Let me tell you, being a mom is absolutely wild. But what's really wild? Working to secure the bag while handling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
My hustle life began about several years ago when I discovered that my random shopping trips were reaching dangerous levels. I needed my own money.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Here's what happened, I started out was jumping into virtual assistance. And I'll be real? It was ideal. It let me work during naptime, and literally all it took was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.
My first tasks were easy things like organizing inboxes, scheduling social media posts, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. I started at about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which seemed low but when you're just starting, you gotta begin at the bottom.
Here's what was wild? There I was on a video meeting looking all professional from the shoulders up—looking corporate—while sporting pants I'd owned since 2015. Living my best life.
Selling on Etsy
Once I got comfortable, I decided to try the handmade marketplace scene. Everyone and their mother seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I figured "why not join the party?"
My shop focused on making downloadable organizers and home decor prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? You create it once, and it can make money while you sleep. For real, I've made sales at 3am while I was sleeping.
My first sale? I actually yelled. My husband thought the house was on fire. But no—I was just, cheering about my $4.99 sale. Judge me if you want.
Blogging and Creating
After that I got into blogging and content creation. This venture is playing the long game, let me tell you.
I started a parenting blog where I documented real mom life—the messy truth. Not the highlight reel. Simply honest stories about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Getting readers was slow. Initially, it was basically writing for myself and like three people. But I persisted, and over time, things gained momentum.
Now? I make money through promoting products, collaborations, and advertisements on my site. Recently I made over $2K from my blog alone. Wild, right?
Managing Social Media
After I learned running my own socials, brands started asking if I could do the same for them.
And honestly? Tons of businesses struggle with social media. They recognize they need a presence, but they don't know how.
I swoop in. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—various small businesses. I develop content, plan their posting schedule, respond to comments, and monitor performance.
They pay me between $500-1500 per month per business, depending on the scope of work. Best part? I manage everything from my phone during soccer practice.
Writing for Money
For those who can string sentences together, freelance writing is seriously profitable. This isn't becoming Shakespeare—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Companies are desperate for content. I've created content about everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to know how to find information.
Usually bill $50-150 per article, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll create fifteen articles and earn $1-2K.
The funny thing is: Back in school I struggled with essays. Currently I'm making money from copyright. Talk about character development.
Virtual Tutoring
During the pandemic, virtual tutoring became huge. I was a teacher before kids, so this was perfect for me.
I signed up with VIPKid and Tutor.com. It's super flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
My sessions are usually K-5 subjects. The pay ranges from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on which site you use.
What's hilarious? There are times when my own kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. My clients are incredibly understanding because they're parents too.
The Reselling Game
Here me out, this particular venture started by accident. I was cleaning out my kids' room and put some things on Mercari.
Things sold within hours. I had an epiphany: one person's trash is another's treasure.
At this point I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, on the hunt for quality items. I purchase something for a few dollars and make serious profit.
This takes effort? Absolutely. It's a whole process. But there's something satisfying about finding a gem at Goodwill and earning from it.
Additionally: the kids think it's neat when I score cool vintage stuff. Recently I grabbed a vintage toy that my son lost his mind over. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.
Real Talk Time
Truth bomb incoming: side hustles aren't passive income. They're called hustles for a reason.
There are moments when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, doubting everything. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then handling mom duties, then back at it after bedtime.
But this is what's real? This income is mine. I don't have to ask permission to splurge on something nice. I'm helping with the family budget. I'm teaching my children that moms can do anything.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're thinking about a mom hustle, this is what I've learned:
Begin with something manageable. You can't juggle ten things. Pick one thing and master it before expanding.
Honor your limits. If naptime is your only free time, that's okay. Even one focused hour is more than enough to start.
Don't compare yourself to the highlight reels. The successful ones you see? They put in years of work and has help. Run your own race.
Learn and grow, but wisely. Free information exists. Don't spend huge money on programs until you've tried things out.
Do similar tasks together. This saved my sanity. Block off specific days for specific tasks. Monday might be content creation day. Make Wednesday administrative work.
The Mom Guilt is Real
I'm not gonna lie—I struggle with guilt. Certain moments when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I struggle with it.
However I consider that I'm showing them what dedication looks like. I'm showing my daughter that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
And honestly? Having my own income has been good for me. I'm more satisfied, which makes me a better parent.
The Numbers
The real numbers? Most months, from all my side gigs, I pull in between three and five grand. It varies, some are slower.
Is it life-changing money? No. But we've used it to pay for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been impossible otherwise. It's giving me confidence and experience that could become a full-time thing.
Final Thoughts
Listen, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship isn't easy. It's not a perfect balance. Many days I'm making it up as I go, powered by caffeine, and hoping for the best.
But I don't regret it. Every single dollar I earn is validation of my effort. It shows that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're on the fence about starting a side hustle? Take the leap. Start before it's perfect. You in six months will be so glad you did.
Always remember: You're not merely enduring—you're growing something incredible. Even when there's likely mysterious crumbs everywhere.
Not even kidding. This is where it's at, complete with all the chaos.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—becoming a single mom wasn't part of my five-year plan. Neither was becoming a content creator. But fast forward to now, three years into this wild journey, paying bills by posting videos while doing this mom thing solo. And honestly? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Fell Apart
It was a few years ago when my life exploded. I remember sitting in my bare apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids slept. I had barely $850 in my account, little people counting on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's how we cope? when we're drowning, right?—when I stumbled on this woman sharing how she changed her life through making videos. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."
But desperation makes you brave. Or crazy. Often both.
I downloaded the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, talking about how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' lunch boxes. I hit post and panicked. Who gives a damn about my mess?
Spoiler alert, thousands of people.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me breakdown over $12 worth of food. The comments section turned into this incredible community—women in similar situations, people living the same reality, all saying "me too." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted authentic.
Building My Platform: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's the secret about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It found me. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started posting about the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I didn't change pants for days because executive dysfunction is real. Or the time I fed my kids cereal for dinner several days straight and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my child asked about the divorce, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content was rough. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was real, and evidently, that's what resonated.
In just two months, I hit ten thousand followers. 90 days in, fifty thousand. By six months, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone felt impossible. People who wanted to know my story. Me—a struggling single mom who had to ask Google what this meant recently.
The Actual Schedule: Managing It All
Here's the reality of my typical day, because this life is not at all like those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me discussing budgeting. Sometimes it's me cooking while venting about dealing with my ex. The lighting is whatever I can get.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in full mom mode—cooking eggs, hunting for that one shoe (it's always one shoe), prepping food, mediating arguments. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: School drop-off. 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 power window. I'm alone finally. I'm in editing mode, responding to comments, brainstorming content ideas, pitching brands, reviewing performance. Everyone assumes content creation is just making TikToks. Wrong. It's a entire operation.
I usually batch-create content on certain days. That means making a dozen videos in one sitting. I'll switch outfits so it seems like separate days. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for easy transitions. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, making videos in public in the backyard.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Back to parenting. But here's the thing—many times my viral videos come from these after-school moments. Last week, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I created a video in the vehicle once we left about managing big emotions as a single parent. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm usually too exhausted to create content, but I'll plan posts, answer messages, or plan tomorrow's content. Often, after they're down, I'll work late because a client needs content.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just controlled chaos with moments of success.
The Money Talk: How I Support My Family
Look, let's discuss money because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you actually make money as a creator? Yes. Is it effortless? Hell no.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? $0. Third month, I got my first paid partnership—a hundred and fifty bucks to post about a meal delivery. I actually cried. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.
Fast forward, three years later, here's how I make money:
Sponsored Content: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that align with my audience—budget-friendly products, mom products, kids' stuff. I charge anywhere from $500-5K per collaboration, depending on the scope. Last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight thousand dollars.
TikTok Fund: Creator fund pays basically nothing—maybe $200-400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube revenue is more lucrative. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Marketing: I share links to items I love—ranging from my beloved coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If they buy using my link, I get a commission. This brings in about $1K monthly.
Online Products: I created a money management guide and a cooking guide. They're $15 each, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
Coaching/Consulting: Aspiring influencers pay me to mentor them. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200/hour. I do about 5-10 a month.
Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month at this point. Some months are higher, some are less. It's unpredictable, which is terrifying when you're the only income source. But it's 3x what I made at my 9-5, and I'm present.
What They Don't Show Nobody Shows You
From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a post got no views, or dealing with cruel messages this example from keyboard warriors.
The negativity is intense. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm exploiting my kids, called a liar about being a solo parent. Someone once commented, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one hurt so bad.
The algorithm changes constantly. Sometimes you're getting viral hits. The next, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income goes up and down. You're never off, never resting, scared to stop, you'll fall behind.
The mom guilt is worse to the extreme. Every upload, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they resent this when they're adults? I have strict rules—protected identities, nothing too personal, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is fuzzy.
The I get burnt out. Some weeks when I have nothing. When I'm done, talked out, and just done. But rent doesn't care. So I show up anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But here's the thing—even with the struggles, this journey has blessed me with things I never dreamed of.
Money security for the first time in my life. I'm not rich, but I cleared $18K. I have an cushion. We took a real vacation last summer—Disney, which seemed impossible not long ago. I don't panic about money 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 doctor's office. When there's a field trip, I'm there. I'm available in ways I couldn't manage with a corporate job.
Connection that saved me. The other creators I've found, especially single moms, have become actual friends. We connect, collaborate, have each other's backs. My followers have become this beautiful community. They celebrate my wins, support me, and make me feel seen.
Something that's mine. Since becoming a mom, I have something that's mine. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or someone's mom. I'm a business owner. A creator. Someone who built something from nothing.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a single mother considering content creation, here's my advice:
Just start. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. That's okay. You learn by doing, not by overthinking.
Keep it real. People can spot fake. Share your honest life—the chaos. That's what works.
Keep them safe. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is sacred. I protect their names, minimize face content, and keep private things private.
Build multiple income streams. Don't rely on just one platform or one revenue source. The algorithm is unreliable. Multiple streams = safety.
Create in batches. When you have free time, film multiple videos. Future you will be grateful when you're drained.
Connect with followers. Engage. Respond to DMs. Build real relationships. Your community is crucial.
Analyze performance. Time is money. If something is time-intensive and gets 200 views while a different post takes very little time and gets massive views, adjust your strategy.
Don't forget yourself. You matter too. Take breaks. Create limits. Your wellbeing matters more than going viral.
Stay patient. This is a marathon. It took me eight months to make meaningful money. My first year, I made fifteen thousand. Year 2, $80,000. Year three, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a journey.
Stay connected to your purpose. On difficult days—and trust me, there will be—think about your why. For me, it's supporting my kids, time with my children, and validating that I'm capable of anything.
The Honest Truth
Here's the deal, I'm being honest. This life is challenging. Like, really freaking hard. You're running a whole business while being the single caregiver of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Certain days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the nasty comments get to me. Days when I'm burnt out and questioning if I should quit this with consistent income.
But then suddenly my daughter mentions she appreciates this. Or I see financial progress. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I remember why I do this.
The Future
Years ago, I was lost and broke how to survive. Today, I'm a full-time content creator making triple what I earned in traditional work, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals for the future? Get to half a million followers by this year. Create a podcast for solo parents. Consider writing a book. Keep building this business that makes everything possible.
Content creation gave me a way out when I needed it most. It gave me a way to feed my babies, show up, and create something meaningful. It's not what I planned, but it's perfect.
To all the single moms considering this: You absolutely can. It will be hard. You'll want to quit some days. But you're already doing the hardest job—parenting solo. You're more capable than you know.
Begin messy. Stay the course. Prioritize yourself. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're building an empire.
Time to go, I need to go make a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's the content creator single mom life—content from the mess, one post at a time.
Honestly. Being a single mom creator? It's worth every struggle. Even though there's probably crushed cheerios in my keyboard. Living the dream, one messy video at a time.