Real talk, motherhood is no joke. But plot twist? Working to secure the bag while dealing with kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
I started my side hustle journey about three years ago when I realized that my impulse buys were becoming problematic. I had to find my own money.
Being a VA
Here's what happened, I started out was becoming a virtual assistant. And honestly? It was perfect. I could grind during those precious quiet hours, and literally all it took was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
I started with easy things like email management, doing social media scheduling, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. My rate was about $15-20 per hour, which seemed low but when you're just starting, you gotta begin at the bottom.
The funniest part? There I was on a client call looking like a real businesswoman from the waist up—business casual vibes—while sporting pajama bottoms. Living my best life.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
After a year, I decided to try the selling on Etsy. Every mom I knew seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I figured "why not join the party?"
I started crafting digital planners and digital art prints. Here's why printables are amazing? One and done creation, and it can make money while you sleep. For real, I've earned money at times when I didn't even know.
That initial sale? I actually yelled. He came running thinking I'd injured myself. Not even close—it was just me, cheering about my first five bucks. I'm not embarrassed.
The Content Creation Grind
Eventually I ventured into creating content online. This venture is playing the long game, trust me on this.
I started a parenting blog where I documented the chaos of parenting—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not the highlight reel. Only real talk about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Getting readers was slow. Initially, it was basically creating content for crickets. But I stayed consistent, and over time, things started clicking.
These days? I make money through promoting products, collaborations, and display ads. Just last month I made over two thousand dollars from my blog income. Insane, right?
The Social Media Management Game
Once I got decent at managing my blog's social the original post media, brands started asking if I could run their social media.
Here's the thing? Most small businesses struggle with social media. They recognize they need to be there, but they can't keep up.
Enter: me. I handle social media for three local businesses—various small businesses. I create content, schedule posts, respond to comments, and track analytics.
I charge between $500-$1500/month per business, depending on what they need. What I love? I do this work from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
Writing for Money
If writing is your thing, freelancing is a goldmine. I'm not talking literary fiction—this is content writing for businesses.
Companies need content constantly. I've written everything from the most random topics. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to know how to find information.
I typically earn $50-150 per article, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll write ten to fifteen pieces and make $1-2K.
The funny thing is: I was that student who thought writing was torture. Currently I'm making money from copyright. Talk about character development.
Virtual Tutoring
After lockdown started, tutoring went digital. With my teaching background, so this was perfect for me.
I registered on VIPKid and Tutor.com. It's super flexible, which is absolutely necessary when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
My sessions are usually elementary reading and math. The pay ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on where you work.
What's hilarious? Sometimes my children will crash my tutoring session mid-session. There was a time I educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. My clients are usually super understanding because they're parents too.
The Reselling Game
Okay, this particular venture started by accident. I was cleaning out my kids' things and posted some items on various apps.
Things sold within hours. I suddenly understood: you can sell literally anything.
Now I shop at secondhand stores and sales, looking for quality items. I'll buy something for $3 and sell it for $30.
Is it a lot of work? Not gonna lie. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But there's something satisfying about finding a gem at the thrift store and earning from it.
Bonus: my kids think I'm cool when I discover weird treasures. Last week I discovered a rare action figure that my son absolutely loved. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Mom for the win.
Real Talk Time
Here's the thing nobody tells you: this stuff requires effort. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
Certain days when I'm completely drained, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm grinding at dawn hustling before the chaos starts, then all day mom-ing, then back to work after everyone's in bed.
But you know what? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to buy the fancy coffee. I'm contributing to our financial goals. I'm showing my kids that moms can do anything.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you're considering a side gig, here's my advice:
Don't go all in immediately. Don't try to launch everything simultaneously. Pick one thing and nail it down before starting something else.
Be realistic about time. Whatever time you have, that's okay. Two hours of focused work is better than nothing.
Avoid comparing yourself to other moms. Those people with massive success? She's been grinding forever and has support. Focus on your own journey.
Don't be afraid to invest, but wisely. There are tons of free resources. Don't waste massive amounts on training until you've proven the concept.
Do similar tasks together. This saved my sanity. Block off days for specific hustles. Make Monday content creation day. Make Wednesday administrative work.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—mom guilt is a thing. There are times when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I struggle with it.
However I think about that I'm demonstrating to them work ethic. I'm teaching my kids that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
Also? Financial independence has improved my mental health. I'm happier, which translates to better parenting.
Income Reality Check
How much do I earn? On average, total from all sources, I pull in $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are better, it fluctuates.
Is this millionaire money? Not exactly. But it's paid for stuff that matters to us that would've stressed us out. Plus it's creating opportunities and expertise that could grow into more.
Final Thoughts
Listen, hustling as a mom isn't easy. It's not a magic formula. Most days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, surviving on coffee, and crossing my fingers.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every single bit of income is validation of my effort. It shows that I'm more than just mom.
For anyone contemplating launching a mom business? Start now. Start before it's perfect. Your future self will appreciate it.
Always remember: You're not just getting by—you're hustling. Even when there's probably old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
For real. It's incredible, mess included.
My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—being a single parent wasn't the dream. I never expected to be becoming a content creator. But fast forward to now, three years into this wild journey, 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 Beginning: When Everything Changed
It was a few years ago when my relationship fell apart. I remember sitting in my new apartment (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had $847 in my checking account, two humans depending on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I was on TikTok to numb the pain—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when we're drowning, right?—when I came across this woman talking about how she became debt-free through posting online. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But desperation makes you brave. Maybe both. Usually both.
I downloaded the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, venting about how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' lunches. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Why would anyone care about this disaster?
Spoiler alert, a lot of people.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me almost lose it over frozen nuggets. The comments section was this validation fest—women in similar situations, people living the same reality, all saying "same." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted honest.
Building My Platform: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's what they don't say about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the real one.
I started filming the stuff no one shows. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because washing clothes was too much. Or the time I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner multiple nights and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked where daddy went, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who believes in magic.
My content was raw. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what connected.
Two months later, I hit 10K. Month three, 50K. By month six, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone felt impossible. Actual humans who wanted to know my story. Me—a barely surviving single mom who had to ask Google what this meant not long ago.
My Daily Reality: Balancing Content and Chaos
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because creating content solo is totally different from those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do not want to move, but this is my work time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a GRWM sharing about budgeting. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while talking about parenting coordination. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in parent mode—making breakfast, the shoe hunt (why is it always one shoe), making lunch boxes, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom making videos while driving in the car. Not my proudest moment, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Peace and quiet. I'm cutting clips, replying to DMs, ideating, pitching brands, checking analytics. Folks imagine content creation is only filming. It's not. It's a real job.
I usually batch content on Monday and Wednesday. That means creating 10-15 pieces in a few hours. I'll swap tops so it seems like separate days. Hot tip: Keep different outfits accessible for fast swaps. My neighbors must think I'm insane, making videos in public in the backyard.
3:00pm: School pickup. Mom mode activated. But plot twist—sometimes my viral videos come from real life. Recently, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I refused to get a toy she didn't need. I filmed a video in the parking lot once we left about handling public tantrums as a lone parent. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm completely exhausted to film, but I'll plan posts, answer messages, or outline content. Certain nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll work late because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just chaos with a plan with random wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Really Earn Money
Look, let's talk numbers because this is what people ask about. Can you really earn income as a online creator? 100%. Is it effortless? Nope.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Month two? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first collaboration—one hundred fifty dollars to promote a meal kit service. I broke down. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.
Currently, three years in, here's how I generate revenue:
Brand Partnerships: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that make sense—budget-friendly products, parenting tools, kids' stuff. I ask for anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per campaign, depending on deliverables. Last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight thousand dollars.
Ad Money: TikTok's creator fund pays very little—$200-$400 per month for huge view counts. AdSense is better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that required years.
Link Sharing: I share affiliate links to items I love—anything from my beloved coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If they buy using my link, I get a kickback. This brings in about $1K monthly.
Info Products: I created a financial planner and a meal planning ebook. Each costs $15, and I sell dozens per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
Consulting Services: Aspiring influencers pay me to show them how. I offer consulting calls for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 a month.
Total monthly income: Generally, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month these days. It varies, others are slower. It's inconsistent, which is nerve-wracking when you're it. But it's three times what I made at my 9-5, and I'm present.
The Hard Parts Nobody Talks About
This sounds easy until you're sobbing alone because a video didn't perform, or reading cruel messages from internet trolls.
The trolls are vicious. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm a bad influence, accused of lying about being a solo parent. Someone once commented, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one hurt so bad.
The algorithm is unpredictable. One week you're getting millions of views. The following week, you're getting nothing. Your income is unstable. You're constantly creating, always "on", scared to stop, you'll lose momentum.
The guilt is crushing beyond normal. Every video I post, I wonder: Is this too much? Are my kids safe? Will they hate me for this when they're adults? I have firm rules—limited face shots, no discussing their personal struggles, protecting their dignity. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout is real. Some weeks when I have nothing. When I'm exhausted, talked out, and at my limit. But life doesn't stop. So I do it anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But here's the thing—despite the hard parts, this journey has created things I never expected.
Financial stability for the first time in my life. I'm not rich, but I cleared $18K. I have an emergency fund. We took a real vacation last summer—Orlando, which I never thought possible not long ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or worry about money. I worked anywhere. When there's a school event, I'm present. I'm in their lives in ways I couldn't manage with a normal job.
My people that saved me. The fellow creators I've connected with, especially other moms, have become real friends. We connect, collaborate, lift each other up. My followers have become this family. They support me, encourage me through rough patches, and validate me.
Me beyond motherhood. Since becoming a mom, I have something for me. I'm more than an ex or only a parent. I'm a entrepreneur. A creator. A person who hustled.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a single mom curious about this, here's what I'd tell you:
Don't wait. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. It's fine. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Authenticity wins. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your true life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That's the magic.
Guard their privacy. Create rules. Be intentional. Their privacy is the priority. I never share their names, protect their faces, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Build multiple income streams. Diversify or one way to earn. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple streams = safety.
Create in batches. When you have free time, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will thank yourself when you're burnt out.
Interact. Engage. Reply to messages. Build real relationships. Your community is everything.
Track metrics. Time is money. If something takes four hours and flops while a different post takes 20 minutes and gets 200,000 views, change tactics.
Take care of yourself. You need to fill your cup. Unplug. Set boundaries. Your mental health matters most.
Stay patient. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me half a year to make meaningful money. The first year, I made barely $15,000. Year two, eighty thousand. Year three, I'm hitting six figures. It's a process.
Remember why you started. On hard days—and there are many—think about your why. For me, it's financial freedom, flexibility with my kids, and proving to myself that I'm stronger than I knew.
The Honest Truth
Listen, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This life is challenging. Like, really freaking hard. You're managing a business while being the sole caretaker of children who require constant attention.
There are days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the trolls sting. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and questioning if I should go back to corporate with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But but then my daughter shares she appreciates this. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I remember why I do this.
The Future
Three years ago, I was scared and struggling what to do. Currently, I'm a content creator making more than I imagined in corporate America, and I'm present for everything.
My goals for the future? Reach 500K by year-end. Launch a podcast for single parents. Write a book eventually. Continue building this business that supports my family.
This path gave me a way out when I had nothing. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be present in their lives, and build something real. It's a surprise, but it's where I belong.
To every single mom out there wondering if you can do this: Hell yes you can. It isn't simple. You'll consider quitting. But you're currently doing the hardest job—single parenting. You're tougher than you realize.
Start imperfect. Stay the course. Guard your peace. And remember, you're doing more than surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Gotta go now, I need to go make a video about homework I forgot about and surprise!. Because that's how it goes—content from the mess, one post at a time.
Honestly. Being a single mom creator? It's the best decision. Even if there's definitely crushed cheerios in my keyboard. That's the dream, imperfectly perfect.