Let me spill, motherhood is literally insane. But plot twist? Working to secure the bag while dealing with kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
I entered the side gig world about three years ago when I had the epiphany that my impulse buys were becoming problematic. I needed some independent income.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
Here's what happened, my initial venture was jumping into virtual assistance. And real talk? It was ideal. I was able to get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and all I needed was a computer and internet.
I started with simple tasks like email management, doing social media scheduling, and data entry. Super simple stuff. My rate was about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta build up your portfolio.
Here's what was wild? There I was on a client call looking completely put together from the shoulders up—full professional mode—while sporting pajama bottoms. That's the dream honestly.
Selling on Etsy
About twelve months in, I ventured into the Etsy world. Literally everyone seemed to be on Etsy, so I figured "why not start one too?"
I created crafting PDF planners and wall art. What's great about digital products? Make it one time, and it can make money while you sleep. Literally, I've earned money at 3am while I was sleeping.
When I got my first order? I freaked out completely. My husband thought there was an emergency. Not even close—it was just me, cheering about my glorious $4.99. No shame in my game.
The Content Creation Grind
Then I started the whole influencer thing. This one is playing the long game, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.
I created a mom blog where I documented my parenting journey—everything unfiltered. Not the highlight reel. Just honest stories about surviving tantrums in Target.
Growing an audience was slow. The first few months, it was basically talking to myself. But I didn't give up, and slowly but surely, things took off.
These days? I make money through affiliate marketing, working with brands, and ad revenue. Recently I brought in over two thousand dollars from my blog alone. Wild, right?
SMM Side Hustle
When I became good with my own content, other businesses started inquiring if I could run their social media.
Truth bomb? A lot of local businesses are terrible with social media. They understand they have to be on it, but they're clueless about the algorithm.
Enter: me. I now manage social media for three local businesses—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I make posts, schedule posts, respond to comments, and monitor performance.
I charge between $500-$1500/month per business, depending on how much work is involved. The best thing? I do this work from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For the wordy folks, freelance writing is seriously profitable. Not like writing the next Great American Novel—I'm talking about business content.
Websites and businesses always need writers. I've written articles about everything from literally everything under the sun. You just need to research, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
Usually bill fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on how complex it is. Some months I'll create ten to fifteen pieces and make $1-2K.
Plot twist: I'm the same person who thought writing was torture. Now I'm making money from copyright. The irony.
Tutoring Online
After lockdown started, virtual tutoring became huge. I was a teacher before kids, so this was an obvious choice.
I registered on various tutoring services. You choose when you work, which is absolutely necessary when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I mainly help with elementary school stuff. You can make from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on where you work.
The awkward part? Sometimes my kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. There was a time I maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. Other parents are incredibly understanding because they're parents too.
The Reselling Game
Alright, this side gig wasn't planned. During a massive cleanout my kids' stuff and posted some items on copyright.
Stuff sold out immediately. Lightbulb moment: you can sell literally anything.
At this point I hit up anywhere with deals, searching for quality items. I'll buy something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
Is it a lot of work? Not gonna lie. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But I find it rewarding about spotting valuable items at a garage sale and earning from it.
Plus: my kids think I'm cool when I discover weird treasures. Last week I grabbed a collectible item that my son absolutely loved. Got forty-five dollars for it. Victory for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Real talk moment: side hustles aren't passive income. There's work involved, hence the name.
There are moments when I'm exhausted, doubting everything. I'm up at 5am working before my kids wake up, then all day mom-ing, then back to work after bedtime.
But this is what's real? These are my earnings. I'm not asking anyone to get the good coffee. I'm adding to our financial goals. I'm showing my kids that moms can do anything.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're considering a side gig, here's what I'd tell you:
Begin with something manageable. Don't try to juggle ten things. Start with one venture and become proficient before starting something else.
Work with your schedule. If naptime is your only free time, that's fine. Whatever time you can dedicate is valuable.
Stop comparing to Instagram moms. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? They put in years of work and has support. Stay in your lane.
Learn and grow, but strategically. Free information exists. Avoid dropping thousands on courses until you've tried things out.
Batch tasks together. This changed everything. Dedicate days for specific hustles. Monday might be content creation day. Use Wednesday for organizing and responding.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
Real talk—mom guilt is a thing. Certain moments when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I feel terrible.
But I remind myself that I'm showing them work ethic. I'm proving to them that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
And honestly? Financial independence has improved my mental health. I'm more satisfied, which makes me a better parent.
Let's Talk Money
My actual income? Generally, combining everything, I bring in $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are lower, it fluctuates.
Is this getting-rich money? No. But I've used it for stuff that matters to us that would've been really hard. It's creating opportunities and experience that could grow into more.
Final Thoughts
Listen, being a mom with a side hustle takes work. You won't find a magic formula. Many days I'm winging it, surviving on coffee, and doing my best.
But I'm proud of this journey. Each penny made is a testament to my hustle. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.
So if you're considering beginning your hustle journey? Go for it. Start messy. Future you will thank you.
Keep in mind: You're not just surviving—you're hustling. Even if there's probably old cheerios on your keyboard.
Not even kidding. The whole thing is incredible, mess included.
My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom
Let me be real with you—single motherhood wasn't the dream. Neither was becoming a content creator. But yet here I am, three years later, supporting my family by being vulnerable on the internet 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 three years ago when my marriage ended. I remember sitting in my bare apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had barely $850 in my checking account, two mouths to feed, and a salary that was a joke. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I was on TikTok to escape reality—because that's how we cope? when we're drowning, right?—when I found this solo parent discussing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through being a creator. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But rock bottom gives you courage. Or stupid. Usually both.
I grabbed the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, explaining how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' school lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who gives a damn about this disaster?
Apparently, thousands of people.
That video got 47,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me nearly cry over processed meat. The comments section was this validation fest—fellow solo parents, people living the same reality, all saying "me too." That was my epiphany. People didn't want perfection. They wanted authentic.
Building My Platform: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's what they don't say about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started posting about the stuff people hide. Like how I didn't change pants for days because laundry felt impossible. Or when I served cereal as a meal several days straight and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my kid asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who thinks the tooth fairy is real.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was unfiltered, and evidently, that's what hit.
Within two months, I hit 10K. 90 days in, 50,000. By six months, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone blew my mind. People who wanted to follow me. Plain old me—a broke single mom who had to learn everything from scratch six months earlier.
The Actual Schedule: Balancing Content and Chaos
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is nothing like 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 precious quiet time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a GRWM discussing budgeting. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while talking about co-parenting struggles. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in survival mode—cooking eggs, the shoe hunt (seriously, always ONE), packing lunches, mediating arguments. The chaos is intense.
8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom making videos while driving when stopped. Not my proudest moment, but the grind never stops.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. Peace and quiet. I'm in editing mode, responding to comments, ideating, sending emails, analyzing metrics. They believe content creation is simple. It's not. It's a full business.
I usually batch content on specific days. That means shooting multiple videos in a few hours. I'll switch outfits so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep multiple tops nearby for easy transitions. My neighbors think I've lost it, recording myself alone in the parking lot.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Transition back to mom mode. But this is where it's complicated—frequently my best content ideas come from these after-school moments. Recently, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I couldn't afford a $40 toy. I filmed a video in the parking lot once we left about dealing with meltdowns as a lone parent. It got millions of views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm typically drained to create content, but I'll queue up posts, answer messages, or strategize. Some nights, after bedtime, I'll edit for hours because a client needs content.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just chaos with a plan with some victories.
The Financial Reality: How I Support My Family
Alright, let's talk dollars because this is what you're wondering. Can you make a living as a influencer? For sure. Is it easy? Absolutely not.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? Zero. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—$150 to feature a meal box. I broke down. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.
Currently, years later, here's how I make money:
Brand Deals: This is my primary income. I work with brands that my followers need—things that help, mom products, children's products. I ask for anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per deal, depending on what they need. Last month, I did four brand deals and made eight thousand dollars.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: Creator fund pays very little—two to four hundred per month for tons of views. YouTube revenue is better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that required years.
Affiliate Links: I post links to stuff I really use—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If someone clicks and buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Digital Products: I created a money management guide and a meal prep guide. Each costs $15, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.
One-on-One Coaching: New creators pay me to mentor them. I offer private coaching for $200/hour. I do about five to ten of these monthly.
My total income: Typically, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month currently. Some months I make more, some are less. It's up and down, which is scary when you're it. But it's 3x what I made at my old job, and I'm there for them.
What They Don't Show Nobody Talks About
It looks perfect online until you're having a breakdown because a post got no views, or handling nasty DMs from strangers who think they know your life.
The negativity is intense. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm exploiting my kids, called a liar about being a solo parent. I'll never forget, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one stung for days.
The algorithm shifts. Certain periods you're getting millions of views. Next month, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income is unstable. You're always on, never resting, afraid to pause, you'll be forgotten.
The mom guilt is worse to the extreme. Every upload, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Are my kids safe? Will they resent this when they're grown? I have strict rules—limited face shots, keeping their stories private, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is blurry sometimes.
The burnout hits hard. Some weeks when I don't want to film anything. When I'm done, socially drained, and at my limit. But rent doesn't care. So I do it anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But listen—despite the hard parts, this journey has created things I never dreamed of.
Economic stability for the first time in my life. I'm not a millionaire, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a vacation last summer—Disney, 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 worked anywhere. When there's a school thing, I'm there. I'm available in ways I couldn't manage with a normal job.
My people that saved me. The fellow creators I've found, especially other single parents, have become true friends. We talk, help each other, have each other's backs. My followers have become this amazing support system. They hype me up, lift me up, and validate me.
Me beyond motherhood. For the first time since having kids, I have my own thing. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or only a parent. I'm a business owner. An influencer. Someone who built something from nothing.
Advice for Aspiring Creators
If you're a solo parent curious about this, here's my advice:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. That's okay. You get better, not by waiting until everything is perfect.
Be yourself. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your real life—the mess. That's what connects.
Keep them safe. Create rules. Be intentional. Their privacy is sacred. I don't use their names, limit face shots, and keep private things private.
Don't rely on one thing. Don't put all eggs in one basket or a single source. The algorithm is unreliable. Diversification = security.
Batch your content. When you have available time, film multiple videos. Future you will appreciate it when you're drained.
Connect with followers. Respond to comments. Reply to messages. Be real with them. Your community is what matters.
Analyze performance. Some content isn't worth it. If something takes forever and flops while a different post takes 20 minutes and gets 200,000 views, pivot.
Take care of yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Step away. Protect your peace. Your wellbeing matters more than going viral.
Stay patient. This is a marathon. It took me half a year to make real income. My first year, I made fifteen thousand. Year 2, $80K. Now, I'm on track for six figures. It's a marathon.
Stay connected to your purpose. On difficult days—and trust me, there will be—think about your why. For me, it's financial freedom, being there, and showing myself that I'm capable of anything.
Real Talk Time
Look, I'm telling the truth. This journey is challenging. Incredibly hard. You're operating a business while being the sole caretaker of demanding little people.
There are days I doubt myself. Days when the hate comments hurt. Days when I'm drained and wondering if I should get a regular job with check here stability.
But then suddenly my daughter says she loves that I'm 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
Years ago, I was lost and broke what to do. Today, I'm a full-time content creator making more money than I ever did in corporate America, and I'm available when they need me.
My goals now? Get to half a million followers by December. Create a podcast for single moms. Consider writing a book. Expand this business that changed my life.
Being a creator gave me a path forward when I was drowning. It gave me a way to support my kids, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's unexpected, but it's perfect.
To all the single moms wondering if you can do this: You can. It isn't simple. You'll consider quitting. But you're handling the most difficult thing—single parenting. You're more capable than you know.
Begin messy. Stay the course. Protect your peace. And know this, you're doing more than surviving—you're building something incredible.
Time to go, I need to go make a video about the project I just found out about and surprise!. Because that's how it goes—turning chaos into content, one post at a time.
Seriously. This journey? It's worth every struggle. Even though there's probably old snacks stuck to my laptop right now. Dream life, mess included.