Busy parent money-making projects in 2025 : made simple aimed at mothers seeking flexibility build financial freedom

Let me spill, being a mom is absolutely wild. But here's the thing? Attempting to get that bread while juggling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.

I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I realized that my impulse buys were way too frequent. I needed some independent income.

Virtual Assistant Hustle

Right so, I kicked things off was doing VA work. And I'll be real? It was chef's kiss. I was able to get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and all I needed was a computer and internet.

I started with simple tasks like email management, doing social media scheduling, and entering data. Nothing fancy. I started at about $20/hour, which wasn't much but as a total beginner, you gotta start somewhere.

Here's what was wild? I would be on a client call looking completely put together from the shoulders up—looking corporate—while sporting pajama bottoms. That's the dream honestly.

The Etsy Shop Adventure

Once I got comfortable, I ventured into the whole Etsy thing. Literally everyone seemed to be on Etsy, so I was like "why not get in on this?"

I started creating downloadable organizers and wall art. The beauty of printables? One and done creation, and it can make money while you sleep. For real, I've made sales at midnight when I'm unconscious.

The first time someone bought something? I freaked out completely. He came running thinking there was an emergency. But no—I was just, doing a happy dance for my glorious $4.99. Don't judge me.

Blogging and Creating

After that I discovered the whole influencer thing. This hustle is not for instant gratification seekers, let me tell you.

I began a mom blog where I shared real mom life—all of it, no filter. Keeping it real. Just authentic experiences about finding mystery stains on everything I own.

Getting readers was slow. At the beginning, I was essentially writing for myself and like three people. But I stayed consistent, and eventually, things took off.

These days? I earn income through affiliate links, collaborations, and display ads. Just last month I earned over $2,000 from my blog alone. Wild, right?

The Social Media Management Game

When I became good with running my own socials, brands started reaching out if I could help them.

And honestly? A lot of local businesses don't understand social media. They know they need a presence, but they don't know how.

This is my moment. I handle social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I plan their content, schedule posts, engage with followers, and check their stats.

They pay me between $500-$1500/month per account, depending on how much work is involved. Here's what's great? I handle this from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.

Freelance Writing Life

For those who can string sentences together, writing gigs is where it's at. Not like becoming Shakespeare—I'm talking about content writing for businesses.

Websites and businesses need content constantly. I've created content about everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. You don't need to be an expert, a concise guide you just need to know how to find information.

Generally make $50-150 per article, depending on what's involved. When I'm hustling hard I'll create fifteen articles and earn a couple thousand dollars.

The funny thing is: Back in school I barely passed English class. Currently I'm earning a living writing. Talk about character development.

Tutoring Online

When COVID hit, tutoring went digital. I was a teacher before kids, so this was kind of a natural fit.

I registered on various tutoring services. It's super flexible, which is essential when you have children who keep you guessing.

I focus on K-5 subjects. You can make from $15-$25/hour depending on which site you use.

What's hilarious? Occasionally my kids will photobomb my lessons mid-session. There was a time I teach fractions while my toddler screamed about the wrong color cup. My clients are usually super understanding because they're living the same life.

The Reselling Game

Here me out, this one I stumbled into. I was decluttering my kids' room and put some things on Facebook Marketplace.

They sold immediately. I had an epiphany: people will buy anything.

At this point I hit up thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, on the hunt for name brands. I purchase something for cheap and resell at a markup.

This takes effort? Absolutely. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding hidden treasures at a yard sale and making profit.

Plus: my children are fascinated when I find unique items. Recently I discovered a collectible item that my son absolutely loved. Got forty-five dollars for it. Mom for the win.

The Honest Reality

Real talk moment: this stuff requires effort. They're called hustles for a reason.

There are moments when I'm completely drained, asking myself what I'm doing. I wake up early being productive before the madness begins, then doing all the mom stuff, then more hustle time after bedtime.

But you know what? I earned this money. No permission needed to get the good coffee. I'm helping with my family's finances. My kids are learning that you can have it all—sort of.

Advice for New Mom Hustlers

If you want to start a side hustle, here's what I'd tell you:

Don't go all in immediately. Avoid trying to launch everything simultaneously. Pick one thing and become proficient before starting something else.

Honor your limits. Whatever time you have, that's okay. A couple of productive hours is a great beginning.

Avoid comparing yourself to the highlight reels. Those people with massive success? They've been at it for years and has help. Run your own race.

Learn and grow, but smartly. There are tons of free resources. Don't waste huge money on programs until you've validated your idea.

Do similar tasks together. This saved my sanity. Set aside certain times for certain work. Make Monday creation day. Wednesday might be administrative work.

Dealing with Mom Guilt

Let me be honest—mom guilt is a thing. There are days when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I feel terrible.

But then I think about that I'm teaching them how to hustle. I'm teaching my kids that you can be both.

And honestly? Financial independence has been good for me. I'm more fulfilled, which makes me more patient.

The Numbers

My actual income? On average, combining everything, I pull in $3K-5K. Some months are better, others are slower.

Is this millionaire money? Not exactly. But we've used it to pay for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've been impossible otherwise. It's creating opportunities and knowledge that could evolve into something huge.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, doing this mom hustle thing takes work. You won't find a secret sauce. A lot of days I'm winging it, surviving on coffee, and praying it all works out.

But I don't regret it. Each bit of income is proof that I can do hard things. It's proof that I have identity beyond motherhood.

For anyone contemplating launching a mom business? Take the leap. Start messy. Future you will thank you.

Keep in mind: You're not just making it through—you're hustling. Even though there's likely snack crumbs stuck to your laptop.

No cap. This mom hustle life is pretty amazing, complete with all the chaos.

From Rock Bottom to Creator Success: My Journey as a Single Mom

I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood wasn't on my vision board. I also didn't plan on making money from my phone. But fast forward to now, three years later, paying bills by being vulnerable on the internet while parenting alone. And I'll be real? It's been the best worst decision of my life.

The Beginning: When Everything Imploded

It was 2022 when my marriage ended. I can still picture sitting in my mostly empty place (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my account, two kids to support, and a salary that was a joke. The panic was real, y'all.

I'd been mindlessly scrolling to avoid my thoughts—because that's what we do? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I saw this single mom sharing how she changed her life through content creation. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."

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

I downloaded the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, venting about how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a cheap food for my kids' lunch boxes. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who wants to watch my broke reality?

Turns out, a lot of people.

That video got 47K views. 47,000 people watched me nearly cry over chicken nuggets. The comments section became this validation fest—women in similar situations, others barely surviving, all saying "me too." That was my epiphany. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted raw.

Discovering My Voice: The Unfiltered Mom Content

Here's what they don't say about content creation: finding your niche is everything. And my niche? It chose me. I became the mom who tells the truth.

I started filming the stuff no one shows. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because executive dysfunction is real. Or the time I served cereal as a meal all week and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked about the divorce, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who thinks the tooth fairy is real.

My content was raw. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was honest, and turns out, that's what worked.

After sixty days, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, fifty thousand. By six months, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone blew my mind. These were real people who wanted to listen to me. Me—a struggling single mom who had to learn everything from scratch six months earlier.

The Actual Schedule: Juggling Everything

Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because this life is totally different from those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a getting ready video discussing budgeting. Sometimes it's me making food while sharing co-parenting struggles. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.

7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in full mom mode—feeding humans, hunting for that one shoe (why is it always one shoe), prepping food, referee duties. The chaos is overwhelming.

8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom creating content in traffic at stop signs. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. Peace and quiet. I'm editing videos, replying to DMs, ideating, reaching out to brands, checking analytics. Folks imagine content creation is simple. Wrong. It's a whole business.

I usually create multiple videos on Monday and Wednesday. That means filming 10-15 videos in one sitting. I'll swap tops so it appears to be different times. Advice: Keep multiple tops nearby for outfit changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, recording myself alone in the parking lot.

3:00pm: Pickup time. Transition back to mom mode. But here's the thing—frequently my biggest hits come from real life. Recently, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I said no to a $40 toy. I filmed a video in the car later about dealing with meltdowns as a single parent. It got millions of views.

Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm typically drained to create anything, but I'll queue up posts, check DMs, or plan tomorrow's content. Often, after they're down, I'll work late because a deadline is coming.

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

The Financial Reality: How I Support My Family

Look, let's get into the finances because this is what you're wondering. Can you actually make money as a creator? For sure. Is it simple? Nope.

My first month, I made zero dollars. Second month? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first paid partnership—$150 to promote a food subscription. I literally cried. That $150 bought groceries for two weeks.

Today, three years in, here's how I earn income:

Sponsored Content: This is my primary income. I work with brands that my followers need—practical items, mom products, children's products. I ask for anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per deal, depending on the scope. Last month, I did four collabs and made $8K.

Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: The TikTok fund pays basically nothing—$200-$400 per month for tons of views. YouTube revenue is more lucrative. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that was a long process.

Link Sharing: I share affiliate links to stuff I really use—everything from my go-to coffee machine to the bunk beds in their room. If someone clicks and buys, I get a cut. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.

Digital Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a food prep planner. $15 apiece, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another $1-1.5K.

Consulting Services: New creators pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 each month.

My total income: Generally, I'm making between ten and fifteen grand per month at this point. Some months are higher, some are tougher. It's inconsistent, which is nerve-wracking when you're the only income source. But it's triple what I made at my old job, and I'm home when my kids need me.

The Hard Parts Nobody Mentions

This sounds easy until you're sobbing alone because a post tanked, or dealing with nasty DMs from random people.

The trolls are vicious. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm exploiting my kids, questioned about being a solo parent. A commenter wrote, "Maybe that's why he left." That one stung for days.

The algorithm shifts. Sometimes you're getting huge numbers. Next month, you're struggling for views. Your income varies wildly. You're never off, 24/7, afraid to pause, you'll fall behind.

The mom guilt is amplified times a thousand. Everything I share, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Are my kids safe? Will they be angry about this when they're teenagers? I have clear boundaries—minimal identifying info, no discussing their personal struggles, nothing humiliating. But the line is hard to see.

The burnout is real. Some weeks when I can't create. When I'm touched out, talked out, and completely finished. But bills don't care about burnout. So I do it anyway.

What Makes It Worth It

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

Money security for once in my life. I'm not wealthy, but I eliminated my debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a real vacation last summer—the Mouse House, which was a dream two years ago. I don't check my bank account with anxiety anymore.

Flexibility that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to call in to work or lose income. I worked anywhere. When there's a field trip, I attend. I'm there for them in ways I couldn't be with a corporate job.

Community that saved me. The other influencers I've met, especially other single parents, have become my people. We vent, share strategies, lift each other up. My followers have become this amazing support system. They support me, encourage me through rough patches, and make me feel seen.

My own identity. Since becoming a mom, I have something that's mine. I'm not defined by divorce or just a mom. I'm a CEO. A content creator. Someone who created this.

Advice for Aspiring Creators

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

Don't wait. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. It's fine. You improve over time, not by waiting until everything is perfect.

Be yourself. People can spot fake. Share your honest life—the chaos. That's what works.

Protect your kids. Establish boundaries. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is sacred. I protect their names, minimize face content, and respect their dignity.

Don't rely on one thing. Don't put all eggs in one basket or one way to earn. The algorithm is fickle. More streams = less stress.

Film multiple videos. When you have time alone, record several. Future you will be grateful when you're too exhausted to create.

Interact. Reply to comments. Answer DMs. Create connections. Your community is what matters.

Analyze performance. Be strategic. If something is time-intensive and gets 200 views while something else takes 20 minutes and blows up, change tactics.

Don't forget yourself. You matter too. Step away. Guard your energy. Your wellbeing matters more than anything.

Be patient. This requires patience. It took me eight months to make meaningful money. My first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year 2, eighty grand. Year three, I'm on track for six figures. It's a process.

Remember why you started. On hard days—and they happen—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's independence, being present, and demonstrating that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.

Being Real With You

Look, I'm telling the truth. This journey is difficult. So damn hard. You're running a whole business while being the only parent of tiny humans who need you constantly.

Certain days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the nasty comments get to me. Days when I'm completely spent and asking myself if I should go back to corporate with consistent income.

But but then my daughter says she's proud that I work from home. Or I see financial progress. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I remember my purpose.

Where I'm Going From Here

Three years ago, I was lost and broke how to make it work. Now, I'm a full-time content creator making more than I imagined in corporate America, and I'm present for everything.

My goals moving forward? Hit 500K by December. Begin podcasting for solo parents. Maybe write a book. Expand this business that makes everything possible.

This path gave me a second chance when I was desperate. It gave me a way to provide for my family, show up, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's not what I planned, but it's exactly where I needed to be.

To all the single moms considering this: Hell yes you can. It will be challenging. You'll consider quitting. But you're managing the most difficult thing—doing this alone. You're stronger than you think.

Start imperfect. Keep showing up. Prioritize yourself. And don't forget, you're more than just surviving—you're building something incredible.

BRB, I need to go make a video about homework I forgot about and nobody told me until now. Because that's how it goes—content from the mess, one TikTok at a time.

For real. This life? It's everything. Despite there's probably crumbs all over my desk. That's the dream, mess included.