Here's the tea, motherhood is absolutely wild. But you know what's even crazier? Trying to make some extra cash while juggling toddlers and their chaos.
My hustle life a full explanation began about a few years back when I figured out that my impulse buys were getting out of hand. It was time to get cash that was actually mine.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Here's what happened, I kicked things off was jumping into virtual assistance. And I'll be real? It was perfect. It let me get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and the only requirement was my laptop and decent wifi.
My first tasks were easy things like organizing inboxes, posting on social media, and basic admin work. Nothing fancy. My rate was about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which wasn't much but when you're just starting, you gotta start somewhere.
The funniest part? Picture this: me on a client call looking all professional from the waist up—full professional mode—while wearing my rattiest leggings. Living my best life.
Selling on Etsy
After a year, I wanted to explore the handmade marketplace scene. Every mom I knew seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I figured "why not join the party?"
I created making digital planners and home decor prints. The beauty of printables? Make it one time, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Literally, I've gotten orders at times when I didn't even know.
The first time someone bought something? I freaked out completely. My partner was like the house was on fire. Not even close—I was just, doing a happy dance for my first five bucks. No shame in my game.
The Content Creation Grind
Next I got into writing and making content. This particular side gig is not for instant gratification seekers, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I created a mom blog where I posted about real mom life—the messy truth. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Only honest stories about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Getting readers was painfully slow. Initially, I was basically talking to myself. But I kept at it, and eventually, things gained momentum.
Currently? I generate revenue through affiliate links, working with brands, and display ads. Last month I made over $2,000 from my blog income. Mind-blowing, right?
The Social Media Management Game
After I learned managing my blog's social media, local businesses started reaching out if I could run their social media.
And honestly? Most small businesses don't understand social media. They recognize they need a presence, but they can't keep up.
Enter: me. I handle social media for several small companies—various small businesses. I make posts, queue up posts, interact with their audience, and analyze the metrics.
My rate is between $500-$1500/month per account, depending on how much work is involved. What I love? I handle this from my iPhone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For the wordy folks, freelancing is seriously profitable. I don't mean literary fiction—I'm talking about business content.
Websites and businesses constantly need fresh content. I've written articles about everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Google is your best friend, you just need to know how to find information.
Generally bill $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on length and complexity. When I'm hustling hard I'll crank out a dozen articles and earn $1-2K.
Plot twist: I was that student who struggled with essays. These days I'm earning a living writing. Life is weird.
Virtual Tutoring
2020 changed everything, everyone needed online help. I was a teacher before kids, so this was kind of a natural fit.
I registered on various tutoring services. You make your own schedule, which is crucial when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.
My sessions are usually elementary reading and math. The pay ranges from $15-$25/hour depending on which site you use.
The funny thing? Every now and then my kids will burst into the room mid-session. There was a time I 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.
Flipping Items for Profit
Here me out, this side gig happened accidentally. During a massive cleanout my kids' closet and posted some items on Mercari.
They sold immediately. I had an epiphany: one person's trash is another's treasure.
These days I hit up estate sales and thrift shops, on the hunt for good brands. I grab something for cheap and resell at a markup.
Is it a lot of work? Yes. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But I find it rewarding about discovering a diamond in the rough at a garage sale and making profit.
Also: the kids think it's neat when I bring home interesting finds. Last week I discovered a vintage toy that my son went crazy for. Made $45 on it. Mom win.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Truth bomb incoming: side hustles take work. There's work involved, hence the name.
There are moments when I'm running on empty, wondering why I'm doing this. I wake up early getting stuff done while it's quiet, then all day mom-ing, then working again after 8pm hits.
But this is what's real? That money is MINE. No permission needed to buy the fancy coffee. I'm supporting my family's finances. My kids see that women can hustle.
Tips if You're Starting Out
If you want to start a side gig, here are my tips:
Begin with something manageable. Don't try to juggle ten things. Start with one venture and become proficient before adding more.
Honor your limits. Whatever time you have, that's totally valid. Even one focused hour is valuable.
Don't compare yourself to the highlight reels. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? They put in years of work and has resources you don't see. Stay in your lane.
Spend money on education, but strategically. Free information exists. Avoid dropping $5,000 on a coaching program until you've proven the concept.
Work in batches. This saved my sanity. Block off specific days for specific tasks. Monday could be making stuff day. Wednesday might be handling business stuff.
The Mom Guilt is Real
Let me be honest—the mom guilt is real. There are times when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I feel terrible.
But I consider that I'm demonstrating to them how to hustle. I'm showing my daughter that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.
And honestly? Earning independently has been good for me. I'm more fulfilled, which makes me more patient.
Let's Talk Money
The real numbers? Typically, combining everything, I earn three to five thousand monthly. Certain months are higher, some are tougher.
Is this millionaire money? No. But we've used it to pay for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've stressed us out. Plus it's creating opportunities and expertise that could grow into more.
Wrapping This Up
Look, hustling as a mom is hard. You won't find a perfect balance. A lot of days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, running on coffee and determination, and praying it all works out.
But I'm proud of this journey. Every penny made is proof that I can do hard things. It's proof that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're thinking about beginning your hustle journey? Go for it. Start messy. Future you will be so glad you did.
And remember: You aren't only getting by—you're hustling. Even though you probably have old cheerios stuck to your laptop.
Seriously. It's incredible, chaos and all.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood wasn't the dream. Nor was building a creator business. But here I am, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by being vulnerable on the internet while doing this mom thing solo. And real talk? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Imploded
It was a few years ago when my life exploded. I remember sitting in my half-empty apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids slept. I had less than a thousand dollars in my bank account, two kids to support, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The panic was real, y'all.
I was scrolling social media to escape reality—because that's self-care at 2am, right? in crisis mode, right?—when I came across this divorced mom talking about how she paid off $30,000 in debt through posting online. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Maybe both. Probably both.
I got the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, talking about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a cheap food for my kids' school lunches. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Why would anyone care about this disaster?
Plot twist, a lot of people.
That video got nearly 50,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me get emotional over processed meat. The comments section turned into this validation fest—people who got it, other people struggling, all saying "this is my life." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted raw.
My Brand Evolution: The Unfiltered Mom Content
The truth is about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? It chose me. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started filming the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I didn't change pants for days because laundry felt impossible. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner multiple nights and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my child asked where daddy went, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who is six years old.
My content was rough. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was real, and turns out, that's what connected.
Within two months, I hit 10K. Month three, 50,000. By six months, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone seemed fake. Actual humans who wanted to hear what I had to say. Little old me—a financially unstable single mom who had to ask Google what this meant recently.
My Daily Reality: Juggling Everything
Let me show you of my typical day, because this life is totally different from those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do NOT want to get up, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a getting ready video talking about financial reality. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while sharing custody stuff. The lighting is not great.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in full mom mode—feeding humans, finding the missing shoe (why is it always one shoe), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom creating content in traffic in the car. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Peace and quiet. I'm editing content, being social, ideating, reaching out to brands, analyzing metrics. They believe content creation is simple. Nope. It's a whole business.
I usually batch-create content on Monday and Wednesday. That means shooting multiple videos in one sitting. I'll change shirts between videos so it looks like different days. Advice: Keep different outfits accessible for outfit changes. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, talking to my camera in the driveway.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Transition back to mom mode. But this is where it's complicated—frequently my top performing content come from real life. A few days ago, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I refused to get a $40 toy. I made content in the parking lot afterward about managing big emotions as a single mom. It got 2.3 million views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm typically drained to make videos, but I'll schedule uploads, respond to DMs, or strategize. Certain nights, after bedtime, I'll work late because a deadline is coming.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just chaos with a plan with occasional wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Support My Family
Okay, let's discuss money because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you really earn income as a creator? 100%. Is it easy? Nope.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? $0. Month three, I got my first brand deal—$150 to promote a meal box. I actually cried. That one-fifty fed us.
Fast forward, three years in, here's how I monetize:
Brand Deals: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that make sense—budget-friendly products, parenting tools, kids' stuff. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per deal, depending on what's required. Just last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made $8K.
TikTok Fund: Creator fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for millions of views. AdSense is actually decent. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that required years.
Link Sharing: I share affiliate links to products I actually use—everything from my beloved coffee maker to the kids' beds. If someone clicks and buys, I get a cut. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Downloadables: I created a financial planner and a meal prep guide. They're $15 each, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
Consulting Services: New creators pay me to mentor them. I offer consulting calls for $200/hour. I do about several each month.
Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month at this point. Some months are higher, some are tougher. It's up and down, which is scary when you're solo. But it's three times what I made at my corporate job, and I'm there for them.
The Struggles Nobody Shows You
From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a video didn't perform, or reading nasty DMs from internet trolls.
The hate comments are real. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm a bad influence, accused of lying about being a solo parent. One person said, "Maybe that's why he left." That one destroyed me.
The platform changes. Certain periods you're getting insane views. The following week, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income is unstable. You're always creating, never resting, afraid to pause, you'll lose momentum.
The guilt is crushing to the extreme. Every video I post, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Is this okay? Will they be angry about this when they're teenagers? I have strict rules—protected identities, nothing too personal, nothing humiliating. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The I get burnt out. There are weeks when I don't want to film anything. When I'm touched out, socially drained, and at my limit. But bills don't care about burnout. So I show up anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But here's the thing—even with the struggles, this journey has brought me things I never dreamed of.
Financial freedom for the first damn time. I'm not wealthy, but I eliminated my debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a actual vacation last summer—Disney, which seemed impossible two years ago. I don't stress about my account anymore.
Control that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or lose income. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a school thing, I'm present. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I wasn't able to be with a traditional 9-5.
Support that saved me. The other influencers I've befriended, especially other single parents, have become real friends. We support each other, exchange tips, lift each other up. My followers have become this beautiful community. They hype me up, encourage me through rough patches, and remind me I'm not alone.
Something that's mine. For the first time since having kids, I have something that's mine. I'm not defined by divorce or somebody's mother. I'm a CEO. A content creator. Someone who created this.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single mom curious about this, here's what I'd tell you:
Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. That's normal. You get better, not by waiting.
Authenticity wins. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your actual life—the unfiltered truth. That resonates.
Keep them safe. Set limits. Have standards. Their privacy is everything. I don't use their names, minimize face content, and respect their dignity.
Multiple revenue sources. Don't rely on just one platform or one income stream. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple income streams = stability.
Batch create content. When you have available time, film multiple videos. Future you will thank present you when you're unable to film.
Connect with followers. Reply to comments. Answer DMs. Create connections. Your community is your foundation.
Track metrics. Be strategic. If something is time-intensive and gets 200 views while something else takes minutes and gets massive views, adjust your strategy.
Don't forget yourself. You matter too. Unplug. Guard your energy. Your sanity matters more than going viral.
Stay patient. This requires patience. It took me eight months to make meaningful money. Year one, I made barely $15,000. Year 2, $80K. Year three, I'm making six figures. It's a journey.
Remember why you started. On hard days—and they happen—recall your purpose. For me, it's supporting my kids, being present, and proving to myself that I'm capable of anything.
Real Talk Time
Real talk, I'm telling the truth. This journey is hard. Like, really freaking hard. You're operating a business while being the lone caretaker of kids who need everything.
There are days I doubt myself. Days when the negativity hurt. Days when I'm completely spent and asking myself if I should quit this with consistent income.
But then my daughter says she's proud that I work from home. Or I look at my savings. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I remember why I do this.
Where I'm Going From Here
A few years back, I was broke, scared, and had no idea what to do. Currently, I'm a full-time content creator making way more than I made in traditional work, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.
My goals for the future? Get to half a million followers by year-end. Create a podcast for single parents. Write a book eventually. Keep building this business that makes everything possible.
Content creation gave me a lifeline when I had nothing. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be available, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's not what I planned, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To any single parent wondering if you can do this: Hell yes you can. It isn't simple. You'll doubt yourself. But you're currently doing the most difficult thing—doing this alone. You're more capable than you know.
Jump in messy. Stay consistent. Protect your peace. And always remember, you're beyond survival mode—you're creating something amazing.
Time to go, I need to go film a TikTok about homework I forgot about and I just learned about it. Because that's the reality—making content from chaos, one TikTok at a time.
Honestly. This path? It's worth it. Despite there's definitely crushed cheerios in my keyboard. No regrets, one messy video at a time.