Stay-at-home mom extra income ideas for modern moms : broken down for moms make additional revenue

Let me tell you, motherhood is no joke. But you know what's even crazier? Trying to earn extra income while managing toddlers and their chaos.

My hustle life began about three years ago when I discovered that my impulse buys were getting out of hand. I needed my own money.

Being a VA

Here's what happened, I started out was becoming a virtual assistant. And honestly? It was perfect. I was able to work during naptime, and all I needed was my laptop and decent wifi.

My first tasks were simple tasks like handling emails, scheduling social media posts, and data entry. Nothing fancy. I charged about fifteen to twenty bucks hourly, which felt cheap but as a total beginner, you gotta prove yourself first.

Here's what was wild? There I was on a Zoom call looking like I had my life together from the chest up—looking corporate—while sporting pants I'd owned since 2015. That's the dream honestly.

My Etsy Journey

Once I got comfortable, I thought I'd test out the Etsy world. Everyone and their mother seemed to be on Etsy, so I figured "why not get in on this?"

My shop focused on designing PDF planners and home decor prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? You create it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Actually, I've made sales at ungodly hours.

My first sale? I literally screamed. My husband thought the house was on fire. Negative—I was just, celebrating my first five bucks. No shame in my game.

The Content Creation Grind

Then I started writing and making content. This particular side gig is a marathon not a sprint, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.

I launched a family lifestyle blog where I documented real mom life—the messy truth. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Only the actual truth about finding mystery stains on everything I own.

Building up views was painfully slow. At the beginning, it was basically writing for myself and like three people. But I didn't give up, and after a while, things took off.

At this point? I earn income through affiliate marketing, collaborations, and advertisements on my site. This past month I brought in over two grand from my blog alone. Mind-blowing, right?

The Social Media Management Game

As I mastered social media for my own stuff, small companies started asking if I could do the same for them.

Truth bomb? Most small businesses suck at social media. They realize they need to be there, but they're too busy.

Enter: me. I now manage social media for several small companies—various small businesses. I make posts, schedule posts, engage with followers, and monitor performance.

They pay me between $500-$1500/month per client, depending on the complexity. What I love? I manage everything from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.

Freelance Writing Life

For those who can string sentences together, content writing is where it's at. I don't mean becoming Shakespeare—this is business content.

Brands and websites need content constantly. I've written everything from literally everything under the sun. Google is your best friend, you just need to be good at research.

Generally bill fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on how complex it is. Certain months I'll produce ten to fifteen pieces and earn an extra $1,000-2,000.

What's hilarious: I was the person who hated writing papers. These days I'm making money from copyright. Talk about character development.

Virtual Tutoring

When COVID hit, tutoring went digital. As a former educator, so this was kind of a natural fit.

I registered on several tutoring platforms. You choose when you work, which is crucial when you have unpredictable little ones.

I mostly tutor elementary reading and math. You can make from $15-$25/hour depending on where you work.

Here's what's weird? There are times when my children will interrupt mid-session. I've literally had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. My clients are totally cool about it because they're living the same life.

The Reselling Game

Alright, this particular venture started by accident. While organizing my kids' room and listed some clothes on Mercari.

Things sold within hours. Lightbulb moment: there's a market for everything.

At this point I frequent estate sales and thrift shops, on the hunt for good brands. I purchase something for a few dollars and make serious profit.

This takes effort? Absolutely. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about discovering a diamond in the rough at a garage sale and earning from it.

Additionally: my children are fascinated when I score cool vintage stuff. Last week I discovered a retro toy that my son freaked out about. Sold it for $45. Mom win.

The Truth About Side Hustles

Real talk moment: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. It's called hustling because you're hustling.

Some days when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm grinding at dawn working before my kids wake up, then all day mom-ing, then more hustle time after bedtime.

But here's the thing? I earned this money. I don't have to ask permission to buy the fancy coffee. I'm supporting our financial goals. My kids see that women can hustle.

Tips if You're Starting Out

For those contemplating a side hustle, this is what I've learned:

Start small. Don't attempt to launch everything simultaneously. Choose one hustle and master it before adding more.

Work with your schedule. If naptime is your only free time, that's totally valid. A couple of productive hours is better than nothing.

Comparison is the thief of joy to what you see online. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She probably started years ago and doesn't do it alone. Do your thing.

Don't be afraid to invest, but strategically. You don't need expensive courses. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've tested the waters.

Batch your work. I learned this the hard way. Dedicate specific days for specific tasks. Make Monday content creation day. Make Wednesday administrative work.

Let's Talk Mom Guilt

Let me be honest—guilt is part of this. There are days when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I feel guilty.

However I remember that I'm showing them what dedication looks like. I'm demonstrating to my children that you can be both.

Plus? Having my own income has been good for me. I'm more content, which makes me more patient.

Let's Talk Money

So what do I actually make? Typically, from all my side gigs, I pull in between three and five grand. Some months are lower, some are tougher.

Is this millionaire money? Not really. But this money covers stuff that matters to us that would've caused financial strain. It's building my skills and experience that could evolve into something huge.

Wrapping This Up

At the end of the day, being a mom with a side hustle is challenging. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. A lot of days I'm making it up as I go, running on coffee and determination, and hoping for the best.

But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every single penny made is evidence of my capability. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.

If you're on the fence about diving into this? Take the leap. Start messy. Future you will be so glad you did.

And remember: You're not merely surviving—you're growing something incredible. Despite the fact that there's likely old cheerios everywhere.

No cap. This mom hustle life is pretty amazing, chaos and all.

Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom

I'm gonna be honest—becoming a single mom was never the plan. I also didn't plan on turning into an influencer. But fast forward to now, years into this crazy ride, supporting my family by sharing my life online while doing this mom thing solo. And not gonna lie? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.

Rock Bottom: When Everything Changed

It was a few years ago when my divorce happened. I will never forget sitting in my mostly empty place (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), wide awake at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my checking account, two kids to support, and a salary that was a joke. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.

I was scrolling social media to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's how we cope? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I found this divorced mom discussing how she made six figures through posting online. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."

But when you're desperate, you try anything. Or both. Probably both.

I installed the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, talking about how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunch boxes. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Who wants to watch my broke reality?

Turns out, thousands of people.

That video got nearly 50,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me nearly cry over frozen nuggets. The comments section turned into this incredible community—other single moms, people living the same reality, all saying "this is my life." That was my turning point. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted raw.

Finding My Niche: The Unfiltered Mom Content

Here's the secret about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.

I started creating content about the stuff people hide. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because I couldn't handle laundry. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner three nights in a row and called it "breakfast for dinner week." 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 rough. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what hit.

In just two months, I hit 10K. Month three, fifty thousand. By half a year, I'd crossed 100,000. Each milestone felt surreal. Real accounts who wanted to know my story. Little old me—a broke single mom who had to learn everything from scratch six months earlier.

The Actual Schedule: Balancing Content and Chaos

Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because creating content solo is totally different from those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm blares. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me discussing financial reality. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while sharing custody stuff. The lighting is natural and terrible.

7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation stops. Now I'm in survival mode—making breakfast, hunting for that one shoe (why is it always one shoe), throwing food in bags, breaking up sibling fights. The chaos is next level.

8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom making videos while driving in the car. Don't judge me, but bills don't care.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my hustle time. I'm alone finally. I'm in editing mode, engaging with followers, planning content, reaching out to brands, looking at stats. Folks imagine content creation is just making TikToks. Absolutely not. It's a real job.

I usually film in batches on Monday and Wednesday. That means making a dozen videos in one sitting. I'll change shirts between videos so it seems like separate days. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for easy transitions. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, filming myself talking to my phone in the driveway.

3:00pm: School pickup. Transition back to mom mode. But plot twist—frequently my viral videos come from the chaos. Just last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I wouldn't buy a toy she didn't need. I filmed a video in the Target parking lot afterward about dealing with meltdowns as a lone parent. It got millions of views.

Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm usually too exhausted to create anything, but I'll schedule content, reply to messages, or outline content. Often, after bedtime, I'll stay up editing because a deadline is coming.

The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just chaos with a plan with some victories.

Income Breakdown: How I Generate Income

Okay, let's discuss money because this is what you're wondering. Can you legitimately profit as a influencer? 100%. Is it easy? Hell no.

My first month, I made zilch. Second month? Zero. Month three, I got my first paid partnership—$150 to feature a meal delivery. I literally cried. That $150 fed us.

Now, years later, here's how I earn income:

Collaborations: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that my followers need—budget-friendly products, mom products, children's products. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per partnership, depending on the scope. Last month, I did four brand deals and made $8,000.

Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for massive numbers. YouTube ad revenue is way better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that required years.

Affiliate Links: I share links to stuff I really use—everything from my beloved coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If anyone buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.

Online Products: I created a financial planner and a food prep planner. Each costs $15, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.

One-on-One Coaching: Aspiring influencers pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer 1:1 sessions for $200/hour. I do about several each month.

My total income: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month these days. It varies, some are lower. It's up and down, which is nerve-wracking when you're it. But it's triple what I made at my previous job, and I'm present.

The Struggles Nobody Mentions

Content creation sounds glamorous until you're losing it because a post tanked, or reading cruel messages from random people.

The hate comments are real. I've been told I'm a terrible parent, told I'm using my children, accused of lying about being a divorced parent. I'll never forget, "I'd leave too." That one destroyed me.

The algorithm changes constantly. Sometimes you're getting insane views. Then suddenly, you're getting nothing. Your income varies wildly. You're always creating, 24/7, afraid to pause, you'll fall behind.

The mom guilt is intense beyond normal. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Are my kids safe? Will they regret this when they're older? I have firm rules—limited face shots, no sharing their private stuff, no embarrassing content. But the line is fuzzy.

The burnout is real. Sometimes when I don't want to film anything. When I'm exhausted, over it, and completely finished. But life doesn't stop. So I create anyway.

The Wins

But here's what's real—despite everything, this journey has given me things I never anticipated.

Economic stability for the first time ever. I'm not wealthy, but I cleared $18K. I have an emergency fund. We took a real vacation last summer—Disney, which was a dream not long ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.

Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my kid was ill last month, I didn't have to ask permission or panic. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a class party, I attend. I'm in their lives in ways I wasn't able to be with a normal job.

Connection that saved me. The fellow creators I've met, especially other single parents, have become actual friends. We support each other, share strategies, lift each other up. My followers have become this amazing support system. They hype me up, support me, and make me feel seen.

My own identity. Since becoming a mom, I have something for me. I'm not just an ex or someone's mom. I'm a CEO. A creator. Someone who built something from nothing.

Advice for Aspiring Creators

If you're a single parent curious about this, here's what I wish someone had told me:

Begin now. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You learn by doing, not by overthinking.

Authenticity wins. People can spot fake. Share your actual life—the mess. That resonates.

Prioritize their privacy. Create rules. Have standards. Their privacy is everything. I protect their names, minimize face content, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.

Diversify income streams. Don't rely on just one platform or one way to earn. The algorithm is unreliable. Diversification = security.

Film multiple videos. When you have time alone, create multiple pieces. Tomorrow you will thank yourself when you're unable to film.

Build community. Reply to comments. Check messages. Build real relationships. Your community is your foundation.

Track your time and ROI. Time is money. If something requires tons of time and gets 200 views while a different post takes very little time and gets massive views, shift focus.

Take care of yourself. You matter too. Step away. Set boundaries. Your mental health matters more than going viral.

Stay patient. This takes time. It took me ages to make decent money. Year one, I made barely $15,000. The second year, $80,000. Year 3, I'm hitting six figures. It's a marathon.

Remember why you started. On hard days—and there are many—recall your purpose. For me, it's independence, time with my children, and showing myself that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.

Being Real With You

Real talk, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Being a single mom creator is tough. Really hard. You're managing a business while being the single caregiver of demanding little people.

There are days I question everything. Days when the nasty comments sting. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and questioning if I should quit this with insurance.

But then my daughter mentions she's happy I'm here. Or I look at my savings. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I remember my purpose.

Where I'm Going From Here

Not long ago, I was terrified and clueless how to make it work. Currently, 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 now? Hit 500,000 followers by December. Start a podcast for other single moms. Maybe write a book. Continue building this business that supports my family.

Content creation gave me a second chance when I had nothing. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be available, and create something meaningful. It's not the path I expected, but it's perfect.

To every single mom out there considering this: You can. It will be hard. You'll consider quitting. But you're already doing the most difficult thing—parenting solo. You're stronger than more info you think.

Start messy. Be consistent. Prioritize yourself. And know this, you're beyond survival mode—you're creating something amazing.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go make a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and surprise!. Because that's this life—content from the mess, one video at a time.

For real. Being a single mom creator? It's worth it. Even when there's definitely old snacks all over my desk. Living the dream, imperfectly perfect.