Real talk, being a mom is a whole vibe. But what's really wild? Trying to get that bread while juggling kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
I entered the side gig world about several years ago when I figured out that my impulse buys were getting out of hand. It was time to get cash that was actually mine.
Being a VA
So, my first gig was becoming a virtual assistant. And honestly? It was perfect. I could hustle while the kids slept, and the only requirement was a computer and internet.
I started with easy things like organizing inboxes, managing social content, and basic admin work. Super simple stuff. I started at about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which felt cheap but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta prove yourself first.
What cracked me up? Picture this: me on a video meeting looking like a real businesswoman from the chest up—business casual vibes—while sporting pajama bottoms. Peak mom life.
Selling on Etsy
Once I got comfortable, I wanted to explore the selling on Etsy. Everyone and their mother seemed to be on Etsy, so I was like "why not me?"
I began designing digital planners and wall art. What's great about digital products? Make it one time, and it can make money while you sleep. Actually, I've earned money at ungodly hours.
When I got my first order? I literally screamed. He came running thinking something was wrong. Not even close—it was just me, celebrating my $4.99 sale. Judge me if you want.
Blogging and Creating
Then I got into the whole influencer thing. This hustle is a marathon not a sprint, trust me on this source this.
I started a parenting blog where I shared my parenting journey—the good, the bad, and the ugly. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Just real talk about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Building traffic was painfully slow. Initially, I was essentially talking to myself. But I didn't give up, and slowly but surely, things gained momentum.
At this point? I make money through promoting products, working with brands, and ad revenue. Just last month I brought in over two thousand dollars from my blog income. Wild, right?
SMM Side Hustle
Once I got decent at social media for my own stuff, brands started asking if I could help them.
Here's the thing? Most small businesses are terrible with social media. They understand they need to be there, but they're too busy.
I swoop in. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I develop content, plan their posting schedule, handle community management, and check their stats.
I bill between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I do this work from my phone.
Writing for Money
For those who can string sentences together, content writing is seriously profitable. Not like becoming Shakespeare—I mean blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Companies are desperate for content. My assignments have included everything from the most random topics. You just need to research, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
On average bill $50-150 per article, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll create ten to fifteen pieces and bring in $1-2K.
What's hilarious: I was the person who struggled with essays. Currently I'm making money from copyright. Talk about character development.
The Online Tutoring Thing
When COVID hit, everyone needed online help. With my teaching background, so this was perfect for me.
I started working with several tutoring platforms. The scheduling is flexible, which is absolutely necessary when you have children who keep you guessing.
My sessions are usually elementary school stuff. Rates vary from $15-25 per hour depending on where you work.
The funny thing? There are times when my own kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. My clients are totally cool about it because they're parents too.
Reselling and Flipping
Alright, this one I stumbled into. While organizing my kids' things and put some things on Mercari.
They sold immediately. Lightbulb moment: people will buy anything.
These days I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, on the hunt for things that will sell. I grab something for $3 and sell it for $30.
Is it a lot of work? Absolutely. It's a whole process. But it's oddly satisfying about finding hidden treasures at a yard sale and making money.
Additionally: the kids think it's neat when I find unique items. Recently I found a vintage toy that my son absolutely loved. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Mom for the win.
Real Talk Time
Truth bomb incoming: side hustles take work. They're called hustles for a reason.
Some days when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm working before sunrise hustling before the chaos starts, then all day mom-ing, then back to work after 8pm hits.
But you know what? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to splurge on something nice. I'm adding to the family budget. I'm showing my kids that you can have it all—sort of.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
For those contemplating a mom hustle, here's what I'd tell you:
Begin with something manageable. Don't try to juggle ten things. Choose one hustle and get good at it before starting something else.
Honor your limits. If naptime is your only free time, that's fine. Whatever time you can dedicate is a great beginning.
Avoid comparing yourself to the highlight reels. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? They've been at it for years and has support. Stay in your lane.
Spend money on education, but strategically. Start with free stuff first. Don't spend thousands on courses until you've tried things out.
Batch tasks together. This is crucial. Use days for specific hustles. Monday could be making stuff day. Wednesday could be administrative work.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
I have to be real with you—the mom guilt is real. There are times when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I feel terrible.
However I consider that I'm modeling for them what dedication looks like. I'm teaching my kids that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Additionally? Having my own income has been good for me. I'm happier, which helps me be better.
Let's Talk Money
How much do I earn? Most months, total from all sources, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. It varies, some are tougher.
Is this millionaire money? No. But this money covers so many things we needed that would've caused financial strain. Plus it's building my skills and skills that could evolve into something huge.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, hustling as a mom is challenging. You won't find a perfect balance. Many days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, running on coffee and determination, and crossing my fingers.
But I don't regret it. Each penny made is proof that I can do hard things. It demonstrates that I have identity beyond motherhood.
So if you're considering starting a side hustle? Do it. Don't wait for perfect. Your tomorrow self will be so glad you did.
Always remember: You're more than getting by—you're building something. Even if there's probably mysterious crumbs on your keyboard.
For real. This is incredible, chaos and all.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
Let me be real with you—being a single parent wasn't part of my five-year plan. Nor was building a creator business. But here we are, years into this crazy ride, earning income by being vulnerable on the internet while handling everything by myself. And I'll be real? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was 2022 when my life exploded. I can still picture sitting in my mostly empty place (he got the furniture, I got the memories), wide awake at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had barely $850 in my bank account, little people counting on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The panic was real, y'all.
I was scrolling social media to avoid my thoughts—because that's what we do? in crisis mode, right?—when I found this solo parent sharing how she changed her life through being a creator. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or crazy. Probably both.
I got the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, explaining how I'd just spent my last $12 on a cheap food for my kids' lunch boxes. I shared it and felt sick. Who wants to watch someone's train wreck of a life?
Apparently, way more people than I expected.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. 47,000 people watched me get emotional over frozen nuggets. The comments section turned into this validation fest—other single moms, folks in the trenches, all saying "I feel this." That was my turning point. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted authentic.
Finding My Niche: The Unfiltered Mom Content
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: finding your niche is everything. And my niche? It found me. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started creating content about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I lived in one outfit because laundry felt impossible. Or the time I gave them breakfast for dinner all week and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my daughter asked about the divorce, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who thinks the tooth fairy is real.
My content was raw. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was honest, and evidently, that's what connected.
Two months later, I hit 10K. Three months later, 50K. By six months, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone felt surreal. People who wanted to know my story. Me—a barely surviving single mom who had to figure this out from zero six months earlier.
A Day in the Life: Balancing Content and Chaos
Here's the reality of my typical day, because this life is totally different from 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 hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a GRWM talking about money struggles. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while venting about co-parenting struggles. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in survival mode—making breakfast, locating lost items (why is it always one shoe), packing lunches, referee duties. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom creating content in traffic in the car. Don't judge me, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. I'm alone finally. I'm in editing mode, being social, planning content, doing outreach, looking at stats. People think content creation is just making TikToks. Absolutely not. It's a full business.
I usually film in batches on specific days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one go. I'll switch outfits so it looks varied. Life hack: Keep different outfits accessible for easy transitions. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, recording myself alone in the yard.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Back to parenting. But here's where it gets tricky—frequently my viral videos come from real life. Just last week, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I refused to get a $40 toy. I recorded in the car after about dealing with meltdowns as a solo parent. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm completely exhausted to create anything, but I'll schedule content, check DMs, or outline content. Some nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll edit for hours because a client needs content.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just chaos with a plan with random wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Really Earn Money
Look, let's talk dollars because this is what people ask about. Can you actually make money as a online creator? For sure. Is it simple? Nope.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Second month? Zero. Month three, I got my first sponsored post—a hundred and fifty bucks to share a meal kit service. I broke down. That hundred fifty dollars covered food.
Fast forward, three years later, here's how I make money:
Brand Deals: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that align with my audience—affordable stuff, single-parent resources, kid essentials. I bill anywhere from $500-5K per partnership, depending on what they need. Last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made $8K.
TikTok Fund: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—a few hundred dollars per month for massive numbers. YouTube money is way better. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Affiliate Marketing: I post links to products I actually use—everything from my go-to coffee machine to the beds my kids use. If they buy using my link, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Digital Products: I created a budget template and a food prep planner. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
One-on-One Coaching: New creators pay me to mentor them. I offer private coaching for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 a month.
Overall monthly earnings: Generally, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month currently. Some months are higher, some are lower. It's variable, which is nerve-wracking when there's no backup. But it's three times what I made at my previous job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Hard Parts Nobody Mentions
This sounds easy until you're crying in your car because a video flopped, or dealing with vicious comments from strangers who think they know your life.
The negativity is intense. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm a bad influence, called a liar about being a solo parent. Someone once commented, "No wonder he left." That one stung for days.
The platform changes. Certain periods you're getting huge numbers. Next month, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income fluctuates. You're always creating, never resting, nervous about slowing down, you'll lose momentum.
The guilt is crushing exponentially. Every upload, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Are my kids safe? Will they be angry about this when they're teenagers? I have firm rules—no faces of my kids without permission, nothing too personal, no embarrassing content. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The I get burnt out. Some weeks when I am empty. When I'm depleted, talked out, and completely finished. But bills don't care about burnout. So I create anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But here's what's real—despite everything, this journey has given me things I never anticipated.
Money security for the first time ever. I'm not loaded, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an cushion. We took a real vacation last summer—the Mouse House, which felt impossible a couple years back. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or lose income. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a class party, I'm there. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I wasn't with a normal job.
Community that saved me. The fellow creators I've befriended, especially other single parents, have become my people. We talk, share strategies, lift each other up. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They support me, support me, and remind me I'm not alone.
Me beyond motherhood. Finally, I have an identity. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or someone's mom. I'm a CEO. An influencer. Someone who built something from nothing.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single parent thinking about this, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You get better, not by overthinking.
Be yourself. People can tell when you're fake. Share your honest life—the mess. That's what works.
Keep them safe. Set boundaries early. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is the priority. I protect their names, protect their faces, and keep private things private.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one income stream. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple streams = safety.
Film multiple videos. When you have free time, film multiple videos. Tomorrow you will thank yourself when you're drained.
Interact. Answer comments. Check messages. Build real relationships. Your community is what matters.
Analyze performance. Time is money. If something requires tons of time and gets 200 views while something else takes 20 minutes and goes viral, adjust your strategy.
Prioritize yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your mental health matters more than going viral.
Be patient. This requires patience. It took me eight months to make any real money. My first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year two, eighty grand. This year, I'm on track for six figures. It's a journey.
Don't forget your why. On bad days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's money, being present, and validating that I'm more than I believed.
Being Real With You
Look, I'm keeping it 100. This life is tough. Incredibly hard. You're operating a business while being the single caregiver of children who require constant attention.
Certain days I second-guess this. Days when the negativity get to me. Days when I'm burnt out and asking myself if I should get a regular job with stability.
But then suddenly my daughter tells me she's happy I'm here. 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 remember why I do this.
The Future
A few years back, I was lost and broke how I'd survive as a single mom. Now, I'm a content creator making more money than I ever did in corporate America, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals for the future? Reach 500K by end of year. Launch a podcast for single moms. Maybe write a book. Expand this business that supports my family.
This journey gave me a lifeline when I had nothing. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be present in their lives, and build something real. It's not what I planned, but it's where I belong.
To every solo parent on the fence: Yes you can. It will be hard. You'll doubt yourself. But you're already doing the most difficult thing—raising humans alone. You're tougher than you realize.
Jump in messy. Stay consistent. Keep your boundaries. And know this, you're more than just surviving—you're building an empire.
BRB, I need to go record a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and surprise!. Because that's this life—chaos becomes content, video by video.
No cap. This life? It's worth every struggle. Even though there's definitely crumbs all over my desk. Living the dream, chaos and all.