Here's the tea, mom life is a whole vibe. But plot twist? Attempting to hustle for money while managing tiny humans who think sleep is optional.
My hustle life began about a few years back when I figured out that my Target runs were way too frequent. It was time to get funds I didn't have to justify spending.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Here's what happened, my initial venture was doing VA work. And I'll be real? It was perfect. It let me grind during those precious quiet hours, and literally all it took was a computer and internet.
I started with basic stuff like organizing inboxes, managing social content, and basic admin work. Nothing fancy. I started at about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which felt cheap but as a total beginner, you gotta build up your portfolio.
Honestly the most hilarious thing? I'd be on a client call looking all professional from the waist up—blazer, makeup, the works—while sporting pajama bottoms. Living my best life.
My Etsy Journey
After a year, I thought I'd test out the selling on Etsy. Every mom I knew seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I figured "why not get in on this?"
I started making downloadable organizers and digital art prints. Here's why printables are amazing? One and done creation, and it can sell forever. Genuinely, I've made sales at times when I didn't even know.
When I got my first order? I literally screamed. He came running thinking the house was on fire. Not even close—it was just me, celebrating my first five bucks. I'm not embarrassed.
Content Creator Life
Eventually I got into blogging and content creation. This hustle is a marathon not a sprint, let me tell you.
I started a blog about motherhood where I documented the chaos of parenting—all of it, no filter. Not the highlight reel. Just authentic experiences about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Growing an audience was slow. Initially, I was essentially writing for myself and like three people. But I persisted, and after a while, things took off.
These days? I make money through affiliate links, collaborations, and display ads. Just last month I generated over $2K from my website. Crazy, right?
SMM Side Hustle
As I mastered social media for my own stuff, small companies started inquiring if I could manage their accounts.
Here's the thing? Tons of businesses don't understand social media. They know they should be posting, but they can't keep up.
That's where I come in. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I plan their content, schedule posts, handle community management, and monitor performance.
They pay me between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on the complexity. Best part? I handle this from my iPhone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
If writing is your thing, content writing is seriously profitable. This isn't literary fiction—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Companies always need writers. My assignments have included everything from the most random topics. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to be good at research.
Usually bill $50-150 per article, depending on what's involved. When I'm hustling hard I'll create a dozen articles and make a couple thousand dollars.
The funny thing is: I'm the same person who barely passed English class. Now I'm earning a living writing. Talk about character development.
The Online Tutoring Thing
During the pandemic, virtual tutoring became huge. I was a teacher before kids, so this was right up my alley.
I joined various tutoring services. It's super flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have unpredictable little ones.
I focus on elementary school stuff. Income ranges from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the company.
What's hilarious? Occasionally my own kids will burst into the room mid-session. I've literally had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. Other parents are usually super understanding because they're parents too.
The Reselling Game
So, this particular venture I stumbled into. During a massive cleanout my kids' closet and put some things on Mercari.
Items moved instantly. I had an epiphany: people will buy anything.
These days I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, looking for good brands. I purchase something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
It's labor-intensive? Absolutely. It's a whole process. But it's oddly satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at a yard sale and earning from it.
Bonus: my kids think I'm cool when I bring home interesting finds. Just last week I found a collectible item that my son went crazy for. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Victory for mom.
The Honest Reality
Let me keep it real: this stuff requires effort. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
Certain days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm grinding at dawn working before my kids wake up, then doing all the mom stuff, then more hustle time after 8pm hits.
But here's what matters? I earned this money. I'm not asking anyone to buy the fancy coffee. I'm supporting my family's finances. My kids are learning that you can have it all—sort of.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're thinking about a side hustle, here's my advice:
Start with one thing. Avoid trying to start five businesses. Start with one venture and nail it down before adding more.
Honor your limits. If naptime is your only free time, that's totally valid. Two hours of focused work is more than enough to start.
Don't compare yourself to Instagram moms. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? They put in years of work and has support. Stay in your lane.
Don't be afraid to invest, but strategically. Start with free stuff first. Don't spend $5,000 on a coaching program until you've validated your idea.
Batch your work. I learned this the hard way. Dedicate certain times for certain work. Use Monday for writing day. Use Wednesday for organizing and responding.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
I'm not gonna lie—guilt is part of this. Certain moments when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I hate it.
However I think about that I'm showing them work ethic. I'm showing my daughter that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
Additionally? Earning independently has helped me feel more like myself. I'm more fulfilled, which a related guide translates to better parenting.
The Numbers
My actual income? Typically, total from all sources, I bring in between three and five grand. Some months are lower, some are tougher.
Is this getting-rich money? No. But I've used it for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've been impossible otherwise. Plus it's building my skills and knowledge that could turn into something bigger.
In Conclusion
Look, hustling as a mom isn't easy. There's no magic formula. Most days I'm improvising everything, running on coffee and determination, and crossing my fingers.
But I don't regret it. Every single dollar earned is validation of my effort. It demonstrates that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're thinking about diving into this? Go for it. Start messy. Your future self will be grateful.
Keep in mind: You're more than making it through—you're creating something amazing. Even when there's probably Goldfish crackers in your workspace.
Seriously. The whole thing is incredible, complete with all the chaos.
Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—becoming a single mom wasn't the dream. Nor was becoming a content creator. But fast forward to now, three years into this wild journey, paying bills by sharing my life online while doing this mom thing solo. And not gonna lie? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
The Starting Point: When Everything Imploded
It was three years ago when my marriage ended. I remember sitting in my mostly empty place (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had less than a thousand dollars in my account, two mouths to feed, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I'd been mindlessly scrolling to avoid my thoughts—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I saw this woman sharing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through content creation. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But desperation makes you brave. Or crazy. Usually both.
I grabbed the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, venting about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunches. I hit post and panicked. Why would anyone care about this disaster?
Apparently, way more people than I expected.
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—other single moms, other people struggling, 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: you need a niche. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started filming the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I lived in one outfit because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I fed my kids cereal for dinner multiple nights and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my daughter asked where daddy went, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who is six years old.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was authentic, and evidently, that's what connected.
Two months later, I hit 10K. Three months later, fifty thousand. By six months, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone seemed fake. These were real people who wanted to hear what I had to say. Plain old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to ask Google what this meant not long ago.
A Day in the Life: Juggling Everything
Here's the reality of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is not at all like those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do NOT want to get up, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a GRWM discussing financial reality. Sometimes it's me making food while sharing dealing with my ex. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in full mom mode—pouring cereal, locating lost items (seriously, always ONE), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks when stopped. Not proud of this, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Kids are at school. I'm in editing mode, responding to comments, ideating, doing outreach, looking at stats. People think content creation is just making TikToks. Wrong. It's a full business.
I usually batch content on certain days. That means making a dozen videos in one session. I'll swap tops so it appears to be different times. Hot tip: Keep multiple tops nearby for quick changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, making videos in public in the yard.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Back to parenting. But this is where it's complicated—sometimes my best content ideas come from these after-school moments. Last week, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I made content in the parking lot after about handling public tantrums as a solo parent. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm usually too exhausted to create content, but I'll schedule uploads, reply to messages, or prep for tomorrow. Some nights, after bedtime, I'll stay up editing because a client needs content.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just organized chaos with some victories.
The Money Talk: How I Support My Family
Okay, let's talk numbers because this is what you're wondering. Can you legitimately profit as a creator? Absolutely. Is it straightforward? Hell no.
My first month, I made zilch. Second month? Still nothing. Month three, I got my first brand deal—$150 to feature a meal box. I literally cried. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.
Fast forward, three years later, here's how I monetize:
Brand Deals: This is my primary income. I work with brands that fit my niche—things that help, mom products, kid essentials. I ask for anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per campaign, depending on what they need. Last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight grand.
Platform Payments: TikTok's creator fund pays basically nothing—a few hundred dollars per month for tons of views. YouTube money is more lucrative. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took forever.
Link Sharing: I promote products to stuff I really use—everything from my go-to coffee machine to the kids' beds. If someone clicks and buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Digital Products: I created a financial planner and a meal prep guide. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
One-on-One Coaching: New creators pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer consulting calls for two hundred per hour. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.
Overall monthly earnings: Typically, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month currently. It varies, some are lower. It's unpredictable, which is scary when you're solo. But it's triple what I made at my 9-5, and I'm home when my kids need me.
The Dark Side Nobody Talks About
This sounds easy until you're sobbing alone because a post tanked, or handling hate comments from internet trolls.
The trolls are vicious. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm using my children, accused of lying about being a divorced parent. One person said, "Maybe that's why he left." That one stuck with me.
The algorithm is unpredictable. Sometimes you're getting millions of views. The next, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income varies wildly. You're constantly creating, always working, nervous about slowing down, you'll lose relevance.
The guilt is crushing to the extreme. Every upload, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Is this okay? Will they hate me for this when they're teenagers? I have clear boundaries—limited face shots, nothing too personal, nothing humiliating. But the line is fuzzy.
The burnout is real. Sometimes when I can't create. When I'm done, talked out, and just done. But life doesn't stop. So I create anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But here's the thing—through it all, this journey has blessed me with things I never expected.
Financial freedom for the first time in my life. I'm not loaded, but I cleared $18K. I have an emergency fund. We took a family trip last summer—the Mouse House, which seemed impossible a couple years back. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to use PTO or stress about losing pay. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a class party, I'm present. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I wasn't with a normal job.
Connection that saved me. The other influencers I've connected with, especially solo parents, have become my people. We talk, exchange tips, support each other. My followers have become this family. They hype me up, lift me up, and show me I'm not alone.
My own identity. After years, I have something for me. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or only a parent. I'm a entrepreneur. A businesswoman. Someone who created this.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a solo parent thinking about this, listen up:
Begin now. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You improve over time, not by waiting.
Keep it real. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your honest life—the chaos. That's what works.
Keep them safe. Set limits. Know your limits. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I don't use their names, minimize face content, and protect their stories.
Build multiple income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one revenue source. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple streams = safety.
Film multiple videos. When you have free time, make a bunch. Future you will appreciate it when you're burnt out.
Connect with followers. Respond to comments. Answer DMs. Build real relationships. Your community is what matters.
Monitor what works. Be strategic. If something takes forever and gets 200 views while another video takes very little time and gets 200,000 views, change tactics.
Take care of yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Step away. Protect your peace. Your health matters more than views.
Stay patient. This takes time. It took me ages to make any real money. My first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year 2, eighty grand. This year, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a long game.
Stay connected to your purpose. On tough days—and there are many—recall your purpose. For me, it's supporting my kids, flexibility with my kids, and demonstrating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
The Reality Check
Look, I'm keeping it 100. Content creation as a single mom is difficult. Like, really freaking hard. You're operating a business while being the lone caretaker of kids who need everything.
Certain days I second-guess this. Days when the trolls affect me. Days when I'm completely spent and questioning if I should get a regular job with stability.
But then suddenly my daughter shares she's proud that I work from home. Or I look at my savings. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I remember my purpose.
What's Next
Three years ago, I was lost and broke what to do. Today, I'm a full-time creator making triple what I earned in my 9-5, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals moving forward? Get to half a million followers by end of year. Launch a podcast for other single moms. Maybe write a book. Expand this business that changed my life.
This journey gave me a second chance when I had nothing. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be available, and create something meaningful. It's unexpected, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To all the single moms thinking about starting: You can. It will be hard. You'll want to quit some days. But you're managing the most difficult thing—parenting solo. You're stronger than you think.
Begin messy. Keep showing up. Guard your peace. And always remember, you're doing more than surviving—you're creating something amazing.
BRB, I need to go make a video about the project I just found out about and I just learned about it. Because that's how it goes—chaos becomes content, one post at a time.
Seriously. This path? It's everything. Even if there's definitely Goldfish crackers stuck to my laptop right now. Dream life, imperfectly perfect.