I'm gonna be honest with you, motherhood is no joke. But plot twist? Working to hustle for money while managing children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
My hustle life began about several years ago when I had the epiphany that my impulse buys were reaching dangerous levels. I needed cash that was actually mine.
Being a VA
Right so, my first gig was jumping into virtual assistance. And not gonna lie? It was chef's kiss. I could hustle while the kids slept, and the only requirement was a computer and internet.
I began by basic stuff like handling emails, doing social media scheduling, and data entry. Super simple stuff. I charged about $20/hour, which felt cheap but as a total beginner, you gotta build up your portfolio.
What cracked me up? Picture this: me on a video meeting looking all professional from the chest up—blazer, makeup, the works—while sporting sweatpants. Peak mom life.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
After a year, I wanted to explore the handmade marketplace scene. Everyone and their mother seemed to be on Etsy, so I figured "why not join the party?"
I began making digital planners and wall art. What's great about digital products? You create it once, and it can sell forever. Genuinely, I've made sales at ungodly hours.
My first sale? I freaked out completely. He came running thinking the house was on fire. Not even close—just me, doing a happy dance for my five dollar sale. No shame in my game.
Blogging and Creating
Eventually I got into creating content online. This hustle is a marathon not a sprint, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I started a parenting blog where I posted about my parenting journey—the messy truth. Keeping it real. Simply real talk about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.
Getting readers was slow. Initially, I was essentially creating content for crickets. But I persisted, and after a while, things took off.
Currently? I generate revenue through affiliate marketing, collaborations, and ad revenue. Last month I made over two thousand dollars from my website. Insane, right?
SMM Side Hustle
After I learned running my own socials, other businesses started inquiring if I could manage their accounts.
Truth bomb? Tons of businesses are terrible with social media. They recognize they need a presence, but they don't know how.
I swoop in. I oversee social media for three local businesses—various small businesses. I create content, queue up posts, engage with followers, and track analytics.
My rate is between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per business, depending on what they need. The best thing? I can do most of it from my phone during soccer practice.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For those who can string sentences together, content writing is seriously profitable. I don't mean literary fiction—I'm talking about content writing for businesses.
Companies constantly need fresh content. My assignments have included everything from dental hygiene to copyright. Google is your best friend, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
Usually bill between fifty and two hundred per article, depending on the topic and length. Some months I'll write fifteen articles and earn $1-2K.
Here's what's wild: I'm the same person who hated writing papers. Currently I'm getting paid for it. The irony.
The Online Tutoring Thing
When COVID hit, everyone needed online help. I used to be a teacher, so this was perfect for me.
I registered on various tutoring services. You make your own schedule, which is absolutely necessary when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I mainly help with elementary reading and math. Rates vary from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the platform.
What's hilarious? There are times when my children will crash my tutoring session mid-session. There was a time I be professional while chaos erupted behind me. The families I work with are totally cool about it because they get it.
Flipping Items for Profit
Here me out, this side gig started by accident. During a massive cleanout my kids' things and posted some items on various apps.
Items moved immediately. Lightbulb moment: you can sell literally anything.
At this point I shop at anywhere with deals, looking for quality items. I'll find something for cheap and resell at a markup.
This takes effort? Yes. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But I find it rewarding about finding a gem at the thrift store and making profit.
Bonus: my children are fascinated when I score cool vintage stuff. Recently I found a rare action figure that my son went crazy for. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Mom win.
The Honest Reality
Here's the thing nobody tells you: side hustles aren't passive income. The word 'hustle' is there for a reason.
There are moments 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 more hustle time after the kids are asleep.
But you know what? That money is MINE. I can spend it guilt-free to treat myself. I'm contributing to the family budget. I'm teaching my children that you can be both.
What I Wish I Knew
If you want to start a mom hustle, this is what I've learned:
Begin with something manageable. Don't try to launch everything simultaneously. Pick one thing and become proficient before taking on more.
Use the time you have. Whatever time you have, that's okay. A couple of productive hours is more than enough to start.
Stop comparing to other moms. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She's been grinding forever and has support. Do your thing.
Don't be afraid to invest, but strategically. Start with free stuff first. Don't waste thousands on courses until you've validated your idea.
Batch your work. I learned this the hard way. Set aside specific days for specific tasks. Make Monday writing day. Wednesday could be administrative work.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—guilt is part of this. Certain moments when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I feel terrible.
But I consider that I'm teaching them work ethic. I'm proving to them that moms can have businesses.
Also? Having my own income has improved my mental health. I'm more satisfied, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
How much do I earn? On average, between all my hustles, I earn between three and five grand. Certain months are higher, it fluctuates.
Is this millionaire money? Nope. But we've used it to pay for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've been impossible otherwise. And it's developing my career and knowledge that could evolve into something huge.
Final Thoughts
Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing takes work. There's no secret sauce. Often I'm flying by the seat of my pants, surviving on coffee, and praying it all works out.
But I wouldn't change it. Every bit of income is validation of my effort. It's evidence that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're on the fence about diving into this? Take the leap. Don't wait for perfect. Your future self will thank you.
And remember: You aren't only surviving—you're growing something incredible. Even though you probably have old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
No cap. This is pretty amazing, complete with all the chaos.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—single motherhood wasn't part of my five-year plan. I never expected to be becoming a content creator. But here I am, years into this crazy ride, making a living by being vulnerable on the internet while handling everything by myself. And real talk? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Fell Apart
It was a few years ago when my divorce happened. I can still picture sitting in my mostly empty place (he got the furniture, I got the memories), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids slept. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my account, two humans depending on me, and a salary that was a joke. The panic was real, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to avoid my thoughts—because that's self-care at 2am, right? in crisis mode, right?—when I came across this single mom sharing how she made six figures through posting online. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or stupid. Probably both.
I installed the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, venting about how I'd just spent my last $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunches. I hit post and panicked. Who wants to watch this disaster?
Spoiler alert, thousands of people.
That video got 47K views. 47,000 people watched me get emotional over processed meat. The comments section became this validation fest—people who got it, others barely surviving, all saying "this is my life." That was my turning point. People didn't want perfect. They wanted honest.
My Brand Evolution: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's what they don't say about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? It chose me. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started posting about the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I didn't change pants for days because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner multiple nights 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 have big conversations to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what hit.
Within two months, I hit ten thousand followers. Month three, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone blew my mind. Real accounts who wanted to know my story. Little old me—a financially unstable single mom who had to figure this out from zero recently.
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 totally different from those pretty "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 microwave repeatedly, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a GRWM sharing about financial reality. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while venting about parenting coordination. The lighting is whatever I can get.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in mommy mode—feeding humans, the shoe hunt (why is it always one shoe), prepping food, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom filming at red lights at red lights. Not proud of this, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. I'm alone finally. I'm editing videos, being social, planning content, doing outreach, checking analytics. They believe content creation is just making TikToks. It's not. It's a full business.
I usually batch-create content on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means shooting multiple videos in a few hours. I'll swap tops so it looks like different days. Life hack: Keep different outfits accessible for quick changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, filming myself talking to my phone in the driveway.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Parent time. But plot twist—sometimes my top performing content come from this time. Last week, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I wouldn't buy a forty dollar toy. I made content in the parking lot later about handling public tantrums as a lone parent. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm generally wiped out to create anything, but I'll plan posts, answer messages, or strategize. Often, after the kids are asleep, I'll edit videos until midnight because a partnership is due.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just managed chaos with occasional wins.
The Money Talk: How I Really Earn Money
Look, let's talk dollars because this is what you're wondering. Can you make a living as a creator? Yes. Is it effortless? Hell no.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Month two? Still nothing. Month three, I got my first brand deal—$150 to share a meal kit service. I cried real tears. That $150 paid for groceries.
Fast forward, years later, here's how I earn income:
Brand Deals: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that align with my audience—affordable stuff, helpful services, kids' stuff. I bill anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per deal, depending on deliverables. Just last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight grand.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: Creator fund pays pennies—maybe $200-400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube ad revenue is more lucrative. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took forever.
Affiliate Marketing: I post links to stuff I really use—anything from my go-to coffee machine to the bunk beds I bought. If someone purchases through my link, I get a cut. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Info Products: I created a financial planner and a food prep planner. $15 apiece, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.
Coaching/Consulting: Other aspiring creators pay me to guide them. I offer 1:1 sessions for $200/hour. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.
My total income: Generally, I'm making $10-15K per month now. Certain months are better, some are tougher. It's up and down, which is terrifying when you're solo. But it's three times what I made at my old job, and I'm available for my kids.
The Hard Parts Nobody Mentions
From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a video didn't perform, or handling nasty DMs from random people.
The trolls are vicious. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm a bad influence, accused of lying about being a solo parent. One person said, "I'd leave too." That one stung for days.
The algorithm shifts. Sometimes you're getting insane views. The following week, you're getting nothing. Your income is unstable. You're always on, never resting, scared to stop, you'll be forgotten.
The mom guilt is worse times a thousand. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Am I doing right by them? Will they regret this when they're older? I have strict rules—protected identities, nothing too personal, no embarrassing content. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The exhaustion is real. Certain periods when I am empty. When I'm touched out, talked out, and totally spent. But life doesn't stop. So I push through.
The Beautiful Parts
But here's what's real—despite the hard parts, this journey has brought me things I never expected.
Money security for the first damn time. I'm not rich, but I became debt-free. I have an cushion. We took a real vacation last summer—the Mouse House, which felt impossible a couple years back. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to call in to work or stress about losing pay. I worked anywhere. When there's a class party, I can go. I'm there for them in ways I couldn't be with a corporate job.
Community that saved me. The other influencers I've befriended, especially other moms, have become actual friends. We talk, help each other, have each other's backs. My followers have become this amazing support system. They hype me up, encourage me through rough patches, and make me feel seen.
Identity beyond "mom". After years, I have an identity. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or just a mom. I'm a content creator. A content creator. Someone who created this.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a single mother thinking about this, listen up:
Just start. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. It's fine. You get better, not by waiting until everything is perfect.
Authenticity wins. People can tell when you're fake. Share your true life—the mess. That's the magic.
Keep them safe. Establish boundaries. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is everything. I keep names private, limit face shots, and protect their stories.
Multiple revenue sources. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one way to earn. The algorithm is unstable. Diversification = security.
Film multiple videos. When you have available time, film multiple videos. Tomorrow you will thank present you when you're too exhausted to create.
Build community. Respond to comments. Reply to messages. Connect authentically. Your community is what matters.
Track metrics. Be strategic. If something is time-intensive and gets nothing while a different post takes no time and gets massive views, change tactics.
Self-care matters. Self-care isn't selfish. Step away. Protect your peace. Your wellbeing matters most.
Be patient. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me months to make real income. Year one, I made $15K total. The second year, eighty thousand. Year 3, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a marathon.
Stay connected to your purpose. On tough days—and there are many—think about your why. For me, it's independence, time with my children, and showing myself that I'm more than I believed.
Being Real With You
Real talk, I'm keeping it 100. Content creation as a single mom is tough. Like, really freaking hard. You're basically running a business while being the only parent of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Many days I second-guess this. Days when the negativity get to me. Days when I'm completely spent and questioning if I should get a regular job with stability.
But but then my daughter tells me she's proud that I work from home. Or I see my copyright actually has money in it. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I remember why I do this.
What's Next
Three years ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how I'd survive as a single mom. Fast forward, I'm a full-time content creator making more money than I ever did in my old job, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals going forward? Hit 500K by December. Start a podcast for single this page moms. Possibly write a book. Continue building this business that changed my life.
This path gave me a lifeline when I was desperate. It gave me a way to feed my babies, show up, and create something meaningful. It's not what I planned, but it's meant to be.
To any single parent considering this: You absolutely can. It will be challenging. You'll doubt yourself. But you're managing the most difficult thing—parenting solo. You're tougher than you realize.
Jump in messy. Stay the course. Keep your boundaries. And don't forget, you're more than just surviving—you're creating something amazing.
BRB, I need to go film a TikTok about the project I just found out about and nobody told me until now. Because that's the reality—content from the mess, one video at a time.
For real. Being a single mom creator? It's everything. Even though there's probably old snacks in my keyboard. Dream life, imperfectly perfect.