Let me tell you, mom life is a whole vibe. But plot twist? Trying to get that bread while managing children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
My hustle life began about a few years back when I discovered that my random shopping trips were getting out of hand. I was desperate for funds I didn't have to justify spending.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Right so, I kicked things off was jumping into virtual assistance. And honestly? It was exactly what I needed. I was able to grind during those precious quiet hours, and all I needed was a computer and internet.
I began by simple tasks like email management, posting on social media, and data entry. Nothing fancy. My rate was about $20/hour, which wasn't much but when you're just starting, you gotta build up your portfolio.
What cracked me up? Picture this: me on a client call looking like a real businesswoman from the shoulders up—full professional mode—while sporting sweatpants. Peak mom life.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
About twelve months in, I wanted to explore the whole Etsy thing. Literally everyone seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I was like "why not start one too?"
My shop focused on designing PDF planners and wall art. The thing about selling digital stuff? One and done creation, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Actually, I've earned money at 3am while I was sleeping.
My first sale? I literally screamed. My husband thought there was an emergency. Not even close—it was just me, cheering about my first five bucks. Don't judge me.
The Content Creation Grind
Next I discovered blogging and content creation. This venture is a marathon not a sprint, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I started a mom blog where I shared real mom life—all of it, no filter. Keeping it real. Simply real talk about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Building traffic was painfully slow. Initially, I was essentially creating content for crickets. But I kept at it, and eventually, things took off.
At this point? I earn income through affiliate links, collaborations, and ad revenue. Last month I generated over $2K from my blog alone. Wild, right?
The Social Media Management Game
Once I got decent at running my own socials, small companies started asking if I could manage their accounts.
And honestly? Most small businesses suck at social media. They realize they should be posting, but they don't know how.
I swoop in. I oversee social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I create content, queue up posts, interact with their audience, and check their stats.
They pay me between $500-1500 per month per business, depending on how much work is involved. Here's what's great? I manage everything from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For those who can string sentences together, content writing is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking writing the next Great American Novel—I'm talking about commercial writing.
Businesses everywhere constantly need fresh content. I've written articles about everything from dental hygiene to copyright. Google is your best friend, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
Usually earn $50-150 per article, depending on length and complexity. Certain months I'll create a dozen articles and make $1-2K.
Plot twist: I'm the same person who barely passed English class. And now I'm getting paid for it. Talk about character development.
Virtual Tutoring
2020 changed everything, everyone needed online help. With my teaching background, so this was an obvious choice.
I started working with various tutoring services. The scheduling is flexible, which is essential when you have children who keep you guessing.
I mainly help with elementary school stuff. You can make from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on the platform.
Here's what's weird? There are times when my kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. There was a time I be professional while chaos erupted behind me. The families I work with are incredibly understanding because they get it.
The Reselling Game
So, this hustle started by accident. While organizing my kids' room and tried selling some outfits on Facebook Marketplace.
Things sold so fast. I suddenly understood: people will buy anything.
At this point I visit secondhand stores and sales, on the hunt for things that will sell. I grab something for cheap and resell at a markup.
This takes effort? Not gonna lie. It's a whole process. But it's oddly satisfying about spotting valuable items at Goodwill and turning a profit.
Also: my kids think I'm cool when I discover weird treasures. Just last week I found a rare action figure that my son lost his mind over. Sold it for $45. Score one for mom.
The Honest Reality
Real talk moment: side hustles aren't passive income. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
There are days when I'm running on empty, asking myself what I'm doing. I wake up early being productive before the madness begins, then being a full-time parent, then working again after everyone's in bed.
But here's what matters? That money is MINE. I don't have to ask permission to buy the fancy coffee. I'm supporting our household income. My kids are learning that you can have it all—sort of.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're considering a side gig, here are my tips:
Start with one thing. Avoid trying to launch everything simultaneously. Start with one venture and master it before adding more.
Be realistic about time. Your available hours, that's fine. A couple of productive hours is a great beginning.
Don't compare yourself to Instagram moms. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? They put in years of work and has support. Do your thing.
Invest in yourself, but wisely. There are tons of free resources. Don't spend thousands on courses until you've tested the waters.
Batch your work. I learned this the hard way. Dedicate time blocks for different things. Monday could be creation day. Make Wednesday handling business stuff.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
I'm not gonna lie—the mom guilt is real. Certain moments when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I feel terrible.
However I remember that I'm modeling for them that hard work matters. I'm proving to them that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
And honestly? Financial independence has improved my mental health. I'm more satisfied, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
How much do I earn? Most months, from all my side gigs, I make three to five thousand monthly. It varies, others are slower.
Is it life-changing money? Nope. But it's paid for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been impossible otherwise. Plus it's building my skills and knowledge that could evolve into something huge.
Final Thoughts
Listen, being a mom with a side hustle is challenging. You won't find a one-size-fits-all approach. Often I'm making it up as I go, powered by caffeine, and praying it all works out.
But I wouldn't change it. Every bit of income is proof that I can do hard things. It's proof that I'm more than just mom.
If you're thinking about beginning your hustle journey? Go for it. Don't wait for perfect. Your future self will appreciate it.
Always remember: You're more than enduring—you're building something. Even when you probably have Goldfish crackers everywhere.
No cap. The whole thing is pretty amazing, mess included.
Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—being a single parent wasn't on my vision board. I also didn't plan on making money from my phone. But fast forward to now, three years later, supporting my family by posting videos while doing this mom thing solo. And real talk? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Changed
It was a few years ago when my life exploded. I remember sitting in my mostly empty place (he got the furniture, I got the memories), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had barely $850 in my account, two humans depending on me, and a income that didn't cut it. The panic was real, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to avoid my thoughts—because that's how we cope? when we're drowning, right?—when I saw this solo parent discussing how she changed her life through content creation. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Or stupid. Probably both.
I installed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, venting about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a cheap food for my kids' school lunches. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Who gives a damn about this disaster?
Apparently, way more people than I expected.
That video got 47,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me breakdown over frozen nuggets. The comments section was this incredible community—people who got it, people living the same reality, all saying "same." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted raw.
Building My Platform: The Honest Single Parent Platform
The truth is about content creation: finding your niche is everything. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started posting about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because laundry felt impossible. Or the time I served cereal as a meal three nights in a row and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my child asked where daddy went, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who is six years old.
My content was raw. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was unfiltered, and apparently, that's what resonated.
Two months later, I hit ten thousand followers. Month three, 50K. By six months, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone felt surreal. These were real people who wanted to follow me. Plain old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to learn everything from scratch not long ago.
My Daily Reality: Managing It All
Let me show you of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is the opposite of those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a getting ready video discussing financial reality. Sometimes it's me cooking while talking about parenting coordination. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation stops. Now I'm in parent mode—feeding humans, finding the missing shoe (why is it always one shoe), throwing food in bags, referee duties. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom creating content in traffic when stopped. I know, I know, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. House is quiet. I'm editing content, responding to comments, brainstorming content ideas, pitching brands, looking at stats. Everyone assumes content creation is simple. Absolutely not. It's a whole business.
I usually create multiple videos on Monday and Wednesday. That means making a dozen videos in a few hours. I'll switch outfits so it looks like different days. Hot tip: Keep multiple tops nearby for quick changes. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, making videos in public in the yard.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Back to parenting. But this is where it's complicated—sometimes my top performing content come from this time. Last week, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I filmed a video in the car later about managing big emotions as a single parent. It got millions of views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm usually too exhausted to film, but I'll plan posts, respond to DMs, or outline content. Often, after bedtime, I'll edit for hours because a partnership is due.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just organized chaos with some victories.
The Financial Reality: How I Support My Family
Alright, let's discuss money because this is what you're wondering. Can you make a living as a creator? For sure. Is it simple? Hell no.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Month two? Also nothing. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—one hundred fifty dollars to share a meal kit service. I actually cried. That $150 paid for groceries.
Today, years later, here's how I earn income:
Brand Deals: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that my followers need—things that help, single-parent resources, family items. I charge anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per deal, depending on what's required. This past month, I did four brand deals and made $8,000.
TikTok Fund: The TikTok fund pays basically nothing—two to four hundred per month for tons of views. YouTube money is better. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Marketing: I post links to items I love—everything from my favorite coffee maker to the bunk beds I bought. If someone clicks and buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Online Products: 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.
Teaching Others: Other aspiring creators pay me to show them how. I offer 1:1 sessions for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 per month.
Total monthly income: Most months, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month now. Some months are higher, others are slower. It's unpredictable, which is nerve-wracking when you're it. But it's 3x what I made at my previous job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Hard Parts Nobody Posts About
It looks perfect online until you're crying in your car because a post got no views, or managing cruel messages from strangers who think they know your life.
The trolls are vicious. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm using my children, told I'm fake about being a single mom. I'll never forget, "No wonder he left." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm shifts. One month you're getting huge numbers. Next month, you're struggling for views. Your income goes up and down. You're always on, always "on", scared to stop, you'll be forgotten.
The mom guilt is worse to the extreme. Each post, I wonder: Is this too much? Is this okay? Will they regret this when they're teenagers? I have strict rules—protected identities, no discussing their personal struggles, protecting their dignity. But the line is fuzzy.
The I get burnt out. There are weeks when I am empty. When I'm touched out, talked out, and at my limit. But life doesn't stop. So I push through.
The Beautiful Parts
But listen—even with the struggles, this journey has created things I never dreamed of.
Financial freedom for the first time in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I cleared $18K. I have an savings. We took a vacation last summer—Orlando, which was a dream a couple years back. I don't panic about money anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or lose income. I worked anywhere. When there's a school thing, I can go. I'm there for them in ways I wasn't with a corporate job.
My people that saved me. The fellow creators I've connected with, especially other single parents, have become real friends. We talk, collaborate, support each other. My followers have become this amazing support system. a clear breakdown They celebrate my wins, send love, and show me I'm not alone.
Something that's mine. For the first time since having kids, I have my own thing. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or someone's mom. I'm a CEO. A businesswoman. Someone who built something from nothing.
My Best Tips
If you're a solo parent curious about this, here's my advice:
Begin now. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. It's fine. You grow through creating, not by waiting.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your actual life—the chaos. That resonates.
Prioritize their privacy. Create rules. Know your limits. Their privacy is everything. I protect their names, minimize face content, and protect their stories.
Build multiple income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one revenue source. The algorithm is fickle. More streams = less stress.
Create in batches. When you have quiet time, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will thank yourself when you're burnt out.
Build community. Engage. Answer DMs. Be real with them. Your community is crucial.
Track your time and ROI. Not all content is worth creating. If something requires tons of time and tanks while a different post takes 20 minutes and goes viral, adjust your strategy.
Take care of yourself. You matter too. Unplug. Guard your energy. Your sanity matters more than going viral.
Stay patient. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me eight months to make real income. My first year, I made $15K total. Year 2, eighty grand. Year three, I'm on track for six figures. It's a process.
Know your why. On hard days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's financial freedom, time with my children, and showing myself that I'm capable of anything.
Being Real With You
Real talk, I'm telling the truth. Being a single mom creator is tough. So damn hard. You're managing a business while being the only parent of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Some days I doubt myself. Days when the hate comments sting. Days when I'm burnt out and wondering if I should get a regular job with a 401k.
But and then my daughter mentions she's happy I'm here. Or I see financial progress. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I know it's worth it.
My Future Plans
A few years back, I was scared and struggling how to make it work. Now, I'm a content creator making more than I imagined in corporate America, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals going forward? Hit 500,000 followers by this year. Create a podcast for solo parents. Write a book eventually. Keep building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
Content creation gave me a path forward when I needed it most. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be present in their lives, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's unexpected, but it's perfect.
To any single parent considering this: You absolutely can. It will be hard. You'll want to quit some days. But you're handling the most difficult thing—single parenting. You're powerful.
Start imperfect. Keep showing up. Prioritize yourself. And don't forget, you're not just surviving—you're changing your life.
Time to go, I need to go create content about another last-minute project and nobody told me until now. Because that's how it goes—content from the mess, one video at a time.
Seriously. This journey? It's everything. Even though there's definitely crumbs all over my desk. That's the dream, mess included.