Busy parent side hustles for today : made simple that helps moms build financial freedom

Here's the tea, being a mom is not for the weak. But plot twist? Working to make some extra cash while juggling kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.

I entered the side gig world about three years ago when I had the epiphany that my random shopping trips were reaching dangerous levels. It was time to get funds I didn't have to justify spending.

Virtual Assistant Hustle

Okay so, my initial venture was becoming a virtual assistant. And I'll be real? It was perfect. I was able to grind during those precious quiet hours, and the only requirement was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.

Initially I was doing easy things like email management, posting on social media, and entering data. Super simple stuff. My rate was about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which wasn't much but as a total beginner, you gotta prove yourself first.

Honestly the most hilarious thing? I would be on a client call looking like I had my life together from the waist up—business casual vibes—while wearing my rattiest leggings. Living my best life.

Selling on Etsy

After a year, I ventured into the selling on Etsy. Everyone and their mother seemed to be on Etsy, so I figured "why not me?"

I began making downloadable organizers and wall art. Here's why printables are amazing? Design it once, and it can sell forever. Actually, I've gotten orders at times when I didn't even know.

My first sale? I literally screamed. My partner was like there was an emergency. Not even close—just me, celebrating my first five bucks. No shame in my game.

The Content Creation Grind

Eventually I discovered creating content online. This hustle is definitely a slow burn, trust me on this.

I began a mom blog where I posted about the chaos of parenting—the messy truth. Keeping it real. Simply real talk about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.

Building up views was slow. For months, I was essentially writing for myself and like three people. But I didn't give up, and over time, things gained momentum.

These days? I generate revenue through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and advertisements on my site. Last month I generated over $2K from my blog alone. Insane, right?

SMM Side Hustle

Once I got decent at managing my blog's social media, local businesses started asking if I could help them.

Truth bomb? A lot of local businesses struggle with social media. They recognize they need a presence, but they're too busy.

This is my moment. I oversee social media for three local businesses—different types of businesses. I plan their content, plan their posting schedule, handle community management, and track analytics.

I charge between $500-1500 per month per account, depending on what they need. Here's what's great? I manage everything from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.

Freelance Writing Life

If writing is your thing, freelancing is incredibly lucrative. I don't mean literary fiction—I'm talking about commercial writing.

Brands and websites need content constantly. I've written everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. Google is your best friend, you just need to know how to Google effectively.

I typically charge between fifty and two hundred per article, depending on the topic and length. Some months I'll crank out 10-15 articles and bring in an extra $1,000-2,000.

Plot twist: I'm the same person who hated writing papers. Currently I'm a professional writer. Life's funny like that.

The Online Tutoring Thing

After lockdown started, tutoring went digital. I was a teacher before kids, so this was an obvious choice.

I joined various tutoring services. The scheduling is flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.

I focus on elementary reading and math. Income ranges from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the company.

The awkward part? Sometimes my kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've literally had to be professional while chaos erupted behind me. The parents on the other end are usually super understanding because they're living the same life.

Reselling and Flipping

Okay, this one wasn't planned. While organizing my kids' closet and listed some clothes on copyright.

Items moved within hours. I had an epiphany: people will buy anything.

Now I visit secondhand stores and sales, searching for good brands. I'll buy something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.

It's definitely work? Absolutely. It's a whole process. But there's something satisfying about finding hidden treasures at a yard sale and turning a profit.

Additionally: my kids are impressed when I bring home interesting finds. Last week I found a collectible item that my son went crazy for. Got forty-five dollars for it. Mom for the win.

The Truth About Side Hustles

Let me keep it real: side hustles take work. It's called hustling because you're hustling.

Certain days when I'm completely drained, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm up at 5am being productive before the madness begins, then being a full-time parent, then more hustle time after bedtime.

But this is what's real? I earned this money. I can spend it guilt-free to splurge on something nice. I'm adding to our household income. I'm showing my kids that moms can do anything.

Advice for New Mom Hustlers

If you want to start a hustle of your own, here's my advice:

Start small. Don't attempt to juggle ten things. Pick one thing and become proficient before taking on more.

Honor your limits. Your available hours, that's totally valid. Even one focused hour is valuable.

Comparison is the thief of joy to the highlight reels. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She's been grinding forever and has support. Do your thing.

Spend money on education, but carefully. You don't need expensive courses. Don't waste thousands on courses until you've tested the waters.

Do similar tasks together. I learned this the hard way. Block off certain times for certain work. Monday might be content creation day. Wednesday might be administrative work.

Let's Talk Mom Guilt

I have to be real with you—mom guilt is a thing. Sometimes when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I feel guilty.

However I consider that I'm demonstrating to 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 happier, which makes me a better parent.

Income Reality Check

So what do I actually make? Generally, combining everything, I earn three to five thousand monthly. Some months are lower, some are slower.

Is it life-changing money? Not really. But it's paid for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've stressed us out. It's building my skills and skills that could become a full-time thing.

In Conclusion

At the end of the day, doing this mom hustle thing isn't easy. There's no such thing as a secret sauce. Often I'm making it up as I go, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and praying it all works out.

But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every single dollar I earn is evidence of my capability. It demonstrates that I'm not just someone's mother.

If you're thinking about starting a side hustle? Do it. Don't wait for perfect. Your future self will thank you.

Keep in mind: You're not just surviving—you're creating something amazing. Despite the fact that there's probably Goldfish crackers in your workspace.

For real. This is the life, despite the chaos.

From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom

Let me be real with you—becoming a single mom wasn't on my vision board. I also didn't plan on making money from my phone. But yet here I am, years into this crazy ride, earning income by being vulnerable on the internet while doing this mom thing solo. And I'll be real? It's been the best worst decision of my life.

The Starting Point: When Everything Fell Apart

It was 2022 when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my half-empty apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my bank account, two humans depending on me, and a salary that was a joke. The panic was real, y'all.

I'd been mindlessly scrolling to escape reality—because that's how we cope? when we're drowning, right?—when I stumbled on this single mom sharing how she made six figures through making videos. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."

But rock bottom gives you courage. Maybe both. Sometimes both.

I downloaded the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, explaining how I'd just blown my final $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' school lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Who wants to watch someone's train wreck of a life?

Spoiler alert, way more people than I expected.

That video got 47,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me almost lose it over chicken nuggets. The comments section turned into this safe space—fellow solo parents, folks in the trenches, all saying "me too." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted raw.

Building My Platform: The Unfiltered Mom Content

The truth is about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the unfiltered single mom.

I started filming the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I lived in one outfit because executive dysfunction is real. Or the time I fed my kids cereal for dinner multiple nights and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my kid asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who is six years old.

My content wasn't polished. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was unfiltered, and evidently, that's what resonated.

In just two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, 50K. By six months, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt surreal. People who wanted to follow me. Little old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to learn everything from scratch recently.

My Daily Reality: Balancing Content and Chaos

Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because this life is totally different from those curated "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm screams. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that will get cold, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a GRWM sharing about money struggles. Sometimes it's me making food while discussing dealing with my ex. The lighting is natural and terrible.

7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in survival mode—pouring cereal, locating lost items (it's always one shoe), making lunch boxes, mediating arguments. The chaos is intense.

8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks when stopped. Not proud of this, but content waits for no one.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. Peace and quiet. I'm cutting clips, replying to DMs, thinking of ideas, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is just posting videos. Nope. It's a whole business.

I usually batch-create content on specific days. That means making a dozen videos in one go. I'll switch outfits so it looks varied. Hot tip: Keep wardrobe options close for quick changes. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, recording myself alone in the parking lot.

3:00pm: School pickup. Parent time. But here's where it gets tricky—sometimes my viral videos come from this time. Recently, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I refused to get a $40 toy. I filmed a video in the vehicle afterward about managing big emotions as a lone parent. It got millions of views.

Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm typically drained to make videos, but I'll queue up posts, reply to messages, or outline content. Some nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll work late because a client needs content.

The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just controlled chaos with moments of success.

The Money Talk: How I Really Earn Money

Look, let's talk numbers because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you actually make money as a influencer? Absolutely. Is it easy? Hell no.

My first month, I made nothing. Second month? Still nothing. Month three, I got my first brand deal—one hundred fifty dollars to promote a meal box. I literally cried. That one-fifty fed us.

Fast forward, three years in, here's how I earn income:

Sponsored Content: This is my primary income. I work with brands that make sense—things that help, parenting tools, kids' stuff. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars per campaign, depending on what's required. Just last month, I did four partnerships and made eight thousand dollars.

Platform Payments: Creator fund pays very little—two to four hundred per month for tons of views. YouTube revenue is more lucrative. I make about $1.5K monthly from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.

Affiliate Income: I post links to things I own—anything from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds I bought. If someone purchases through my link, I get a kickback. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.

Online Products: I created a financial planner and a meal prep guide. $15 apiece, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.

One-on-One Coaching: Aspiring influencers pay me to guide them. I offer private coaching for $200 hourly. I do about several a month.

Total monthly income: Typically, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month now. Some months are higher, some are less. It's variable, which is nerve-wracking when you're solo. But it's three times what I made at my 9-5, and I'm available for my kids.

The Dark Side Nobody Mentions

It looks perfect online until you're crying in your car because a video didn't perform, or handling hate comments from keyboard warriors.

The haters are brutal. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm exploiting my kids, questioned about being a single mom. A commenter the cited reference wrote, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one hurt so bad.

The platform changes. Certain periods you're getting millions of views. Next month, you're struggling for views. Your income goes up and down. You're never off, 24/7, worried that if you take a break, you'll fall behind.

The guilt is crushing beyond normal. Every upload, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they resent this when they're teenagers? I have clear boundaries—protected identities, nothing too personal, protecting their dignity. But the line is fuzzy.

The I get burnt out. Certain periods when I am empty. When I'm done, over it, and totally spent. But the mortgage is due. So I do it anyway.

What Makes It Worth It

But here's what's real—despite the hard parts, this journey has brought me things I never dreamed of.

Economic stability for the first time in my life. I'm not a millionaire, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an cushion. We took a real vacation last summer—Disney, which seemed impossible two years ago. I don't stress about my account anymore.

Flexibility that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or stress about losing pay. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a school event, I can go. I'm in their lives in ways I wasn't with a traditional 9-5.

Support that saved me. The other influencers I've connected with, especially solo parents, have become real friends. We connect, share strategies, support each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They celebrate my wins, lift me up, and show me I'm not alone.

Me beyond motherhood. Since becoming a mom, I have something for me. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or somebody's mother. I'm a content creator. A content creator. Someone who created this.

Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start

If you're a single parent wanting to start, listen up:

Don't wait. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. That's okay. You grow through creating, not by overthinking.

Be yourself. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your honest life—the mess. That's what connects.

Protect your kids. Establish boundaries. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is the priority. I keep names private, minimize face content, and keep private things private.

Diversify income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one way to earn. The algorithm is fickle. Diversification = security.

Batch your content. When you have time alone, create multiple pieces. Future you will appreciate it when you're burnt out.

Connect with followers. Reply to comments. Check messages. Connect authentically. Your community is what matters.

Track metrics. Some content isn't worth it. If something takes four hours and tanks while another video takes no time and goes viral, adjust your strategy.

Self-care matters. You need to fill your cup. Take breaks. Create limits. Your mental health matters more than anything.

This takes time. This takes time. It took me eight months to make real income. My first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. The second year, $80,000. Year three, I'm hitting six figures. It's a process.

Stay connected to your purpose. On hard days—and there are many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's supporting my kids, being there, and demonstrating that I'm stronger than I knew.

Being Real With You

Listen, I'm telling the truth. Being a single mom creator is difficult. Incredibly hard. You're operating a business while being the lone caretaker of tiny humans who need you constantly.

Many days I doubt myself. Days when the negativity hurt. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with benefits and a steady paycheck.

But then my daughter says she loves that I'm home. Or I check my balance and see money. Or I read a message from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I understand the impact.

Where I'm Going From Here

Years ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how to make it work. Currently, I'm a full-time creator making more than I imagined in corporate America, and I'm present for everything.

My goals now? Get to half a million followers by this year. Begin podcasting for single moms. Maybe write a book. Expand this business that supports my family.

This journey gave me a way out when I needed it most. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's not the path I expected, but it's where I belong.

To every single mom out there wondering if you can do this: Yes you can. It won't be easy. You'll want to quit some days. But you're handling the most difficult thing—single parenting. You're powerful.

Begin messy. Be consistent. Protect your peace. And don't forget, you're beyond survival mode—you're building an empire.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go create content about another last-minute project and nobody told me until now. Because that's the content creator single mom life—making content from chaos, one video at a time.

Honestly. This path? It's the best decision. Even though there's probably crushed cheerios all over my desk. Dream life, chaos and all.