Real talk, mom life is no joke. But here's the thing? Trying to get that bread while handling tiny humans who think sleep is optional.
My hustle life began about three years ago when I realized that my retail therapy sessions were becoming problematic. I had to find some independent income.
Being a VA
Here's what happened, my first gig was becoming a virtual assistant. And real talk? It was ideal. I was able to grind during those precious quiet hours, and the only requirement was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
My first tasks were easy things like email sorting, managing social content, and data entry. Nothing fancy. I charged about $15-20 per hour, which wasn't much but when you're just starting, you gotta prove yourself first.
The funniest part? There I was on a Zoom call looking like a real businesswoman from the chest up—looking corporate—while sporting my rattiest leggings. Living my best life.
Selling on Etsy
After getting my feet wet, I wanted to explore the handmade marketplace scene. All my mom friends seemed to be on Etsy, so I thought "why not start one too?"
I started creating printable planners and wall art. Here's why printables are amazing? You create it once, and it can make money while you sleep. Literally, I've gotten orders at 3am while I was sleeping.
When I got my first order? I literally screamed. He came running thinking something was wrong. Negative—just me, doing a happy dance for my glorious $4.99. Judge me if you want.
Content Creator Life
After that I discovered creating content online. This hustle is definitely a slow burn, trust me on this.
I started a parenting blog where I posted about my parenting journey—all of it, no filter. Keeping it real. Just real talk about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Getting readers was slow. At the beginning, I was essentially my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I kept at it, and eventually, things gained momentum.
Currently? I earn income through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and display ads. Last month I earned over $2,000 from my blog alone. Crazy, right?
SMM Side Hustle
After I learned managing my blog's social media, local businesses started asking if I could manage their accounts.
Truth bomb? Tons of businesses struggle with social media. They know they have to be on it, but they're too busy.
Enter: me. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I plan their content, plan their posting schedule, engage with followers, and monitor performance.
I bill between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per business, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I manage everything from my phone during soccer practice.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For those who can string sentences together, freelancing is where it's at. I don't mean literary fiction—I mean content writing for businesses.
Companies constantly need fresh content. My assignments have included everything from the most random topics. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to know how to find information.
Usually make $50-150 per article, depending on the topic and length. Certain months I'll create 10-15 articles and earn a couple thousand dollars.
The funny thing is: I was that student who barely passed English class. Currently I'm a professional writer. Life is weird.
Tutoring Online
2020 changed everything, virtual tutoring became huge. With my teaching background, so this was right up my alley.
I joined a couple of online tutoring sites. It's super flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have children who keep you guessing.
I mostly tutor K-5 subjects. Income ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on the platform.
What's hilarious? Sometimes my kids will burst into the room mid-session. I once had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The parents on the other end are totally cool about it because they're living the same life.
The Reselling Game
Here me out, this one started by accident. While organizing my kids' stuff and listed some clothes on various apps.
Stuff sold out so fast. Lightbulb moment: you can sell literally anything.
Currently I shop at secondhand stores and sales, looking for quality items. I'll find something for cheap and resell at a markup.
It's labor-intensive? Yes. You're constantly listing and shipping. But there's something satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at a garage sale and turning a profit.
Additionally: my kids think I'm cool when I find unique items. Recently I discovered a vintage toy that my son went crazy for. Sold it for $45. Score one for mom.
Real Talk Time
Let me keep it real: side hustles take work. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
Some days when I'm completely drained, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm grinding at dawn being productive before the madness begins, then being a full-time parent, then working again after 8pm hits.
But here's what matters? This income is mine. No permission needed to buy the fancy coffee. I'm helping with our household income. My kids are learning that you can be both.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you want to start a hustle of your own, here's what I'd tell you:
Start small. Avoid trying to juggle ten things. Pick one thing and master it before adding more.
Use the time you have. If naptime is your only free time, that's fine. A couple of productive hours is valuable.
Don't compare yourself to the highlight reels. Those people with massive success? They put in years of work and has help. Do your thing.
Learn and grow, but smartly. You don't need expensive courses. Be careful about spending massive amounts on training until you've tried things out.
Work in batches. I learned this the hard way. Set aside certain times for certain work. Make Monday creation day. Wednesday could be admin and emails.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Real talk—the mom guilt is real. There are times when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I struggle with it.
However I think about that I'm demonstrating to them work ethic. I'm showing my daughter that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
Also? Making my own money has improved my mental health. I'm more satisfied, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
So what do I actually make? Generally, between all my hustles, I make three to five thousand monthly. Certain months are higher, some are tougher.
Will this make you wealthy? No. But I've used it for so many things we needed that would've stressed us out. And it's giving me confidence and expertise that could evolve into something huge.
Final Thoughts
Listen, being a mom with a side hustle takes work. It's not a secret sauce. Many days I'm making it up as I go, surviving on coffee, and praying it all works out.
But I wouldn't change it. Every single penny made is a testament to my hustle. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.
If you're on the fence about diving into this? Go for it. Start messy. Your tomorrow self will be grateful.
Always remember: You aren't only enduring—you're growing something incredible. Even when there's likely Goldfish crackers everywhere.
Not even kidding. It's where it's at, despite the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—becoming a single mom wasn't on my vision board. Neither was turning into an influencer. But yet here I am, years into this crazy ride, making a living by creating content while raising two kids basically solo. And real talk? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
The Starting Point: When Everything Imploded
It was 2022 when my relationship fell apart. I can still picture sitting in my new apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had less than a thousand 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 mindlessly scrolling to avoid my thoughts—because that's what we do? when everything is chaos, right?—when I came across this single mom discussing how she became debt-free through posting online. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Or both. Usually both.
I got the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, venting about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' school lunches. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Who wants to watch this disaster?
Turns out, a lot of people.
That video got 47K views. 47,000 people watched me breakdown over chicken nuggets. The comments section turned into this incredible community—other single moms, folks in the trenches, all saying "this is my life." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfect. They wanted raw.
Finding My Niche: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's the secret about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started filming the stuff no one shows. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because washing clothes was too much. Or when I gave them breakfast for dinner all week and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my kid asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who believes in magic.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was unfiltered, and turns out, that's what hit.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, 50K. By six months, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone blew my mind. People who wanted to know my story. Plain old me—a financially unstable single mom who had to figure this out from zero six months earlier.
My Daily Reality: Content Creation Meets Real Life
Here's the reality of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is totally different from those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do not want to move, but this is my work time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a GRWM sharing about financial reality. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while talking about co-parenting struggles. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in parent mode—pouring cereal, the shoe hunt (where do they go), throwing food in bags, stopping fights. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom making videos while driving when stopped. Don't judge me, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. I'm alone finally. I'm editing videos, replying to DMs, brainstorming content ideas, pitching brands, looking at stats. People think content creation is simple. Absolutely not. It's a whole business.
I usually batch content on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means filming 10-15 videos in one session. I'll swap tops so it appears to be different times. Hot tip: Keep multiple tops nearby for easy transitions. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, recording myself alone in the backyard.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Mom mode activated. But this is where it's complicated—many times my best content ideas come from the chaos. Just last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I recorded in the vehicle once we left about dealing with meltdowns as a single parent. It got millions of views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm generally wiped out to film, but I'll schedule uploads, check DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Some nights, after bedtime, I'll edit videos until midnight because a partnership is due.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just managed chaos with random wins.
The Money Talk: How I Actually Make a Living
Okay, 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 easy? Nope.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? Also nothing. Month three, I got my first collaboration—$150 to feature a meal kit service. I broke down. That hundred fifty dollars covered food.
Currently, three years later, here's how I generate revenue:
Brand Partnerships: This is my primary income. I work with brands that make sense—affordable stuff, single-parent resources, family items. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per collaboration, depending on the scope. Just last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made $8K.
Platform Payments: The TikTok fund pays pennies—maybe $200-400 per month for massive numbers. AdSense is way better. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Affiliate Marketing: I share affiliate links to things I own—everything from my favorite coffee maker to the bunk beds I bought. If someone clicks and buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.
Info Products: I created a money management guide and a meal planning ebook. $15 apiece, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
Coaching/Consulting: Aspiring influencers pay me to mentor them. I offer private coaching for two hundred dollars. I do about five to ten a month.
Combined monthly revenue: Most months, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month at this point. Certain months are better, others are slower. It's up and down, which is scary when you're the only income source. But it's three times what I made at my 9-5, and I'm there for them.
The Hard Parts Nobody Shows You
From the outside it's great until you're sobbing alone because a post got no views, or managing vicious comments from random people.
The haters are brutal. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm using my children, questioned about being a solo parent. One person said, "I'd leave too." That one stuck with me.
The algorithm shifts. One month you're getting millions of views. Then suddenly, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income goes up and down. You're always on, always "on", scared to stop, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is intense to the extreme. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Are my kids safe? Will they be angry about this when they're teenagers? I have clear boundaries—no faces of my kids without permission, keeping their stories private, no embarrassing content. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The I get burnt out. Certain periods when I don't want to film anything. When I'm depleted, over it, and totally spent. But life doesn't stop. So I push through.
The Unexpected Blessings
But listen—even with the struggles, this journey has brought me things I never anticipated.
Money security for once in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an cushion. We took a real vacation last summer—Orlando, which felt impossible a couple years back. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or lose income. I worked anywhere. When there's a field trip, I'm present. I'm there for them in ways I couldn't be with a regular job.
Support that saved me. The fellow creators I've befriended, especially other moms, have become actual friends. We connect, exchange tips, have each a contextual reference other's backs. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They cheer for me, support me, and make me feel seen.
Identity beyond "mom". For the first time since having kids, I have something that's mine. I'm more than an ex or someone's mom. I'm a entrepreneur. A businesswoman. A person who hustled.
My Best Tips
If you're a solo parent curious about this, here's what I wish someone had told me:
Begin now. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. That's okay. You improve over time, not by overthinking.
Authenticity wins. People can spot fake. Share your true life—the mess. That's what works.
Prioritize their privacy. Set limits. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is everything. I protect their names, rarely show their faces, and keep private things private.
Build multiple income streams. Diversify or one way to earn. The algorithm is unstable. More streams = less stress.
Create in batches. When you have available time, record several. Future you will thank present you when you're drained.
Engage with your audience. Engage. Reply to messages. Create connections. Your community is everything.
Analyze performance. Time is money. If something takes four hours and gets 200 views while something else takes no time and gets massive views, pivot.
Prioritize yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your sanity matters most.
This takes time. This is a marathon. It took me months to make any real money. The first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year 2, $80,000. Now, I'm on track for six figures. It's a long game.
Know your why. On bad days—and trust me, there will be—think about your why. For me, it's supporting my kids, flexibility with my kids, and proving to myself that I'm stronger than I knew.
Real Talk Time
Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This life is difficult. Incredibly hard. You're basically running a business while being the sole caretaker of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Certain days I question everything. Days when the nasty comments affect me. Days when I'm drained and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But then my daughter mentions she appreciates this. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I know it's worth it.
What's Next
Years ago, I was scared and struggling how to make it work. Fast forward, I'm a full-time content creator making triple what I earned in traditional work, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals for the future? Hit 500K by this year. Create a podcast for solo parents. Consider writing a book. Expand this business that changed my life.
Being a creator gave me a second chance when I was drowning. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be available, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's not what I planned, but it's meant to be.
To all the single moms thinking about starting: Hell yes you can. It isn't simple. You'll doubt yourself. But you're already doing the toughest gig—single parenting. You're stronger than you think.
Start messy. Stay consistent. Prioritize yourself. And don't forget, you're more than just surviving—you're building something incredible.
Time to go, I need to go record a video about another last-minute project and surprise!. Because that's this life—chaos becomes content, video by video.
Honestly. This path? It's worth every struggle. Even though there's probably crumbs in my keyboard. No regrets, imperfectly perfect.