Here's the tea, mom life is literally insane. But what's really wild? Trying to secure the bag while handling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
My hustle life began about three years ago when I realized that my random shopping trips were becoming problematic. It was time to get cash that was actually mine.
Being a VA
So, my initial venture was jumping into virtual assistance. And I'll be real? It was ideal. I could grind during those precious quiet hours, and the only requirement was my laptop and decent wifi.
I started with simple tasks like email sorting, managing social content, and entering data. Nothing fancy. My rate was about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta prove yourself first.
What cracked me up? I'd be on a Zoom call looking like a real businesswoman from the chest up—blazer, makeup, the works—while sporting my rattiest leggings. Main character energy.
Selling on Etsy
After getting my feet wet, I wanted to explore the handmade marketplace scene. Every mom I knew seemed to be on Etsy, so I thought "why not join the party?"
My shop focused on making downloadable organizers and digital art prints. The beauty of printables? Make it one time, and it can make money while you sleep. Literally, I've made sales at 3am while I was sleeping.
My first sale? I freaked out completely. He came running thinking I'd injured myself. Nope—just me, doing a happy dance for my $4.99 sale. Judge me if you want.
Blogging and Creating
Eventually I discovered blogging and content creation. This venture is not for instant gratification seekers, let me tell you.
I started a family lifestyle blog where I wrote about real mom life—all of it, no filter. Not the highlight reel. Simply authentic experiences about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Building traffic was painfully slow. At the beginning, it was basically writing for myself and like three people. But I stayed consistent, and eventually, things took off.
Currently? I earn income through affiliate marketing, collaborations, and ad revenue. This past month I earned over two grand from my website. Mind-blowing, right?
SMM Side Hustle
As I mastered running my own socials, small companies started inquiring if I could help them.
Here's the thing? Many companies don't understand social media. They realize they need to be there, but they don't know how.
Enter: me. I handle social media for a handful of clients—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I develop content, queue up posts, engage with followers, and check their stats.
My rate is between $500-$1500/month per client, depending on what they need. The best thing? I do this work from my phone.
Writing for Money
If writing is your thing, freelancing is a goldmine. I don't mean becoming Shakespeare—I'm talking about commercial writing.
Companies need content constantly. I've created content about everything from the most random topics. You just need to research, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
I typically make $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on the topic and length. On good months I'll create 10-15 articles and earn $1-2K.
The funny thing is: I'm the same person who barely passed English class. And now I'm a professional writer. Life's funny like that.
Virtual Tutoring
When COVID hit, virtual tutoring became huge. I was a teacher before kids, so this was an obvious choice.
I signed up with several tutoring platforms. It's super flexible, which is essential when you have children who keep you guessing.
I mostly tutor K-5 subjects. Rates vary from $15-$25/hour depending on the company.
What's hilarious? There are times when my children will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I once had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. My clients are totally cool about it because they understand mom life.
Flipping Items for Profit
Here me out, this one started by accident. I was cleaning out my kids' things and listed some clothes on copyright.
They sold within hours. I suddenly understood: people will buy anything.
Now I visit estate sales and thrift shops, looking for quality items. I'll find something for cheap and resell at a markup.
It's labor-intensive? Not gonna lie. You're constantly listing and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding hidden treasures at the thrift store and earning from it.
Additionally: my kids are impressed when I find unique items. Last week I discovered a rare action figure that my son went crazy for. Sold it for $45. Mom for the win.
Real Talk Time
Here's the thing nobody tells you: side hustles take work. The word 'hustle' is there for a reason.
There are moments when I'm completely drained, questioning my life choices. I'm grinding at dawn hustling before the chaos starts, then doing all the mom stuff, then back at it after bedtime.
But here's the thing? I earned this money. No permission needed to buy the fancy coffee. I'm adding to our financial goals. I'm teaching my children that moms can do anything.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're considering a mom hustle, this is what I've learned:
Start with one thing. You can't juggle ten things. Focus on one and become proficient before adding more.
Be realistic about time. Whatever time you have, that's okay. A couple of productive hours is valuable.
Comparison is the thief of joy to other moms. The successful ones you see? They put in years of work and has resources you don't see. Run your own race.
Spend money on education, but smartly. You don't need expensive courses. Be careful about spending huge money on programs until you've proven the concept.
Batch tasks together. This saved my sanity. Use specific days for specific tasks. Use Monday for content creation day. Wednesday could be organizing the related post and responding.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—guilt is part of this. Sometimes when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I struggle with it.
Yet I consider that I'm showing them what dedication looks like. I'm showing my daughter that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Additionally? Earning independently has improved my mental health. I'm more fulfilled, which translates to better parenting.
The Numbers
So what do I actually make? On average, between all my hustles, I earn $3K-5K. Some months are lower, some are tougher.
Is this millionaire money? Nope. But I've used it for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've caused financial strain. And it's giving me confidence and experience that could turn into something bigger.
Wrapping This Up
Listen, doing this mom hustle thing is hard. There's no perfect balance. A lot of days I'm winging it, powered by caffeine, and doing my best.
But I wouldn't change it. Every single penny made is proof that I can do hard things. It shows that I'm a multifaceted person.
If you're on the fence about beginning your hustle journey? Go for it. Begin before you're ready. You in six months will appreciate it.
Keep in mind: You aren't only getting by—you're creating something amazing. Even though there's probably old cheerios everywhere.
No cap. The whole thing is pretty amazing, chaos and all.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood was never the plan. Neither was building a creator business. But yet here I am, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by being vulnerable on the internet while raising two kids basically solo. And not gonna lie? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was a few years ago when my life exploded. I can still picture sitting in my new apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had less than a thousand dollars in my checking account, two kids to support, and a income that didn't cut it. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I was scrolling social media to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I stumbled on this solo parent sharing how she changed her life through making videos. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But being broke makes you bold. Maybe both. Probably both.
I downloaded the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, sharing how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' lunch boxes. I hit post and panicked. Who gives a damn about this disaster?
Turns out, way more people than I expected.
That video got 47,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me almost lose it over $12 worth of food. The comments section was this incredible community—women in similar situations, people living the same reality, all saying "same." That was my turning point. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted authentic.
Discovering My Voice: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's the secret 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 creating content about the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I served cereal as a meal several days straight and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my kid asked about the divorce, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who believes in magic.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was unfiltered, and turns out, that's what connected.
In just two months, I hit ten thousand followers. 90 days in, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone seemed fake. Actual humans who wanted to hear what I had to say. Plain old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" recently.
A Day in the Life: Balancing Content and Chaos
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because creating content solo is nothing like those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do not want to move, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a getting ready video discussing financial reality. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while talking about custody stuff. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in mommy mode—making breakfast, finding the missing shoe (it's always one shoe), packing lunches, stopping fights. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom making videos while driving when stopped. I know, I know, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. House is quiet. I'm editing videos, replying to DMs, brainstorming content ideas, sending emails, reviewing performance. Everyone assumes content creation is only filming. Nope. It's a full business.
I usually film in batches on Monday and Wednesday. That means filming 10-15 videos in a few hours. I'll change clothes so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep wardrobe options close for fast swaps. My neighbors think I've lost it, making videos in public in the backyard.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Parent time. But plot twist—often my viral videos come from real life. Last week, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I couldn't afford a toy she didn't need. I created a video in the car once we left about surviving tantrums as a solo parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm completely exhausted to make videos, but I'll plan posts, check DMs, or plan tomorrow's content. Often, after everyone's sleeping, I'll stay up editing because a client needs content.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just managed chaos with occasional wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Generate Income
Look, let's talk numbers because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you actually make money as a content creator? 100%. Is it effortless? Hell no.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? Zero. Month three, I got my first collaboration—$150 to promote a meal box. I actually cried. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.
Fast forward, three years later, here's how I earn income:
Collaborations: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that align with my audience—things that help, parenting tools, children's products. I bill anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per partnership, depending on what's required. Last month, I did four brand deals and made eight grand.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: Creator fund pays not much—two to four hundred per month for tons of views. YouTube money is way better. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Affiliate Income: I share affiliate links to items I love—everything from my beloved coffee maker to the kids' beds. If anyone buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Info Products: I created a financial planner and a meal prep guide. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell dozens per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
One-on-One Coaching: Aspiring influencers pay me to mentor them. I offer private coaching for $200 hourly. I do about several per month.
Combined monthly revenue: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month currently. Some months are higher, some are tougher. It's variable, which is terrifying when you're solo. But it's 3x what I made at my 9-5, and I'm there for them.
What They Don't Show Nobody Shows You
It looks perfect online until you're having a breakdown because a post tanked, or handling nasty DMs from random people.
The negativity is intense. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm exploiting my kids, called a liar about being a divorced parent. Someone once commented, "No wonder he left." That one hurt so bad.
The algorithm shifts. One week you're getting insane views. The following week, you're struggling for views. Your income fluctuates. You're always on, always "on", scared to stop, you'll fall behind.
The mom guilt is worse to the extreme. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this too much? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they regret this when they're adults? I have clear boundaries—protected identities, nothing too personal, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout is real. Certain periods when I have nothing. When I'm touched out, talked out, and completely finished. But bills don't care about burnout. So I push through.
The Wins
But here's what's real—even with the struggles, this journey has given me things I never dreamed of.
Financial stability for the first damn time. I'm not loaded, but I became debt-free. I have an emergency fund. We took a family trip last summer—Disney, which felt impossible two years ago. I don't panic about money anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to call in to work or panic. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a school thing, 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 single moms, have become my people. We support each other, help each other, encourage each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They support me, send love, and make me feel seen.
Identity beyond "mom". After years, I have something for me. I'm more than an ex or someone's mom. I'm a CEO. A businesswoman. Someone who created this.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a solo parent curious about this, listen up:
Just start. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You grow through creating, not by overthinking.
Authenticity wins. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your real life—the chaos. That's what works.
Keep them safe. Create rules. Know your limits. Their privacy is the priority. I never share their names, protect their faces, and keep private things private.
Multiple revenue sources. Spread it out or one way to earn. The algorithm is unstable. More streams = less stress.
Batch your content. When you have free time, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will thank present you when you're unable to film.
Connect with followers. Engage. Respond to DMs. Connect authentically. Your community is what matters.
Track your time and ROI. Be strategic. If something requires tons of time and gets nothing while a different post takes 20 minutes and gets 200,000 views, pivot.
Don't forget yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Step away. Set boundaries. Your sanity matters more than anything.
Stay patient. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me eight months to make any real money. Year one, I made $15K total. The second year, eighty thousand. This year, I'm hitting six figures. It's a marathon.
Don't forget your why. On hard days—and there are many—think about your why. For me, it's money, flexibility with my kids, and showing myself that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
Real Talk Time
Real talk, I'm telling the truth. Being a single mom creator is tough. Really hard. You're basically running a business while being the only parent of children who require constant attention.
Certain days I doubt myself. Days when the negativity sting. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with stability.
But then my daughter shares she appreciates this. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I remember my purpose.
My Future Plans
Not long ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how to make it work. Fast forward, I'm a full-time creator making triple what I earned in traditional work, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals moving forward? Get to half a million followers by year-end. Begin podcasting for solo parents. Maybe write a book. Keep building this business that supports my family.
Content creation gave me a way out when I was drowning. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be there, and create something meaningful. It's not what I planned, but it's perfect.
To any single parent wondering if you can do this: You absolutely can. It won't be easy. You'll want to quit some days. But you're handling the hardest job—doing this alone. You're stronger than you think.
Start messy. Stay consistent. Prioritize yourself. And don't forget, you're doing more than surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go film a TikTok about the project I just found out about and surprise!. Because that's this life—content from the mess, one TikTok at a time.
Seriously. This path? It's worth every struggle. Despite there's definitely old snacks all over my desk. No regrets, imperfectly perfect.