Real talk, motherhood is no joke. But you know what's even crazier? Trying to earn extra income while dealing with kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
I entered the side gig world about three years ago when I figured out that my impulse buys were reaching dangerous levels. I was desperate for cash that was actually mine.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Okay so, I started out was doing VA work. And I'll be real? It was ideal. It let me hustle while the kids slept, and the only requirement was a computer and internet.
I began by basic stuff like organizing inboxes, posting on social media, and data entry. Super simple stuff. I started at about $20/hour, which felt cheap but as a total beginner, you gotta start somewhere.
What cracked me up? I'd be on a client call looking like I had my life together from the waist up—business casual vibes—while rocking my rattiest leggings. Peak mom life.
My Etsy Journey
About twelve months in, I decided to try the selling on Etsy. Everyone and their mother seemed to be on Etsy, so I thought "why not start one too?"
I began making PDF planners and digital art prints. Here's why printables are amazing? One and done creation, and it can make money while you sleep. Actually, I've made sales at midnight when I'm unconscious.
My first sale? I actually yelled. My partner was like something was wrong. But no—it was just me, cheering about my $4.99 sale. Judge me if you want.
Content Creator Life
Next I started writing and making content. This one is playing the long game, real talk.
I began a blog about motherhood where I posted about my parenting journey—the messy truth. Keeping it real. Just honest stories about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.
Building traffic was painfully slow. The first few months, I was basically talking to myself. But I didn't give up, and over time, things took off.
These days? I generate revenue through affiliate links, sponsored posts, and advertisements on my site. Recently I earned over two grand from my blog alone. Mind-blowing, right?
SMM Side Hustle
Once I got decent at my own content, other businesses started reaching out if I could do the same for them.
Here's the thing? Most small businesses don't understand social media. They recognize they need to be there, but they're too busy.
Enter: me. I handle social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I develop content, schedule posts, interact with their audience, and track analytics.
I bill between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per account, depending on how much work is involved. What I love? I manage everything from my phone during soccer practice.
Writing for Money
If writing is your thing, writing gigs is where it's at. I don't mean becoming Shakespeare—this is blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Companies constantly need fresh content. I've written everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to know how to find information.
I typically earn $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on what's involved. Certain months I'll write 10-15 articles and make an extra $1,000-2,000.
Here's what's wild: I was that student who hated writing papers. Now I'm getting paid for it. Life is weird.
Tutoring Online
After lockdown started, online tutoring exploded. I used to be a teacher, so this was an obvious choice.
I started working with a couple of online tutoring sites. The scheduling is flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
I mostly tutor elementary reading and math. You can make from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on the company.
The funny thing? Occasionally my own kids will interrupt mid-session. I once had to be professional while chaos erupted behind me. The parents on the other end are very sympathetic because they understand mom life.
Reselling and Flipping
Okay, this side gig started by accident. I was cleaning out my kids' closet and posted some items on various apps.
Stuff sold out so fast. Lightbulb moment: there's a market for everything.
These days I visit secondhand stores and sales, searching for name brands. I purchase something for $3 and sell it for $30.
Is it a lot of work? 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: my children are fascinated when I bring home interesting finds. Last week I scored a collectible item that my son went crazy for. Made $45 on it. Score one for mom.
Real Talk Time
Real talk moment: side hustles aren't passive income. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
There are days when I'm completely drained, questioning my life choices. I wake up early being productive before the madness begins, then doing all the mom stuff, then back at it after 8pm hits.
But you know what? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to get the good coffee. I'm supporting my family's finances. My kids are learning that you can be both.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
For those contemplating a side gig, here are my tips:
Start small. Don't attempt to juggle ten things. Focus on one and master it before taking on more.
Use the time you have. If you only have evenings, that's okay. Two hours of focused work is better than nothing.
Don't compare yourself to what you see online. The successful ones you see? They put in years of work and has support. Do your thing.
Spend money on education, but wisely. You don't need expensive courses. Don't waste massive amounts on training until you've tested the waters.
Work in batches. This changed everything. Use time blocks for different things. Monday could be creation day. Make Wednesday handling business stuff.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—I struggle with guilt. There are days when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I hate it.
But I remember that I'm demonstrating to them work ethic. I'm proving to them that you can be both.
Plus? Financial independence has improved my mental health. I'm more satisfied, which helps me be better.
Income Reality Check
How much do I earn? On average, combining everything, I earn $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are lower, some are tougher.
Is this millionaire money? Not exactly. But I've used it for stuff that matters to us that would've caused financial strain. And it's developing my career and expertise that could grow into more.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, being a mom with a side hustle is challenging. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. Most days I'm making it up as I go, running on coffee and determination, and doing my best.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every single penny made is validation of my effort. It shows that I'm a multifaceted person.
For anyone contemplating diving into this? Start now. Start messy. Future you will appreciate it.
Always remember: You're more than surviving—you're building something. Even though there's probably snack crumbs stuck to your laptop.
Seriously. This is the life, complete with all the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Let me be real with you—being a single parent wasn't on my vision board. I also didn't plan on making money from my phone. But here I am, three years later, earning income by posting videos while handling everything by myself. And honestly? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
How It Started: When Everything Fell Apart
It was a few years ago when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my bare apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had less than a thousand dollars in my bank account, two kids to support, and a salary that was a joke. The stress was unbearable, y'all.
I was on TikTok to escape reality—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when everything is chaos, right?—when I found this divorced mom talking about how she changed her life through being a creator. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But desperation makes you brave. Or stupid. Often both.
I installed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, sharing how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who wants to watch someone's train wreck of a life?
Spoiler alert, thousands of people.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me almost lose it over processed meat. The comments section turned into this incredible community—other single moms, others barely surviving, all saying "this is my life." That was my epiphany. People didn't want perfection. They wanted raw.
Discovering My Voice: The Real Mom Life Brand
The truth is about content creation: finding your niche is everything. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started posting about the stuff no one shows. Like how I didn't change pants for days because laundry felt impossible. Or the time I fed my kids cereal for dinner several days straight and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my child asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who is six years old.
My content was raw. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was authentic, and evidently, that's what hit.
Two months later, I hit 10K. Month three, fifty thousand. By half a year, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone felt surreal. Real accounts who wanted to hear what I had to say. Little old me—a financially unstable single mom who had to learn everything from scratch six months earlier.
The Actual Schedule: Managing It All
Here's the reality of my typical day, because creating content solo is not at all like those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that will get cold, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a getting ready video talking about money struggles. Sometimes it's me cooking while talking about co-parenting struggles. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in full mom mode—feeding humans, the shoe hunt (it's always one shoe), packing lunches, mediating arguments. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks at stop signs. Not proud of this, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. Peace and quiet. I'm editing videos, replying to DMs, brainstorming content ideas, pitching brands, looking at stats. People think content creation is just making TikToks. It's not. It's a entire operation.
I usually batch-create content on Monday and Wednesday. That means filming 10-15 videos in a few hours. I'll swap tops so it seems like separate days. Hot tip: Keep wardrobe options close for fast swaps. My neighbors must think I'm insane, making videos in public in the driveway.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Parent time. But plot twist—often my best content ideas come from these after-school moments. Just last week, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I refused to get a toy she didn't need. I created a video in the vehicle later about managing big emotions as a lone parent. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm typically drained to create anything, but I'll schedule content, respond to DMs, or outline content. Many nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll stay up editing because a deadline is coming.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just chaos with a plan with random wins.
Income Breakdown: How I Really Earn Money
Look, let's talk dollars because this is what you're wondering. Can you actually make money as a online creator? Absolutely. Is it easy? Nope.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? Zero. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—one hundred fifty dollars to post about a meal kit service. I broke down. That hundred fifty dollars bought groceries for two weeks.
Fast forward, three years in, here's how I monetize:
Brand Partnerships: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that align with my audience—practical items, mom products, kid essentials. I bill anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per deal, depending on what they need. Last month, I did four brand deals and made $8,000.
TikTok Fund: The TikTok fund pays basically nothing—$200-$400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube revenue is way better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Income: I share affiliate links to stuff I really use—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If they buy using my link, I get a cut. This brings in about $1K monthly.
Online Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a food prep planner. $15 apiece, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
Coaching/Consulting: New creators pay me to mentor them. I offer consulting calls for two hundred per hour. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.
Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month now. Some months are higher, some are lower. It's inconsistent, which is scary when you're it. But it's 3x what I made at my corporate job, and I'm there for them.
The Hard Parts Nobody Posts About
Content creation sounds glamorous until you're losing it because a post got no views, or dealing with hate comments from random people.
The negativity is intense. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm problematic, told I'm fake about being a divorced parent. Someone once commented, "I'd leave too." That one stung for days.
The algorithm is unpredictable. One week you're getting huge numbers. The next, you're struggling for views. Your income goes up and down. You're always on, never resting, worried that if you take a break, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is intense to the extreme. Each post, I wonder: Is this too much? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they regret this when they're adults? I have strict rules—limited face shots, no sharing their private stuff, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is fuzzy.
The burnout is real. Some weeks when I am empty. When I'm exhausted, over it, and totally spent. But rent doesn't care. So I do it anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But here's the thing—despite everything, this journey has created things I never imagined.
Money security for the first time in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I cleared $18K. I have an safety net. We took a real vacation last summer—Orlando, which was a dream two years ago. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or stress about losing pay. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school event, I'm present. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't be with a normal job.
Support that saved me. The creator friends I've met, especially other single parents, have become my people. We connect, exchange tips, support each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They celebrate my wins, lift me up, and make me feel seen.
Me beyond motherhood. For the first time since having kids, I have an identity. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or just a mom. I'm a business owner. A content creator. Someone who created this.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a solo parent considering content creation, here's my advice:
Just start. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You grow through creating, not by procrastinating.
Be yourself. People can spot fake. Share your actual life—the unfiltered truth. That resonates.
Keep them safe. Set limits. Be intentional. Their privacy is everything. I keep names private, minimize face content, and protect their stories.
Don't rely on one thing. Spread it out or a single source. The algorithm is unpredictable. More streams = less stress.
Film multiple videos. When you have free time, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will thank yourself when you're drained.
Engage with your audience. Answer comments. Respond to DMs. Create connections. Your community is what matters.
Monitor what works. Not all content is worth creating. If something is time-intensive and gets 200 views while another video takes no time and gets 200,000 views, shift focus.
Don't forget yourself. You matter too. Step away. Guard your energy. Your sanity matters more than going viral.
This takes time. This takes time. It took me eight months to make meaningful money. My first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year 2, $80,000. Now, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a journey.
Know your why. On difficult days—and there are many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's supporting my kids, flexibility with my kids, and validating that I'm stronger than I knew.
The Reality Check
Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This life is difficult. So damn hard. You're managing a business while being the lone caretaker of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Many days I second-guess this. Days when the hate comments hurt. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and questioning if I should go back to corporate with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But then suddenly my daughter shares she appreciates this. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I understand the impact.
The Future
Three years ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how to make it work. Currently, I'm a professional creator making triple what I earned in my old job, and I'm a contextual reference home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals going forward? Get to half a million followers by December. Create a podcast for solo parents. Possibly write a book. Continue building this business that supports my family.
Being a creator gave me a path forward when I had nothing. It gave me a way to provide for my family, show up, and create something meaningful. It's not what I planned, but it's perfect.
To any single parent on the fence: Yes you can. It isn't simple. You'll consider quitting. But you're managing the hardest job—raising humans alone. You're more capable than you know.
Start imperfect. Be consistent. Guard your peace. And don't forget, you're beyond survival mode—you're building something incredible.
Gotta go now, I need to go film a TikTok about another last-minute project and surprise!. Because that's the content creator single mom life—content from the mess, one post at a time.
For real. This journey? It's everything. Despite there's probably crumbs everywhere. Dream life, one messy video at a time.