Stay-at-home mom part-time jobs this year : explained for parents generate financial freedom

Let me tell you, being a mom is literally insane. But what's really wild? Working to hustle for money while handling toddlers and their chaos.

I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I had the epiphany that my random shopping trips were reaching dangerous levels. I was desperate for my own money.

Being a VA

Okay so, I kicked things off was becoming a virtual assistant. And honestly? It was chef's kiss. I could hustle while the kids slept, and all I needed was a computer and internet.

I started with easy things like handling emails, doing social media scheduling, and basic admin work. Pretty straightforward. I charged about fifteen dollars an hour, which felt cheap but for someone with zero experience, you gotta begin at the bottom.

The funniest part? I would be on a video meeting looking like I had my life together from the chest up—blazer, makeup, the works—while wearing pajama bottoms. That's the dream honestly.

Selling on Etsy

Once I got comfortable, I decided to try the selling on Etsy. Every mom I knew seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I figured "why not get in on this?"

I created designing digital planners and home decor prints. What's great about digital products? Design it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Literally, I've gotten orders at midnight when I'm unconscious.

The first time someone bought something? I lost my mind. My husband thought the house was on fire. Not even close—I was just, doing a happy dance for my first five bucks. I'm not embarrassed.

Blogging and Creating

Next I discovered creating content online. This venture is a marathon not a sprint, trust me on this.

I created a family lifestyle blog where I documented real mom life—all of it, no filter. Not the highlight reel. Simply real talk about surviving tantrums in Target.

Growing an audience was slow. At the beginning, I was essentially creating content for crickets. But I kept at it, and slowly but surely, things started clicking.

These days? I earn income through promoting products, working with brands, and ad revenue. Last month I made over two thousand dollars from my website. Insane, right?

The Social Media Management Game

After I learned social media for my own stuff, small companies started reaching out if I could run their social media.

Real talk? Many companies are terrible with social media. They recognize they should be posting, but they're clueless about the algorithm.

I swoop in. I now manage social media for three local businesses—different types of businesses. I develop content, schedule posts, engage with followers, and monitor performance.

My rate is between five hundred to a thousand dollars per month per business, depending on how much work is involved. What I love? I can do most of it from my phone during soccer practice.

Writing for Money

For those who can string sentences together, content writing is seriously profitable. This isn't literary fiction—this is commercial writing.

Businesses everywhere are desperate for content. 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.

I typically bill $50-150 per article, depending on how complex it is. On good months I'll crank out ten to fifteen pieces and earn $1-2K.

The funny thing is: I'm the same person who struggled with essays. These days I'm earning a living writing. The irony.

Tutoring Online

When COVID hit, virtual tutoring became huge. With my teaching background, so this was an obvious choice.

I registered on VIPKid and Tutor.com. The scheduling is flexible, which is crucial when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.

I mainly help with basic subjects. You can make from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on where you work.

The funny thing? There are times when my kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I once had to teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. My clients are very sympathetic because they're living the same life.

Reselling and Flipping

Here me out, this one happened accidentally. I was cleaning out my kids' closet and posted some items on various apps.

They sold so fast. Lightbulb moment: there's a market for everything.

These days I shop at thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, hunting for name brands. I'll buy something for cheap and resell at a markup.

It's definitely work? Not gonna lie. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But there's something satisfying about finding a gem at a garage sale and turning a profit.

Bonus: my kids are impressed when I find unique items. Recently I found a retro toy that my son lost his mind over. Made $45 on it. Victory for mom.

Real Talk Time

Let me keep it real: this stuff requires effort. They're called hustles for this report a reason.

Certain days when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I wake up early hustling before the chaos starts, then handling mom duties, then working again after the kids are asleep.

But this is what's real? These are my earnings. I don't have to ask permission to splurge on something nice. I'm helping with my family's finances. My kids see that women can hustle.

What I Wish I Knew

If you want to start a mom hustle, here's my advice:

Start with one thing. Don't try to juggle ten things. Choose one hustle and master it before adding more.

Work with your schedule. If naptime is your only free time, that's totally valid. Even one focused hour is more than enough to start.

Comparison is the thief of joy to the highlight reels. Those people with massive success? She's been grinding forever and has help. Do your thing.

Learn and grow, but carefully. Start with free stuff first. Avoid dropping massive amounts on training until you've proven the concept.

Do similar tasks together. This saved my sanity. Use time blocks for different things. Use Monday for making stuff day. Make Wednesday admin and emails.

Let's Talk Mom Guilt

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

However I remember that I'm demonstrating to them what dedication looks like. I'm proving to them that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.

Plus? Having my own income has improved my mental health. I'm more fulfilled, which translates to better parenting.

Let's Talk Money

My actual income? Most months, from all my side gigs, I make three to five thousand monthly. Some months are lower, some are slower.

Will this make you wealthy? Not really. But this money covers family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been really hard. Plus it's building my skills and knowledge that could turn into something bigger.

In Conclusion

Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing is challenging. It's not a perfect balance. Many days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, running on coffee and determination, and praying it all works out.

But I'm proud of this journey. Every single penny made is proof that I can do hard things. It's proof that I'm not just someone's mother.

For anyone contemplating starting a side hustle? Do it. Begin before you're ready. Future you will thank you.

Don't forget: You're more than getting by—you're growing something incredible. Even though there's probably mysterious crumbs stuck to your laptop.

For real. This mom hustle life is where it's at, despite the chaos.

Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom

I'm gonna be honest—becoming a single mom wasn't the dream. I also didn't plan on building a creator business. But here I am, three years later, paying bills by sharing my life online while doing this mom thing solo. And not gonna lie? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.

The Starting Point: When Everything Came Crashing Down

It was 2022 when my divorce happened. I will never forget sitting in my half-empty apartment (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), wide awake at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my checking account, two mouths to feed, and a job that barely covered rent. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.

I was scrolling social media to numb the pain—because that's what we do? in crisis mode, right?—when I stumbled on this divorced mom sharing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through being a creator. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."

But when you're desperate, you try anything. Maybe both. Sometimes both.

I grabbed the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, sharing how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a pack of chicken nuggets and fruit snacks for my kids' lunch boxes. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Why would anyone care about my broke reality?

Turns out, a lot of people.

That video got forty-seven thousand views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me almost lose it over chicken nuggets. The comments section became this safe space—women in similar situations, others barely surviving, all saying "same." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want perfection. They wanted honest.

My Brand Evolution: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand

Here's what they don't say about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? I stumbled into it. I became the unfiltered single mom.

I started sharing the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I lived in one outfit because I couldn't handle laundry. Or the time I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner several days straight and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my child asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who believes in magic.

My content wasn't polished. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was unfiltered, and turns out, that's what hit.

Two months later, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, 50K. By six months, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone felt impossible. Real accounts who wanted to listen to me. Plain old me—a broke single mom who had to learn everything from scratch recently.

The Actual Schedule: Balancing Content and Chaos

Let me show you of my typical day, because content creation as a single mom is the opposite of those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm screams. I do not want to move, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a GRWM discussing financial reality. Sometimes it's me meal prepping while sharing parenting coordination. The lighting is whatever I can get.

7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation ends. Now I'm in parent mode—making breakfast, hunting for that one shoe (why is it always one shoe), packing lunches, referee duties. The chaos is intense.

8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom filming at red lights when stopped. Not my proudest moment, but the grind never stops.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. Peace and quiet. I'm editing content, engaging with followers, planning content, doing outreach, checking analytics. People think content creation is only filming. It's not. It's a entire operation.

I usually create multiple videos on Monday and Wednesday. That means filming 10-15 videos in one go. I'll change clothes so it seems like separate days. Advice: Keep different outfits accessible for outfit changes. My neighbors think I've lost it, recording myself alone in the parking lot.

3:00pm: Pickup time. Transition back to mom mode. But this is where it's complicated—often my viral videos come from the chaos. Just last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I refused to get a forty dollar toy. I filmed a video in the Target parking lot once we left about dealing with meltdowns as a lone parent. It got 2.3M views.

Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm typically drained to create content, but I'll schedule uploads, answer messages, or outline content. Often, after they're down, I'll work late because a partnership is due.

The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just managed chaos with random wins.

Income Breakdown: How I Generate Income

Alright, let's talk numbers because this is what people ask about. Can you legitimately profit as a online creator? For sure. Is it straightforward? Hell no.

My first month, I made zilch. Second month? Also nothing. Month three, I got my first sponsored post—a hundred and fifty bucks to post about a meal delivery. I broke down. That hundred fifty dollars covered food.

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

Brand Deals: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that fit my niche—practical items, single-parent resources, kid essentials. I charge anywhere from $500-5K per collaboration, depending on what's required. Just last month, I did four partnerships and made $8K.

Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: The TikTok fund pays basically nothing—two to four hundred per month for tons of views. YouTube revenue is way better. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that took forever.

Affiliate Income: I share links to products I actually use—ranging from my beloved coffee maker to the kids' beds. If they buy using my link, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.

Info Products: I created a budget template and a cooking guide. They're $15 each, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another thousand to fifteen hundred.

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

Combined monthly revenue: On average, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month these days. Some months I make more, some are lower. It's up and down, which is nerve-wracking when there's no backup. But it's three times what I made at my old job, and I'm present.

The Dark Side Nobody Shows You

Content creation sounds glamorous until you're crying in your car because a post got no views, or managing nasty DMs from internet trolls.

The haters are brutal. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm exploiting my kids, questioned about being a single mom. I'll never forget, "I'd leave too." That one stung for days.

The algorithm changes constantly. One week you're getting huge numbers. Next month, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income fluctuates. You're constantly creating, 24/7, worried that if you take a break, you'll lose relevance.

The mom guilt is intense exponentially. Everything I share, I wonder: Is this appropriate? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they resent this when they're adults? I have non-negotiables—no faces of my kids without permission, no sharing their private stuff, no embarrassing content. But the line is hard to see.

The exhaustion is real. Sometimes when I am empty. When I'm touched out, talked out, and just done. But rent doesn't care. So I create anyway.

The Unexpected Blessings

But here's what's real—despite the hard parts, this journey has brought me things I never imagined.

Money security for once in my life. I'm not a millionaire, but I cleared $18K. I have an emergency fund. We took a vacation last summer—Disney, which I never thought possible a couple years back. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.

Flexibility that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to ask permission or worry about money. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a field trip, I attend. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't be with a regular job.

Community that saved me. The creator friends I've befriended, especially solo parents, have become real friends. We support each other, exchange tips, support each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They support me, send love, and show me I'm not alone.

Identity beyond "mom". For the first time since having kids, I have my own thing. I'm not just an ex or just a mom. I'm a entrepreneur. An influencer. Someone who built something from nothing.

What I Wish I Knew

If you're a single mom thinking about this, listen up:

Just start. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.

Authenticity wins. People can spot fake. Share your real life—the mess. That's the magic.

Guard their privacy. Set boundaries early. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is sacred. I never share their names, limit face shots, and respect their dignity.

Multiple revenue sources. Diversify or one income stream. The algorithm is unpredictable. More streams = less stress.

Batch your content. When you have available time, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will be grateful when you're too exhausted to create.

Build community. Respond to comments. Check messages. Build real relationships. Your community is everything.

Track metrics. Be strategic. If something requires tons of time and gets 200 views while something else takes minutes and gets massive views, adjust your strategy.

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

This takes time. This takes time. It took me months to make real income. My first year, I made $15K total. Year two, $80K. Year 3, I'm hitting six figures. It's a process.

Know your why. On bad days—and there are many—recall your purpose. For me, it's money, being there, and demonstrating that I'm stronger than I knew.

Real Talk Time

Listen, I'm keeping it 100. This life is challenging. So damn hard. You're managing a business while being the single caregiver of tiny humans who need you constantly.

Many days I question everything. Days when the trolls get to me. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and asking myself if I should just get a "normal" job with insurance.

But then suddenly my daughter says she appreciates this. Or I see financial progress. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I remember why I do this.

Where I'm Going From Here

A few years back, I was scared and struggling how to make it work. Now, I'm a full-time creator making way more than I made in corporate America, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.

My goals going forward? Reach 500K by December. Begin podcasting for single moms. Maybe write a book. Keep building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.

This path 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 build something real. It's a surprise, but it's perfect.

To any single parent thinking about starting: Yes you can. It will be challenging. You'll consider quitting. But you're managing the hardest job—raising humans alone. You're more capable than you know.

Begin messy. Stay the course. Protect your peace. And don't forget, you're beyond survival mode—you're building something incredible.

Time to go, I need to go record a video about the project I just found out about and surprise!. Because that's the reality—content from the mess, video by video.

No cap. Being a single mom creator? It's the best decision. Even if there's probably Goldfish crackers in my keyboard. No regrets, imperfectly perfect.