Real talk, mom life is no joke. But what's really wild? Working to hustle for money while handling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
My hustle life began about three years ago when I figured out that my retail therapy sessions were getting out of hand. I was desperate for some independent income.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
So, my initial venture was jumping into virtual assistance. And not gonna lie? It was chef's kiss. I was able to work during naptime, and the only requirement was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
Initially I was doing easy things like handling emails, managing social content, and basic admin work. Pretty straightforward. I charged about $15-20 per hour, which wasn't much but for someone with zero experience, you gotta build up your portfolio.
The funniest part? I would be on a Zoom call looking completely put together from the waist up—full professional mode—while rocking pajama bottoms. Main character energy.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
After getting my feet wet, I ventured into the selling on Etsy. Everyone and their mother seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I was like "why not start one too?"
I began crafting digital planners and home decor prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? Design it once, and it can sell forever. Actually, I've gotten orders at ungodly hours.
The first time someone bought something? I lost my mind. He came running thinking something was wrong. Not even close—just me, cheering about my glorious $4.99. I'm not embarrassed.
Blogging and Creating
Eventually I started blogging and content creation. This one is a marathon not a sprint, trust me on this.
I created a blog about motherhood where I documented the chaos of parenting—the messy truth. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Only the actual truth about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.
Building up views was painfully slow. At the beginning, I was basically talking to myself. But I kept at it, and after a while, things gained momentum.
At this point? I make money through promoting products, collaborations, and advertisements on my site. Last month I generated over two grand from my website. Crazy, right?
Managing Social Media
As I mastered social media for my own stuff, local businesses started asking if I could help them.
And honestly? Tons of businesses suck at social media. They realize they need to be there, but they don't know how.
That's where I come in. I now manage social media for three local businesses—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I plan their content, queue up posts, engage with followers, and monitor performance.
I bill between $500-$1500/month per client, depending on the complexity. What I love? I do this work from my phone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
If writing is your thing, writing gigs is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking literary fiction—I'm talking about content writing for businesses.
Websites and businesses always need writers. My assignments have included everything from dental hygiene to copyright. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to know how to find information.
Usually make fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on length and complexity. Some months I'll crank out 10-15 articles and earn one to two thousand extra.
The funny thing is: I was the person who barely passed English class. And now I'm getting paid for it. Talk about character development.
Tutoring Online
After lockdown started, online tutoring exploded. As a former educator, so this was right up my alley.
I joined VIPKid and Tutor.com. You choose when you work, which is non-negotiable when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I mainly help with elementary reading and math. The pay ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on which site you use.
The funny thing? Occasionally my kids will burst into the room mid-session. There was a time I maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. The families I work with are very sympathetic because they're parents too.
The Reselling Game
So, this particular venture I stumbled into. While organizing my kids' closet and put some things on Facebook Marketplace.
They sold instantly. I had an epiphany: one person's trash is another's treasure.
At this point I hit up thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, on the hunt for good brands. I purchase something for $3 and sell it for $30.
It's labor-intensive? Yes. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But it's oddly satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at a yard sale and earning from it.
Bonus: my children are fascinated when I discover weird treasures. Last week I scored a collectible item that my son lost his mind over. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Victory for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Let me keep it real: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
Certain days when I'm exhausted, doubting everything. I'm up at 5am getting stuff done while it's quiet, then doing all the mom stuff, then back to work after everyone's in bed.
But this is what's real? I earned this money. No permission needed to get the good coffee. I'm adding to my family's finances. My kids are learning that women can hustle.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're thinking about a mom hustle, here's my advice:
Start with one thing. Don't try to launch everything simultaneously. Pick one thing and master it before expanding.
Work with your schedule. Your available hours, that's perfectly acceptable. 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 doesn't do it alone. Focus on your own journey.
Learn and grow, but smartly. Start with free stuff first. Don't spend thousands on courses until you've proven the concept.
Batch your work. This changed everything. Set aside specific days for specific tasks. Monday might be content creation day. Make Wednesday admin and emails.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
Real talk—I struggle with guilt. Sometimes when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I struggle with it.
Yet I think about that I'm teaching them what dedication looks like. I'm teaching my kids that moms can have businesses.
Plus? Financial independence has helped me feel more like myself. I'm more satisfied, which makes me more patient.
Income Reality Check
How much do I earn? On average, from all my side gigs, I pull in three to five thousand monthly. It varies, others are slower.
Is it life-changing money? Not really. But we've used it to pay for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been really hard. Plus it's giving me confidence and expertise that could become a full-time thing.
Wrapping This Up
At the end of the day, being a mom with a side hustle takes work. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. Many days I'm winging it, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and hoping for the best.
But I'm proud of this journey. Every dollar earned is evidence of my capability. It shows that I'm a multifaceted person.
If you're thinking about beginning your hustle journey? Start now. Don't wait for perfect. You in six months will be so glad you did.
Keep in mind: You're not just making it through—you're hustling. Despite the fact that there's probably snack crumbs stuck to your laptop.
For real. This mom hustle life 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 turning into an influencer. But here I am, three years into this wild journey, making a living by posting videos while parenting alone. And not gonna lie? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was 2022 when my marriage ended. I can still picture sitting in my mostly empty place (he got the furniture, I got the memories), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had $847 in my checking account, two kids to support, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I was on TikTok to avoid my thoughts—because that's how we cope? when we're drowning, right?—when I stumbled on this solo parent talking about how she became debt-free through content creation. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But being broke makes you bold. Or both. Sometimes both.
I downloaded the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, sharing how I'd just blown my final $12 on a cheap food for my kids' lunch boxes. I shared it and felt sick. Who wants to watch my mess?
Turns out, way more people than I expected.
That video got 47K views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me nearly cry over chicken nuggets. The comments section became this incredible community—other single moms, others barely surviving, all saying "this is my life." That was my epiphany. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted authentic.
Building My Platform: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's what they don't say about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It chose me. 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 executive dysfunction is real. Or when I gave them breakfast for dinner three nights in a row and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my kid asked where daddy went, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who believes in magic.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was honest, and apparently, that's what connected.
Within two months, I hit 10K. Month three, 50,000. By half a year, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone blew my mind. People who wanted to hear what I had to say. Me—a financially unstable single mom who had to figure this out from zero recently.
A Day in the Life: Juggling Everything
Let me show you of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is the opposite of those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do NOT want to get up, but this is my work time. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me talking about financial reality. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while venting about custody stuff. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in survival mode—pouring cereal, locating lost items (it's always one shoe), prepping food, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom creating content in traffic at stop signs. Not proud of this, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. Kids are at school. I'm in editing mode, being social, planning content, sending emails, checking analytics. People think content creation is only filming. Nope. It's a whole business.
I usually film in batches on Monday and Wednesday. That means shooting multiple videos in one session. I'll switch outfits so it seems like separate days. Advice: Keep wardrobe options close for easy transitions. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, talking to my camera in the yard.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Back to parenting. But here's where it gets tricky—sometimes my viral videos come from these after-school moments. A few days ago, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I said no to a forty dollar toy. I filmed a video in the car afterward about managing big emotions as a solo parent. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm usually too exhausted to make videos, but I'll plan posts, check DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Often, after the kids are asleep, I'll stay up editing because a client needs content.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just organized chaos with some victories.
The Money Talk: How I Support My Family
Look, let's discuss money because this is what you're wondering. Can you make a living as a creator? 100%. Is it easy? Hell no.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? Also nothing. Month three, I got my first brand deal—$150 to share a meal delivery. I cried real tears. That hundred fifty dollars paid for groceries.
Now, years later, here's how I monetize:
Collaborations: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that fit my niche—affordable stuff, parenting tools, family items. I ask for anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per partnership, depending on the scope. Last month, I did four partnerships and made $8K.
TikTok Fund: The TikTok fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for tons of views. AdSense is actually decent. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Marketing: I promote products to products I actually use—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If anyone buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Info Products: I created a money management guide and a cooking guide. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Teaching Others: Other aspiring creators pay me to guide them. I offer consulting calls for $200/hour. I do about five to ten of these monthly.
Total monthly income: Generally, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month now. It varies, some are less. It's up and down, which is scary when there's no backup. But it's 3x what I made at my corporate job, and I'm present.
The Hard Parts Nobody Shows You
From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a video flopped, or reading vicious comments from random people.
The haters are brutal. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm a bad influence, questioned about being a solo parent. One person said, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one stung for days.
The platform changes. Certain periods you're getting insane views. Then suddenly, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income fluctuates. You're always on, always working, scared to stop, you'll be forgotten.
The guilt is crushing beyond normal. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they be angry about this when they're grown? check here I have strict rules—minimal identifying info, nothing too personal, protecting their dignity. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout is real. Some weeks when I am empty. When I'm exhausted, talked out, and totally spent. But bills don't care about burnout. So I create anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But listen—despite the hard parts, this journey has given me things I never imagined.
Financial stability for once in my life. I'm not rich, but I became debt-free. I have an cushion. We took a family trip last summer—Orlando, which seemed impossible not long ago. I don't panic about money anymore.
Flexibility that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to call in to work or lose income. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a class party, I'm present. I'm in their lives in ways I wasn't with a normal job.
Community that saved me. The other influencers I've connected with, especially solo parents, have become true friends. We talk, share strategies, support each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They support me, send love, and make me feel seen.
Something that's mine. For the first time since having kids, I have something for me. I'm not just an ex or someone's mom. I'm a entrepreneur. An influencer. Someone who made it happen.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single mom considering content creation, listen up:
Don't wait. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's okay. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can tell when you're fake. Share your real life—the chaos. That resonates.
Prioritize their privacy. Establish boundaries. Know your limits. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I keep names private, protect their faces, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one income stream. The algorithm is unpredictable. Diversification = security.
Batch create content. When you have free time, create multiple pieces. Tomorrow you will thank yourself when you're too exhausted to create.
Connect with followers. Answer comments. Reply to messages. Connect authentically. Your community is your foundation.
Analyze performance. Be strategic. If something takes forever and gets 200 views while another video takes 20 minutes and goes viral, change tactics.
Prioritize yourself. You need to fill your cup. Step away. Protect your peace. Your mental health matters more than views.
Stay patient. This requires patience. It took me half a year to make decent money. Year one, I made $15K total. The second year, $80K. Now, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a long game.
Remember why you started. On tough days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's financial freedom, being there, and demonstrating that I'm capable of anything.
The Honest Truth
Here's the deal, I'm telling the truth. Content creation as a single mom is difficult. Incredibly hard. You're basically running a business while being the lone caretaker of children who require constant attention.
There are days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the hate comments sting. Days when I'm drained and questioning if I should quit this with consistent income.
But then 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 changed her life. And I understand the impact.
The Future
Years ago, I was lost and broke what to do. Now, I'm a content creator making way more than I made in traditional work, and I'm present for everything.
My goals for the future? Hit 500,000 followers by December. Launch a podcast for single moms. Maybe write a book. Keep growing this business that changed my life.
This path gave me a lifeline when I needed it most. It gave me a way to take care of my children, show up, and accomplish something incredible. It's not what I planned, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To every solo parent on the fence: You can. It will be challenging. You'll want to quit some days. But you're handling the most difficult thing—raising humans alone. You're tougher than you realize.
Jump in messy. Keep showing up. Prioritize yourself. And remember, you're doing more than surviving—you're building something incredible.
Gotta go now, I need to go record a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and I just learned about it. Because that's how it goes—chaos becomes content, video by video.
Honestly. Being a single mom creator? It's everything. Even if there's probably old snacks stuck to my laptop right now. No regrets, mess included.