Mom part-time jobs right now – for beginners to moms generate extra income

Let me tell you, motherhood is get more info absolutely wild. But plot twist? Working to secure the bag while dealing with tiny humans who think sleep is optional.

I entered the side gig world about a few years back when I figured out that my random shopping trips were reaching dangerous levels. I was desperate for funds I didn't have to justify spending.

Being a VA

Okay so, I started out was jumping into virtual assistance. And not gonna lie? It was exactly what I needed. It let me get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and the only requirement was my laptop and decent wifi.

I started with basic stuff like email management, scheduling social media posts, and basic admin work. Nothing fancy. My rate was about fifteen dollars an 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? There I was on a client call looking like a real businesswoman from the shoulders up—looking corporate—while rocking pants I'd owned since 2015. Main character energy.

Selling on Etsy

After getting my feet wet, I ventured into the Etsy world. Everyone and their mother seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I figured "why not join the party?"

I created crafting PDF planners and wall art. The beauty of printables? Design it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Actually, I've made sales at midnight when I'm unconscious.

The first time someone bought something? I literally screamed. My husband thought I'd injured myself. Not even close—I was just, celebrating my five dollar sale. I'm not embarrassed.

The Content Creation Grind

After that I got into blogging and content creation. This hustle is not for instant gratification seekers, let me tell you.

I created a blog about motherhood where I wrote about my parenting journey—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not the highlight reel. Simply authentic experiences about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.

Building up views was a test of patience. For months, I was essentially talking to myself. But I didn't give up, and eventually, things gained momentum.

Currently? I generate revenue through affiliate links, brand partnerships, and ad revenue. Last month I earned over $2K from my blog income. Mind-blowing, right?

SMM Side Hustle

When I became good with my own content, local businesses started reaching out if I could run their social media.

And honestly? A lot of local businesses struggle with social media. They recognize they should be posting, but they don't have time.

That's where I come in. I now manage social media for several small companies—different types of businesses. I create content, schedule posts, handle community management, and track analytics.

They pay me between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per business, depending on what they need. What I love? I can do most of it from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.

Freelance Writing Life

For the wordy folks, freelancing is seriously profitable. This isn't becoming Shakespeare—I mean blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.

Companies need content constantly. My assignments have included everything from the most random topics. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to be able to learn quickly.

I typically bill $50-150 per article, depending on length and complexity. When I'm hustling hard I'll produce fifteen articles and bring in an extra $1,000-2,000.

The funny thing is: Back in school I struggled with essays. Currently I'm earning a living writing. Talk about character development.

The Online Tutoring Thing

After lockdown started, online tutoring exploded. I used to be a teacher, so this was kind of a natural fit.

I signed up with various tutoring services. You choose when you work, which is crucial when you have children who keep you guessing.

I mostly tutor basic subjects. Income ranges from $15-$25/hour depending on the company.

The awkward part? There are times when my own kids will interrupt mid-session. I've had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. My clients are incredibly understanding because they get it.

Flipping Items for Profit

Alright, this side gig I stumbled into. While organizing my kids' stuff and listed some clothes on Mercari.

Stuff sold out so fast. That's when I realized: one person's trash is another's treasure.

Now I shop at secondhand stores and sales, looking for quality items. I grab something for cheap and resell at a markup.

Is it a lot of work? Not gonna lie. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But I find it rewarding about discovering a diamond in the rough at a yard sale and making profit.

Plus: my kids think I'm cool when I find unique items. Last week I grabbed a retro toy that my son freaked out about. Got forty-five dollars for it. Victory for mom.

The Truth About Side Hustles

Truth bomb incoming: this stuff requires effort. There's work involved, hence the name.

Some days when I'm exhausted, doubting everything. I'm up at 5am working before my kids wake up, then doing all the mom stuff, then working again after bedtime.

But this is what's real? I earned this money. No permission needed to get the good coffee. I'm adding to our financial goals. My kids see that moms can do anything.

What I Wish I Knew

For those contemplating a hustle of your own, this is what I've learned:

Start with one thing. Avoid trying to juggle ten things. Choose one hustle and get good at it before starting something else.

Be realistic about time. Your available hours, that's perfectly acceptable. Two hours of focused work is more than enough to start.

Don't compare yourself to Instagram moms. The successful ones you see? She's been grinding forever and has resources you don't see. Run your own race.

Spend money on education, but strategically. You don't need expensive courses. Avoid dropping massive amounts on training until you've tried things out.

Do similar tasks together. This is crucial. Block off time blocks for different things. Use Monday for creation day. Make Wednesday handling business stuff.

Let's Talk Mom Guilt

I'm not gonna lie—guilt is part of this. There are days when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I feel guilty.

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

Also? Financial independence has made me a better mom. I'm happier, which makes me more patient.

Income Reality Check

My actual income? Most months, total from all sources, I make between three and five grand. Some months are lower, some are tougher.

Is this getting-rich money? Not exactly. But I've used it for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been impossible otherwise. Plus it's developing my career and knowledge that could evolve into something huge.

Wrapping This Up

Look, hustling as a mom isn't easy. You won't find a perfect balance. A lot of days I'm winging it, surviving on coffee, and crossing my fingers.

But I wouldn't change it. Each bit of income is proof that I can do hard things. It demonstrates that I'm a multifaceted person.

If you're on the fence about beginning your hustle journey? Go for it. Don't wait for perfect. Future you will thank you.

Don't forget: You're more than getting by—you're hustling. Even though you probably have snack crumbs everywhere.

No cap. The whole thing is where it's at, despite the chaos.

My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom

Real talk—becoming a single mom wasn't part of my five-year plan. Nor was becoming a content creator. But yet here I am, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by sharing my life online while handling everything by myself. And I'll be real? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.

How It Started: When Everything Imploded

It was three years ago when my life exploded. I can still picture sitting in my new apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), wide awake at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had barely $850 in my checking account, two mouths to feed, and a salary that was a joke. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.

I'd been mindlessly scrolling to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's the move? in crisis mode, right?—when I found this woman discussing how she became debt-free through making videos. I remember thinking, "That's either a scam or she's incredibly lucky."

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

I installed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, sharing how I'd just blown my final $12 on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Who gives a damn about my mess?

Turns out, way more people than I expected.

That video got 47,000 views. 47,000 people watched me nearly cry over $12 worth of food. The comments section was this unexpected source of support—people who got it, people living the same reality, all saying "me too." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted raw.

Finding My Niche: The Unfiltered Mom Content

Here's what they don't say about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the real one.

I started sharing the stuff no one shows. Like how I lived in one outfit because washing clothes was too much. Or the time I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner multiple nights and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my kid asked about the divorce, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who still believes in Santa.

My content was raw. My lighting was terrible. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was real, and apparently, that's what worked.

Two months later, I hit 10K. Month three, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone seemed fake. People who wanted to follow me. Me—a struggling single mom who had to figure this out from zero months before.

A Day in the Life: Content Creation Meets Real Life

Here's the reality of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is totally different from those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm blares. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me talking about budgeting. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while discussing co-parenting struggles. The lighting is not great.

7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation ends. Now I'm in survival mode—cooking eggs, locating lost items (why is it always one shoe), throwing food in bags, referee duties. The chaos is overwhelming.

8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom making videos while driving when stopped. Not my proudest moment, but I gotta post.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. House is quiet. I'm editing content, replying to DMs, planning content, reaching out to brands, reviewing performance. Everyone assumes content creation is only filming. Nope. It's a whole business.

I usually batch content on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means making a dozen videos in one go. I'll switch outfits so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep several shirts ready for fast swaps. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, talking to my camera in the parking lot.

3:00pm: Picking them up. Mom mode activated. But plot twist—often my viral videos come from the chaos. Just last week, my daughter had a full tantrum in Target because I wouldn't buy a forty dollar toy. I recorded in the car once we left about surviving tantrums as a single mom. It got 2.3M views.

Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm generally wiped out to create content, but I'll queue up posts, check DMs, or plan tomorrow's content. Certain nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll stay up editing because a partnership is due.

The truth? There's no balance. It's just chaos with a plan with occasional wins.

The Money Talk: How I Generate Income

Okay, let's discuss money because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you make a living as a influencer? Yes. Is it simple? Not even close.

My first month, I made $0. Second month? Zero. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—a hundred and fifty bucks to feature a food subscription. I broke down. That one-fifty fed us.

Today, years later, here's how I generate revenue:

Sponsored Content: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that fit my niche—practical items, helpful services, family items. I charge anywhere from $500-5K per partnership, depending on deliverables. Just last month, I did 4 sponsored posts and made eight grand.

Platform Payments: The TikTok fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for huge view counts. YouTube ad revenue is 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—ranging from my beloved coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If someone purchases through my link, I get a kickback. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.

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

Consulting Services: People wanting to start pay me to show them how. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200/hour. I do about 5-10 a month.

Combined monthly revenue: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month now. Certain months are better, some are tougher. It's up and down, which is stressful when you're solo. But it's three times what I made at my corporate job, and I'm there for them.

The Struggles Nobody Talks About

It looks perfect online until you're losing it because a post tanked, or managing hate comments from keyboard warriors.

The trolls are vicious. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm problematic, accused of lying about being a divorced parent. A commenter wrote, "No wonder he left." That one stung for days.

The algorithm changes constantly. One month you're getting millions of views. Next month, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income fluctuates. You're constantly creating, never resting, scared to stop, you'll be forgotten.

The guilt is crushing to the extreme. Each post, I wonder: Is this too much? Are my kids safe? Will they hate me for this when they're older? I have firm rules—no faces of my kids without permission, nothing too personal, nothing humiliating. But the line is hard to see.

The burnout hits hard. There are weeks when I have nothing. When I'm depleted, talked out, and totally spent. But life doesn't stop. So I show up anyway.

The Wins

But listen—even with the struggles, this journey has created things I never anticipated.

Economic stability for once in my life. I'm not loaded, but I eliminated my debt. I have an cushion. We took a family trip last summer—Disney, which felt impossible not long ago. I don't panic about money anymore.

Control that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or worry about money. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a class party, I can go. I'm available in ways I couldn't manage with a corporate job.

Community that saved me. The other influencers I've met, especially single moms, have become actual friends. We support each other, help each other, have each other's backs. My followers have become this amazing support system. They support me, encourage me through rough patches, and remind me I'm not alone.

Identity beyond "mom". Finally, I have an identity. I'm more than an ex or only a parent. I'm a CEO. An influencer. Someone who made it happen.

What I Wish I Knew

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

Don't wait. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You learn by doing, not by waiting.

Be authentic, not perfect. People can spot fake. Share your actual life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That's the magic.

Keep them safe. Set limits. Be intentional. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I protect their names, minimize face content, and protect their stories.

Build multiple income streams. Diversify or one revenue source. The algorithm is unreliable. Diversification = security.

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

Build community. Answer comments. Reply to messages. Create connections. Your community is your foundation.

Track metrics. Some content isn't worth it. If something requires tons of time and gets 200 views while something else takes very little time and gets massive views, change tactics.

Self-care matters. You need to fill your cup. Take breaks. Set boundaries. Your health matters more than views.

This takes time. This is a marathon. It took me half a year to make meaningful money. The first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year 2, eighty grand. Year 3, I'm on track for six figures. It's a marathon.

Don't forget your why. On difficult days—and they happen—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's supporting my kids, being there, and demonstrating that I'm capable of anything.

Being Real With You

Look, I'm keeping it 100. This journey is challenging. Like, really freaking hard. You're operating a business while being the only parent of kids who need everything.

Some days I second-guess this. Days when the nasty comments sting. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and wondering if I should go back to corporate with a 401k.

But but then my daughter tells me she loves that I'm home. Or I see financial progress. 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

Years ago, I was scared and struggling how to make it work. Now, I'm a professional creator making more than I imagined in my 9-5, and I'm present for everything.

My goals for the future? Hit 500K by December. Begin podcasting for solo parents. Consider writing a book. Continue building this business that supports my family.

Being a creator gave me a second chance when I was desperate. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's not the path I expected, but it's exactly where I needed to be.

To every single mom out there considering this: Hell yes you can. It won't be easy. You'll consider quitting. But you're handling the most difficult thing—raising humans alone. You're more capable than you know.

Begin messy. Be consistent. Prioritize yourself. And don't forget, you're more than just surviving—you're changing your life.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go film a TikTok about the project I just found out about and I just learned about it. Because that's this life—making content from chaos, one video at a time.

Seriously. This life? It's the best decision. Even if there's probably crumbs stuck to my laptop right now. That's the dream, imperfectly perfect.