Real talk, mom life is literally insane. But plot twist? Attempting to hustle for money while handling toddlers and their chaos.
My hustle life began about three years ago when I realized that my impulse buys were becoming problematic. I was desperate for cash that was actually mine.
Being a VA
Right so, my initial venture was doing VA work. And honestly? It was exactly what I needed. I was able to work during naptime, and all I needed was my laptop and decent wifi.
Initially I was doing basic stuff like email sorting, scheduling social media posts, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. I charged about $15-20 per hour, which seemed low but for someone with zero experience, you gotta start somewhere.
What cracked me up? I would be on a Zoom call looking like a real businesswoman from the chest up—looking corporate—while wearing pajama bottoms. That's the dream honestly.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
Once I got comfortable, I ventured into the selling on Etsy. Everyone and their mother seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I was like "why not start one too?"
I started crafting downloadable organizers and wall art. The thing about selling digital stuff? Make it one time, and it can generate passive income forever. Actually, I've made sales at ungodly hours.
When I got my first order? I freaked out completely. He came running thinking the house was on fire. But no—it a similar topic was just me, cheering about my glorious $4.99. No shame in my game.
The Content Creation Grind
After that I discovered the whole influencer thing. This particular side gig is playing the long game, real talk.
I launched a mom blog where I documented my parenting journey—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Keeping it real. Only authentic experiences about finding mystery stains on everything I own.
Growing an audience was like watching paint dry. The first few months, I was basically creating content for crickets. But I didn't give up, and eventually, things started clicking.
Currently? I generate revenue through promoting products, brand partnerships, and advertisements on my site. This past month I made over two grand from my website. Wild, right?
The Social Media Management Game
When I became good with my own content, local businesses started inquiring if I could do the same for them.
Real talk? Most small businesses are terrible with social media. They understand they should be posting, but they don't have time.
Enter: me. I currently run social media for several small companies—different types of businesses. I make posts, plan their posting schedule, engage with followers, and check their stats.
My rate is between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per business, depending on the scope of work. The best thing? I handle this from my iPhone.
The Freelance Writing Hustle
If writing is your thing, writing gigs is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking literary fiction—I mean content writing for businesses.
Companies constantly need fresh content. I've created content about everything from the most random topics. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
On average bill $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on what's involved. When I'm hustling hard I'll write ten to fifteen pieces and pull in one to two thousand extra.
Here's what's wild: I'm the same person who struggled with essays. These days I'm getting paid for it. Life's funny like that.
The Online Tutoring Thing
During the pandemic, tutoring went digital. As a former educator, so this was perfect for me.
I started working with several tutoring platforms. You make your own schedule, which is crucial when you have unpredictable little ones.
My sessions are usually K-5 subjects. The pay ranges from $15-$25/hour depending on the platform.
What's hilarious? Every now and then my children will interrupt mid-session. I've had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. The families I work with are usually super understanding because they're living the same life.
The Reselling Game
So, this hustle wasn't planned. I was decluttering my kids' things and put some things on copyright.
Stuff sold out instantly. I had an epiphany: one person's trash is another's treasure.
Now I visit secondhand stores and sales, on the hunt for good brands. I purchase something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.
It's definitely work? Not gonna lie. You're constantly listing and shipping. But it's oddly satisfying about finding a gem at Goodwill and making profit.
Bonus: the kids think it's neat when I score cool vintage stuff. Last week I scored a retro toy that my son absolutely loved. Sold it for $45. Score one for mom.
The Truth About Side Hustles
Real talk moment: side hustles take work. There's work involved, hence the name.
Certain days when I'm exhausted, doubting everything. I'm working before sunrise working before my kids wake up, then handling mom duties, then back at it after the kids are asleep.
But you know what? These are my earnings. I'm not asking anyone to get the good coffee. I'm supporting our financial goals. I'm showing my kids that you can be both.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you want to start a hustle of your own, here's my advice:
Start with one thing. Don't attempt to do everything at once. Focus on one and master it before taking on more.
Work with your schedule. Your available hours, that's totally valid. Whatever time you can dedicate is better than nothing.
Stop comparing to what you see online. Those people with massive success? She probably started years ago and has resources you don't see. Focus on your own journey.
Invest in yourself, but carefully. Start with free stuff first. Avoid dropping $5,000 on a coaching program until you've proven the concept.
Batch tasks together. This saved my sanity. Use certain times for certain work. Monday could be content creation day. Make Wednesday administrative work.
Dealing with Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—the mom guilt is real. Certain moments when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I struggle with it.
However I remind myself that I'm modeling for them how to hustle. I'm demonstrating to my children that you can be both.
And honestly? Having my own income has made me a better mom. I'm more fulfilled, which helps me be better.
The Numbers
So what do I actually make? Generally, total from all sources, I make $3,000-5,000 per month. It varies, it fluctuates.
Will this make you wealthy? Not exactly. But we've used it to pay for so many things we needed that would've caused financial strain. And it's creating opportunities and expertise that could turn into something bigger.
Final Thoughts
Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing is hard. It's not a magic formula. A lot of days I'm making it up as I go, powered by caffeine, and crossing my fingers.
But I don't regret it. Each dollar earned is a testament to my hustle. It shows that I have identity beyond motherhood.
If you're thinking about beginning your hustle journey? Do it. Start before it's perfect. Future you will be so glad you did.
Always remember: You're more than surviving—you're hustling. Even when there's probably old cheerios everywhere.
For real. This is the life, despite the chaos.
From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom
Here's the truth—single motherhood wasn't the dream. I never expected to be turning into an influencer. But yet here I am, three years later, paying bills by posting videos while parenting alone. And real talk? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.
The Starting Point: When Everything Fell Apart
It was three years ago when my relationship fell apart. I will never forget sitting in my mostly empty place (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids slept. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my account, little people counting on me, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The panic was real, y'all.
I was on TikTok to numb the pain—because that's the move? when everything is chaos, right?—when I stumbled on this single mom discussing how she changed her life through posting online. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."
But desperation makes you brave. Or crazy. Sometimes both.
I got the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, venting about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' school lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Who wants to watch my mess?
Turns out, way more people than I expected.
That video got 47K views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me get emotional over processed meat. The comments section became this validation fest—women in similar situations, other people struggling, all saying "me too." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted authentic.
Discovering My Voice: The Real Mom Life Brand
The truth is about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It found me. I became the real one.
I started sharing the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because I couldn't handle laundry. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner all week and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my daughter asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a ancient iPhone. But it was real, and turns out, that's what worked.
After sixty days, I hit 10K. Month three, fifty thousand. By six months, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone blew my mind. Actual humans who wanted to know my story. Little old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to ask Google what this meant recently.
The Actual Schedule: Balancing Content and Chaos
Let me show you of my typical day, because this life is the opposite of those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me discussing single mom finances. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while sharing dealing with my ex. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation stops. Now I'm in survival mode—cooking eggs, finding the missing shoe (it's always one shoe), throwing food in bags, mediating arguments. The chaos is overwhelming.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom filming at red lights at stop signs. I know, I know, but I gotta post.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. Kids are at school. I'm editing videos, being social, planning content, sending emails, reviewing performance. Folks imagine content creation is only filming. It's not. It's a whole business.
I usually create multiple videos on specific days. That means filming 10-15 videos in one session. I'll swap tops so it looks varied. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for outfit changes. My neighbors think I've lost it, making videos in public in the yard.
3:00pm: Getting the kids. Mom mode activated. But this is where it's complicated—many times my biggest hits come from real life. Just last week, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I wouldn't buy a expensive toy. I created a video in the vehicle after about handling public tantrums as a lone parent. It got 2.3M views.
Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm usually too exhausted to create content, but I'll schedule content, answer messages, or prep for tomorrow. Often, after everyone's sleeping, I'll edit for hours because a client needs content.
The truth? There's no balance. It's just chaos with a plan with moments of success.
Income Breakdown: How I Actually Make a Living
Okay, let's get into the finances because this is what people ask about. Can you actually make money as a online creator? 100%. Is it easy? Hell no.
My first month, I made zero dollars. Month two? Still nothing. Month three, I got my first sponsored post—$150 to promote a meal box. I cried real tears. That $150 paid for groceries.
Today, three years in, here's how I monetize:
Brand Partnerships: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that fit my niche—practical items, helpful services, kid essentials. I get paid anywhere from $500-5K per deal, depending on deliverables. Last month, I did four partnerships and made $8,000.
Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: The TikTok fund pays pennies—$200-$400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube revenue is way better. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Affiliate Income: I post links to things I own—everything from my go-to coffee machine to the bunk beds in their room. If someone clicks and buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Online Products: I created a financial planner and a food prep planner. Each costs $15, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.
Consulting Services: Other aspiring creators pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer consulting calls for two hundred dollars. I do about several of these monthly.
Overall monthly earnings: Typically, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month now. Some months are higher, others are slower. It's unpredictable, which is terrifying when you're solo. But it's 3x what I made at my previous job, and I'm home when my kids need me.
The Hard Parts Nobody Shows You
This sounds easy until you're losing it because a post got no views, or reading vicious comments from strangers who think they know your life.
The negativity is intense. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm problematic, accused of lying about being a single mom. I'll never forget, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one destroyed me.
The algorithm is unpredictable. Sometimes you're getting millions of views. The next, you're struggling for views. Your income is unstable. You're always on, always working, worried that if you take a break, you'll lose relevance.
The mom guilt is worse to the extreme. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this too much? Is this okay? Will they hate me for this when they're older? I have strict rules—no faces of my kids without permission, no discussing their personal struggles, no embarrassing content. But the line is not always clear.
The exhaustion is real. Certain periods when I have nothing. When I'm depleted, over it, and completely finished. But life doesn't stop. So I push through.
What Makes It Worth It
But the truth is—despite everything, this journey has created things I never expected.
Financial stability for the first time in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an savings. We took a actual vacation last summer—Orlando, which I never thought possible two years 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 ask permission or stress about losing pay. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school thing, I'm there. I'm there for them in ways I wasn't with a regular job.
My people that saved me. The fellow creators I've connected with, especially other moms, have become true friends. We talk, collaborate, have each other's backs. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They cheer for me, encourage me through rough patches, and remind me I'm not alone.
Identity beyond "mom". Finally, I have an identity. I'm more than an ex or only a parent. I'm a business owner. An influencer. Someone who created this.
My Best Tips
If you're a solo parent wanting to start, listen up:
Don't wait. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. It's fine. You improve over time, not by waiting.
Keep it real. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your real life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That resonates.
Guard their privacy. Set limits. Know your limits. Their privacy is sacred. I protect their names, rarely show their faces, and keep private things private.
Multiple revenue sources. Diversify or a single source. The algorithm is unreliable. Diversification = security.
Batch your content. When you have free time, film multiple videos. Future you will appreciate it when you're too exhausted to create.
Build community. Reply to comments. Respond to DMs. Create connections. Your community is what matters.
Monitor what works. Not all content is worth creating. If something takes forever and tanks while something else takes no time and gets 200,000 views, pivot.
Self-care matters. You matter too. Take breaks. Guard your energy. Your mental health matters more than going viral.
Give it time. This is a marathon. It took me ages to make any real money. The first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year two, $80K. This year, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a long game.
Know your why. On hard days—and there are many—think about your why. For me, it's independence, being present, and proving to myself that I'm more than I believed.
The Honest Truth
Look, I'm telling the truth. Being a single mom creator is hard. Incredibly hard. You're basically running a business while being the only parent of tiny humans who need you constantly.
There are days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the hate comments get to me. Days when I'm drained and wondering if I should just get a "normal" job with benefits and a steady paycheck.
But but then my daughter mentions she's proud that I work from 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 why I do this.
What's Next
Years ago, I was scared and struggling how to survive. Fast forward, I'm a full-time content creator making more money than I ever did in my old job, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals now? Hit 500K by December. Begin podcasting for single parents. Write a book eventually. Continue building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
Being a creator gave me a path forward when I needed it most. It gave me a way to provide for my family, show up, and accomplish something incredible. It's not the path I expected, but it's meant to be.
To any single parent considering this: You can. It isn't simple. You'll want to quit some days. But you're already doing the most difficult thing—raising humans alone. You're more capable than you know.
Begin messy. Stay the course. Prioritize yourself. And remember, you're doing more than surviving—you're creating something amazing.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go film a TikTok about another last-minute project and nobody told me until now. Because that's the reality—chaos becomes content, one TikTok at a time.
Seriously. This journey? It's worth it. Even though there's definitely crushed cheerios everywhere. Dream life, imperfectly perfect.