I'm gonna be honest with you, mom life is not for the weak. But you know what's even crazier? Working to hustle for money while dealing with children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
My hustle life began about a few years back when I figured out that my Target runs were way too frequent. I had to find cash that was actually mine.
The Virtual Assistant Life
Right so, my first gig was jumping into virtual assistance. And not gonna lie? It was ideal. It let me get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and all I needed was my laptop and decent wifi.
I started with simple tasks like email sorting, managing social content, and data entry. Super simple stuff. My rate was about $20/hour, which felt cheap but when you're just starting, you gotta prove yourself first.
The funniest part? There I was on a client call looking like a real businesswoman from the shoulders up—blazer, makeup, the works—while wearing sweatpants. That's the dream honestly.
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 was like "why not start one too?"
I began creating digital planners and home decor prints. What's great about digital products? Make it one time, and it can generate passive income forever. Genuinely, I've made sales at 3am while I was sleeping.
When I got my first order? I lost my mind. My husband thought the house was on fire. But no—I was just, doing a happy dance for my five dollar sale. Don't judge me.
Blogging and Creating
After that I discovered the whole influencer thing. This venture is a marathon not a sprint, let me tell you.
I launched a mom blog where I posted about what motherhood actually looks like—the messy truth. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Simply real talk about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Building traffic was a test of patience. The first few months, I was essentially talking to myself. But I kept at it, and over time, things started clicking.
Now? I make money through promoting products, brand partnerships, and advertisements on my site. Last month I earned over two thousand dollars from my website. Mind-blowing, right?
SMM Side Hustle
When I became good with my own content, small companies started asking if I could do the same for them.
Here's the thing? Tons of businesses suck at social media. They recognize they have to be on it, but they're too busy.
Enter: me. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—various small businesses. I create content, schedule posts, engage with followers, and track analytics.
I bill between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on what they need. The best thing? I can do most of it from my phone during soccer practice.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
For the wordy folks, freelancing is a goldmine. Not like becoming Shakespeare—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.
Companies constantly need fresh content. I've written articles about everything from literally everything under the sun. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to know how to Google effectively.
Generally earn $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on what's involved. On good months I'll crank out a dozen articles and make an extra $1,000-2,000.
Plot twist: Back in school I barely passed English class. Currently I'm a professional writer. Life is weird.
Tutoring Online
During the pandemic, tutoring went digital. With my teaching background, so this was kind of a natural fit.
I signed up with various tutoring services. It's super flexible, which is crucial when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
I mostly tutor basic subjects. Income ranges from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the platform.
The awkward part? Sometimes my own kids will burst into the room mid-session. There was a time I maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. The families I work with are very sympathetic because they understand mom life.
Reselling and Flipping
So, this hustle wasn't planned. I was decluttering my kids' closet and posted some items on various apps.
Items moved so fast. I had an epiphany: one person's trash is another's treasure.
These days I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, on the hunt for quality items. I purchase something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
Is it a lot of work? For sure. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's oddly satisfying about finding hidden treasures at the thrift store and making profit.
Also: my kids are impressed when I discover weird treasures. Just last week I scored a vintage toy that my son freaked out about. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Mom for the win.
The Honest Reality
Real talk moment: this stuff requires effort. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
There are days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, questioning my life choices. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then being a full-time parent, then back to work after everyone's in bed.
But this is what's real? This income is mine. I can spend it guilt-free to buy the fancy coffee. I'm supporting my family's finances. I'm teaching my children that women can hustle.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you're considering a side gig, this is what I've learned:
Start small. Avoid trying to juggle ten things. Pick one thing and get good at it before starting something else.
Work with your schedule. Whatever time you have, that's totally valid. A couple of productive hours is a great beginning.
Don't compare yourself to other moms. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She's been grinding forever and has help. Do your thing.
Don't be afraid to invest, but carefully. There are tons of free resources. Avoid dropping thousands on courses until you've proven the concept.
Batch your work. This saved my sanity. Use days for specific hustles. Monday might be content creation day. Wednesday could be administrative work.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—mom guilt is a thing. There are times when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I feel terrible.
But then I think about that I'm showing them how to hustle. I'm demonstrating to my children that moms can have businesses.
Also? Making my own money has made me a better mom. I'm more satisfied, which translates to better parenting.
The Numbers
My actual income? Most months, combining everything, I make $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are better, it fluctuates.
Is it life-changing money? Not exactly. But this money covers stuff that matters to us that would've stressed us out. It's also giving me confidence and skills that could evolve into something huge.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship isn't easy. There's no secret sauce. A lot of days I'm making it up as I go, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and hoping for the best.
But I don't regret it. Every single bit of income is validation of my effort. It demonstrates that I have identity beyond motherhood.
For anyone contemplating launching a mom business? Do it. Start before it's perfect. You in six months will be grateful.
And remember: You aren't only getting by—you're growing something incredible. Even when there's probably Goldfish crackers stuck to your laptop.
Not even kidding. This is the life, despite the chaos.
Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—becoming a single mom wasn't on my vision board. Neither was building a creator business. But fast forward to now, three years later, supporting my family by being vulnerable on the internet while doing this mom thing solo. And I'll be real? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Imploded
It was three years ago when my marriage ended. I remember sitting in my bare apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my checking account, little people counting on me, and a salary that was a joke. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.
I'd been scrolling TikTok to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's self-care at 2am, right? in crisis mode, right?—when I saw this woman talking about how she became debt-free through making videos. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But desperation makes you brave. Or stupid. Sometimes both.
I got the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, sharing how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunches. I hit post and panicked. Who wants to watch my broke reality?
Apparently, thousands of people.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me nearly cry over $12 worth of food. The comments section was this incredible community—women in similar situations, other people struggling, all saying "me too." That was my turning point. People didn't want perfection. They wanted honest.
Discovering My Voice: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It found me. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.
I started sharing the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I didn't change pants for days because laundry felt impossible. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner all week and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my kid asked about the divorce, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who is six years old.
My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was authentic, and turns out, that's what connected.
Two months later, I hit 10K. 90 days in, 50K. By month six, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone seemed fake. Actual humans who wanted to listen to me. Me—a financially unstable single mom who had to Google "what is a content creator" six months earlier.
A Day in the Life: Balancing Content and Chaos
Let me show you of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is nothing like those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm blares. 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 start recording. Sometimes it's a getting ready video sharing about money struggles. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while discussing co-parenting struggles. The lighting is natural and terrible.
7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in survival mode—cooking eggs, the shoe hunt (it's always one shoe), throwing food in bags, stopping fights. The chaos is overwhelming.
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 hustle time. Peace and quiet. I'm in editing mode, engaging with followers, ideating, sending emails, analyzing metrics. Everyone assumes content creation is just making TikToks. Wrong. It's a entire operation.
I usually create multiple videos on specific days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one sitting. I'll swap tops so it appears to be different times. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for outfit changes. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, filming myself talking to my phone in the driveway.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Mom mode activated. But plot twist—sometimes my biggest hits come from this time. A few days ago, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I refused to get a toy she didn't need. I created a video in the vehicle later about managing big emotions as a single parent. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: All the evening things. I'm usually too exhausted to create content, but I'll schedule uploads, answer messages, or plan tomorrow's content. Some nights, after they're down, I'll stay up editing because a partnership is due.
The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just chaos with a plan with occasional wins.
Income Breakdown: How I Generate Income
Look, let's talk numbers because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you really earn income as a influencer? For sure. Is it easy? Nope.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Second month? Zero. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—one hundred fifty dollars to share a meal delivery. I literally cried. That $150 covered food.
Now, three years later, here's how I earn income:
Brand Deals: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that align with my audience—budget-friendly products, single-parent resources, kid essentials. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per deal, depending on what's required. Last month, I did four collabs and made eight thousand dollars.
Ad Money: The TikTok fund pays pennies—a few hundred dollars per month for tons of views. YouTube revenue is better. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took forever.
Affiliate Links: I post links to things I own—ranging from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds I bought. If they buy using my link, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Digital Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a meal prep guide. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Teaching Others: People wanting to start pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200/hour. I do about 5-10 per month.
Combined monthly revenue: Typically, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month these days. It varies, some are lower. It's up and down, which is scary when there's no backup. But it's three times what I made at my corporate job, and I'm there for them.
The Struggles Nobody Posts About
From the outside it's great until you're sobbing alone because a post got no views, or dealing with hate comments from strangers who think they know your life.
The haters are brutal. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm exploiting my kids, accused of lying about being a single mom. A commenter wrote, "Maybe that's why he left." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm shifts. One month you're getting viral hits. Then suddenly, you're getting nothing. Your income is unstable. You're constantly creating, never resting, scared to stop, you'll be forgotten.
The mom guilt is worse exponentially. Each post, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Is this okay? Will they resent this when they're older? I have clear boundaries—minimal identifying info, no sharing their private stuff, protecting their dignity. But the this resource line is fuzzy.
The I get burnt out. Certain periods when I am empty. When I'm touched out, socially drained, and completely finished. But bills don't care about burnout. So I create anyway.
The Unexpected Blessings
But listen—despite everything, this journey has created things I never expected.
Money security for the first damn time. I'm not rich, but I eliminated my debt. I have an savings. We took a real vacation last summer—Orlando, which I never thought possible not long ago. I don't panic about money anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or worry about money. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school event, I'm there. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't manage with a regular job.
Community that saved me. The other creators I've befriended, especially single moms, have become real friends. We talk, collaborate, support each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They cheer for me, lift me up, and remind me I'm not alone.
My own identity. Since becoming a mom, I have an identity. I'm not just an ex or only a parent. I'm a business owner. A content creator. Someone who created this.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a solo parent considering content creation, listen up:
Just start. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's normal. You learn by doing, not by overthinking.
Be authentic, not perfect. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your actual life—the mess. That's what works.
Protect your kids. Set limits. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is everything. I protect their names, limit face shots, and protect their stories.
Diversify income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one way to earn. The algorithm is unpredictable. Multiple streams = safety.
Batch your content. When you have quiet time, film multiple videos. Next week you will appreciate it when you're unable to film.
Connect with followers. Answer comments. Reply to messages. Be real with them. Your community is what matters.
Track metrics. Time is money. If something is time-intensive and tanks while another video takes no time and gets 200,000 views, adjust your strategy.
Prioritize yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Step away. Set boundaries. Your mental health matters more than views.
This takes time. This takes time. It took me ages to make meaningful money. Year one, I made fifteen thousand. Year 2, $80,000. This year, I'm making six figures. It's a marathon.
Stay connected to your purpose. On hard days—and there will be many—think about your why. For me, it's independence, time with my children, and showing myself that I'm more than I believed.
Real Talk Time
Real talk, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This life is difficult. So damn hard. You're managing a business while being the single caregiver of kids who need everything.
There are days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the negativity affect me. Days when I'm drained and wondering if I should go back to corporate with a 401k.
But but then my daughter mentions she's proud that I work from home. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I remember why I do this.
What's Next
Years ago, I was scared and struggling how I'd survive as a single mom. Now, I'm a professional creator making way more than I made in my 9-5, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals now? Reach 500K by December. Begin podcasting for solo parents. Write a book eventually. Continue building this business that changed my life.
This journey gave me a second chance when I needed it most. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's a surprise, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To all the single moms considering this: Yes you can. It isn't simple. You'll consider quitting. But you're managing the toughest gig—single parenting. You're more capable than you know.
Start messy. Stay consistent. Protect your peace. And know this, you're beyond survival mode—you're creating something amazing.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go film a TikTok about the project I just found out about and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's the reality—making content from chaos, video by video.
Honestly. This life? It's worth every struggle. Despite I'm sure there's old snacks everywhere. That's the dream, mess included.