Here's the tea, being a mom is a whole vibe. But here's the thing? Trying to get that bread while dealing with kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
This whole thing started for me about several years ago when I figured out a short read that my retail therapy sessions were becoming problematic. It was time to get cash that was actually mine.
The Virtual Assistant Life
So, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And not gonna lie? It was chef's kiss. I could work during naptime, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.
Initially I was doing simple tasks like handling emails, doing social media scheduling, and entering data. Not rocket science. I started at about fifteen dollars an hour, which wasn't much but when you're just starting, you gotta begin at the bottom.
The funniest part? Picture this: me on a Zoom call looking like I had my life together from the waist up—looking corporate—while rocking pants I'd owned since 2015. That's the dream honestly.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
About twelve months in, I decided to try the Etsy world. Everyone and their mother seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I was like "why not start one too?"
My shop focused on creating digital planners and digital art prints. What's great about digital products? You create it once, and it can sell forever. For real, I've gotten orders at ungodly hours.
That initial sale? I actually yelled. My partner was like the house was on fire. Not even close—just me, celebrating my five dollar sale. No shame in my game.
Content Creator Life
Then I ventured into writing and making content. This hustle is not for instant gratification seekers, let me tell you.
I launched a blog about motherhood where I shared my parenting journey—the messy truth. Not the highlight reel. Just real talk about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.
Building traffic was like watching paint dry. For months, I was basically creating content for crickets. But I stayed consistent, and after a while, things took off.
These days? I make money through affiliate links, working with brands, and advertisements on my site. Last month I earned over two grand from my website. Wild, right?
SMM Side Hustle
When I became good with social media for my own stuff, brands started reaching out if I could help them.
Here's the thing? Tons of businesses suck at social media. They understand they should be posting, but they're too busy.
This is my moment. I currently run social media for three local businesses—various small businesses. I create content, schedule posts, respond to comments, and monitor performance.
I charge between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per business, depending on the scope of work. The best thing? I handle this from my phone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
If writing is your thing, writing gigs is where it's at. I don't mean literary fiction—this is business content.
Brands and websites are desperate for content. I've created content about everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
Generally charge $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on the topic and length. Some months I'll create ten to fifteen pieces and pull in an extra $1,000-2,000.
The funny thing is: I'm the same person who thought writing was torture. These days I'm a professional writer. Talk about character development.
Virtual Tutoring
During the pandemic, online tutoring exploded. I was a teacher before kids, so this was right up my alley.
I started working with VIPKid and Tutor.com. You choose when you work, which is essential when you have children who keep you guessing.
I mostly tutor elementary school stuff. The pay ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on which site you use.
Here's what's weird? Occasionally my kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I've literally had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. My clients are incredibly understanding because they're living the same life.
Flipping Items for Profit
So, this side gig wasn't planned. I was cleaning out my kids' stuff and tried selling some outfits on copyright.
They sold within hours. I suddenly understood: one person's trash is another's treasure.
At this point I frequent anywhere with deals, looking for good brands. I'll find something for $3 and sell it for $30.
This takes effort? For sure. You're constantly listing and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about discovering a diamond in the rough at the thrift store and making money.
Also: my kids think I'm cool when I discover weird treasures. Just last week I grabbed a collectible item that my son freaked out about. Got forty-five dollars for it. Mom for the win.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Truth bomb incoming: this stuff requires effort. They're called hustles for a reason.
Certain days when I'm exhausted, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm up at 5am hustling before the chaos starts, then handling mom duties, then back at it after bedtime.
But this is what's real? This income is mine. No permission needed to get the good coffee. I'm helping with my family's finances. My kids are learning that you can be both.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're considering a hustle of your own, here are my tips:
Start with one thing. Avoid trying to do everything at once. Choose one hustle and master it before adding more.
Be realistic about time. If naptime is your only free time, that's okay. A couple of productive hours is better than nothing.
Don't compare yourself to the highlight reels. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? She's been grinding forever and has support. Focus on your own journey.
Invest in yourself, but wisely. Start with free stuff first. Don't waste thousands on courses until you've tried things out.
Do similar tasks together. This saved my sanity. Dedicate specific days for specific tasks. Monday could be making stuff day. Use Wednesday for admin and emails.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
I'm not gonna lie—the mom guilt is real. Sometimes when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I struggle with it.
But then I remember that I'm modeling for them work ethic. I'm teaching my kids that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
Additionally? Earning independently has improved my mental health. I'm more fulfilled, which translates to better parenting.
Income Reality Check
How much do I earn? Most months, between all my hustles, I pull in $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are lower, some are tougher.
Is this getting-rich money? Not exactly. But we've used it to pay for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've caused financial strain. Plus it's giving me confidence and knowledge that could evolve into something huge.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, hustling as a mom is challenging. There's no perfect balance. Most days I'm improvising everything, running on coffee and determination, and hoping for the best.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Each bit of income is validation of my effort. It shows that I'm not just someone's mother.
If you're thinking about starting a side hustle? Take the leap. Don't wait for perfect. Your future self will thank you.
Don't forget: You're not merely making it through—you're hustling. Even though there's probably mysterious crumbs on your keyboard.
For real. The whole thing is pretty amazing, chaos and all.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
Let me be real with you—single motherhood wasn't part of my five-year plan. Nor was making money from my phone. But here I am, years into this crazy ride, supporting my family by creating content while raising two kids basically solo. And I'll be real? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
How It Started: When Everything Changed
It was three years ago when my life exploded. I will never forget sitting in my bare apartment (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had $847 in my bank account, two kids to support, and a income that didn't cut it. The panic was real, y'all.
I was on TikTok to avoid my thoughts—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when everything is chaos, right?—when I stumbled on this divorced mom discussing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through content creation. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But being broke makes you bold. Or both. Sometimes both.
I installed the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, venting about 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. Why would anyone care about my broke reality?
Turns out, tons of people.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me get emotional over processed meat. The comments section turned into this safe space—people who got it, folks in the trenches, all saying "me too." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted honest.
Finding My Niche: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the real one.
I started posting about the stuff people hide. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I served cereal as a meal several days straight and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my child asked where daddy went, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who is six years old.
My content was raw. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was authentic, and evidently, that's what hit.
Two months later, I hit 10K. Three months later, fifty thousand. By half a year, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone seemed fake. Real accounts who wanted to listen to me. Plain old me—a struggling single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" six months earlier.
The Actual Schedule: Content Creation Meets Real Life
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is nothing like those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm blares. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me sharing about money struggles. 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 parent mode—cooking eggs, the shoe hunt (it's always one shoe), throwing food in bags, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom creating content in traffic in the car. Not proud of this, but the grind never stops.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Peace and quiet. I'm cutting clips, replying to DMs, planning content, doing outreach, analyzing metrics. People think content creation is just posting videos. It's not. It's a entire operation.
I usually film in batches on certain days. That means shooting multiple videos in one sitting. I'll change shirts between videos so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep multiple tops nearby for easy transitions. My neighbors think I've lost it, talking to my camera in the parking lot.
3:00pm: School pickup. Transition back to mom mode. But this is where it's complicated—often my biggest hits come from the chaos. Last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I refused to get a forty dollar toy. I made content in the Target parking lot once we left about dealing with meltdowns as a solo parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm completely exhausted to film, but I'll schedule uploads, respond to DMs, or strategize. Certain nights, after bedtime, I'll work late because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just managed chaos with moments of success.
Let's Talk Income: How I Generate Income
Okay, let's talk dollars because this is what people ask about. Can you actually make money as a content creator? For sure. Is it straightforward? Absolutely not.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? Zero. Month three, I got my first brand deal—$150 to share a food subscription. I literally cried. That $150 covered food.
Now, three years later, here's how I earn income:
Brand Deals: This is my primary income. I work with brands that fit my niche—budget-friendly products, single-parent resources, kids' stuff. I ask for anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per partnership, depending on what they need. Last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight grand.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: TikTok's creator fund pays basically nothing—$200-$400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube revenue is actually decent. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that took forever.
Affiliate Income: I share links to things I own—ranging from my go-to coffee machine to the bunk beds in their room. If someone clicks and buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Online Products: I created a money management guide and a food prep planner. Each costs $15, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Coaching/Consulting: People wanting to start pay me to guide them. I offer consulting calls for $200/hour. I do about several of these monthly.
Overall monthly earnings: Typically, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month at this point. Some months I make more, some are lower. It's unpredictable, which is scary when there's no backup. But it's 3x what I made at my old job, and I'm there for them.
The Struggles Nobody Shows You
From the outside it's great until you're having a breakdown because a video flopped, or managing nasty DMs from keyboard warriors.
The negativity is intense. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm using my children, accused of lying about being a single mom. A commenter wrote, "No wonder he left." That one stung for days.
The algorithm changes constantly. Certain periods you're getting insane views. Then suddenly, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income goes up and down. You're never off, 24/7, worried that if you take a break, you'll be forgotten.
The guilt is crushing exponentially. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they be angry about this when they're older? I have clear boundaries—minimal identifying info, nothing too personal, nothing humiliating. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The I get burnt out. Certain periods when I don't want to film anything. When I'm touched out, over it, and completely finished. But bills don't care about burnout. So I do it anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But here's the thing—despite everything, this journey has created things I never imagined.
Financial stability for the first time ever. I'm not wealthy, but I became debt-free. I have an cushion. We took a family trip last summer—Disney World, which was a dream a couple years back. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to ask permission or worry about money. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a field trip, I'm there. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't manage with a corporate job.
Connection that saved me. The other creators I've found, especially other single parents, have become real friends. We vent, exchange tips, have each other's backs. My followers have become this beautiful community. They cheer for me, support me, and validate me.
Identity beyond "mom". Since becoming a mom, I have something for me. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or someone's mom. I'm a entrepreneur. An influencer. Someone who built something from nothing.
My Best Tips
If you're a single mom thinking about this, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Begin now. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. That's okay. You learn by doing, not by overthinking.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can tell when you're fake. Share your honest life—the unfiltered truth. That's what connects.
Keep them safe. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is sacred. I never share their names, protect their faces, and keep private things private.
Multiple revenue sources. Diversify or a single source. The algorithm is unpredictable. More streams = less stress.
Batch your content. When you have time alone, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will thank present you when you're burnt out.
Connect with followers. Answer comments. Respond to DMs. Be real with them. Your community is what matters.
Track metrics. Not all content is worth creating. If something takes forever and gets 200 views while something else takes 20 minutes and goes viral, shift focus.
Prioritize yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Unplug. Protect your peace. Your health matters most.
This takes time. This is a marathon. It took me ages to make decent money. The first year, I made $15K total. Year two, eighty thousand. This year, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a journey.
Remember why you started. On hard days—and there are many—remember your reason. For me, it's supporting my kids, time with my children, and showing myself that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
Being Real With You
Here's the deal, I'm being honest. Being a single mom creator is difficult. Incredibly hard. You're managing a business while being the lone caretaker of demanding little people.
Many days I doubt myself. Days when the hate comments sting. Days when I'm drained and asking myself if I should just get a "normal" job with a 401k.
But then my daughter shares she loves that I'm home. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I know it's worth it.
My Future Plans
Three years ago, I was terrified and clueless how I'd survive as a single mom. Currently, I'm a content creator making way more than I made in my 9-5, and I'm present for everything.
My goals going forward? Hit 500K by December. Start a podcast for single parents. Possibly write a book. Continue building this business that changed my life.
This journey gave me a second chance when I was desperate. It gave me a way to feed my babies, show up, and build something real. It's not what I planned, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To any single parent on the fence: You absolutely can. It isn't simple. You'll doubt yourself. But you're currently doing the most difficult thing—raising humans alone. You're more capable than you know.
Jump in messy. Stay the course. Prioritize yourself. And don't forget, you're beyond survival mode—you're building something incredible.
Gotta go now, I need to go create content about the project I just found out about and I just learned about it. Because that's how it goes—turning chaos into content, one post at a time.
For real. This path? It's the best decision. Even though there's probably crushed cheerios everywhere. Living the dream, one messy video at a time.