Busy parent money-making projects this year – explained that helps moms build extra income

Let me tell you, mom life is a whole vibe. But you know what's even crazier? Trying to get that bread while managing kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.

This whole thing started for me about a few years back when I had the epiphany that my random shopping trips were getting out of hand. It was time to get funds I didn't have to justify spending.

Virtual Assistant Hustle

Here's what happened, my initial venture was doing VA work. And honestly? It was chef's kiss. I could hustle while the kids slept, and all I needed was my laptop and decent wifi.

I began by simple tasks like organizing inboxes, posting on social media, and basic admin work. Super simple stuff. My rate was about $15-20 per hour, which wasn't much but as a total beginner, you gotta begin at the bottom.

Here's what was wild? Picture this: me on a client call looking like I had my life together from the waist up—blazer, makeup, the works—while sporting pants I'd owned since 2015. That's the dream honestly.

My Etsy Journey

After getting my feet wet, I thought I'd test out the Etsy world. Every mom I knew seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I was like "why not get in on this?"

My shop focused on making digital planners and wall art. What's great about digital products? You create it once, and it can sell forever. Literally, I've gotten orders at 3am while I was sleeping.

That initial sale? I literally screamed. My partner was like there was an emergency. But no—it was just me, cheering about my glorious $4.99. Don't judge me.

The Content Creation Grind

Eventually I started creating content online. This venture is playing the long game, trust me on this.

I created a family lifestyle blog where I posted about real mom life—all of it, no filter. Keeping it real. Simply the actual truth about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.

Building up views was painfully slow. Initially, I was essentially my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I didn't give up, and eventually, things gained momentum.

At this point? I make money through affiliate marketing, working with brands, and advertisements on my site. Just last month I brought in over $2K from my website. Insane, right?

The Social Media Management Game

When I became good with running my own socials, small companies started inquiring if I could run their social media.

Here's the thing? A lot of local businesses suck at social media. They understand they should be posting, but they can't keep up.

That's where I come in. I oversee 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 monitor performance.

I charge between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per business, depending on what they need. Here's what's great? I manage everything from my phone.

Freelance Writing Life

If writing is your thing, freelancing is where it's at. I'm not talking literary fiction—this is content writing for businesses.

Websites and businesses are desperate for content. I've written articles about everything from the most random topics. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to be good at research.

I typically earn $50-150 per article, depending on what's involved. When I'm hustling hard I'll write ten to fifteen pieces and bring in one to two thousand extra.

Here's what's wild: I'm the same person who hated writing papers. And now I'm a professional writer. The irony.

The Online Tutoring Thing

2020 changed everything, online tutoring exploded. With my teaching background, so this was an obvious choice.

I signed up with various tutoring services. The scheduling is flexible, which is essential when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.

I mainly help with basic subjects. You can make from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on the company.

Here's what's weird? Sometimes my own kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've had to be professional while chaos erupted behind me. My clients are usually super understanding because they get it.

Flipping Items for Profit

Here me out, this side gig started by accident. During a massive cleanout my kids' stuff and tried selling some outfits on Facebook Marketplace.

Stuff sold out instantly. That's when I realized: you can sell literally anything.

These days I shop at thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, hunting for quality items. I grab something for cheap and resell at a markup.

Is it a lot of work? For sure. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But I find it rewarding about discovering a diamond in the rough at Goodwill and making money.

Plus: my children are fascinated when I score cool vintage stuff. Recently I grabbed a vintage toy that my son lost his mind over. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.

The Truth About Side Hustles

Real talk moment: side hustles take work. There's work involved, hence the name.

There are days when I'm running on empty, questioning my life choices. I'm working before sunrise being productive before the madness begins, then handling mom duties, then working again after 8pm hits.

But here's what matters? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to treat myself. I'm adding to my family's finances. I'm showing my kids that moms can do anything.

What I Wish I Knew

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

Start with one thing. Don't attempt to launch everything simultaneously. Choose one hustle and nail it down before taking on more.

Work with your schedule. If naptime is your only free time, that's totally valid. Two hours of focused work is a great beginning.

Comparison is the thief of joy to the highlight reels. The successful ones you see? She's been grinding forever and has support. Run your own race.

Spend money on education, but wisely. Start with free stuff first. Don't spend huge money on programs until you've tried things out.

Batch your work. I learned this the hard way. Use specific days for specific tasks. Monday might be content creation day. Wednesday could be administrative work.

Let's Talk Mom Guilt

Let me be honest—the mom guilt is real. Certain moments when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I feel terrible.

However I remind myself that I'm demonstrating to them work ethic. I'm proving to them that moms can have businesses.

Also? Having my own income has improved my mental health. I'm happier, which makes me more patient.

Let's Talk Money

My actual income? On average, total from all sources, I earn between three and five grand. It varies, some are tougher.

Is it life-changing money? No. But this money covers stuff that matters to us that would've caused financial strain. Plus it's creating opportunities and knowledge that could turn into something bigger.

Wrapping This Up

Here's the bottom line, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship is hard. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. Most days I'm making it up as I go, surviving on coffee, and an introduction here hoping for the best.

But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every single bit of income is proof that I can do hard things. It shows that I have identity beyond motherhood.

So if you're considering launching a mom business? Go for it. Don't wait for perfect. Your future self will thank you.

Always remember: You're not just making it through—you're creating something amazing. Even though there's likely mysterious crumbs in your workspace.

No cap. The whole thing is pretty amazing, chaos and all.

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

Real talk—becoming a single mom wasn't the dream. Nor was making money from my phone. But yet here I am, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by sharing my life online while parenting alone. And I'll be real? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.

The Starting Point: When Everything Changed

It was three years ago when my marriage ended. I will never forget sitting in my bare apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my account, two mouths to feed, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The stress was unbearable, y'all.

I was scrolling social media to numb the pain—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I stumbled on this woman talking about how she paid off $30,000 in debt through being a creator. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."

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

I installed the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, talking about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' lunch boxes. I shared it and felt sick. Who wants to watch my mess?

Turns out, tons of people.

That video got 47,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me almost lose it over chicken nuggets. The comments section turned into this incredible community—other single moms, people living the same reality, all saying "same." That was my epiphany. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted real.

Discovering My Voice: The Unfiltered Mom Content

Here's what they don't say about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? It chose me. I became the unfiltered single mom.

I started sharing the stuff no one shows. Like how I didn't change pants for days because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner three nights in a row and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked where daddy went, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who is six years old.

My content was rough. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was unfiltered, and turns out, that's what hit.

Within two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, 50,000. By month six, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to listen to me. Plain old me—a struggling single mom who had to ask Google what this meant not long ago.

My Daily Reality: Managing It All

Let me show you of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is not at all like those curated "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a morning routine sharing about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while sharing parenting coordination. The lighting is natural and terrible.

7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in full mom mode—feeding humans, locating lost items (where do they go), packing lunches, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is real.

8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks at red lights. I know, I know, but bills don't care.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Peace and quiet. I'm in editing mode, engaging with followers, brainstorming content ideas, pitching brands, reviewing performance. Folks imagine content creation is just making TikToks. It's not. It's a whole business.

I usually batch content on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means shooting multiple videos in a few hours. I'll change clothes so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep several shirts ready for fast swaps. My neighbors think I've lost it, making videos in public in the driveway.

3:00pm: Getting the kids. Transition back to mom mode. But plot twist—many times my biggest hits come from this time. Last week, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I wouldn't buy a toy she didn't need. I created a video in the car later about surviving tantrums as a lone parent. It got millions of views.

Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm completely exhausted to make videos, but I'll schedule uploads, reply to messages, or strategize. Certain nights, after bedtime, I'll work late because a partnership is due.

The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just organized chaos with occasional wins.

Let's Talk Income: How I Generate Income

Okay, let's discuss money because this is what people ask about. Can you really earn income as a content creator? 100%. Is it straightforward? Absolutely not.

My first month, I made $0. Month two? Zero. Month three, I got my first collaboration—one hundred fifty dollars to feature a meal kit service. I actually cried. That hundred fifty dollars bought groceries for two weeks.

Fast forward, three years later, here's how I make money:

Brand Partnerships: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that my followers need—practical items, single-parent resources, family items. I bill anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per deal, depending on what's required. This past month, I did four partnerships and made eight thousand dollars.

Ad Money: Creator fund pays not much—a few hundred dollars per month for huge view counts. AdSense is way better. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that was a long process.

Affiliate Income: I post links to stuff I really use—everything from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds I bought. If they buy using my link, I get a percentage. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.

Info Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a meal prep guide. Each costs $15, and I sell dozens per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.

One-on-One Coaching: New creators pay me to show them how. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200/hour. I do about several per month.

Total monthly income: Most months, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month now. Some months are higher, others are slower. It's variable, which is nerve-wracking when there's no backup. But it's three times what I made at my previous job, and I'm there for them.

The Hard Parts Nobody Shows You

Content creation sounds glamorous until you're having a breakdown because a post got no views, or handling nasty DMs from strangers who think they know your life.

The negativity is intense. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm using my children, questioned about being a solo parent. I'll never forget, "I'd leave too." That one stuck with me.

The algorithm is unpredictable. One week you're getting millions of views. Next month, you're getting nothing. Your income is unstable. You're never off, never resting, nervous about slowing down, you'll fall behind.

The mom guilt is worse beyond normal. Every upload, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Is this okay? Will they be angry about this when they're older? I have strict rules—no faces of my kids without permission, nothing too personal, protecting their dignity. But the line is fuzzy.

The I get burnt out. Sometimes when I am empty. When I'm exhausted, talked out, and at my limit. But the mortgage is due. So I do it anyway.

What Makes It Worth It

But here's the thing—despite everything, this journey has given me things I never expected.

Financial freedom for the first time in my life. I'm not a millionaire, but I cleared $18K. I have an savings. We took a actual vacation last summer—Disney, which I never thought possible two years ago. I don't panic about money anymore.

Flexibility that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to use PTO or lose income. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a school thing, I can go. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I wasn't able to be with a corporate job.

My people that saved me. The fellow creators I've befriended, especially other moms, have become my people. We support each other, share strategies, lift each other up. My followers have become this beautiful community. They celebrate my wins, lift me up, and remind me I'm not alone.

Me beyond motherhood. Since becoming a mom, I have my own thing. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or only a parent. I'm a content creator. A creator. Someone who built something from nothing.

Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start

If you're a single mother wanting to start, here's my advice:

Just start. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's okay. You improve over time, not by overthinking.

Be authentic, not perfect. People can tell when you're fake. Share your real life—the chaos. That resonates.

Keep them safe. Establish boundaries. Know your limits. Their privacy is the priority. I never share their names, limit face shots, and keep private things private.

Build multiple income streams. Don't put all eggs in one basket or a single source. The algorithm is unstable. Multiple income streams = stability.

Film multiple videos. When you have time alone, film multiple videos. Next week you will thank yourself when you're too exhausted to create.

Interact. Respond to comments. Reply to messages. Connect authentically. Your community is what matters.

Track your time and ROI. Time is money. If something requires tons of time and gets 200 views while something else takes very little time and goes viral, pivot.

Don't forget yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Unplug. Set boundaries. Your sanity matters more than anything.

Stay patient. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me ages to make meaningful money. Year one, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year 2, eighty grand. Year 3, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a marathon.

Remember why you started. On tough days—and trust me, there will be—recall your purpose. For me, it's money, being present, and demonstrating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.

Real Talk Time

Here's the deal, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Content creation as a single mom is tough. Incredibly hard. You're running a whole business while being the sole caretaker of children who require constant attention.

Many days I doubt myself. Days when the negativity affect me. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and wondering if I should quit this with stability.

But and then my daughter says she's happy I'm here. Or I look at my savings. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I understand the impact.

Where I'm Going From Here

Years ago, I was lost and broke how to make it work. Now, I'm a full-time content creator making triple what I earned in corporate America, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.

My goals going forward? Reach 500K by this year. Begin podcasting for other single moms. Consider writing a book. Continue building this business that changed my life.

This path gave me a second chance when I was desperate. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be there, and create something meaningful. It's not what I planned, but it's where I belong.

To any single parent considering this: Hell yes you can. It will be hard. You'll struggle. But you're managing the most difficult thing—single parenting. You're stronger than you think.

Begin messy. Stay consistent. Guard your peace. And don't forget, you're doing more than surviving—you're building something incredible.

BRB, I need to go create content about homework I forgot about and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's this life—content from the mess, one TikTok at a time.

Seriously. This path? It's worth every struggle. Despite there's definitely old snacks in my keyboard. Dream life, imperfectly perfect.