Let me tell you, mom life is no joke. But here's the thing? Trying to hustle for money while managing kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.
My hustle life began about several years ago when I realized that my retail therapy sessions were getting out of hand. I was desperate for cash that was actually mine.
Being a VA
Okay so, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And I'll be real? It was ideal. It let me grind during those precious quiet hours, and literally all it took was a computer and internet.
I started with easy things like organizing inboxes, managing social content, and entering data. Super simple stuff. My rate was about $15-20 per hour, which wasn't much but for someone with zero experience, you gotta start somewhere.
What cracked me up? Picture this: me on a video meeting looking like a real businesswoman from the waist up—business casual vibes—while rocking my rattiest leggings. That's the dream honestly.
Selling on Etsy
After a year, I wanted to explore the handmade marketplace scene. All my mom friends seemed to be on Etsy, so I thought "why not start one too?"
I began designing digital planners and home decor prints. The beauty of printables? Design it once, and it can sell forever. Literally, I've gotten orders at midnight when I'm unconscious.
The first time someone bought something? I actually yelled. My partner was like I'd injured myself. Not even close—it was just me, doing a happy dance for my five dollar sale. I'm not embarrassed.
Content Creator Life
Eventually I ventured into writing and making content. This particular side gig is not for instant gratification seekers, real talk.
I began a mom blog where I posted about my parenting journey—all of it, no filter. Not the highlight reel. Simply the actual truth about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Building up views was a test of patience. At the beginning, I was essentially creating content for crickets. But I didn't give up, and slowly but surely, things took off.
Now? I generate revenue through promoting products, sponsored posts, and ad revenue. Recently I brought in over two thousand dollars from my blog alone. Mind-blowing, right?
Managing Social Media
Once I got decent at managing my blog's social media, small companies started asking if I could do the same for them.
Truth bomb? A lot of local businesses struggle with social media. They understand they need a presence, but they can't keep up.
This is my moment. I now manage social media for three local businesses—various small businesses. I develop content, schedule posts, handle community management, and track analytics.
I charge between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per account, depending on the complexity. Best part? I manage everything from my iPhone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
If you can write, content writing is a goldmine. I'm not talking writing the next Great American Novel—I mean commercial writing.
Brands and websites need content constantly. I've written everything from literally everything under the sun. Google is your best friend, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
On average make fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on the topic and length. Some months I'll produce fifteen articles and bring in one to two thousand extra.
Here's what's wild: I was that student who barely passed English class. And now I'm making money from copyright. Life is weird.
Virtual Tutoring
2020 changed everything, virtual tutoring became huge. 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 essential when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.
My sessions are usually elementary reading and math. The pay ranges from $15-$25/hour depending on which site you use.
The awkward part? Occasionally my children will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I once had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. My clients are very sympathetic because they get it.
Reselling and Flipping
Alright, this one wasn't planned. While organizing my kids' stuff and posted some items on various apps.
Stuff sold out immediately. That's when I realized: you can sell literally anything.
Currently I visit secondhand stores and sales, on the hunt for name brands. I'll find something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
This takes effort? Yes. It's a whole process. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding a gem at Goodwill and earning from it.
Bonus: my children are fascinated when I bring home interesting finds. Last week I discovered a retro toy that my son went crazy for. Made $45 on it. Score one for mom.
Real Talk Time
Let me keep it real: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. There's work involved, hence the name.
There are days when I'm completely drained, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm up at 5am getting stuff done while it's quiet, then all day mom-ing, then back to work after 8pm hits.
But here's what matters? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to get the good coffee. I'm contributing to the family budget. My kids are learning that you can have it all—sort of.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're considering a side hustle, here's what I'd tell you:
Start small. Avoid trying to juggle ten things. Start with one venture and get good at it before starting something else.
Honor your limits. Your available hours, that's okay. Whatever time you can dedicate is a great beginning.
Don't compare yourself to what you see online. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? They put in years of work and has help. Stay in your lane.
Spend money on education, but strategically. You don't need expensive courses. Don't spend huge money on programs until you've tried things out.
Batch your work. I learned this the hard way. Block off days for specific hustles. Monday could be making stuff day. Wednesday could be handling business stuff.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
I have to be real with you—mom guilt is a thing. There are days when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I struggle with it.
But I remember that I'm demonstrating to them that hard work matters. I'm teaching my kids that you can be both.
Also? Making my own money has made me a better mom. I'm more content, which makes me more patient.
Let's Talk Money
The real numbers? Typically, from all my side gigs, I earn three to five thousand monthly. Some months are better, some are slower.
Will this make you wealthy? Not exactly. But this money covers so many things we needed that would've caused financial strain. It's giving me confidence and knowledge that could grow into more.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship isn't easy. It's not a secret sauce. Often I'm flying by the seat of my pants, powered by caffeine, and hoping for the best.
But I'm proud of this journey. Every single dollar earned is evidence of my capability. It shows that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're on the fence about diving into this? Take the leap. Begin before you're ready. Your tomorrow self will be so glad you did.
And remember: You aren't only enduring—you're building something. Even when there's likely snack crumbs stuck to your laptop.
Seriously. This mom hustle life is where it's at, complete with all the chaos.
From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—being a single parent was never the plan. Nor was becoming a content creator. But fast forward to now, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by creating content while handling everything by myself. And not gonna lie? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.
The Beginning: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was three years ago when my marriage ended. I can still picture sitting in my bare apartment (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my bank account, two kids to support, and a salary that was a joke. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I was on TikTok to numb the pain—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when everything is chaos, right?—when I saw this woman sharing how she made six figures through content creation. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But when you're desperate, you try anything. Maybe both. Probably both.
I installed the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, venting about how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' school lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Why would anyone care about this disaster?
Spoiler alert, a lot of people.
That video got forty-seven thousand views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me nearly cry over chicken nuggets. The comments section became this safe space—women in similar situations, people living the same reality, all saying "same." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfect. They wanted raw.
My Brand Evolution: The Real Mom Life Brand
Here's the secret about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the mom who tells the truth.
I started sharing the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I served cereal as a meal multiple nights and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked where daddy went, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who thinks the tooth fairy is real.
My content was raw. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what resonated.
In just two months, I hit ten thousand followers. Month three, 50,000. By half a year, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone seemed fake. People who wanted to listen to me. Little old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to learn everything from scratch not long ago.
A Day in the Life: Managing It All
Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because being a single mom creator 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 work time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me sharing about money struggles. Sometimes it's me making food while sharing parenting coordination. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in parent mode—cooking eggs, the shoe hunt (where do they go), making lunch boxes, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom making videos while driving at red lights. I know, I know, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. Kids are at school. I'm cutting clips, being social, brainstorming content ideas, sending emails, reviewing performance. Everyone assumes content creation is only filming. Wrong. It's a full business.
I usually batch content on certain days. That means filming 10-15 videos in a few hours. I'll swap tops so it looks varied. Life hack: Keep wardrobe options close for fast swaps. My neighbors think I've lost it, filming myself talking to my phone in the yard.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Back to parenting. But this is where it's complicated—frequently my biggest hits come from real life. Last week, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I couldn't afford a expensive toy. I recorded in the parking lot afterward about managing big emotions as a single mom. It got millions of views.
Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm completely exhausted to create anything, but I'll plan posts, answer messages, or plan tomorrow's content. Often, after they're down, I'll edit videos until midnight because a partnership is due.
The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just managed chaos with some victories.
Let's Talk Income: How I Support My Family
Alright, let's talk dollars because this is what you're wondering. Can you legitimately profit as a influencer? 100%. Is it straightforward? Nope.
My first month, I made nothing. Month two? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first paid partnership—one hundred fifty dollars to feature a food subscription. I cried real tears. That one-fifty fed us.
Today, years later, here's how I earn income:
Brand Partnerships: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that align with my audience—budget-friendly products, helpful services, family items. I ask for anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per collaboration, depending on what they need. Just last month, I did four collabs and made eight thousand dollars.
Platform Payments: The TikTok fund pays very little—maybe $200-400 per month for massive numbers. YouTube revenue is better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.
Affiliate Links: I share affiliate links to things I own—everything from my favorite coffee maker to the bunk beds I bought. If someone clicks and buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.
Digital Products: I created a financial planner and a meal prep guide. $15 apiece, and I sell dozens per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
Consulting Services: Other aspiring creators pay me to guide them. I offer private coaching for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.
My total income: On average, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month these days. It varies, others are slower. It's unpredictable, which is scary when you're the only income source. But it's triple what I made at my previous job, and I'm there for them.
The Dark Side Nobody Talks About
It looks perfect online until you're sobbing alone because a post got no views, or reading hate comments from keyboard warriors.
The trolls are vicious. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm exploiting my kids, questioned about being a solo parent. A commenter wrote, "I'd leave too." That one hurt so bad.
The algorithm shifts. One month you're getting millions of views. The next, you're getting nothing. Your income is unstable. You're never off, always working, afraid to pause, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is amplified to the extreme. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Are my kids safe? Will they be angry about this when they're adults? I have strict rules—no faces of my kids without permission, nothing too personal, protecting their dignity. But the line is hard to see.
The burnout is real. Some weeks when I am empty. When I'm touched out, socially drained, and totally spent. But bills don't care about burnout. So I create anyway.
What Makes It Worth It
But the truth is—despite everything, this journey has blessed me with things I never dreamed of.
Economic stability for the first time ever. I'm not loaded, but I cleared $18K. I have an savings. We took a actual vacation last summer—Disney World, which was a dream two years ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.
Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or panic. I worked anywhere. When there's a school thing, I attend. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't manage with a corporate job.
Community that saved me. The other creators I've met, especially other single parents, have become true friends. We connect, share strategies, support each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They hype me up, send love, and remind me I'm not alone.
Something that's mine. After years, I have something that's mine. I'm not defined by divorce or just a mom. I'm a CEO. An influencer. A person who hustled.
What I Wish I Knew
If you're a solo parent considering content creation, here's what I'd tell you:
Begin now. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. That's okay. You get better, not by waiting.
Be yourself. People can smell fake from click here a mile away. Share your real life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That's the magic.
Protect your kids. Establish boundaries. Know your limits. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I protect their names, minimize face content, and keep private things private.
Diversify income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one revenue source. The algorithm is unreliable. Multiple streams = safety.
Batch your content. When you have quiet time, create multiple pieces. Tomorrow you will appreciate it when you're burnt out.
Engage with your audience. Respond to comments. Answer DMs. Connect authentically. Your community is crucial.
Monitor what works. Some content isn't worth it. If something requires tons of time and flops while a different post takes 20 minutes and gets 200,000 views, pivot.
Don't forget yourself. You need to fill your cup. Take breaks. Guard your energy. Your mental health matters more than going viral.
This takes time. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me eight months to make decent money. The first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year 2, eighty thousand. This year, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a long game.
Stay connected to your purpose. On bad days—and there will be many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's independence, being present, and proving to myself that I'm more than I believed.
The Reality Check
Real talk, I'm telling the truth. This life is difficult. Incredibly hard. You're running a whole business while being the sole caretaker of tiny humans who need you constantly.
Some days I second-guess this. Days when the trolls hurt. Days when I'm burnt out and wondering if I should just get a "normal" job with consistent income.
But then suddenly my daughter tells me she appreciates this. Or I see financial progress. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content inspired her. And I remember why I do this.
My Future Plans
Not long ago, I was scared and struggling how to survive. Currently, I'm a content creator making more money than I ever did in corporate America, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals now? Hit 500K by end of year. Launch a podcast for other single moms. Maybe write a book. Expand this business that supports my family.
Content creation gave me a path forward when I had nothing. It gave me a way to take care of my children, show up, and build something real. It's unexpected, but it's exactly where I needed to be.
To all the single moms on the fence: Yes you can. It will be challenging. You'll consider quitting. But you're currently doing the toughest gig—parenting solo. You're tougher than you realize.
Start messy. Stay consistent. Guard your peace. And always remember, you're beyond survival mode—you're creating something amazing.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go create content about homework I forgot about and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's the content creator single mom life—content from the mess, one TikTok at a time.
For real. This journey? It's everything. Even when there's definitely crumbs stuck to my laptop right now. Dream life, imperfectly perfect.