Let me tell you, motherhood is no joke. But you know what's even crazier? Working to secure the bag while juggling kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
My hustle life began about several years ago when I had the epiphany that my retail therapy sessions were getting out of hand. I had to find cash that was actually mine.
Being a VA
Okay so, my first gig was doing VA work. And real talk? It was ideal. I was able to work during naptime, and all I needed was my laptop and decent wifi.
Initially I was doing simple tasks like handling emails, posting on social media, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. I started at about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which seemed low but for someone with zero experience, you gotta start somewhere.
Here's what was wild? I would be on a client call looking completely put together from the shoulders up—looking corporate—while sporting sweatpants. That's the dream honestly.
Selling on Etsy
Once I got comfortable, I wanted to explore the Etsy world. Every mom I knew seemed to be on Etsy, so I was like "why not get in on this?"
I began crafting PDF planners and home decor prints. Here's why printables are amazing? Design it once, and it can make money while you sleep. For real, I've gotten orders at times when I didn't even know.
The first time someone bought something? I freaked out completely. My partner was like there was an emergency. Not even close—just me, doing a happy dance for my first five bucks. No shame in my game.
Content Creator Life
Then I ventured into the whole influencer thing. This venture is playing the long game, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I began a mom blog where I posted about what motherhood actually looks like—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Keeping it real. Just honest stories about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.
Growing an audience was a test of patience. The first few months, I was essentially talking to myself. But I kept at it, and over time, things started clicking.
At this point? I make money through promoting products, brand partnerships, and display ads. Recently I made over $2K from my blog income. Insane, right?
Managing Social Media
Once I got decent at social media for my own stuff, local businesses started asking if I could run their social media.
Truth bomb? Tons of businesses struggle with social media. They realize they need to be there, but they don't know how.
I swoop in. I handle social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I plan their content, schedule posts, interact with their audience, and analyze the metrics.
I bill between $500-$1500/month per business, depending on the scope of work. What I love? I do this work from my phone.
Writing for Money
If you can write, writing gigs is a goldmine. I'm not talking literary fiction—I mean commercial writing.
Brands and websites always need writers. I've created content about everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. You just need to research, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
I typically make fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on the topic and length. Certain months I'll produce ten to fifteen pieces and pull in one to two thousand extra.
What's hilarious: I'm the same person who struggled with essays. Now I'm making money from copyright. Talk about character development.
Tutoring Online
When COVID hit, everyone needed online help. I was a teacher before kids, so this was perfect for me.
I started working with VIPKid and Tutor.com. You make your own schedule, which is absolutely necessary when you have children who keep you guessing.
My sessions are usually elementary reading and math. The pay ranges from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the company.
The awkward part? There are times when my children will interrupt mid-session. I've had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. My clients are totally cool about it because they're living the same life.
The Reselling Game
So, this particular venture started by accident. I was cleaning out my kids' closet and tried selling some outfits on Facebook Marketplace.
Things sold so fast. That's when I realized: there's a market for everything.
Now I visit estate sales and thrift shops, searching for good brands. I grab something for cheap and resell at a markup.
This takes effort? Not gonna lie. It's a whole process. But I find it rewarding about discovering a diamond in the rough at the thrift store and making money.
Additionally: the kids think it's neat when I find unique items. Last week I discovered a collectible item that my son went crazy for. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Here's the thing nobody tells you: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are days when I'm completely drained, doubting everything. I'm working before sunrise getting stuff done while it's quiet, then all day mom-ing, then back at it after bedtime.
But here's what matters? I earned this money. I don't have to ask permission to splurge on something nice. I'm contributing to the family budget. My kids see that moms can do anything.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're thinking about a side hustle, this is what I've learned:
Start with one thing. Don't try to launch everything simultaneously. Start with one venture and become proficient before adding more.
Be realistic about time. If you only have evenings, that's totally valid. Whatever time you can dedicate is valuable.
Don't compare yourself to what you see online. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? She probably started years ago and has help. Run your own race.
Invest in yourself, but strategically. There are tons of free resources. Don't waste thousands on courses until you've validated your idea.
Batch your work. This saved my sanity. Use time blocks for different things. Make Monday writing day. Use Wednesday for handling business stuff.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
I have to be real with you—guilt is part of this. There are days when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I feel guilty.
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.
And honestly? Financial independence has been good for me. I'm happier, which translates to better parenting.
Let's Talk Money
The real numbers? On average, from all my side gigs, I bring in between three and five grand. Some months are better, others are slower.
Is this getting-rich money? No. But it's paid for stuff that matters to us that would've caused financial strain. It's creating opportunities and knowledge that could grow into more.
Final Thoughts
Listen, hustling as a mom is hard. There's no such thing as a magic formula. Most days I'm winging it, powered by caffeine, and praying it all works out.
But I wouldn't change it. Every penny made is validation of my effort. It's evidence that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're on the fence about diving into this? Take the leap. Don't wait for perfect. Your tomorrow self will be so glad you did.
And remember: You're not merely making it through—you're building something. Despite the fact that there's likely snack crumbs on your keyboard.
Seriously. It's the life, chaos and all.
My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—being a single parent wasn't the dream. Neither was making money from my phone. But here I am, three years later, making a living by posting videos while handling everything by myself. And not gonna lie? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
The Starting Point: When Everything Fell Apart
It was 2022 when my relationship fell apart. I remember sitting in my mostly empty place (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had $847 in my account, two humans depending on me, and a job that barely covered rent. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to numb the pain—because that's the move? when we're drowning, right?—when I came across this solo parent talking about how she made six figures through posting online. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Or both. Sometimes both.
I grabbed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, talking about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a cheap food for my kids' lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Why would anyone care about this disaster?
Apparently, way more people than I expected.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me almost lose it over processed meat. The comments section was this incredible community—people who got it, others barely surviving, all saying "me too." That was my turning point. People didn't want perfect. They wanted real.
Finding My Niche: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It found me. I became the real one.
I started posting about the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because I couldn't handle laundry. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner all week and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what hit.
Two months later, I hit ten thousand followers. Three months later, 50K. By month six, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone seemed fake. Real accounts who wanted to hear what I had to say. Me—a struggling single mom who had to ask Google what this meant six months earlier.
The Actual Schedule: Balancing Content and Chaos
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because creating content solo is totally different from those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a getting ready video sharing about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me cooking while venting about dealing with my ex. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation stops. Now I'm in parent mode—pouring cereal, the shoe hunt (why is it always one shoe), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom creating content in traffic at stop signs. Not my proudest moment, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. Kids are at school. I'm editing content, responding to comments, ideating, doing outreach, checking analytics. They believe content creation is simple. It's not. It's a whole business.
I usually film in batches on specific days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one go. I'll change clothes so it seems like separate days. Life hack: Keep wardrobe options close for fast swaps. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, talking to my camera in the driveway.
3:00pm: School pickup. Transition back to mom mode. But here's where it gets tricky—sometimes my viral videos come from the chaos. Recently, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I made content in the vehicle once we left about surviving tantrums as a single mom. It got millions of views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm completely exhausted to create anything, but I'll schedule content, respond to DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Many nights, after bedtime, I'll edit for hours because a client needs content.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just organized chaos with occasional wins.
The Money Talk: How I Actually Make a Living
Look, let's talk dollars because this is what you're wondering. Can you really earn income as a content creator? Absolutely. Is it simple? Not even close.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Month two? Still nothing. Third month, I got my first brand deal—$150 to promote a meal box. I cried real tears. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.
Currently, three years in, here's how I earn income:
Brand Deals: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that make sense—budget-friendly products, mom products, children's products. I charge anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per collaboration, depending on what's required. Just last month, I did four collabs and made $8K.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—a few hundred dollars per month for millions of views. YouTube money is more lucrative. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that took forever.
Affiliate Marketing: I share affiliate links to things I own—everything from my beloved coffee maker to the kids' beds. If someone clicks and buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Online Products: I created a financial planner and a cooking guide. Each costs $15, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Coaching/Consulting: Other aspiring creators pay me to guide them. I offer private coaching for two hundred per hour. I do about five to ten per month.
Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month these days. Some months are higher, some are less. It's variable, which is terrifying when there's no backup. But it's 3x what I made at my previous job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Dark Side Nobody Posts About
Content creation sounds glamorous until you're losing it 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, questioned about being a single mom. A commenter wrote, "Maybe that's why he left." That one destroyed an insightful piece me.
The algorithm changes constantly. One week you're getting huge numbers. Next month, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income is unstable. You're constantly creating, never resting, afraid to pause, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is worse to the extreme. Each post, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they hate me for this when they're older? I have firm rules—minimal identifying info, no sharing their private stuff, protecting their dignity. But the line is not always clear.
The burnout is real. There are weeks when I am empty. When I'm depleted, talked out, and just done. But life doesn't stop. So I do it anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But listen—through it all, this journey has created things I never anticipated.
Money security for the first damn time. I'm not a millionaire, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a actual vacation last summer—Disney, which was a dream a couple years back. I don't panic about money anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to call in to work or panic. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a class party, I attend. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't manage with a corporate job.
Connection that saved me. The creator friends I've befriended, especially other single parents, have become my people. We talk, collaborate, lift each other up. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They cheer for me, support me, and show me I'm not alone.
Me beyond motherhood. Finally, I have an identity. I'm not just an ex or only a parent. I'm a business owner. An influencer. Someone who made it happen.
My Best Tips
If you're a single mom wanting to start, here's my advice:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's okay. You learn by doing, not by procrastinating.
Authenticity wins. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your honest life—the chaos. That's the magic.
Guard their privacy. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is the priority. I never share their names, limit face shots, and protect their stories.
Don't rely on one thing. Diversify or a single source. The algorithm is unreliable. Multiple income streams = stability.
Batch create content. When you have free time, create multiple pieces. Tomorrow you will thank present you when you're unable to film.
Engage with your audience. Respond to comments. Check messages. Build real relationships. Your community is what matters.
Track metrics. Some content isn't worth it. If something takes forever and gets nothing while another video takes very little time and goes viral, change tactics.
Self-care matters. You matter too. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your health matters more than going viral.
This takes time. This requires patience. It took me eight months to make meaningful money. My first year, I made fifteen thousand. Year two, eighty thousand. Year 3, I'm on track for six figures. It's a journey.
Remember why you started. On bad days—and they happen—remember your reason. For me, it's money, being present, and proving to myself that I'm stronger than I knew.
Being Real With You
Listen, I'm keeping it 100. Content creation as a single mom is challenging. Like, really freaking hard. You're running a whole business while being the sole caretaker of demanding little people.
Certain days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the trolls hurt. Days when I'm completely spent and asking myself if I should go back to corporate with a 401k.
But and then my daughter says she loves that I'm home. Or I see financial progress. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I remember my purpose.
The Future
A few years back, I was broke, scared, and had no idea what to do. Today, I'm a content creator making more money than I ever did in traditional work, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals moving forward? Get to half a million followers by this year. Launch a podcast for single moms. Maybe write a book. Continue building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
This journey gave me a way out when I was desperate. It gave me a way to support my kids, show up, and create something meaningful. It's not what I planned, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To all the single moms wondering if you can do this: Hell yes you can. It will be challenging. You'll consider quitting. But you're handling the hardest job—parenting solo. You're stronger than you think.
Start messy. Keep showing up. Keep your boundaries. And don't forget, you're doing more than surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Gotta go now, I need to go film a TikTok about the project I just found out about and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's the reality—chaos becomes content, one TikTok at a time.
Seriously. This life? It's the best decision. Even if I'm sure there's old snacks everywhere. Dream life, imperfectly perfect.