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone seemed fake. Actual humans who wanted to listen to me. Little old me—a broke single mom who had to ask Google what this meant six months earlier.
My Daily Reality: Content Creation Meets Real Life
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because creating content solo is not at all like those curated "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 begin creating. Sometimes it's a GRWM discussing single mom finances. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while discussing parenting coordination. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in parent mode—cooking eggs, the shoe hunt (why is it always one shoe), packing lunches, mediating arguments. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom making videos while driving at stop signs. Not my proudest moment, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. Kids are at school. I'm cutting clips, responding to comments, ideating, doing outreach, reviewing performance. People think content creation is just making TikToks. Wrong. It's a whole business.
I usually batch content on specific days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one sitting. I'll switch outfits so it seems like separate days. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for easy transitions. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, talking to my camera in the yard.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Transition back to mom mode. But plot twist—sometimes my biggest hits come from real life. Recently, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I created a video in the car later about surviving tantrums as a single parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm generally wiped out to film, but I'll schedule content, answer messages, or strategize. Certain nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll edit for hours because a deadline is coming.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just managed chaos with some victories.
Let's Talk Income: How I Really Earn Money
Look, let's get into the finances because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you actually make money as a content creator? For sure. Is it easy? Not even close.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? $0. Month three, I got my first brand deal—a hundred and fifty bucks to share a meal box. I literally cried. That one-fifty paid for groceries.
Now, three years later, here's how I generate revenue:
Collaborations: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that my followers need—things that help, mom products, children's products. I bill anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per partnership, depending on the scope. This past month, I did four collabs and made $8,000.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—$200-$400 per month for tons of views. YouTube money is way better. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Income: I share links to things I own—anything from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds I bought. If anyone buys, I get a cut. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Digital Products: I created a money management guide and a meal planning ebook. They're $15 each, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Teaching Others: Aspiring influencers pay me to guide them. I offer 1:1 sessions for $200 hourly. I do about several each month.
Total monthly income: Most months, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month now. Some months are higher, some are less. It's unpredictable, which is scary when there's no backup. But it's triple what I made at my 9-5, and I'm present.
What They Don't Show Nobody Mentions
Content creation sounds glamorous until you're having a breakdown because a video didn't perform, or handling vicious comments from random people.
The hate comments are real. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm a bad influence, called a liar about being a divorced parent. One person said, "No wonder he left." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm changes constantly. Certain periods you're getting insane views. Then suddenly, you're getting nothing. Your income is unstable. You're constantly creating, always "on", nervous about slowing down, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is worse times a thousand. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this too much? Am I doing right by them? Will they be angry about this when they're older? I have clear boundaries—limited face shots, no sharing their private stuff, no embarrassing content. But the line is not always clear.
The I get burnt out. Certain periods when I have nothing. When I'm done, socially drained, and just done. But rent doesn't care. So I show up anyway.
The Wins
But the truth is—despite everything, this journey has created things I never dreamed of.
Financial freedom for the first damn time. I'm not a millionaire, but I cleared $18K. I have an emergency fund. We took a real vacation last summer—Disney World, which felt impossible two years ago. I don't panic about money anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or stress about losing pay. I worked anywhere. When there's a class party, I'm present. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't be with a corporate job.
Support that saved me. The fellow creators I've met, especially other moms, have become my people. We vent, collaborate, lift each other up. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They hype me up, lift me up, and remind me I'm not alone.
My own identity. After years, I have something that's mine. I'm more than an ex or just a mom. I'm a CEO. A businesswoman. Someone who created this.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a single mom curious about this, listen up:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. That's okay. You grow through creating, not by waiting.
Authenticity wins. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your true life—the unfiltered truth. That's the magic.
Protect your kids. Establish boundaries. Be intentional. Their privacy is everything. I don't use their names, limit face shots, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Diversify income streams. Diversify or a single source. The algorithm is unstable. Multiple income streams = stability.
Batch create content. When you have time alone, create multiple pieces. Tomorrow you will thank yourself when you're unable to film.
Engage with your audience. Engage. Reply to messages. Connect authentically. Your community is crucial.
Analyze performance. Time is money. If something requires tons of time and gets nothing while a different post takes 20 minutes and blows up, shift focus.
Self-care matters. You need to fill your cup. Unplug. Protect your peace. Your wellbeing matters more than views.
Be patient. This isn't a a short read get-rich-quick scheme. It took me ages to make any real money. The first year, I made $15K total. The second year, eighty thousand. Now, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a process.
Don't forget your why. On difficult days—and they happen—remember your reason. For me, it's independence, flexibility with my kids, and showing myself that I'm stronger than I knew.
Real Talk Time
Listen, I'm being honest. This life is challenging. Like, really freaking hard. You're operating a business while being the lone caretaker of children who require constant attention.
There are days I second-guess this. Days when the negativity sting. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and asking myself if I should quit this with a 401k.
But but then my daughter says she appreciates this. Or I look at my savings. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I understand the impact.
What's Next
Three years ago, I was scared and struggling how to make it work. Today, I'm a content creator making triple what I earned in my 9-5, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals going forward? Reach 500K by December. Start a podcast for solo parents. Write a book eventually. Continue building this business that makes everything possible.
This journey gave me a lifeline when I had nothing. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be available, and create something meaningful. It's not the path I expected, but it's where I belong.
To every solo parent wondering if you can do this: Hell yes you can. It isn't simple. You'll doubt yourself. But you're managing the toughest gig—single parenting. You're powerful.
Start imperfect. Be consistent. Prioritize yourself. And don't forget, you're more than just surviving—you're changing your life.
Gotta go now, I need to go film a TikTok about homework I forgot about and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's the content creator single mom life—content from the mess, video by video.
Seriously. This path? It's everything. Despite there's definitely crushed cheerios in my keyboard. Living the dream, imperfectly perfect.