Real talk, motherhood is a whole vibe. But plot twist? Trying to get that bread while dealing with kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
This whole thing started for me about a few years back when I discovered that my retail therapy sessions were getting out of hand. I had to find cash that was actually mine.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Here's what happened, my initial venture was jumping into virtual assistance. And real talk? It was exactly what I needed. I could get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and the only requirement was my laptop and decent wifi.
Initially I was doing simple tasks like email management, managing social content, and basic admin work. Pretty straightforward. I charged about $20/hour, which felt cheap but when you're just starting, you gotta build up your portfolio.
What cracked me up? Picture this: me on a video meeting looking all professional from the shoulders up—business casual vibes—while sporting pants I'd owned since 2015. Living my best life.
Selling on Etsy
After getting my feet wet, I wanted to explore the whole Etsy thing. Literally everyone seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I was like "why not get in on this?"
I started designing printable planners and wall art. The beauty of printables? You create it once, and it can make money while you sleep. Literally, I've made sales at midnight when I'm unconscious.
The first time someone bought something? I lost my mind. My husband thought there was an emergency. Nope—I was just, celebrating my $4.99 sale. I'm not embarrassed.
Content Creator Life
Then I got into blogging and content creation. This one is a marathon not a sprint, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I created a family lifestyle blog where I documented the chaos of parenting—all of it, no filter. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Just the actual truth about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Growing an audience was a test of patience. For months, it was basically my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I stayed consistent, and slowly but surely, things started clicking.
At this point? I earn income through affiliate marketing, collaborations, and display ads. Last month I made over $2,000 from my blog alone. Wild, right?
SMM Side Hustle
After I learned my own content, brands started reaching out if I could manage their accounts.
Real talk? Tons of businesses suck at social media. They realize they have to be on it, but they're too busy.
That's where I come in. I currently run social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I plan their content, queue up posts, respond to comments, and monitor performance.
I bill between $500-1500 per month per business, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I manage everything from my phone during soccer practice.
Writing for Money
If you can write, writing gigs is seriously profitable. This isn't writing the next Great American Novel—I mean business content.
Brands and websites need content constantly. I've created content about everything from dental hygiene to copyright. Google is your best friend, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
Generally make $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on what's involved. Some months I'll crank out fifteen articles and earn a couple thousand dollars.
The funny thing is: I was the person who barely passed English class. Now I'm a professional writer. Life is weird.
Virtual Tutoring
During the pandemic, virtual tutoring became huge. With my teaching background, so this was an obvious choice.
I an external source signed up with several tutoring platforms. It's super flexible, which is crucial when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I focus on K-5 subjects. Income ranges from $15-$25/hour depending on where you work.
What's hilarious? Sometimes my kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The parents on the other end are very sympathetic because they're parents too.
The Reselling Game
Alright, this side gig started by accident. I was decluttering my kids' stuff and posted some items on Mercari.
Things sold immediately. That's when I realized: there's a market for everything.
Now I visit anywhere with deals, looking for things that will sell. I purchase something for cheap and resell at a markup.
This takes effort? Yes. It's a whole process. But there's something satisfying about spotting valuable items at a yard sale and earning from it.
Additionally: my kids think I'm cool when I find unique items. Just last week I discovered a retro toy that my son lost his mind over. Made $45 on it. Victory for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Let me keep it real: side hustles take work. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are days when I'm running on empty, doubting everything. I'm up at 5am getting stuff done while it's quiet, then all day mom-ing, then back to work after everyone's in bed.
But this is what's real? This income is mine. I can spend it guilt-free to buy the fancy coffee. I'm helping with our financial goals. My kids see that you can have it all—sort of.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
For those contemplating a mom hustle, here are my tips:
Don't go all in immediately. Don't try to launch everything simultaneously. Start with one venture and get good at it before taking on more.
Be realistic about time. Your available hours, that's okay. Even one focused hour is better than nothing.
Don't compare yourself to other moms. The successful ones you see? She probably started years ago and doesn't do it alone. Focus on your own journey.
Spend money on education, but carefully. There are tons of free resources. Avoid dropping $5,000 on a coaching program until you've tested the waters.
Work in batches. This saved my sanity. Block off days for specific hustles. Make Monday making stuff day. Wednesday could be admin and emails.
The Mom Guilt is Real
I'm not gonna lie—mom guilt is a thing. There are times when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I struggle with it.
Yet I remember that I'm modeling for them work ethic. I'm proving to them that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Also? Having my own income has been good for me. I'm more content, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
So what do I actually make? Generally, between all my hustles, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. It varies, some are tougher.
Is this millionaire money? Nope. But this money covers so many things we needed that would've caused financial strain. It's also developing my career and skills that could grow into more.
Final Thoughts
Look, doing this mom hustle thing isn't easy. There's no magic formula. Most days I'm winging it, surviving on coffee, and praying it all works out.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every single bit of income is validation of my effort. It demonstrates that I have identity beyond motherhood.
So if you're considering starting a side hustle? Go for it. Start messy. Your tomorrow self will appreciate it.
Keep in mind: You're not just getting by—you're hustling. Even when there's probably Goldfish crackers stuck to your laptop.
Seriously. It's the life, mess included.
Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—being a single parent wasn't part of my five-year plan. Nor was turning into an influencer. But yet here I am, years into this crazy ride, making a living by creating content while parenting alone. And I'll be real? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Imploded
It was a few years ago when my relationship fell apart. I will never forget sitting in my mostly empty place (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids slept. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my account, two humans depending on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to escape reality—because that's what we do? when we're drowning, right?—when I stumbled on this divorced mom talking about how she made six figures through posting online. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Maybe both. Sometimes both.
I installed the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, explaining how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a cheap food for my kids' school lunches. I hit post and panicked. Why would anyone care about my mess?
Turns out, tons of people.
That video got 47K views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me get emotional over chicken nuggets. The comments section turned into this safe space—people who got it, folks in the trenches, all saying "this is my life." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfect. They wanted authentic.
Finding My Niche: The Unfiltered Mom Content
Here's the secret about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started filming the stuff no one shows. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because washing clothes was too much. Or the time I served cereal as a meal multiple nights and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my kid asked where daddy went, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who believes in magic.
My content was raw. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was real, and apparently, that's what resonated.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. 90 days in, 50K. By six months, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to listen to me. Me—a financially unstable single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" six months earlier.
The Daily Grind: Juggling Everything
Let me show you of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is not at all like those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me sharing about money struggles. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while discussing parenting coordination. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation ends. Now I'm in survival mode—pouring cereal, the shoe hunt (seriously, always ONE), packing lunches, referee duties. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom making videos while driving at stop signs. Don't judge me, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. I'm alone finally. I'm cutting clips, being social, thinking of ideas, sending emails, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is simple. It's not. It's a whole business.
I usually film in batches on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means filming 10-15 videos in a few hours. I'll swap tops so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep different outfits accessible for outfit changes. My neighbors think I've lost it, recording myself alone in the driveway.
3:00pm: School pickup. Transition back to mom mode. But plot twist—frequently my biggest hits come from this time. A few days ago, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I said no to a $40 toy. I recorded in the Target parking lot afterward about dealing with meltdowns as a single mom. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm generally wiped out to create content, but I'll schedule content, check DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Often, after the kids are asleep, I'll stay up editing because a partnership is due.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just controlled chaos with some victories.
Income Breakdown: How I Generate Income
Look, let's get into the finances because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you legitimately profit as a creator? Yes. Is it simple? Not even close.
My first month, I made zilch. Month two? Still nothing. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—$150 to feature a food subscription. I literally cried. That hundred fifty dollars covered food.
Fast forward, years later, here's how I earn income:
Sponsored Content: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that my followers need—affordable stuff, parenting tools, children's products. I ask for anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per deal, depending on what's required. Just last month, I did four partnerships and made eight thousand dollars.
Ad Money: Creator fund pays basically nothing—maybe $200-400 per month for tons of views. YouTube money is actually decent. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Links: I post links to products I actually use—anything from my beloved coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If someone clicks and buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Info Products: I created a financial planner and a cooking guide. Each costs $15, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
Coaching/Consulting: New creators pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer private coaching for two hundred per hour. I do about 5-10 a month.
My total income: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month now. Some months I make more, some are tougher. It's variable, which is nerve-wracking 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 Mentions
It looks perfect online until you're sobbing alone because a post got no views, or dealing with nasty DMs from keyboard warriors.
The negativity is intense. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm problematic, told I'm fake about being a divorced parent. A commenter wrote, "No wonder he left." That one stung for days.
The algorithm changes constantly. One week you're getting millions of views. The next, you're struggling for views. Your income varies wildly. You're always creating, never resting, nervous about slowing down, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is intense exponentially. Every upload, I wonder: Is this too much? Are my kids safe? Will they resent this when they're teenagers? I have non-negotiables—protected identities, keeping their stories private, nothing humiliating. But the line is fuzzy.
The I get burnt out. Sometimes when I am empty. When I'm touched out, socially drained, and at my limit. But rent doesn't care. So I show up anyway.
The Wins
But here's what's real—despite the hard parts, this journey has given me things I never expected.
Financial stability for once in my life. I'm not loaded, but I became debt-free. I have an cushion. We took a family trip last summer—the Mouse House, which felt impossible not long ago. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to use PTO or worry about money. I worked anywhere. When there's a class party, I'm present. I'm in their lives in ways I wasn't with a corporate job.
Connection that saved me. The other influencers I've connected with, especially other moms, have become my people. We connect, collaborate, encourage each other. My followers have become this amazing support system. They cheer for me, encourage me through rough patches, and make me feel seen.
Something that's mine. Since becoming a mom, I have my own thing. I'm not just an ex or someone's mom. I'm a CEO. A creator. Someone who created this.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a single mother considering content creation, here's what I'd tell you:
Begin now. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. That's normal. You improve over time, not by overthinking.
Be yourself. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your actual life—the chaos. That's the magic.
Prioritize their privacy. Create rules. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is the priority. I protect their names, minimize face content, and keep private things private.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't rely on just one platform or one income stream. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple streams = safety.
Create in batches. When you have time alone, create multiple pieces. Next week you will be grateful when you're burnt out.
Interact. Respond to comments. Answer DMs. Build real relationships. Your community is everything.
Track metrics. Time is money. If something takes forever and flops while another video takes very little time and gets massive views, pivot.
Prioritize yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your sanity matters more than going viral.
This takes time. This takes time. It took me months to make any real money. Year one, I made $15K total. Year two, $80,000. This year, I'm making six figures. It's a journey.
Don't forget your why. On hard days—and there are many—recall your purpose. For me, it's financial freedom, being there, and proving to myself that I'm stronger than I knew.
The Honest Truth
Here's the deal, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This journey is challenging. So damn hard. You're running a whole business while being the single caregiver of tiny humans who need you constantly.
There are days I second-guess this. Days when the trolls sting. Days when I'm completely spent and asking myself if I should quit this with insurance.
But and then my daughter shares she loves that I'm home. Or I look at my savings. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I know it's worth it.
My Future Plans
Three years ago, I was lost and broke what to do. Now, I'm a professional creator making more than I imagined in my old job, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals now? Hit 500,000 followers by year-end. Start a podcast for single parents. Write a book eventually. Keep building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
This journey gave me a way out when I needed it most. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be available, and create something meaningful. It's a surprise, but it's perfect.
To all the single moms considering this: Yes you can. It will be challenging. You'll doubt yourself. But you're managing the hardest job—doing this alone. You're stronger than you think.
Jump in messy. Stay the course. Guard your peace. And don't forget, you're doing more than surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Time to go, I need to go record a video about homework I forgot about and nobody told me until now. Because that's how it goes—chaos becomes content, one post at a time.
Seriously. This path? It's everything. Even when I'm sure there's old snacks stuck to my laptop right now. Living the dream, chaos and all.