Let me tell you, motherhood is a whole vibe. But what's really wild? Attempting to get that bread while juggling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.
This whole thing started for me about three years ago when I figured out that my retail therapy sessions were way too frequent. It was time to get cash that was actually mine.
Virtual Assistant Hustle
So, I started out was jumping into virtual assistance. And I'll be real? It was ideal. It let me work during naptime, and the only requirement was my laptop and decent wifi.
I began by easy things like email sorting, scheduling social media posts, and basic admin work. Not rocket science. My rate was about fifteen dollars an hour, which felt cheap but for someone with zero experience, you gotta start somewhere.
What cracked me up? Picture this: me on a client call looking completely put together from the chest up—business casual vibes—while wearing my rattiest leggings. That's the dream honestly.
The Etsy Shop Adventure
About twelve months in, I ventured into the whole Etsy thing. Everyone and their mother seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I thought "why not get in on this?"
My shop focused on crafting PDF planners and home decor prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? Design it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Genuinely, I've gotten orders at times when I didn't even know.
The first time someone bought something? I actually yelled. He came running thinking the house was on fire. But no—I was just, doing a happy dance for my five dollar sale. I'm not embarrassed.
Blogging and Creating
After that I ventured into creating content online. This particular side gig is definitely a slow burn, real talk.
I launched a blog about motherhood where I shared real mom life—the messy truth. Not the highlight reel. Simply real talk about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.
Growing an audience was like watching paint dry. Initially, it was basically writing for myself and like three people. But I persisted, and slowly but surely, things took off.
Now? I make money through affiliate links, sponsored posts, and display ads. Last month I made over $2K from my blog alone. Crazy, right?
SMM Side Hustle
As I mastered running my own socials, local businesses started inquiring if I could do the same for them.
Real talk? Most small businesses don't understand social media. They understand they should be posting, but they're clueless about the algorithm.
Enter: me. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I develop content, plan their posting schedule, engage with followers, and check their stats.
I charge between $500-1500 per month per account, depending on what they need. What I love? I manage everything from my phone.
Freelance Writing Life
If you can write, writing gigs is where it's at. Not like literary fiction—this is commercial writing.
Companies need content constantly. I've created content about everything from dental hygiene to copyright. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to be able to learn quickly.
Usually make $50-150 per article, depending on length and complexity. Certain months I'll create a dozen articles and bring in a couple thousand dollars.
The funny thing is: Back in school I hated writing papers. Now I'm earning a living writing. Talk about character development.
Tutoring Online
During the pandemic, virtual tutoring became huge. As a former educator, so this was perfect for me.
I registered on VIPKid and Tutor.com. You make your own schedule, which is essential when you have children who keep you guessing.
My sessions are usually basic subjects. Rates vary from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on the company.
The awkward part? Sometimes my kids will interrupt mid-session. I've had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they understand mom life.
The Reselling Game
Here me out, this one wasn't planned. I was cleaning out my kids' stuff and posted some items on Facebook Marketplace.
Stuff sold out instantly. I suddenly understood: one person's trash is another's treasure.
At this point I shop at anywhere with deals, hunting for good brands. I purchase something for $3 and sell it for $30.
It's definitely work? Absolutely. It's a whole process. But it's oddly satisfying about finding hidden treasures at Goodwill and making money.
Additionally: the kids think it's neat when I score cool vintage stuff. Recently I scored a retro toy that my son lost his mind over. Got forty-five dollars for it. Mom win.
Real Talk Time
Truth bomb incoming: side hustles take work. It's called hustling because you're hustling.
There are days when I'm running on empty, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then all day mom-ing, then back to work after 8pm hits.
But here's the thing? That money is MINE. I can spend it guilt-free to treat myself. I'm supporting my family's finances. I'm teaching my children that moms can do anything.
Advice for New Mom Hustlers
If you want to start a side hustle, this is what I've learned:
Don't go all in immediately. Avoid trying to launch everything simultaneously. Start with one venture and become proficient before starting something else.
Work with your schedule. Whatever time you have, that's fine. Two hours of focused work is valuable.
Don't compare yourself to Instagram moms. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She probably started years ago and has support. Stay in your lane.
Invest in yourself, but smartly. There are tons of free resources. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've proven the concept.
Batch your work. This is crucial. Block off time blocks for different things. Monday might be creation day. Wednesday might be admin and emails.
Let's Talk Mom Guilt
Let me be honest—guilt is part of this. There are days when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I feel terrible.
Yet I consider that I'm teaching them that hard work matters. I'm proving to them that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.
Plus? Having my own income has improved my mental health. I'm more content, which makes me more patient.
Let's Talk Money
So what do I actually make? On average, total from all sources, I earn three to five thousand monthly. Some months are lower, it fluctuates.
Is this getting-rich money? Nope. But this money covers stuff that matters to us that would've stressed us out. And it's giving me confidence and experience that could evolve into something huge.
In Conclusion
Look, hustling as a mom isn't easy. There's no perfect balance. Most days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, running on coffee and determination, and doing my best.
But I'm proud of this journey. Each dollar earned is validation of my effort. It's proof that I'm more than just mom.
If you're thinking about diving into this? Start now. Begin before you're ready. Future you will appreciate it.
Keep in mind: You're not just getting by—you're creating something amazing. Despite the fact that there's likely Goldfish crackers in your workspace.
For real. The whole thing is the life, mess included.
My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom
I'm gonna be honest—becoming a single mom wasn't the dream. I also didn't plan on building a creator business. But here we are, three years into this wild journey, paying bills by creating content while doing this mom thing solo. And I'll be real? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.
Rock Bottom: When Everything Came Crashing Down
It was a few years ago when my relationship fell apart. I will never forget 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 barely $850 in my bank account, two mouths to feed, and a salary that was a joke. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.
I was scrolling social media to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's the move? when we're drowning, right?—when I saw this single mom discussing how she changed her life through making videos. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."
But being broke makes you bold. Maybe both. Probably both.
I got the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, explaining how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' lunch boxes. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who gives a damn about my broke reality?
Turns out, tons of people.
That video got 47K views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me nearly cry over processed meat. The comments section was this safe space—fellow solo parents, people living the same reality, all saying "me too." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted real.
Discovering My Voice: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand
Here's what they don't say about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It found me. I became the real one.
I started posting about the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I gave them breakfast for dinner all week and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my kid asked about the divorce, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who still believes in Santa.
My content wasn't polished. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what resonated.
In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone seemed fake. These were real people who wanted to follow me. Me—a broke single mom who had to learn everything from scratch not long ago.
The Daily Grind: Content Creation Meets Real Life
Here's the reality of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is nothing like those curated "day in the life" videos you see.
5:30am: My alarm screams. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my work time. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a morning routine sharing about money struggles. Sometimes it's me cooking while sharing co-parenting struggles. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.
7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation ends. Now I'm in survival mode—cooking eggs, locating lost items (it's always one shoe), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is next level.
8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom making videos while driving in the car. Don't judge me, but bills don't care.
9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. I'm alone finally. I'm editing videos, engaging with followers, ideating, sending emails, checking analytics. They believe content creation is simple. It's not. It's a whole business.
I usually batch content on certain days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one sitting. I'll switch outfits so it looks like different days. Life hack: Keep different outfits accessible for easy transitions. My neighbors must think I'm insane, talking to my camera in the driveway.
3:00pm: Picking them up. Back to parenting. But here's the thing—many times my viral videos come from the chaos. Last week, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I wouldn't buy a expensive toy. I filmed a video in the Target parking lot later about managing big emotions as a lone parent. It got over 2 million views.
Evening: The evening routine. I'm usually too exhausted to create anything, but I'll queue up posts, answer messages, or plan tomorrow's content. Many nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll edit for hours because a brand deadline is looming.
The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just organized chaos with random wins.
Let's Talk Income: How I Really Earn Money
Okay, let's get into the finances because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you really earn income as a creator? Absolutely. Is it effortless? Absolutely not.
My first month, I made $0. Second month? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—a hundred and fifty bucks to promote a meal delivery. I broke down. That one-fifty fed us.
Fast forward, three years in, here's how I monetize:
Collaborations: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that align with my audience—things that help, mom products, kids' stuff. I ask for anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per deal, depending on what's required. Just last month, I did four collabs and made $8K.
Platform Payments: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—a few hundred dollars per month for tons of views. YouTube money is way better. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that was a long process.
Link Sharing: I promote products to products I actually use—everything from my go-to coffee machine to the bunk beds I bought. If they buy using my link, I get a percentage. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.
Digital Products: I created a money management guide and a meal prep guide. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.
Consulting Services: Other aspiring creators pay me to guide them. I offer consulting calls for two hundred per hour. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.
Overall monthly earnings: On average, I'm making $10-15K per month currently. Some months are higher, some are lower. It's variable, which is stressful when you're solo. But it's triple what I made at my corporate job, and I'm present.
The Dark Side Nobody Talks About
It looks perfect online until you're sobbing alone because a video flopped, or handling vicious comments from random people.
The trolls are vicious. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm using my children, questioned about being a solo parent. One person said, "Maybe that's why he left." That one stung for days.
The algorithm changes constantly. One month you're getting viral hits. Next month, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income is unstable. You're always on, 24/7, scared to stop, you'll be forgotten.
The mom guilt is worse exponentially. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Is this okay? Will they resent this when they're older? I have strict rules—protected identities, no discussing their personal struggles, nothing humiliating. But the line is hard to see.
The I get burnt out. There are weeks when I can't create. When I'm touched out, talked out, and just done. But bills don't care about burnout. So I push through.
The Wins
But here's the thing—despite the hard parts, this journey has created things I never anticipated.
Financial stability for the first damn time. I'm not loaded, but I became debt-free. I have an cushion. We took a vacation last summer—the Mouse House, 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 stress about missing work or lose income. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a field trip, I can go. I'm there for them in ways I wasn't with a regular job.
Community that saved me. The other creators I've met, especially other single parents, have become true friends. We vent, help each other, support each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They hype me up, send love, and show me I'm not alone.
Identity beyond "mom". For the first time since having kids, I have my own thing. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or somebody's mother. I'm a CEO. A content creator. A person who hustled.
Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start
If you're a single mother considering content creation, here's my advice:
Begin now. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. That's okay. You improve over time, not by waiting.
Be yourself. People can tell when you're fake. Share your true life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That's what connects.
Keep them safe. Establish boundaries. Have standards. Their privacy is get more info the priority. I don't use their names, limit face shots, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.
Diversify income streams. Spread it out or one income stream. The algorithm is unstable. Diversification = security.
Batch create content. When you have time alone, create multiple pieces. Future you will thank present you when you're unable to film.
Connect with followers. Respond to comments. Check messages. Create connections. Your community is your foundation.
Analyze performance. Time is money. If something is time-intensive and flops while a different post takes minutes and gets 200,000 views, pivot.
Take care of yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Step away. Create limits. Your sanity matters more than views.
Stay patient. This takes time. It took me months to make meaningful money. My first year, I made $15K total. Year 2, eighty thousand. Now, I'm hitting six figures. It's a marathon.
Remember why you started. On hard days—and trust me, there will be—recall your purpose. For me, it's supporting my kids, being there, and proving to myself that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.
Real Talk Time
Listen, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Being a single mom creator is difficult. Incredibly hard. You're managing a business while being the lone caretaker of demanding little people.
Certain days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the trolls get to me. Days when I'm drained and asking myself if I should get a regular job with consistent income.
But but then my daughter tells me she's proud that I work from home. Or I see financial progress. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I remember my purpose.
Where I'm Going From Here
A few years back, I was terrified and clueless how to make it work. Now, I'm a content creator making more money than I ever did in my old job, and I'm there for my kids.
My goals for the future? Get to half a million followers by end of year. Launch a podcast for solo parents. Consider writing a book. Keep growing this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
This journey gave me a path forward when I was drowning. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's not what I planned, but it's perfect.
To all the single moms thinking about starting: Hell yes you can. It will be hard. You'll consider quitting. But you're already doing the toughest gig—single parenting. You're stronger than you think.
Start imperfect. Keep showing up. Keep your boundaries. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're building something incredible.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go film a TikTok about homework I forgot about and surprise!. Because that's the content creator single mom life—content from the mess, one video at a time.
Honestly. This life? It's the best decision. Despite there might be crushed cheerios everywhere. Dream life, imperfectly perfect.