I'm gonna be honest with you, motherhood is not for the weak. But plot twist? Working to get that bread while managing tiny humans who think sleep is optional.
My hustle life began about three years ago when I had the epiphany that my impulse buys were becoming problematic. I was desperate for some independent income.
Being a VA
Right so, my first gig was becoming a virtual assistant. And I'll be real? It was ideal. I could grind during those precious quiet hours, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.
My first tasks were easy things like email sorting, scheduling social media posts, and data entry. Super simple stuff. I started at about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which seemed low but when you're just starting, you gotta build up your portfolio.
What cracked me up? I would be on a client call looking all professional from the this breakdown waist up—full professional mode—while wearing my rattiest leggings. Living my best life.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
After a year, I decided to try the whole Etsy thing. Everyone and their mother seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I figured "why not start one too?"
I started making downloadable organizers and digital art prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? Make it one time, and it can make money while you sleep. For real, I've earned money at ungodly hours.
When I got my first order? I freaked out completely. My partner was like I'd injured myself. Not even close—it was just me, doing a happy dance for my five dollar sale. I'm not embarrassed.
The Content Creation Grind
Then I started blogging and content creation. This particular side gig is definitely a slow burn, trust me on this.
I began a family lifestyle blog where I shared real mom life—everything unfiltered. Keeping it real. Simply authentic experiences about surviving tantrums in Target.
Building traffic was painfully slow. The first few months, I was essentially creating content for crickets. But I persisted, and eventually, things began working.
Now? I make money through affiliate links, collaborations, and display ads. Just last month I made over two thousand dollars from my blog alone. Crazy, right?
Managing Social Media
After I learned social media for my own stuff, local businesses started asking if I could help them.
Truth bomb? Many companies suck at social media. They know they need to be there, but they can't keep up.
Enter: me. I now manage social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I make posts, plan their posting schedule, engage with followers, and track analytics.
They pay me between $500-1500 per month per business, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I manage everything from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
Freelance Writing Life
For the wordy folks, freelancing is incredibly lucrative. I don't mean literary fiction—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Websites and businesses are desperate for content. I've created content about everything from dental hygiene to copyright. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
Generally charge between fifty and two hundred per article, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll create a dozen articles and earn one to two thousand extra.
The funny thing is: Back in school I struggled with essays. And now I'm a professional writer. Life is weird.
Tutoring Online
When COVID hit, online tutoring exploded. As a former educator, so this was kind of a natural fit.
I registered on various tutoring services. You choose when you work, which is absolutely necessary when you have children who keep you guessing.
I focus on basic subjects. Income ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on which site you use.
The awkward part? Sometimes my own kids will interrupt mid-session. There was a time I educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. Other parents are usually super understanding because they're parents too.
The Reselling Game
Alright, this particular venture happened accidentally. I was cleaning out my kids' closet and listed some clothes on Mercari.
They sold so fast. I suddenly understood: you can sell literally anything.
Currently I hit up anywhere with deals, looking for good brands. I purchase something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
It's definitely work? Not gonna lie. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But I find it rewarding about finding hidden treasures at a yard sale and earning from it.
Bonus: my kids are impressed when I bring home interesting finds. Just last week I grabbed a retro toy that my son went crazy for. Got forty-five dollars for it. Victory for mom.
Real Talk Time
Here's the thing nobody tells you: side hustles aren't passive income. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are moments when I'm running on empty, questioning my life choices. I'm working before sunrise being productive before the madness begins, then handling mom duties, then back to work after everyone's in bed.
But here's the thing? These are my earnings. I'm not asking anyone to get the good coffee. I'm adding to our household income. I'm teaching my children that you can have it all—sort of.
What I Wish I Knew
For those contemplating a side gig, here are my tips:
Start with one thing. You can't do everything at once. Choose one hustle and master it before adding more.
Use the time you have. Your available hours, that's totally valid. Whatever time you can dedicate is better than nothing.
Don't compare yourself to Instagram moms. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? They've been at it for years and doesn't do it alone. Focus on your own journey.
Learn and grow, but smartly. There are tons of free resources. Be careful about spending huge money on programs until you've tried things out.
Work in batches. This changed everything. Set aside time blocks for different things. Monday might be creation day. Use Wednesday for admin and emails.
The Mom Guilt is Real
Real talk—mom guilt is a thing. There are days when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I feel terrible.
But then I think about that I'm demonstrating to them work ethic. I'm demonstrating to my children that you can be both.
And honestly? Having my own income has improved my mental health. I'm more content, which makes me more patient.
Let's Talk Money
My actual income? Typically, total from all sources, I make between three and five grand. It varies, it fluctuates.
Will this make you wealthy? Not exactly. But I've used it for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been impossible otherwise. Plus it's developing my career and knowledge that could become a full-time thing.
In Conclusion
Look, being a mom with a side hustle takes work. There's no such thing as a magic formula. Most days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, powered by caffeine, and crossing my fingers.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every dollar I earn is evidence of my capability. It demonstrates that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're on the fence about beginning your hustle journey? Take the leap. Start messy. Future you will thank you.
Keep in mind: You're not just surviving—you're building something. Despite the fact that there's likely snack crumbs stuck to your laptop.
No cap. The whole thing is pretty amazing, chaos and all.
My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—becoming a single mom wasn't part of my five-year plan. I never expected to be becoming a content creator. But yet here I am, three years into this wild journey, making a living by sharing my life online while raising two kids basically solo. And I'll be real? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
The Starting Point: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was three years ago when my marriage ended. 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 were passed out. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my checking account, little people counting on me, and a job that barely covered rent. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to numb the pain—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I stumbled on this divorced mom talking about how she changed her life through making videos. 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 app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, sharing how I'd just blown my final $12 on a cheap food for my kids' school lunches. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Why would anyone care about my broke reality?
Spoiler alert, thousands 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 safe space—people who got it, people living the same reality, all saying "same." That was my epiphany. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted raw.
Finding My Niche: The Honest Single Parent Platform
The truth is about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? It chose me. I became the real one.
I started creating content about the stuff no one shows. Like how I didn't change pants for days because executive dysfunction is real. Or the time I gave them breakfast for dinner all week and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who believes in magic.
My content was raw. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was unfiltered, and turns out, that's what resonated.
In just two months, I hit 10K. Month three, 50K. By month six, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone blew my mind. These were real people who wanted to know my story. Plain old me—a struggling single mom who had to learn everything from scratch recently.
My Daily Reality: Balancing Content and Chaos
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is the opposite of those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm blares. I do not want to move, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a GRWM sharing about budgeting. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while talking about co-parenting struggles. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in full mom mode—cooking eggs, locating lost items (why is it always one shoe), prepping food, stopping fights. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom filming at red lights when stopped. Not proud of this, but the grind never stops.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. I'm alone finally. I'm in editing mode, being social, ideating, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is only filming. It's not. It's a full business.
I usually film in batches on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means filming 10-15 videos in a few hours. I'll switch outfits so it seems like separate days. Life hack: Keep multiple tops nearby for fast swaps. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, talking to my camera in the driveway.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Back to parenting. But here's the thing—frequently my biggest hits come from this time. Last week, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I refused to get a toy she didn't need. I recorded in the vehicle afterward about dealing with meltdowns as a single parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm generally wiped out to film, but I'll schedule uploads, respond to DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Certain nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll stay up editing because a partnership is due.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just chaos with a plan with random wins.
The Financial Reality: How I Really Earn Money
Alright, let's get into the finances because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you actually make money as a influencer? Absolutely. Is it straightforward? Hell no.
My first month, I made nothing. Second month? Zero. Third month, I got my first collaboration—a hundred and fifty bucks to share a meal kit service. I actually cried. That one-fifty paid for groceries.
Currently, three years in, here's how I make money:
Sponsored Content: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that align with my audience—practical items, parenting tools, kids' stuff. I charge anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per collaboration, depending on what's required. This past month, I did four brand deals and made $8K.
Platform Payments: TikTok's creator fund pays not much—$200-$400 per month for millions of views. AdSense is actually decent. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took forever.
Link Sharing: I share affiliate links to products I actually use—everything from my go-to coffee machine to the kids' beds. If they buy using my link, I get a cut. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Online Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a cooking guide. Each costs $15, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
Consulting Services: People wanting to start pay me to mentor them. I offer 1:1 sessions for $200/hour. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.
Combined monthly revenue: On average, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month currently. Some months are higher, some are less. It's variable, which is stressful when there's no backup. But it's triple what I made at my old job, and I'm home when my kids need me.
The Hard Parts Nobody Posts About
From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a post got no views, or dealing with vicious comments from internet trolls.
The haters are brutal. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm a bad influence, told I'm fake about being a solo parent. I'll never forget, "No wonder he left." That one stung for days.
The platform changes. One week you're getting millions of views. Next month, you're getting nothing. Your income is unstable. You're never off, 24/7, nervous about slowing down, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is worse times a thousand. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Am I doing right by them? Will they resent this when they're adults? I have firm rules—limited face shots, no discussing their personal struggles, protecting their dignity. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The burnout hits hard. There are weeks when I can't create. When I'm depleted, socially drained, and at my limit. But life doesn't stop. So I create anyway.
The Wins
But here's what's real—even with the struggles, this journey has blessed me with things I never imagined.
Financial stability for once in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I eliminated my debt. I have an cushion. We took a vacation last summer—Disney, which was a dream not long ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to ask permission or stress about losing pay. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a school thing, I can go. I'm available in ways I couldn't be with a corporate job.
Support that saved me. The other creators I've found, especially solo parents, have become real friends. We support each other, share strategies, support each other. My followers have become this family. They celebrate my wins, encourage me through rough patches, and validate me.
Me beyond motherhood. After years, I have something that's mine. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or somebody's mother. I'm a business owner. An influencer. Someone who built something from nothing.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a single parent curious about this, here's my advice:
Just start. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. That's okay. You learn by doing, not by procrastinating.
Be yourself. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your real life—the chaos. That resonates.
Keep them safe. Create rules. Know your limits. Their privacy is everything. I never share their names, protect their faces, and respect their dignity.
Multiple revenue sources. Spread it out or one way to earn. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple streams = safety.
Batch your content. When you have available time, create multiple pieces. Future you will appreciate it when you're unable to film.
Connect with followers. Reply to comments. Respond to DMs. Create connections. Your community is everything.
Monitor what works. Time is money. If something takes four hours and tanks while something else takes 20 minutes and blows up, pivot.
Don't forget yourself. You need to fill your cup. Rest. Set boundaries. Your mental health matters more than views.
This takes time. This requires patience. It took me half a year to make any real money. My first year, I made barely $15,000. Year two, eighty grand. Now, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a process.
Stay connected to your purpose. On difficult days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's independence, being present, and validating that I'm capable of anything.
Being Real With You
Real talk, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This journey is tough. Like, really freaking hard. You're running a whole business while being the single caregiver of children who require constant attention.
There are days I doubt myself. Days when the nasty comments get to me. Days when I'm drained and wondering if I should go back to corporate with stability.
But but then my daughter tells me she loves that I'm home. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I understand the impact.
Where I'm Going From Here
Not long ago, I was scared and struggling how I'd survive as a single mom. Fast forward, I'm a full-time content creator making triple what I earned in my 9-5, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals going forward? Hit 500,000 followers by December. Start a podcast for single moms. Write a book eventually. Continue building this business that changed my life.
Content creation gave me a lifeline when I had nothing. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's not the path I expected, but it's meant to be.
To all the single moms considering this: Hell yes you can. It will be challenging. You'll doubt yourself. But you're already doing the hardest job in the world—doing this alone. You're powerful.
Start imperfect. Be consistent. Prioritize yourself. And remember, you're not just surviving—you're changing your life.
Gotta go now, I need to go film a TikTok about homework I forgot about and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's how it goes—making content from chaos, one TikTok at a time.
For real. This path? It's the best decision. Even though there might be Goldfish crackers stuck to my laptop right now. Living the dream, mess included.