I'm gonna be honest with you, mom life is literally insane. But plot twist? Trying to earn extra income while juggling toddlers and their chaos.
I entered the side gig world about several years ago when I discovered that my retail therapy sessions were becoming problematic. It was time to get some independent income.
Being a VA
Okay so, my first gig was doing VA work. And real talk? It was exactly what I needed. I was able to grind during those precious quiet hours, and literally all it took was a computer and internet.
I began by basic stuff like email sorting, posting on social media, and entering data. Nothing fancy. My rate was about $15-20 per hour, which felt cheap but for someone with zero experience, you gotta build up your portfolio.
Here's what was wild? I would be on a Zoom call looking like a real businesswoman from the shoulders up—full professional mode—while wearing pants I'd owned since 2015. Main character energy.
Selling on Etsy
After a year, I thought I'd test out the selling on Etsy. Every mom I knew seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I figured "why not join the party?"
I began crafting digital planners and wall art. What's great about digital products? You create it once, and it can make money while you sleep. Genuinely, I've earned money at 3am while I was sleeping.
When I got my first order? I lost my mind. He came running thinking there was an emergency. Nope—it was just me, celebrating my five dollar sale. Don't judge me.
Blogging and Creating
Next I ventured into writing and making content. This one is playing the long game, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I began a blog about motherhood where I wrote about what motherhood actually looks like—everything unfiltered. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Only the actual truth about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.
Building up views was painfully slow. For months, I was basically creating content for crickets. But I kept at it, and eventually, things began working.
These days? I earn income through promoting products, working with brands, and display ads. This past month I made over $2,000 from my blog income. Mind-blowing, right?
The Social Media Management Game
Once I got decent at social media for my own stuff, small companies started reaching out if I could manage their accounts.
And honestly? Many companies struggle with social media. They recognize they have to be on it, but they don't have time.
That's where I come in. I oversee social media for three local businesses—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I develop content, schedule posts, respond to comments, and track analytics.
My rate is between $500-$1500/month per account, depending on how much work is involved. The best thing? I do this work from my iPhone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For those who can string sentences together, content writing is incredibly lucrative. I don't mean writing the next Great American Novel—I'm talking about commercial writing.
Websites and businesses constantly need fresh content. I've created content about everything from literally everything under the sun. Google is your best friend, you just need to know how to find information.
I typically make $50-150 per article, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll create ten to fifteen pieces and pull in an extra $1,000-2,000.
What's hilarious: I'm the same person who thought writing was torture. Now I'm making money from copyright. Life's funny like that.
Virtual Tutoring
When COVID hit, everyone needed online help. I was a teacher before kids, so this was right up my alley.
I signed up with several tutoring platforms. You make your own schedule, which is crucial when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
My sessions are usually elementary school stuff. The pay ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on which site you use.
Here's what's weird? Occasionally my children will interrupt mid-session. There was a time I educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they're parents too.
Reselling and Flipping
So, this particular venture wasn't planned. During a massive cleanout my kids' stuff and listed some clothes on copyright.
They sold immediately. That's when I realized: you can sell literally anything.
At this point I shop at anywhere with deals, searching for name brands. I'll find something for $3 and sell it for $30.
It's definitely work? Absolutely. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding a gem at a garage sale and making money.
Additionally: my kids think I'm cool when I bring home interesting finds. Last week I grabbed a retro toy that my son freaked out about. Made $45 on it. Victory for mom.
The Honest Reality
Let me keep it real: this stuff requires effort. They're called hustles for a reason.
Certain days when I'm completely drained, questioning my life choices. I wake up early getting stuff done while it's quiet, then all day mom-ing, then more hustle time after the kids are asleep.
But here's the thing? That money is MINE. I'm not asking anyone to treat myself. I'm supporting our household income. I'm showing my kids that women can hustle.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you're thinking about a side gig, here's what I'd tell you:
Begin with something manageable. Avoid trying to do everything at once. Choose one hustle and get good at it before taking on more.
Work with your schedule. Your available hours, that's totally valid. A couple of productive hours is better than nothing.
Avoid comparing yourself to other moms. Those people with massive success? They put in years of work and has help. Do your thing.
Don't be afraid to invest, but strategically. There are tons of free resources. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've proven the concept.
Do similar tasks together. I learned this the hard way. Block off days for specific hustles. Use Monday for writing day. Wednesday might be admin and emails.
The Mom Guilt is Real
I have to be real with you—mom guilt is a thing. There are days when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I feel guilty.
But I consider that I'm teaching them what dedication looks like. I'm proving to them that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
And honestly? Earning independently has made me a better mom. I'm happier, which translates to better parenting.
The Numbers
How much do I earn? On average, from all my side gigs, I bring in $3K-5K. Certain months are higher, others are slower.
Is this millionaire money? Not really. But I've used it for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've been impossible otherwise. And it's developing my career and skills that could grow into more.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, being a mom with a side hustle isn't easy. It's not a magic formula. Most days I'm improvising everything, surviving on coffee, and crossing my fingers.
But I'm glad I'm doing this. Each bit of income is validation of my effort. It's evidence that I'm a multifaceted person.
For anyone contemplating starting a side hustle? Take the leap. Begin before you're ready. Your future self will appreciate it.
And remember: You're more than enduring—you're growing something incredible. Even when you probably have Goldfish crackers stuck to your laptop.
For real. This mom hustle life is pretty amazing, mess included.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Real talk—becoming a single mom wasn't the dream. Neither was making money from my phone. But here I am, years into this crazy ride, earning income by sharing my life online while parenting alone. And I'll be real? It's been the best worst decision of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Fell Apart
It was a few years ago when my relationship fell apart. I will never forget sitting in my mostly empty place (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), wide awake at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had barely $850 in my account, two humans depending on me, and a salary that was a joke. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I was on TikTok to avoid my thoughts—because that's what we do? when we're drowning, right?—when I came across this solo parent talking about how she made six figures through making videos. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But desperation makes you brave. Or both. Usually both.
I installed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, sharing how I'd just blown my final $12 on a cheap food for my kids' school lunches. I hit post and panicked. Why would anyone care about this disaster?
Spoiler alert, thousands of people.
That video got 47,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me nearly cry over frozen nuggets. The comments section turned into this incredible community—fellow solo parents, people living the same reality, all saying "same." That was my turning point. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted authentic.
My Brand Evolution: The Honest Single Parent Platform
The truth is about content creation: finding your niche is everything. And my niche? It chose me. I became the unfiltered single mom.
I started posting about the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I lived in one outfit because laundry felt impossible. Or the time I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner all week and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my kid asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content was rough. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was honest, and evidently, that's what resonated.
After sixty days, I hit ten thousand followers. Three months later, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone blew my mind. Actual humans who wanted to listen to me. Plain old me—a struggling single mom who had to ask Google what this meant recently.
A Day in the Life: Managing It All
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because this life is nothing like those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm goes off. 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 get-ready-with-me sharing about money struggles. Sometimes it's me cooking while venting about custody stuff. The lighting is whatever I can get.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in full mom mode—cooking eggs, hunting for that one shoe (seriously, always ONE), prepping food, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is real.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom filming at red lights at stop signs. Not proud of this, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. House is quiet. I'm cutting clips, being social, brainstorming content ideas, pitching brands, checking analytics. People think content creation is just making TikToks. Absolutely not. It's a real job.
I usually batch content on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means making a dozen videos in one session. I'll change shirts between videos so it looks like different days. Hot tip: Keep different outfits accessible for quick changes. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, recording myself alone 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 complete meltdown in Target because I wouldn't buy a expensive toy. I made content in the parking lot afterward about managing big emotions as a single mom. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm usually too exhausted to make videos, but I'll queue up posts, reply to messages, or plan tomorrow's content. Often, after they're down, I'll stay up editing because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just chaos with a plan with occasional wins.
The Financial Reality: How I Really Earn Money
Look, let's get into the finances because this is what people ask about. Can you make a living as a online creator? Yes. Is it simple? Nope.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? Zero. Month three, I got my first collaboration—$150 to share a meal delivery. I literally cried. That $150 fed us.
Fast forward, three years in, here's how I make money:
Sponsored Content: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that make sense—things that help, parenting tools, kids' stuff. I bill anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per partnership, depending on what they need. Just last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made $8K.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: The TikTok fund pays not much—two to four hundred per month for huge view counts. AdSense is better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Marketing: I post links to products I actually use—anything from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds I bought. If they buy using my link, I get a kickback. This brings in about $1K monthly.
Info Products: I created a budget template and a food prep planner. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell dozens per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
One-on-One Coaching: New creators pay me to guide them. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 per month.
Total monthly income: Generally, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month currently. It varies, some are tougher. It's inconsistent, which is stressful when you're the only income source. But it's triple what I made at my previous job, and I'm home when my kids need me.
What They Don't Show Nobody Talks About
This sounds easy until you're sobbing alone because a post got no views, or reading cruel messages from strangers who think they know your life.
The hate comments are real. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm a bad influence, called a liar about being a divorced parent. Someone once commented, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm changes constantly. One month you're getting insane views. The following week, you're getting nothing. Your income goes up and down. You're never off, always working, afraid to pause, you'll lose momentum.
The mom guilt is worse exponentially. Each post, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they resent this when they're older? I have strict rules—protected identities, no sharing their private stuff, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The burnout hits hard. Certain periods when I have nothing. When I'm exhausted, socially drained, and just done. But life doesn't stop. So I push through.
What Makes It Worth It
But listen—even with the struggles, this journey has brought me things I never dreamed of.
Financial freedom for the first time ever. I'm not a millionaire, but I became debt-free. I have an safety net. We took a vacation last summer—the Mouse House, which I never thought possible not long ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.
Time freedom that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to use PTO or stress about losing pay. I worked anywhere. When there's a school event, I'm present. I'm available in ways I wasn't able to be with a traditional 9-5.
Connection that saved me. The other creators I've befriended, especially single moms, have become real friends. We support each other, collaborate, have each other's backs. My followers have become the supporting article this beautiful community. They celebrate my wins, send love, and show me I'm not alone.
Me beyond motherhood. For the first time since having kids, I have an identity. I'm not defined by divorce or someone's mom. I'm a business owner. A content creator. Someone who created this.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a single parent curious about this, here's my advice:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. It's fine. You learn by doing, not by waiting.
Authenticity wins. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your true life—the unfiltered truth. That's what connects.
Guard their privacy. Establish boundaries. Know your limits. Their privacy is everything. I protect their names, minimize face content, and respect their dignity.
Build multiple income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or a single source. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple income streams = stability.
Film multiple videos. When you have quiet time, create multiple pieces. Future you will be grateful when you're too exhausted to create.
Connect with followers. Respond to comments. Respond to DMs. Create connections. Your community is what matters.
Analyze performance. Time is money. If something takes forever and tanks while a different post takes 20 minutes and goes viral, change tactics.
Take care of yourself. You matter too. Unplug. Guard your energy. Your health matters more than going viral.
Give it time. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me eight months to make real income. Year one, I made $15K total. Year two, eighty thousand. This year, I'm hitting six figures. It's a long game.
Stay connected to your purpose. On difficult days—and there will be many—think about your why. For me, it's financial freedom, being there, and validating that I'm stronger than I knew.
Being Real With You
Real talk, I'm being honest. Being a single mom creator is hard. So damn hard. You're basically running a business while being the only parent of tiny humans who need you constantly.
There are days I second-guess this. Days when the negativity get to me. Days when I'm drained and wondering if I should just get a "normal" job with stability.
But but then my daughter says she loves that I'm home. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I remember my purpose.
My Future Plans
Years ago, I was scared and struggling what to do. Fast forward, I'm a full-time creator making way more than I made in my 9-5, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals for the future? Reach 500K by this year. Create a podcast for other single moms. Possibly write a book. Keep building this business that makes everything possible.
Being a creator gave me a second chance when I had nothing. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be there, and build something real. It's unexpected, but it's perfect.
To any single parent wondering if you can do this: You can. It will be hard. You'll want to quit some days. But you're already doing the hardest job—doing this alone. You're more capable than you know.
Start imperfect. Stay consistent. Guard your peace. And know this, you're doing more than surviving—you're changing your life.
Gotta go now, I need to go film a TikTok about the project I just found out about and I just learned about it. Because that's this life—content from the mess, one TikTok at a time.
For real. Being a single mom creator? It's worth every struggle. Despite I'm sure there's old snacks all over my desk. That's the dream, one messy video at a time.