I'm gonna be honest with you, mom life is literally insane. But what's really wild? Attempting the information here to make some extra cash while handling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
This whole thing started for me about several years ago when I had the epiphany that my Target runs were way too frequent. I had to find funds I didn't have to justify spending.
Being a VA
Okay so, I started out was doing VA work. And real talk? It was ideal. I could hustle while the kids slept, and all I needed was a computer and internet.
My first tasks were basic stuff like email sorting, posting on social media, and entering data. Not rocket science. I charged about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but when you're just starting, you gotta build up your portfolio.
Here's what was wild? There I was on a client call looking all professional from the waist up—looking corporate—while wearing pajama bottoms. Main character energy.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
Once I got comfortable, I decided to try the handmade marketplace scene. All my mom friends seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I thought "why not start one too?"
I started making downloadable organizers and wall art. The beauty of printables? One and done creation, and it can sell forever. For real, I've gotten orders at ungodly hours.
When I got my first order? I lost my mind. He came running thinking the house was on fire. Not even close—I was just, celebrating my glorious $4.99. Don't judge me.
The Content Creation Grind
After that I got into blogging and content creation. This hustle is playing the long game, real talk.
I launched a parenting blog where I posted about what motherhood actually looks like—everything unfiltered. Not the highlight reel. Simply honest stories about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Building up views was like watching paint dry. Initially, I was essentially my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I stayed consistent, and over time, things started clicking.
These days? I earn income through promoting products, brand partnerships, and display ads. Last month I earned over two thousand dollars from my website. Insane, right?
Managing Social Media
After I learned social media for my own stuff, local businesses started asking if I could help them.
Real talk? Tons of businesses suck at social media. They recognize they need to be there, but they can't keep up.
This is my moment. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I plan their content, plan their posting schedule, interact with their audience, and check their stats.
My rate is between $500-1500 per month per business, depending on what they need. Here's what's great? I handle this from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
Freelance Writing Life
For those who can string sentences together, writing gigs is where it's at. I don't mean becoming Shakespeare—I'm talking about business content.
Companies always need writers. I've created content about everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Google is your best friend, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
On average charge fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll create fifteen articles and bring in one to two thousand extra.
Here's what's wild: I'm the same person who barely passed English class. Currently I'm a professional writer. Life is weird.
Tutoring Online
After lockdown started, tutoring went digital. With my teaching background, so this was perfect for me.
I registered on VIPKid and Tutor.com. The scheduling is flexible, which is crucial when you have unpredictable little ones.
My sessions are usually K-5 subjects. Income ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on the company.
What's hilarious? There are times when my own kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I've literally had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. The families I work with are usually super understanding because they're living the same life.
Reselling and Flipping
Alright, this one started by accident. While organizing my kids' closet and posted some items on various apps.
Stuff sold out immediately. Lightbulb moment: people will buy anything.
These days I shop at estate sales and thrift shops, looking for quality items. I'll buy something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
This takes effort? Not gonna lie. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's oddly satisfying about spotting valuable items at Goodwill and earning from it.
Additionally: my children are fascinated when I discover weird treasures. Just last week I discovered a retro toy that my son freaked out about. Got forty-five dollars for it. Victory for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Real talk moment: side hustles aren't passive income. They're called hustles for a reason.
Certain days when I'm completely drained, doubting everything. I'm up at 5am being productive before the madness begins, then being a full-time parent, then working again after everyone's in bed.
But this is what's real? These are my earnings. No permission needed to get the good coffee. I'm supporting the family budget. My kids are learning that women can hustle.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you want to start a hustle of your own, here's what I'd tell you:
Start with one thing. Don't try to launch everything simultaneously. Choose one hustle and master it before adding more.
Be realistic about time. Whatever time you have, that's perfectly acceptable. Whatever time you can dedicate is better than nothing.
Don't compare yourself to what you see online. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? They've been at it for years and doesn't do it alone. Run your own race.
Don't be afraid to invest, but carefully. Free information exists. Don't waste $5,000 on a coaching program until you've tried things out.
Work in batches. I learned this the hard way. Dedicate time blocks for different things. Monday could be writing day. Wednesday could be organizing and responding.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
I have to be real with you—I struggle with guilt. There are times when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I feel terrible.
However I consider that I'm teaching them how to hustle. I'm demonstrating to my children that moms can have businesses.
Additionally? Making my own money has made me a better mom. I'm happier, which makes me more patient.
Let's Talk Money
My actual income? Generally, between all my hustles, I earn three to five thousand monthly. Some months are better, some are tougher.
Is this getting-rich money? Not really. But we've used it to pay for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've caused financial strain. And it's developing my career and knowledge that could evolve into something huge.
In Conclusion
Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing isn't easy. There's no magic formula. Most days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, surviving on coffee, and crossing my fingers.
But I don't regret it. Every penny made is evidence of my capability. It's evidence that I have identity beyond motherhood.
So if you're considering beginning your hustle journey? Start now. Start before it's perfect. You in six months will appreciate it.
Keep in mind: You aren't only getting by—you're growing something incredible. Even when you probably have mysterious crumbs everywhere.
Seriously. It's pretty amazing, chaos and all.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—becoming a single mom wasn't the dream. Nor was making money from my phone. But yet here I am, three years into this wild journey, earning income by posting videos while raising two kids basically solo. And I'll be real? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Imploded
It was 2022 when my divorce happened. I will never forget sitting in my mostly empty place (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had $847 in my account, two mouths to feed, and a income that didn't cut it. The panic was real, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to avoid my thoughts—because that's what we do? when we're drowning, right?—when I came across this solo parent talking about how she became debt-free through posting online. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Or both. Usually both.
I installed the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, sharing how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunches. I hit post and panicked. Who gives a damn about this disaster?
Plot twist, a lot of people.
That video got 47K views. 47,000 people watched me almost lose it over $12 worth of food. The comments section turned into this validation fest—people who got it, other people struggling, all saying "this is my life." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted real.
Finding My Niche: 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 real one.
I started sharing the stuff people hide. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I served cereal as a meal several days straight and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my child asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who is six years old.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was unfiltered, and apparently, that's what worked.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone blew my mind. Real accounts who wanted to hear what I had to say. Me—a broke single mom who had to ask Google what this meant not long ago.
A Day in the Life: Managing It All
Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is the opposite of those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do not want to move, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a morning routine sharing about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while talking about dealing with my ex. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in full mom mode—making breakfast, the shoe hunt (where do they go), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom filming at red lights at stop signs. Not my proudest moment, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. Kids are at school. I'm editing content, responding to comments, thinking of ideas, sending emails, analyzing metrics. They believe content creation is just making TikToks. Absolutely not. It's a full business.
I usually create multiple videos on certain days. That means making a dozen videos in one session. I'll change clothes so it seems like separate days. Advice: Keep several shirts ready for outfit changes. My neighbors think I've lost it, talking to my camera in the parking lot.
3:00pm: Pickup time. Parent time. But plot twist—often my viral videos come from this time. A few days ago, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I said no to a forty dollar toy. I made content in the vehicle once we left about managing big emotions as a single mom. It got millions of views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm usually too exhausted to create anything, but I'll schedule uploads, respond to DMs, or outline content. Some nights, after they're down, I'll edit for hours because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just organized chaos with moments of success.
Let's Talk Income: How I Generate Income
Okay, let's talk numbers because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you legitimately profit as a content creator? 100%. Is it straightforward? Hell no.
My first month, I made zilch. Month two? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first brand deal—$150 to promote a meal kit service. I literally cried. That one-fifty paid for groceries.
Now, three years later, here's how I earn income:
Brand Deals: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that align with my audience—affordable stuff, single-parent resources, kid essentials. I charge anywhere from $500-5K per collaboration, depending on deliverables. This past month, I did four collabs and made eight thousand dollars.
Ad Money: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—maybe $200-400 per month for tons of views. YouTube revenue is way better. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that required years.
Link Sharing: I post links to things I own—ranging from my go-to coffee machine to the bunk beds in their room. If anyone buys, I get a cut. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Digital Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a meal prep guide. $15 apiece, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
Coaching/Consulting: New creators pay me to mentor them. I offer private coaching for $200/hour. I do about five to ten of these monthly.
My total income: Generally, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month currently. It varies, some are less. It's unpredictable, which is nerve-wracking when there's no backup. But it's triple what I made at my corporate job, and I'm present.
The Struggles Nobody Mentions
Content creation sounds glamorous until you're crying in your car because a video flopped, or managing cruel messages from random people.
The hate comments are real. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm problematic, told I'm fake about being a solo parent. A commenter wrote, "Maybe that's why he left." That one stung for days.
The algorithm shifts. One month you're getting insane views. Next month, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income varies wildly. You're constantly creating, 24/7, scared to stop, you'll fall behind.
The mom guilt is amplified times a thousand. Each post, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Is this okay? Will they resent this when they're older? I have strict rules—limited face shots, keeping their stories private, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is fuzzy.
The I get burnt out. Certain periods when I don't want to film anything. When I'm done, talked out, and just done. But life doesn't stop. So I show up anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But here's the thing—despite the hard parts, this journey has created things I never anticipated.
Money security for the first damn time. I'm not rich, but I eliminated my debt. I have an cushion. We took a family trip last summer—the Mouse House, which I never thought possible not long ago. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to call in to work or stress about losing pay. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school thing, I'm there. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I wasn't able to be with a corporate job.
Community that saved me. The other creators I've met, especially other moms, have become actual friends. We talk, exchange tips, lift each other up. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They support me, support me, and remind me I'm not alone.
My own identity. Finally, I have something for me. I'm not defined by divorce or someone's mom. I'm a entrepreneur. A content creator. A person who hustled.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a solo parent considering content creation, here's what I'd tell you:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. It's fine. You grow through creating, not by procrastinating.
Keep it real. People can spot fake. Share your real life—the unfiltered truth. That's what connects.
Keep them safe. Establish boundaries. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is the priority. I don't use their names, minimize face content, and respect their dignity.
Don't rely on one thing. Diversify or one income stream. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple income streams = stability.
Create in batches. When you have free time, create multiple pieces. Next week you will be grateful when you're drained.
Connect with followers. Reply to comments. Check messages. Create connections. Your community is your foundation.
Monitor what works. Time is money. If something is time-intensive and gets 200 views while something else takes minutes and blows up, shift focus.
Take care of yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Rest. Create limits. Your wellbeing matters most.
Stay patient. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me half a year to make real income. Year one, I made maybe $15,000 total. The second year, $80,000. Year three, I'm on track for six figures. It's a marathon.
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 there, and demonstrating that I'm stronger than I knew.
The Honest Truth
Look, I'm being honest. Content creation as a single mom is challenging. Like, really freaking hard. You're running a whole business while being the lone caretaker of children who require constant attention.
Some days I second-guess this. Days when the nasty comments get to me. Days when I'm burnt out and asking myself if I should get a regular job with stability.
But but then my daughter says she loves that I'm home. Or I see financial progress. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I understand the impact.
Where I'm Going From Here
A few years back, I was lost and broke how I'd survive as a single mom. Currently, I'm a content creator making triple what I earned in my old job, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals going forward? Get to half a million followers by end of year. Create a podcast for single parents. Maybe write a book. Keep building this business that changed my life.
This path gave me a second chance when I was drowning. It gave me a way to take care of my children, show up, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's not the path I expected, but it's meant to be.
To all the single moms on the fence: Hell yes you can. It isn't simple. You'll struggle. But you're handling the hardest job in the world—raising humans alone. You're tougher than you realize.
Start messy. Be consistent. Keep your boundaries. And know this, you're beyond survival mode—you're building an empire.
Time to go, I need to go create content about another last-minute project and surprise!. Because that's how it goes—turning chaos into content, one TikTok at a time.
Honestly. This life? It's worth every struggle. Even when there might be old snacks in my keyboard. That's the dream, one messy video at a time.