Working mom money-making projects right now – explained helping mothers seeking flexibility build flexible earnings

Here's the tea, mom life is literally insane. But plot twist? Trying to hustle for money while dealing with kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.

My hustle life began about a few years back when I realized that my Target runs were getting out of hand. It was time to get my own money.

The Virtual Assistant Life

So, I kicked things off was doing VA work. And real talk? It was perfect. It let me grind during those precious quiet hours, and literally all it took was a computer and internet.

I began by easy things like organizing inboxes, doing social media scheduling, and data entry. Super simple stuff. I charged about $20/hour, which seemed low but for someone with zero experience, you gotta prove yourself first.

Honestly the most hilarious thing? I would be on a client call looking completely put together from the chest up—looking corporate—while rocking my rattiest leggings. That's the dream honestly.

The Etsy Shop Adventure

After getting my feet wet, I wanted to explore the Etsy world. Literally everyone seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I was like "why not me?"

I started crafting downloadable organizers and digital art prints. What's great about digital products? Design it once, and it can generate passive income forever. Literally, I've made sales at times when I didn't even know.

That initial sale? I literally screamed. He came running thinking I'd injured myself. Nope—just me, doing a happy dance for my $4.99 sale. I'm not embarrassed.

Content Creator Life

After that I discovered the whole influencer thing. This one is definitely a slow burn, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.

I started a parenting blog where I documented what motherhood actually looks like—the messy truth. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Simply authentic experiences about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.

Getting readers was like watching paint dry. At the beginning, I was basically writing for myself and like three people. But I persisted, and after a while, things began working.

These days? I make money through affiliate links, working with brands, and ad revenue. This past month I brought in over $2K from my website. Wild, right?

Managing Social Media

After I learned my own content, small companies started inquiring if I could do the same for them.

Here's the thing? Tons of businesses are terrible with social media. They recognize they should be posting, but they don't know how.

This is my moment. I now manage social media for three local businesses—different types of businesses. I plan their content, schedule posts, engage with followers, and analyze the metrics.

My rate is between $500-$1500/month per business, depending on what they need. Best part? I manage everything from my phone during soccer practice.

Freelance Writing Life

If writing is your thing, writing gigs is incredibly lucrative. Not like becoming Shakespeare—I mean blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.

Companies constantly need fresh content. I've created content about everything from dental hygiene to copyright. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to know how to find information.

Generally make $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on how complex it is. Some months I'll create fifteen articles and pull in a couple thousand dollars.

The funny thing is: I was the person who struggled with essays. And now I'm making money from copyright. Talk about character development.

The Online Tutoring Thing

During the pandemic, virtual tutoring became huge. With my teaching background, so this was an obvious choice.

I registered on a couple of online tutoring sites. You make your own schedule, which is crucial when you have unpredictable little ones.

My sessions are usually K-5 subjects. Rates vary from $15-$25/hour depending on which site you use.

The funny thing? Every now and then my kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I once had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they're parents too.

The Reselling Game

Here me out, this particular venture I stumbled into. I was cleaning out my kids' things and posted some items on Facebook Marketplace.

Things sold within hours. That's when I realized: people will buy anything.

Currently I frequent estate sales and thrift shops, looking for quality items. I purchase something for a few dollars and make serious profit.

This takes effort? Yes. You're constantly listing and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about spotting valuable items at a yard sale and earning from it.

Also: the kids think it's neat when I discover weird treasures. Just last week I found a rare action figure that my son freaked out about. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.

Real Talk Time

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

There are days when I'm completely drained, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then handling mom duties, then back at it after the kids are asleep.

But here's what matters? That money is MINE. I'm not asking anyone to buy the fancy coffee. I'm helping with the family budget. I'm showing my kids that moms can do anything.

What I Wish I Knew

If you want to start a side gig, here are my tips:

Don't go all in immediately. Avoid trying to launch everything simultaneously. Focus on one and get good at it before taking on more.

Honor your limits. Your available hours, that's okay. Even one focused hour is better than nothing.

Stop comparing to what you see online. Those people with massive success? They've been at it for years and doesn't do it alone. Focus on your own journey.

Learn and grow, but carefully. There are tons of free resources. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've tested the waters.

Do similar tasks together. This saved my sanity. Use days for specific hustles. Monday could be creation day. Wednesday could be handling business stuff.

The Mom Guilt is Real

I have to be real with you—guilt is part of this. Sometimes when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I hate it.

But I remember that I'm demonstrating to them what dedication looks like. I'm proving to them that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.

Additionally? Financial independence has been good for me. I'm more content, which makes me a better parent.

Let's Talk Money

My actual income? Most months, between all my hustles, I earn three to five thousand monthly. Certain months are higher, some are slower.

Will this make you wealthy? Not exactly. But this money covers family trips and unexpected expenses that would've stressed us out. Plus it's building my skills and experience that could turn into something bigger.

In Conclusion

At the end of the day, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship takes work. It's not a magic formula. Many days I'm improvising everything, surviving on coffee, and doing my best.

But I'm proud of this journey. Each penny made is validation of my effort. It demonstrates that I'm a multifaceted person.

So if you're considering beginning your hustle journey? Do it. Begin before you're ready. Future you will be so glad you did.

Keep in mind: You're not just making it through—you're creating something amazing. Even when there's probably mysterious crumbs in your workspace.

Not even kidding. This is the life, mess included.

Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom

Let me be real with you—single motherhood was never the plan. I also didn't plan on building a creator business. But here we are, three years later, making a living by posting videos while handling everything by myself. And honestly? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.

How It Started: When Everything Changed

It was three years ago when my relationship fell apart. I remember sitting in my half-empty apartment (he got the furniture, I got the memories), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my checking account, two humans depending on me, and a job that barely covered rent. The stress was unbearable, y'all.

I was scrolling social media to numb the pain—because that's how we cope? in crisis mode, right?—when I stumbled on this woman sharing how she became debt-free through posting online. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."

But rock bottom gives you courage. Or stupid. Usually both.

I installed the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Raw, unfiltered, messy hair, talking about how I'd just put my last twelve dollars on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' school lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Who gives a damn about my broke reality?

Apparently, way more people than I expected.

That video got nearly 50,000 views. 47,000 people watched me breakdown over $12 worth of food. The comments section became this safe space—other single moms, others barely surviving, all saying "this is my life." That was my aha moment. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted honest.

Discovering My Voice: The Unfiltered Mom Content

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

I started posting about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I lived in one outfit because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I gave them breakfast for dinner multiple nights and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my daughter asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who believes in magic.

My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was real, and turns out, that's what worked.

In just two months, I hit ten thousand followers. Month three, 50K. By month six, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt impossible. People who wanted to follow me. Little old me—a struggling single mom who had to learn everything from scratch not long ago.

The Daily Grind: Balancing Content and Chaos

Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because creating content solo is the opposite of those pretty "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 microwave repeatedly, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me sharing about budgeting. Sometimes it's me cooking while venting about parenting coordination. The lighting is natural and terrible.

7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in parent mode—making breakfast, locating lost items (where do they go), prepping food, stopping fights. The chaos is next level.

8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom filming at red lights at red lights. Not proud of this, but content waits for no one.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. House is quiet. I'm editing videos, engaging with followers, brainstorming content ideas, pitching brands, analyzing metrics. They believe content creation is simple. Absolutely not. It's a real job.

I usually batch content on specific days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in one sitting. I'll switch outfits so it appears to be different times. Life hack: Keep several shirts ready for quick changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, making videos in public in the driveway.

3:00pm: School pickup. Transition back to mom mode. But plot twist—sometimes my viral videos come from the chaos. A few days ago, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I made content in the car later about dealing with meltdowns as a solo parent. It got 2.3M views.

Evening: All the evening things. I'm usually too exhausted to film, but I'll schedule content, respond to DMs, or strategize. Many nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll edit for hours because a client needs content.

The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just organized chaos with occasional wins.

Let's Talk Income: How I Generate Income

Look, let's talk dollars because this is what you're wondering. Can you actually make money as a creator? Absolutely. Is it effortless? Absolutely not.

My first month, I made zilch. Second month? Still nothing. Month three, I got my first brand deal—$150 to post about a meal box. I actually cried. That $150 covered food.

Currently, years later, here's how I monetize:

Brand Deals: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that align with my audience—practical items, parenting tools, family items. I get paid anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per deal, depending on what they need. Last month, I did four brand deals and made $8K.

TikTok Fund: Creator fund pays pennies—$200-$400 per month for millions of views. YouTube ad revenue is way better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that was a long process.

Affiliate Marketing: I share affiliate links to items I love—everything from my favorite coffee maker to the kids' beds. If someone clicks and buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.

Info Products: I created a budget template and a cooking guide. $15 apiece, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another $1-1.5K.

Teaching Others: People wanting to start pay me to show them how. I offer 1:1 sessions for two hundred dollars. I do about several a month.

My total income: Typically, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month these days. Some months I make more, some are less. It's variable, which is stressful when you're the only income source. But it's three times what I made at my 9-5, and I'm present.

What They Don't Show Nobody Talks About

From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a video didn't perform, or reading cruel messages from keyboard warriors.

The haters are brutal. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm problematic, accused of lying about being a single mom. Someone once commented, "Maybe that's why he left." That one hurt so bad.

The algorithm changes constantly. Sometimes you're getting viral hits. The next, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income goes up and down. You're never off, always working, worried that if you take a break, you'll lose momentum.

The the full overview mom guilt is amplified to the extreme. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they resent this when they're older? I have non-negotiables—protected identities, nothing too personal, no embarrassing content. But the line is not always clear.

The burnout hits hard. Some weeks when I have nothing. When I'm done, socially drained, and at my limit. But the mortgage is due. So I create anyway.

What Makes It Worth It

But the truth is—even with the struggles, this journey has brought me things I never dreamed of.

Financial stability for the first time in my life. I'm not a millionaire, but I eliminated my debt. I have an savings. We took a family trip last summer—Orlando, which I never thought possible not long ago. I don't stress about my account 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 anywhere. When there's a school event, I can go. I'm there for them in ways I wasn't with a normal job.

Community that saved me. The other creators I've connected with, especially other moms, have become actual friends. We talk, collaborate, lift each other up. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They support me, send love, and validate me.

Identity beyond "mom". 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. An influencer. Someone who made it happen.

What I Wish I Knew

If you're a single parent considering content creation, listen up:

Start before you're ready. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. It's fine. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.

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

Guard their privacy. Set limits. Know your limits. Their privacy is sacred. I don't use their names, rarely show their faces, and respect their dignity.

Diversify income streams. Diversify or a single source. The algorithm is fickle. More streams = less stress.

Batch your content. When you have available time, record several. Next week you will be grateful when you're burnt out.

Connect with followers. Respond to comments. Answer DMs. Create connections. Your community is your foundation.

Track metrics. Be strategic. If something is time-intensive and gets nothing while something else takes no time and blows up, change tactics.

Don't forget yourself. You need to fill your cup. Unplug. Set boundaries. Your sanity matters more than going viral.

Stay patient. This requires patience. It took me months to make meaningful money. My first year, I made barely $15,000. The second year, $80,000. Year three, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a journey.

Remember why you started. On difficult days—and there will be many—remember your reason. For me, it's supporting my kids, being there, and demonstrating that I'm stronger than I knew.

The Reality Check

Real talk, I'm keeping it 100. Being a single mom creator is challenging. Like, really freaking hard. You're managing a business while being the sole caretaker of children who require constant attention.

Many days I doubt myself. Days when the trolls get to me. Days when I'm completely spent and questioning if I should quit this with consistent income.

But but then my daughter mentions she loves that I'm home. Or I look at my savings. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I remember my purpose.

The Future

Years ago, I was broke, scared, and had no idea how to survive. Currently, I'm a professional creator making way more than I made in traditional work, and I'm there for my kids.

My goals going forward? Get to half a million followers by year-end. Create a podcast for single parents. Maybe write a book. Expand this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.

Being a creator gave me a way out when I was desperate. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be present in their lives, and build something real. It's not the path I expected, but it's perfect.

To all the single moms wondering if you can do this: Hell yes you can. It will be hard. You'll consider quitting. But you're already doing the hardest job in the world—parenting solo. You're powerful.

Begin messy. Keep showing up. Protect your peace. And know this, 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 another last-minute project and I just learned about it. Because that's how it goes—turning chaos into content, one video at a time.

Honestly. This journey? It's worth it. Even though there might be crumbs in my keyboard. That's the dream, chaos and all.