I'm gonna be honest with you, mom life is absolutely wild. But what's really wild? Attempting to earn extra income while juggling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
My hustle life began about a few years back when I figured out that my random shopping trips were way too frequent. I had to find funds I didn't have to justify spending.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Okay so, my initial venture was jumping into virtual assistance. And not gonna lie? It was ideal. I was able to grind during those precious quiet hours, and the only requirement was my laptop and decent wifi.
Initially I was doing simple tasks like organizing inboxes, doing social media scheduling, and entering data. Pretty straightforward. My rate was about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which felt cheap but as a this source total beginner, you gotta prove yourself first.
The funniest part? I'd be on a client call looking all professional from the shoulders up—blazer, makeup, the works—while sporting pajama bottoms. That's the dream honestly.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
Once I got comfortable, I ventured into the whole Etsy thing. All my mom friends seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I was like "why not start one too?"
I began designing downloadable organizers and home decor prints. Here's why printables are amazing? Design it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Genuinely, I've made sales at ungodly hours.
My first sale? I actually yelled. My partner was like something was wrong. Negative—it was just me, cheering about my glorious $4.99. I'm not embarrassed.
Blogging and Creating
Then I discovered blogging and content creation. This venture is a marathon not a sprint, let me tell you.
I started a parenting blog where I posted about my parenting journey—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Keeping it real. Just honest stories about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Getting readers was a test of patience. Initially, I was essentially writing for myself and like three people. But I didn't give up, and slowly but surely, things started clicking.
These days? I earn income through affiliate marketing, collaborations, and ad revenue. Last month I earned over two thousand dollars from my blog income. Crazy, right?
SMM Side Hustle
When I became good with running my own socials, local businesses started asking if I could manage their accounts.
Here's the thing? Tons of businesses are terrible with social media. They recognize they need to be there, but they're clueless about the algorithm.
I swoop in. I handle social media for a handful of clients—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I plan their content, plan their posting schedule, respond to comments, and check their stats.
I charge between $500-$1500/month per account, depending on the complexity. Here's what's great? I manage everything from my phone during soccer practice.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
If you can write, content writing is seriously profitable. I'm not talking writing the next Great American Novel—I mean content writing for businesses.
Brands and websites constantly need fresh content. I've written articles about everything from the most random topics. You just need to research, you just need to know how to find information.
I typically make $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on the topic and length. On good months I'll produce ten to fifteen pieces and earn one to two thousand extra.
The funny thing is: I was the person who thought writing was torture. Now I'm earning a living writing. Life's funny like that.
Tutoring Online
When COVID hit, tutoring went digital. I used to be a teacher, so this was kind of a natural fit.
I started working with various tutoring services. You choose when you work, which is essential when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
I mainly help with basic subjects. Rates vary from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the platform.
Here's what's weird? Sometimes my own kids will burst into the room mid-session. I've literally had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The parents on the other end are usually super understanding because they're living the same life.
The Reselling Game
Here me out, this one I stumbled into. I was decluttering my kids' closet and posted some items on Facebook Marketplace.
Items moved instantly. That's when I realized: you can sell literally anything.
These days I visit secondhand stores and sales, hunting for things that will sell. I purchase something for a few dollars and make serious profit.
It's definitely work? Yes. You're constantly listing and shipping. But it's oddly satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at the thrift store and turning a profit.
Plus: the kids think it's neat when I find unique items. Last week I scored a retro toy that my son freaked out about. Sold it for $45. Score one for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Truth bomb incoming: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
There are moments when I'm exhausted, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm up at 5am working before my kids wake up, then handling mom duties, then back at it after 8pm hits.
But you know what? This income is mine. I don't have to ask permission to treat myself. I'm supporting my family's finances. I'm teaching my children that you can be both.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're thinking about a side gig, this is what I've learned:
Start small. Don't try to start five businesses. Start with one venture and get good at it before adding more.
Work with your schedule. If you only have evenings, that's okay. Whatever time you can dedicate is more than enough to start.
Stop comparing to what you see online. The successful ones you see? She probably started years ago and has support. Focus on your own journey.
Learn and grow, but carefully. Start with free stuff first. Don't spend huge money on programs until you've validated your idea.
Do similar tasks together. This changed everything. Block off certain times for certain work. Use Monday for making stuff day. Make Wednesday admin and emails.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
Real talk—I struggle with guilt. There are times when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I struggle with it.
But then I remind myself that I'm demonstrating to them work ethic. I'm demonstrating to my children that you can be both.
Additionally? Having my own income has been good for me. I'm more content, which translates to better parenting.
Let's Talk Money
The real numbers? Generally, between all my hustles, I make $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 so many things we needed that would've been impossible otherwise. Plus it's giving me confidence and knowledge that could become a full-time thing.
In Conclusion
Here's the bottom line, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship isn't easy. You won't find a one-size-fits-all approach. Many days I'm winging it, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and hoping for the best.
But I don't regret it. Each bit of income is a testament to my hustle. It's evidence that I'm a multifaceted person.
So if you're considering diving into this? Start now. Don't wait for perfect. You in six months will be so glad you did.
Don't forget: You're not just surviving—you're hustling. Despite the fact that there's likely mysterious crumbs on your keyboard.
For real. This mom hustle life is where it's at, mess included.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—becoming a single mom was never the plan. Neither was turning into an influencer. But fast forward to now, years into this crazy ride, earning income by sharing my life online while handling everything by myself. And real talk? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Fell Apart
It was 2022 when my relationship fell apart. I can still picture sitting in my bare apartment (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids slept. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my checking account, little people counting on me, and a job that barely covered rent. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I was scrolling social media to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's how we cope? when we're drowning, right?—when I saw this solo parent sharing how she changed her life through making videos. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Or stupid. Probably both.
I grabbed the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, talking about how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who gives a damn about my mess?
Apparently, way more people than I expected.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me breakdown over chicken nuggets. The comments section became this incredible community—people who got it, folks in the trenches, all saying "I feel this." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted honest.
Finding My Niche: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started sharing the stuff people hide. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner three nights in a row and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my child asked where daddy went, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who believes in magic.
My content was rough. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was authentic, and evidently, that's what hit.
Within two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, 50K. By month six, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone felt surreal. These were real people who wanted to know my story. Little old me—a financially unstable single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" recently.
My Daily Reality: Balancing Content and Chaos
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because creating content solo is nothing like those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do NOT want to get up, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a morning routine talking about budgeting. Sometimes it's me cooking while discussing custody stuff. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in survival mode—making breakfast, locating lost items (why is it always one shoe), prepping food, stopping fights. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom creating content in traffic in the car. I know, I know, but the grind never stops.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. I'm alone finally. I'm editing videos, engaging with followers, thinking of ideas, doing outreach, looking at stats. Everyone assumes content creation is only filming. Wrong. It's a whole business.
I usually film in batches on specific days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in a few hours. I'll switch outfits so it looks like different days. Hot tip: Keep different outfits accessible for outfit changes. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, making videos in public in the backyard.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Back to parenting. But here's the thing—often my viral videos come from these after-school moments. Just last week, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I made content in the parking lot after about handling public tantrums as a lone parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm typically drained to create content, but I'll queue up posts, check DMs, or outline content. Often, after they're down, I'll stay up editing because a client needs content.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just controlled chaos with occasional wins.
The Financial Reality: How I Really Earn Money
Look, let's talk dollars because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you actually make money as a content creator? For sure. Is it easy? Hell no.
My first month, I made $0. Month two? $0. Third month, I got my first brand deal—one hundred fifty dollars to promote a meal kit service. I literally cried. That hundred fifty dollars paid for groceries.
Currently, three years in, here's how I monetize:
Brand Deals: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that align with my audience—affordable stuff, single-parent resources, kid essentials. I charge anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per collaboration, depending on the scope. Just last month, I did four collabs and made $8K.
Ad Money: Creator fund pays not much—a few hundred dollars per month for millions of views. YouTube money is way better. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Links: I promote products to stuff I really use—anything from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If someone clicks and buys, I get a commission. This brings in about $1K monthly.
Online Products: I created a financial planner and a meal planning ebook. They're $15 each, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
Consulting Services: People wanting to start pay me to show them how. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200/hour. I do about five to ten per month.
Combined monthly revenue: On average, I'm making $10-15K per month now. It varies, some are less. It's up and down, which is stressful when you're the only income source. But it's three times what I made at my previous job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Hard Parts Nobody Talks About
It looks perfect online until you're losing it because a video didn't perform, or handling nasty DMs from strangers who think they know your life.
The haters are brutal. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm problematic, accused of lying about being a divorced parent. Someone once commented, "No wonder he left." That one destroyed me.
The platform changes. Certain periods you're getting insane views. The following week, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income goes up and down. You're always creating, 24/7, scared to stop, you'll lose relevance.
The guilt is crushing beyond normal. Every upload, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Am I doing right by them? Will they regret this when they're grown? I have clear boundaries—limited face shots, no sharing their private stuff, nothing humiliating. But the line is fuzzy.
The burnout hits hard. Sometimes when I have nothing. When I'm depleted, socially drained, and at my limit. But bills don't care about burnout. So I create anyway.
The Wins
But here's what's real—through it all, this journey has created things I never imagined.
Financial stability for the first time ever. I'm not wealthy, but I cleared $18K. I have an savings. We took a actual vacation last summer—Disney World, which seemed impossible not long ago. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to ask permission or panic. I worked anywhere. When there's a school event, I'm present. I'm available in ways I wasn't with a normal job.
Connection that saved me. The creator friends I've found, especially single moms, have become my people. We support each other, collaborate, support each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They celebrate my wins, support me, and remind me I'm not alone.
My own identity. For the first time since having kids, I have something that's mine. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or just a mom. I'm a content creator. A creator. Someone who built something from nothing.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single parent considering content creation, here's my advice:
Begin now. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's okay. You get better, not by overthinking.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your true life—the unfiltered truth. That resonates.
Guard their privacy. Set limits. Have standards. Their privacy is sacred. I keep names private, rarely show their faces, and respect their dignity.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one income stream. The algorithm is unreliable. Diversification = security.
Film multiple videos. When you have quiet time, create multiple pieces. Next week you will be grateful when you're drained.
Build community. Engage. Respond to DMs. Connect authentically. Your community is your foundation.
Monitor what works. Be strategic. If something takes four hours and flops while something else takes 20 minutes and blows up, pivot.
Don't forget yourself. You need to fill your cup. Take breaks. Create limits. Your sanity matters more than anything.
Be patient. This takes time. It took me eight months to make meaningful money. My first year, I made $15K total. The second year, eighty grand. Year three, I'm on track for six figures. It's a process.
Remember why you started. On difficult days—and trust me, there will be—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's supporting my kids, flexibility with my kids, and showing myself that I'm capable of anything.
The Reality Check
Listen, I'm telling the truth. Content creation as a single mom is difficult. Incredibly hard. You're basically running a business while being the single caregiver of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Some days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the trolls affect me. Days when I'm drained and wondering if I should go back to corporate with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But but then my daughter mentions she appreciates this. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I remember why I do this.
What's Next
A few years back, I was scared and struggling how to make it work. Fast forward, I'm a professional creator making way more than I made in corporate America, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals going forward? Reach 500K by this year. Start a podcast for single moms. Maybe write a book. Expand this business that makes everything possible.
Content creation gave me a way out when I was drowning. It gave me a way to support my kids, be there, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's a surprise, but it's meant to be.
To every single mom out there wondering if you can do this: You can. It will be hard. You'll struggle. But you're managing the hardest job in the world—parenting solo. You're powerful.
Jump in messy. Be consistent. Keep your boundaries. And always remember, you're beyond survival mode—you're building something incredible.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go create content about another last-minute project and surprise!. Because that's this life—content from the mess, video by video.
No cap. This journey? It's everything. Even if there's probably Goldfish crackers stuck to my laptop right now. No regrets, mess included.