Mom side hustles in 2025 : clearly discussed that helps moms earn flexible earnings

Here's the tea, being a mom is no joke. But plot twist? Trying to secure the bag while juggling toddlers and their chaos.

My hustle life began about a few years back when I realized that my impulse buys were becoming problematic. I had to find funds I didn't have to justify spending.

Being a VA

So, my first gig was becoming a virtual assistant. And real talk? It was ideal. I was able to grind during those precious quiet hours, and all I needed was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.

Initially I was doing simple tasks like email sorting, doing social media scheduling, and entering data. Nothing fancy. My rate was about $20/hour, which wasn't much but when you're just starting, you gotta start somewhere.

Honestly the most hilarious thing? Picture this: me on a video meeting looking like I had my life together from the chest up—full professional mode—while rocking my rattiest leggings. That's the dream honestly.

Selling on Etsy

Once I got comfortable, I decided to try the whole Etsy thing. Literally everyone seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I figured "why not start one too?"

I began crafting downloadable organizers and wall art. Here's why printables are amazing? Design it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Literally, I've made sales at ungodly hours.

My first sale? I literally screamed. He came running thinking there was an emergency. Nope—I was just, cheering about my five dollar sale. Judge me if you want.

The Content Creation Grind

Eventually I ventured into creating content online. This particular side gig is definitely a slow burn, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.

I started a parenting blog where I posted about the chaos of parenting—the messy truth. Keeping it real. Simply real talk about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.

Building traffic was a test of patience. For months, I was essentially writing for myself and like three people. But I persisted, and over time, things started clicking.

Currently? I make money through affiliate marketing, working with brands, and advertisements on my site. Last month I earned over two thousand dollars from my blog income. Mind-blowing, right?

SMM Side Hustle

As I mastered running my own socials, local businesses started reaching out if I could run their social media.

And honestly? Most small businesses suck at social media. They recognize they should be posting, but they don't know how.

This is my moment. I oversee social media for several small companies—various small businesses. I create content, schedule posts, engage with followers, and check their stats.

They pay me between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per business, depending on what they need. Best part? I handle this from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.

The Freelance Writing Hustle

If you can write, writing gigs is incredibly lucrative. I'm not talking literary fiction—I mean commercial writing.

Companies always need writers. I've created content about everything from dental hygiene to copyright. Google is your best friend, you just need to be able to learn quickly.

Generally make fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on how complex it is. When I'm hustling hard I'll crank out 10-15 articles and bring in $1-2K.

Here's what's wild: Back in school I struggled with essays. These days I'm getting paid for it. The irony.

Virtual Tutoring

During the pandemic, online tutoring exploded. With my teaching background, so this was right up my alley.

I registered on several tutoring platforms. The scheduling is flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.

I focus on elementary school stuff. Rates vary from $15-25 per hour depending on which site you use.

The funny thing? There are times when my own kids will burst into the room mid-session. I've literally had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they understand mom life.

Flipping Items for Profit

Alright, this particular venture I stumbled into. I was decluttering my kids' things and tried selling some outfits on copyright.

Things sold immediately. Lightbulb moment: you can sell literally anything.

Now I hit up anywhere with deals, on the hunt for things that will sell. I grab something for $3 and sell it for $30.

Is it a lot of work? Yes. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's oddly satisfying about spotting valuable items at the thrift store and earning from it.

Also: my kids are impressed when I discover weird treasures. Recently I scored a rare action figure that my son freaked out about. Made $45 on it. Mom win.

Real Talk Time

Here's the thing nobody tells you: side hustles take work. They're called hustles for a reason.

There are days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm up at 5am getting stuff done while it's quiet, then being a full-time parent, then back to work after everyone's in bed.

But here's the thing? That money is MINE. No permission needed to buy the fancy coffee. I'm supporting my family's finances. My kids see that you can be both.

Advice for New Mom Hustlers

For those contemplating a mom hustle, here's my advice:

Start small. Don't attempt to do everything at once. Choose one hustle and nail it down before adding more.

Be realistic about time. If naptime is your only free time, that's fine. Two hours of focused work is a great beginning.

Avoid comparing yourself to what you see online. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? They put in years of work and has help. Run your own race.

Learn and grow, but wisely. You don't need expensive courses. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've proven the concept.

Batch tasks together. This saved my sanity. Set aside time blocks for different things. Monday could be writing day. Use Wednesday for organizing and responding.

The Mom Guilt is Real

I have to be real with you—the mom guilt is real. There are times when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I feel terrible.

But then I consider that I'm modeling for them work ethic. I'm proving to them that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.

Also? Having my own income has been good for me. I'm more satisfied, which helps me be better.

Let's Talk Money

My actual income? Most months, from all my side gigs, I earn between three and five grand. Certain months are higher, it fluctuates.

Will this make you wealthy? No. But it's paid for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been really hard. Plus it's creating opportunities and experience that could become a full-time thing.

Wrapping This Up

Here's the bottom line, being a mom with a side hustle takes work. It's not a secret sauce. Often I'm winging it, surviving on coffee, and praying it all works out.

But I'm proud of this journey. Every penny made is validation of my effort. It demonstrates that I'm not just someone's mother.

For anyone contemplating starting a side hustle? Take the leap. Start messy. Future you will thank you.

Keep in mind: You aren't only making it through—you're building something. Even though you probably have mysterious crumbs everywhere.

For real. The whole thing is pretty amazing, complete with all the chaos.

Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom

Real talk—becoming a single mom wasn't on my vision board. Neither was turning into an influencer. But here we are, three years into this wild journey, making a living by creating content while doing this mom thing solo. And real talk? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.

The Starting Point: When Everything Came Crashing Down

It was a few years ago when my divorce happened. I can still picture sitting in my new apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had $847 in my checking account, two mouths to feed, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.

I'd been scrolling TikTok to numb the pain—because that's what we do? in crisis mode, right?—when I found this woman discussing how she became debt-free through content creation. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."

But being broke makes you bold. Maybe both. Often both.

I installed the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, sharing how I'd just blown my final $12 on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' school lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Who gives a damn about this disaster?

Spoiler alert, thousands of people.

That video got nearly 50,000 views. 47,000 people watched me get emotional over frozen nuggets. The comments section turned into this unexpected source of support—other single moms, others barely surviving, all saying "this is my life." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted authentic.

Building My Platform: The Unfiltered Mom Content

Here's the secret about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It found me. I became the unfiltered single mom.

I started filming the stuff people hide. Like how I didn't change pants for days because executive dysfunction is real. Or when I served cereal as a meal multiple nights and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my kid asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who is six years old.

My content was rough. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was unfiltered, and turns out, that's what connected.

Two months later, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone blew my mind. These were real people who wanted to know my story. Me—a broke single mom who had to ask Google what this meant months before.

My Daily Reality: Content Creation Meets Real Life

Here's the reality of my typical day, because creating content solo is the opposite of those curated "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do not want to move, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me sharing about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while talking about custody stuff. The lighting is not great.

7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in parent mode—making breakfast, finding the missing shoe (it's always one shoe), prepping food, stopping fights. The chaos is real.

8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom in the carpool line filming TikToks when stopped. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Peace and quiet. I'm in editing mode, responding to comments, ideating, sending emails, reviewing performance. People think content creation is just making TikToks. Nope. It's a full business.

I usually create multiple videos on Monday and Wednesday. That means filming 10-15 videos in one sitting. I'll change clothes so it appears to be different times. Life hack: Keep multiple tops nearby for easy transitions. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, making videos in public in the parking lot.

3:00pm: Getting the kids. Back to parenting. But this is where it's complicated—frequently my top performing content come from the chaos. Last week, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I wouldn't buy a $40 toy. I recorded in the parking lot later about managing big emotions as a single mom. It got millions of views.

Evening: All the evening things. I'm usually too exhausted to make videos, but I'll schedule content, reply to messages, or plan tomorrow's content. Often, after everyone's sleeping, I'll edit for hours because a deadline is coming.

The truth? There's no balance. It's just managed chaos with some victories.

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

Alright, let's talk numbers because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you make a living as a influencer? For sure. Is it effortless? Nope.

My first month, I made $0. Second month? $0. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—a hundred and fifty bucks to post about a meal kit service. I literally cried. That one-fifty fed us.

Currently, years later, here's how I make money:

Brand Partnerships: This is my primary income. I work with brands that align with my audience—practical items, helpful services, children's products. I get paid anywhere from $500-5K per collaboration, depending on what they need. This past month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight grand.

Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: Creator fund pays pennies—a few hundred dollars per month for tons of views. AdSense is more lucrative. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that required years.

Affiliate Marketing: I promote products to products I actually use—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the kids' beds. If someone purchases through my link, I get a percentage. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.

Online Products: I created a money management guide and a food prep planner. They're $15 each, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.

One-on-One Coaching: New creators pay me to guide them. I offer consulting calls for $200 hourly. I do about several each month.

Combined monthly revenue: On average, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month at this point. Some months I make more, some are tougher. It's unpredictable, which is terrifying when there's no backup. But it's triple what I made at my corporate job, and I'm present.

The Hard Parts Nobody Posts About

From the outside it's great until you're losing it because a post got no views, or managing hate comments from internet trolls.

The hate comments are real. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm using my children, told I'm fake about being a divorced parent. A commenter wrote, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one destroyed me.

The platform changes. Sometimes you're getting insane views. Then suddenly, you're getting nothing. Your income fluctuates. You're always creating, 24/7, afraid to pause, you'll lose momentum.

The mom guilt is amplified exponentially. Every video I post, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Is this okay? Will they regret this when they're older? I have strict rules—no faces of my kids without permission, no sharing their private stuff, nothing humiliating. But the line is fuzzy.

The exhaustion is real. There are weeks when I can't create. When I'm done, talked out, and completely finished. But life doesn't stop. So I push through.

What Makes It Worth It

But the truth is—even with the struggles, this journey has created things I never imagined.

Financial stability for once in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I eliminated my debt. I have an savings. We took a family trip last summer—Orlando, which seemed impossible not long ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.

Time freedom that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to use PTO or panic. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a class party, I attend. I'm there for them in ways I couldn't be with a traditional 9-5.

My people that saved me. The creator friends I've connected with, especially single moms, have become my people. We vent, help each other, support each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They support me, send love, and remind me I'm not alone.

My own identity. After years, I have my own thing. I'm not just an ex or just a mom. I'm a entrepreneur. An influencer. Someone who created this.

My Best Tips

If you're a solo parent thinking about this, here's my advice:

Begin now. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You improve over time, not by waiting.

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

Prioritize their privacy. Set limits. Have standards. Their privacy is sacred. I never share their names, limit face shots, and respect their dignity.

Build multiple income streams. Diversify or one income stream. The algorithm is unstable. Multiple streams = safety.

Film multiple videos. When you have quiet time, create multiple pieces. Future you will be grateful when you're burnt out.

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

Track your time and ROI. Some content isn't worth it. If something is time-intensive and tanks while something else takes minutes and gets massive views, change tactics.

Don't forget yourself. You can't pour from an empty cup. Rest. Guard your energy. Your sanity matters most.

Give it time. This takes time. It took me half a year to make any real money. My first year, I made fifteen thousand. The second year, $80,000. This year, I'm on track for six figures. It's a marathon.

Remember why you started. On difficult days—and trust me, there will be—remember your reason. For me, it's money, being present, and showing myself that I'm stronger than I knew.

The Honest Truth

Listen, I'm keeping it 100. Being a single mom creator is challenging. Incredibly hard. You're basically running a business while being the single caregiver of children who require constant attention.

Many days I question everything. Days when the negativity sting. Days when I'm drained and asking myself if I should quit this with a 401k.

But then my this source daughter shares she's happy I'm here. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I understand the impact.

Where I'm Going From Here

A few years back, I was scared and struggling how to make it work. Fast forward, I'm a full-time creator making triple what I earned in my 9-5, and I'm there for my kids.

My goals moving forward? Hit 500K by December. Begin podcasting for single moms. Maybe write a book. Keep building this business that makes everything possible.

Being a creator gave me a way out when I needed it most. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be present in their lives, and build something real. 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: Hell yes you can. It won't be easy. You'll struggle. But you're currently doing the hardest job in the world—raising humans alone. You're more capable than you know.

Jump in messy. Stay the course. Guard your peace. And always remember, you're more than just surviving—you're changing your life.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go make a video about homework I forgot about and nobody told me until now. Because that's the reality—turning chaos into content, one TikTok at a time.

No cap. This life? It's worth it. Even if I'm sure there's Goldfish crackers all over my desk. Dream life, one messy video at a time.