Here's the tea, mom life is absolutely wild. But here's the thing? Attempting to get that bread while handling tiny humans who think sleep is optional.
My hustle life began about a few years back when I had the epiphany that my random shopping trips were becoming problematic. It was time to get cash that was actually mine.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Right so, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And honestly? It was ideal. I was able to work during naptime, and the only requirement the relevant source was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
I began by easy things like organizing inboxes, doing social media scheduling, and entering data. Pretty straightforward. I charged about $15-20 per hour, which seemed low but as a total beginner, you gotta build up your portfolio.
The funniest part? I would be on a video meeting looking like a real businesswoman from the shoulders up—looking corporate—while sporting pajama bottoms. Main character energy.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
About twelve months in, I thought I'd test out the selling on Etsy. Literally everyone seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I was like "why not me?"
I created designing digital planners and home decor prints. Here's why printables are amazing? One and done creation, and it can generate passive income forever. Actually, I've made sales at ungodly hours.
The first time someone bought something? I literally screamed. He came running thinking something was wrong. But no—I was just, doing a happy dance for my glorious $4.99. Don't judge me.
The Content Creation Grind
Then I got into the whole influencer thing. This venture is definitely a slow burn, real talk.
I launched a mom blog where I wrote about what motherhood actually looks like—all of it, no filter. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Only the actual truth about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.
Building up views was painfully slow. For months, I was basically my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I didn't give up, and eventually, things took off.
These days? I generate revenue through affiliate marketing, collaborations, and display ads. This past month I earned over two thousand dollars from my blog income. Insane, right?
SMM Side Hustle
After I learned my own content, other businesses started reaching out if I could manage their accounts.
Here's the thing? Most small businesses struggle with social media. They recognize they should be posting, but they can't keep up.
That's where I come in. I currently run social media for three local businesses—different types of businesses. I make posts, queue up posts, interact with their audience, and check their stats.
My rate is between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per client, depending on what they need. Here's what's great? I do this work from my iPhone.
Writing for Money
If you can write, writing gigs is where it's at. I don't mean literary fiction—I mean blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Websites and businesses constantly need fresh content. I've created content about everything from literally everything under the sun. You just need to research, you just need to know how to find information.
Usually earn between fifty and two hundred per article, depending on what's involved. Some months I'll produce 10-15 articles and pull in an extra $1,000-2,000.
Plot twist: I was that student who barely passed English class. Now I'm a professional writer. Life is weird.
The Online Tutoring Thing
When COVID hit, virtual tutoring became huge. I was a teacher before kids, so this was perfect for me.
I joined a couple of online tutoring sites. You make your own schedule, which is absolutely necessary when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
My sessions are usually K-5 subjects. Rates vary from $15-$25/hour depending on the platform.
The awkward part? There are times when my children will interrupt mid-session. I've literally had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. Other parents are incredibly understanding because they're living the same life.
Flipping Items for Profit
Okay, this hustle I stumbled into. I was cleaning out my kids' room and put some things on Facebook Marketplace.
Things sold immediately. Lightbulb moment: you can sell literally anything.
Now I frequent thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, searching for quality items. I purchase something for cheap and resell at a markup.
It's definitely work? Yes. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But I find it rewarding about discovering a diamond in the rough at a yard sale and making profit.
Also: my kids are impressed when I discover weird treasures. Last week I discovered a retro toy that my son went crazy for. Made $45 on it. Mom win.
Real Talk Time
Let me keep it real: this stuff requires effort. There's work involved, hence the name.
There are days when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I wake up early getting stuff done while it's quiet, then handling mom duties, then back at it after the kids are asleep.
But here's what matters? These are my earnings. No permission needed to splurge on something nice. I'm adding to my family's finances. I'm showing my kids that you can be both.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you're thinking about a side hustle, this is what I've learned:
Begin with something manageable. Don't attempt to launch everything simultaneously. Start with one venture and nail it down before starting something else.
Be realistic about time. Your available hours, that's fine. A couple of productive hours is valuable.
Comparison is the thief of joy to the highlight reels. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She probably started years ago and has support. Do your thing.
Spend money on education, but strategically. Free information exists. Don't spend $5,000 on a coaching program until you've tried things out.
Do similar tasks together. I learned this the hard way. Set aside time blocks for different things. Monday could be writing day. Wednesday could be 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 feel terrible.
However I remember that I'm demonstrating to them work ethic. I'm teaching my kids that you can be both.
And honestly? Having my own income has improved my mental health. I'm more fulfilled, which translates to better parenting.
Income Reality Check
My actual income? Generally, combining everything, I earn three to five thousand monthly. It varies, others are slower.
Will this make you wealthy? Not exactly. But we've used it to pay for so many things we needed that would've caused financial strain. And it's developing my career and skills that could grow into more.
Final Thoughts
Look, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship takes work. It's not a secret sauce. Many days I'm winging it, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and hoping for the best.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Each bit of income is a testament to my hustle. It's proof that I'm more than just mom.
For anyone contemplating starting a side hustle? Take the leap. Begin before you're ready. Future you will be grateful.
Always remember: You're more than enduring—you're hustling. Despite the fact that there's likely old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
For real. It's incredible, chaos and all.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood wasn't part of my five-year plan. I also didn't plan on making money from my phone. But here I am, years into this crazy ride, earning income by being vulnerable on the internet while handling everything by myself. And not gonna lie? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
The Starting Point: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was 2022 when my marriage ended. I will never forget sitting in my bare apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my checking account, two humans depending on me, and a income that didn't cut it. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I was on TikTok to avoid my thoughts—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when we're drowning, right?—when I found this single mom talking about how she became debt-free through content creation. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But being broke makes you bold. Maybe both. Often both.
I installed the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, explaining how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' school lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Why would anyone care about my broke reality?
Plot twist, a lot of people.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me almost lose it over processed meat. The comments section became this validation fest—fellow solo parents, people living the same reality, all saying "I feel this." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted raw.
My Brand Evolution: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It chose me. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started creating content about the stuff no one shows. Like how I lived in one outfit because laundry felt impossible. Or when I served cereal as a meal three nights in a row and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked where daddy went, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was honest, and evidently, that's what hit.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. 90 days in, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt impossible. These were real people who wanted to hear what I had to say. Me—a financially unstable single mom who had to figure this out from zero six months earlier.
My Daily Reality: Content Creation Meets Real Life
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because this life is totally different from those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me sharing about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while discussing parenting coordination. The lighting is whatever I can get.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation ends. Now I'm in survival mode—cooking eggs, locating lost items (seriously, always ONE), packing lunches, mediating arguments. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom filming at red lights at stop signs. I know, I know, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. Peace and quiet. I'm in editing mode, responding to comments, planning content, sending emails, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is just making TikToks. Nope. It's a real job.
I usually batch-create content on certain days. That means shooting multiple videos in one go. I'll swap tops so it seems like separate days. Advice: Keep several shirts ready for quick changes. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, filming myself talking to my phone in the yard.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Transition back to mom mode. But plot twist—often my viral videos come from real life. Last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I couldn't afford a toy she didn't need. I created a video in the car once we left about surviving tantrums as a single mom. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm usually too exhausted to create anything, but I'll schedule uploads, reply to messages, or strategize. Some nights, after bedtime, I'll stay up editing because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just controlled chaos with occasional wins.
The Financial Reality: How I Support My Family
Look, let's get into the finances because this is what people ask about. Can you make a living as a content creator? Yes. Is it simple? Not even close.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—$150 to post about a meal delivery. I cried real tears. That hundred fifty dollars paid for groceries.
Today, three years in, here's how I monetize:
Brand Partnerships: This is my primary income. I work with brands that make sense—things that help, mom products, children's products. I ask for anywhere from $500-5K per campaign, depending on what they need. Last month, I did four collabs and made eight thousand dollars.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: Creator fund pays very little—two to four hundred per month for huge view counts. AdSense is better. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Links: I post links to products I actually use—ranging from my favorite coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If anyone buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Digital Products: I created a money management guide and a meal prep guide. $15 apiece, and I sell dozens per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
Consulting Services: Aspiring influencers pay me to guide them. I offer consulting calls for two hundred dollars. I do about five to ten of these monthly.
Overall monthly earnings: On average, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month these days. Some months I make more, others are slower. It's variable, which is terrifying when you're it. But it's three times what I made at my corporate job, and I'm home when my kids need me.
The Dark Side Nobody Shows You
From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a video didn't perform, or handling cruel messages from keyboard warriors.
The negativity is intense. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm using my children, called a liar about being a divorced parent. Someone once commented, "I'd leave too." That one stung for days.
The algorithm shifts. One week you're getting viral hits. The next, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income is unstable. You're never off, 24/7, scared to stop, you'll be forgotten.
The mom guilt is intense beyond normal. Every upload, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Are my kids safe? Will they resent this when they're teenagers? I have non-negotiables—no faces of my kids without permission, no discussing their personal struggles, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The burnout is real. Some weeks when I have nothing. When I'm touched out, socially drained, and totally spent. But rent doesn't care. So I push through.
The Wins
But the truth is—despite the hard parts, this journey has brought me things I never dreamed of.
Economic stability for the first time ever. I'm not loaded, but I became debt-free. I have an cushion. We took a vacation last summer—Orlando, which I never thought possible a couple years back. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or worry about money. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school thing, I'm present. I'm in their lives in ways I wasn't with a normal job.
Connection that saved me. The other creators I've befriended, especially other moms, have become my people. We talk, share strategies, support each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They hype me up, send love, and show me I'm not alone.
Identity beyond "mom". Finally, I have something that's mine. I'm more than an ex or somebody's mother. I'm a entrepreneur. An influencer. Someone who made it happen.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a solo parent thinking about this, here's what I'd tell you:
Just start. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's okay. You learn by doing, not by overthinking.
Be yourself. People can tell when you're fake. Share your real life—the mess. That's the magic.
Keep them safe. Set boundaries early. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I never share their names, minimize face content, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Build multiple income streams. Diversify or one way to earn. The algorithm is unreliable. Multiple income streams = stability.
Batch your content. When you have quiet time, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will appreciate it when you're too exhausted to create.
Engage with your audience. Answer comments. Reply to messages. Connect authentically. Your community is what matters.
Track metrics. Be strategic. If something is time-intensive and tanks while a different post takes very little time and gets 200,000 views, pivot.
Don't forget yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Step away. Create limits. Your sanity matters more than anything.
Give it time. This is a marathon. It took me half a year to make real income. Year one, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year 2, eighty grand. Year 3, I'm on track for six figures. It's a long game.
Stay connected to your purpose. On hard days—and there will be many—think about your why. For me, it's supporting my kids, time with my children, and proving to myself that I'm more than I believed.
Being Real With You
Here's the deal, I'm keeping it 100. This life is tough. So damn hard. You're basically running a business while being the only parent of kids who need everything.
Some days I second-guess this. Days when the trolls sting. Days when I'm burnt out and questioning if I should go back to corporate with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But and then my daughter mentions she appreciates this. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I know it's worth it.
My Future Plans
Years ago, I was terrified and clueless what to do. Now, I'm a full-time creator making more than I imagined in traditional work, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals for the future? Get to half a million followers by end of year. Begin podcasting for other single moms. Write a book eventually. Keep growing this business that changed my life.
This path gave me a path forward when I was desperate. It gave me a way to provide for my family, show up, and accomplish something incredible. It's not the path I expected, but it's where I belong.
To any single parent considering this: You absolutely can. It will be challenging. You'll doubt yourself. But you're handling the hardest job—doing this alone. You're tougher than you realize.
Start messy. Stay the course. Guard your peace. And always remember, you're doing more than surviving—you're changing your life.
Time to go, I need to go record a video about the project I just found out about and nobody told me until now. Because that's the content creator single mom life—making content from chaos, video by video.
Honestly. Being a single mom creator? It's worth it. Even though there's probably Goldfish crackers everywhere. Dream life, chaos and all.