Busy parent money-making projects right now : broken down to moms make flexible earnings

Let me tell you, being a mom is not for the weak. But what's really wild? Attempting to hustle for money while juggling tiny humans who think sleep is optional.

My hustle life began about three years ago when I discovered that my retail therapy sessions were becoming problematic. I needed my own money.

The Virtual Assistant Life

Right so, I started out was doing VA work. And honestly? It was exactly what I needed. I was able to hustle while the kids slept, and literally all it took was a computer and internet.

I began by simple tasks like email sorting, scheduling social media posts, and data entry. Not rocket science. I started at about $15-20 per hour, which wasn't much but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta begin at the bottom.

The funniest part? I'd be on a video meeting looking completely put together from the shoulders up—full professional mode—while sporting sweatpants. Peak mom life.

Selling on Etsy

About twelve months in, I decided to try the Etsy world. Literally everyone seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I figured "why not join the party?"

I created crafting PDF planners and wall art. Here's why printables are amazing? One and done creation, and it can make money while you sleep. Genuinely, I've earned money at times when I didn't even know.

My first sale? I actually yelled. He came running thinking the house was on fire. Not even close—it was just me, celebrating my glorious $4.99. Judge me if you want.

Content Creator Life

After that I discovered writing and making content. This venture is a marathon not a sprint, trust me on this.

I created a parenting blog where I posted about the chaos of parenting—everything unfiltered. Keeping it real. Only real talk about finding mystery stains on everything I own.

Building traffic was slow. Initially, it was basically creating content for crickets. But I kept at it, and after a while, things took off.

At this point? I earn income through affiliate links, working with brands, and ad revenue. This past month I earned over two thousand dollars from my blog income. Mind-blowing, right?

SMM Side Hustle

After I learned managing my blog's social media, other businesses started reaching out if I could manage their accounts.

And honestly? A lot of local businesses are terrible with social media. They understand they have to be on it, but they're too busy.

That's where I come in. I handle social media for several small companies—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I develop content, plan their posting schedule, respond to comments, and check their stats.

I charge between $500-$1500/month per client, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I handle this from my iPhone.

The Freelance Writing Hustle

For those who can string sentences together, content writing is where it's at. I'm not talking writing the next Great American Novel—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.

Websites and businesses are desperate for content. My assignments have included everything from dental hygiene to copyright. Google is your best friend, you just need to be good at research.

On average earn $50-150 per article, depending on length and complexity. On good months I'll write a dozen articles and earn an extra $1,000-2,000.

What's hilarious: Back in school I thought writing was torture. These days I'm a professional writer. Talk about character development.

Tutoring Online

During the pandemic, virtual tutoring became huge. I was a teacher before kids, so this was an obvious choice.

I joined a couple of online tutoring sites. You make your own schedule, which is non-negotiable when you have unpredictable little ones.

I mostly tutor K-5 subjects. Income ranges from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the company.

The awkward part? Every now and then my kids will interrupt mid-session. There was a time I maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. Other parents are very sympathetic because they understand mom life.

Flipping Items for Profit

Here me out, this one wasn't planned. While organizing my kids' things and posted some items on Mercari.

Stuff sold out so fast. I had an epiphany: people will buy anything.

Now I hit up secondhand stores and sales, looking for quality items. I grab something for a few dollars and make serious profit.

This takes effort? Absolutely. It's a whole process. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding a gem at a yard sale and making profit.

Additionally: my children are fascinated when I bring home interesting finds. Just last week I found a collectible item that my son lost his mind over. Made $45 on it. Score one for mom.

Real Talk Time

Truth bomb incoming: side hustles take work. The word 'hustle' is there for a reason.

Certain days when I'm exhausted, questioning my life choices. I'm up at 5am working before my kids wake up, then handling mom duties, then back at it after 8pm hits.

But you know what? These are my earnings. No permission needed to get the good coffee. I'm helping with our financial goals. My kids are learning that you can have it all—sort of.

What I Wish I Knew

If you're thinking about a side gig, here's what I'd tell you:

Don't go all in immediately. Don't try to do everything at once. Focus on one and nail it down before adding more.

Use the time you have. Whatever time you have, that's totally valid. Whatever time you can dedicate is more than enough to start.

Avoid comparing yourself to Instagram moms. The successful ones you see? She's been grinding forever and doesn't do it alone. Stay in your lane.

Invest in yourself, but smartly. There are tons of free resources. Avoid dropping $5,000 on a coaching program until you've validated your idea.

Do similar tasks together. This is crucial. Dedicate certain times for certain work. Make Monday making stuff day. Wednesday could be organizing and responding.

Let's Talk Mom Guilt

Real talk—mom guilt is a thing. Sometimes when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I hate it.

However I remember that I'm teaching them work ethic. I'm proving to them that moms can have businesses.

Additionally? Making my own money has improved my mental health. I'm happier, which makes me more patient.

The Numbers

So what do I actually make? Most months, combining everything, I pull in between three and five grand. Some months are lower, some are tougher.

Is this getting-rich money? Not really. But we've used it to pay for stuff that matters to us that would've been impossible otherwise. It's giving me confidence and experience that could evolve into something huge.

Final Thoughts

Look, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship takes work. You won't find a one-size-fits-all approach. A lot of days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, surviving on coffee, and doing my best.

But I wouldn't change it. Each bit of income is validation of my effort. It's proof that I'm more than just mom.

For anyone contemplating diving into this? Go for it. Begin before you're ready. Your tomorrow self will appreciate it.

And remember: You're more than enduring—you're growing something incredible. Even when there's probably mysterious crumbs in your workspace.

For real. The whole thing is the life, mess included.

From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom

Here's the truth—being a single parent was never the plan. Nor was making money from my phone. But yet here I am, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by posting videos while raising two kids basically solo. And honestly? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.

The Beginning: When Everything Came Crashing Down

It was 2022 when my marriage ended. I can still picture sitting in my mostly empty place (he got the furniture, I got the memories), wide awake at 2am while my kids slept. I had $847 in my account, two mouths to feed, and a salary that was a joke. The stress was unbearable, y'all.

I'd been scrolling TikTok to escape reality—because that's how we cope? when everything is chaos, right?—when I stumbled on this divorced mom discussing how she became debt-free through posting online. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."

But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or stupid. Often both.

I grabbed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, talking about how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a cheap food for my kids' school lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who gives a damn about my mess?

Plot twist, thousands of people.

That video got 47,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me nearly cry over $12 worth of food. The comments section became this safe space—women in similar situations, people living the same reality, all saying "me too." That was my aha moment. People didn't want perfect. They wanted real.

Building My Platform: The Honest Single Parent Platform

Here's the secret about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the unfiltered single mom.

I started sharing the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because laundry felt impossible. Or when I gave them breakfast for dinner several days straight and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my kid asked where daddy went, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who thinks the tooth fairy is real.

My content wasn't polished. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was honest, and apparently, that's what hit.

Within two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, 50,000. By six months, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to follow me. Little old me—a broke single mom who had to learn everything from scratch recently.

A Day in the Life: Balancing Content and Chaos

Let me show you of my typical day, because creating content solo is totally different from those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm screams. I do NOT want to get up, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a morning routine sharing about budgeting. Sometimes it's me making food while talking about custody stuff. The lighting is whatever I can get.

7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation ends. Now I'm in survival mode—pouring cereal, finding the missing shoe (why is it always one shoe), packing lunches, stopping fights. The chaos is intense.

8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks at red lights. Not my proudest moment, but I gotta post.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. House is quiet. I'm in editing mode, being social, ideating, pitching brands, reviewing performance. People think content creation is only filming. It's not. It's a real job.

I usually batch content on certain days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one session. I'll change clothes so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep wardrobe options close for quick changes. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, talking to my camera in the yard.

3:00pm: Getting the kids. Mom mode activated. But plot twist—frequently my top performing content come from the chaos. Just last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I couldn't afford a expensive toy. I created a video in the car once we left about dealing with meltdowns as a lone parent. It got 2.3M views.

Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm completely exhausted to create content, but I'll schedule content, reply to messages, or prep for tomorrow. Often, after they're down, I'll edit videos until midnight because a brand deadline is looming.

The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just controlled chaos with moments of success.

Let's Talk Income: How I Actually Make a Living

Look, let's talk numbers because this is what people ask about. Can you really earn income as a content creator? 100%. Is it effortless? Nope.

My first month, I made $0. Second month? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first collaboration—a hundred and fifty bucks to post about a food subscription. I actually cried. That one-fifty covered food.

Now, three years later, here's how I earn income:

Sponsored Content: This is my primary income. I work with brands that align with my audience—things that help, mom products, kid essentials. I bill anywhere from $500-5K per partnership, depending on what they need. Last month, I did four brand deals and made $8,000.

Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: Creator fund pays very little—two to four hundred per month for huge view counts. AdSense is way better. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.

Affiliate Links: I share links to stuff I really use—ranging from my go-to coffee machine to the beds my kids use. If anyone buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.

Online Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a cooking guide. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.

Teaching Others: New creators pay me to guide them. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 of these monthly.

Overall monthly earnings: Typically, I'm making $10-15K per month currently. Some months are higher, others are slower. It's variable, which is stressful when you're the only income source. But it's 3x what I made at my corporate job, and I'm home when my kids need me.

The Dark Side Nobody Posts About

From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a video didn't perform, or reading cruel messages from strangers who think they know your life.

The hate comments are real. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm exploiting my kids, told I'm fake about being a solo parent. Someone once commented, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one stuck with me.

The algorithm changes constantly. Certain periods you're getting huge numbers. The following week, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income goes up and down. You're always on, always "on", scared to stop, you'll be forgotten.

The mom guilt is amplified beyond normal. Every upload, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they hate me for this when they're older? I have firm rules—limited face shots, no discussing their personal struggles, protecting their dignity. But the line is not always clear.

The I get burnt out. There are weeks when I am empty. When I'm exhausted, over it, and just done. But rent doesn't care. So I create anyway.

The Unexpected Blessings

But here's the thing—through it all, this journey has created things I never dreamed of.

Financial stability for the first time in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I eliminated my debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a actual vacation last summer—Orlando, which seemed impossible not long 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 use PTO or stress about losing pay. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a school event, I can go. I'm available in ways I couldn't be with a corporate job.

Community that saved me. The creator friends I've met, especially solo parents, have become actual friends. We connect, help each other, encourage each other. My followers have become this family. They cheer for me, support me, and validate me.

Me beyond motherhood. After years, I have something that's mine. I'm not just an ex or someone's mom. I'm a content creator. A creator. Someone who created this.

Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start

If you're a single parent thinking about this, here's what I'd tell you:

Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. That's okay. You get better, not by procrastinating.

Authenticity wins. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your true life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That's the magic.

Keep them safe. Establish boundaries. Be intentional. Their privacy is the priority. I protect their names, limit face shots, and respect their dignity.

Multiple revenue sources. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one way to earn. The algorithm is unpredictable. More streams = less stress.

Film multiple videos. When you have available time, make a bunch. Future you will be grateful when you're too exhausted to create.

Connect with followers. Respond to comments. Check messages. Be real with them. Your community is everything.

Analyze performance. Not all content is worth creating. If something is time-intensive and gets nothing while another video takes minutes and gets 200,000 views, adjust your strategy.

Don't forget yourself. You matter too. Take breaks. Guard your energy. Your wellbeing matters most.

Stay patient. This takes time. It took me ages to make any real money. The first year, I made barely $15,000. The second year, $80,000. Year 3, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a long game.

Know your why. On bad days—and trust me, there will be—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's money, being present, and showing myself that I'm stronger than I knew.

Being Real With You

Listen, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Content creation as a single mom is difficult. Really hard. You're running a whole business while being the only parent of children who require constant attention.

Some days I doubt myself. Days when the nasty comments affect me. Days when I'm drained and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with consistent income.

But but then my daughter says she's happy I'm here. Or I see financial progress. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I know it's worth it.

Where I'm Going From Here

A few years back, I was scared and struggling how to survive. Today, I'm a full-time creator making more than I imagined in my 9-5, and I'm available when they need me.

My goals going forward? Reach 500K by year-end. Begin podcasting for solo parents. Consider writing a book. Keep building this business that supports my family.

Being a creator gave me a path forward when I had nothing. It gave me a way to take care of get more info my children, show up, and create something meaningful. It's a surprise, but it's where I belong.

To any single parent thinking about starting: Hell yes you can. It won't be easy. You'll doubt yourself. But you're already doing the toughest gig—doing this alone. You're powerful.

Start imperfect. Keep showing up. Prioritize yourself. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're building something incredible.

Gotta go now, I need to go create content about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's the content creator single mom life—chaos becomes content, one video at a time.

No cap. This journey? It's everything. Even if I'm sure there's Goldfish crackers stuck to my laptop right now. No regrets, one messy video at a time.