Busy parent part-time jobs right now : broken down to parents create financial freedom

Here's the tea, being a mom is a whole vibe. But you know what's even crazier? Attempting to hustle for money while handling children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.

My hustle life began about a few years back when I discovered that my random shopping trips were getting out of hand. It was time to get my own money.

Virtual Assistant Hustle

Okay so, my first gig was doing VA work. And honestly? It was chef's kiss. 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, posting on social media, and basic admin work. Nothing fancy. My rate was about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but for someone with zero experience, you gotta prove yourself first.

The funniest part? I would be on a video meeting looking completely put together from the waist up—business casual vibes—while sporting pants I'd owned since 2015. Main character energy.

Selling on Etsy

About twelve months in, I wanted to explore the handmade marketplace scene. Every mom I knew seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I thought "why not get in on this?"

My shop focused on creating downloadable organizers and digital art prints. Here's why printables are amazing? Make it one time, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Literally, I've gotten orders at times when I didn't even know.

The first time someone bought something? I lost my mind. My husband thought there was an emergency. Negative—just me, cheering about my $4.99 sale. Don't judge me.

Content Creator Life

Eventually I got into creating content online. This venture is definitely a slow burn, real talk.

I launched a parenting blog where I posted about what motherhood actually looks like—all of it, no filter. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Only honest stories about finding mystery stains on everything I own.

Building up views was painfully slow. At the beginning, it was basically talking to myself. But I didn't give up, and after a while, things gained momentum.

These days? I earn income through affiliate marketing, working with brands, and advertisements on my site. This past month I earned over $2K from my blog alone. Mind-blowing, right?

The Social Media Management Game

After I learned my own content, brands started asking if I could manage their accounts.

Real talk? Most small businesses struggle with social media. They understand they need a presence, but they can't keep up.

I swoop in. I now manage social media for a handful of clients—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I make posts, plan their posting schedule, engage with followers, and monitor performance.

They pay me between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per client, depending on how much work is involved. The best thing? I can do most of it from my phone during soccer practice.

The Freelance Writing Hustle

If writing is your thing, freelance writing is seriously profitable. I'm not talking writing the next Great American Novel—I mean content writing for businesses.

Websites and businesses are desperate for content. I've written articles about everything from literally everything under the sun. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to know how to Google effectively.

I typically earn between fifty and two hundred per article, depending on length and complexity. When I'm hustling hard I'll crank out 10-15 articles and earn a couple thousand dollars.

Here's what's wild: I was the person who hated writing papers. And now I'm making money from copyright. Talk about character development.

Virtual Tutoring

When COVID hit, everyone needed online help. With my teaching background, so this was kind of a natural fit.

I registered on a couple of online tutoring sites. It's super flexible, which is crucial when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.

My sessions are usually basic subjects. The pay ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on the platform.

Here's what's weird? Occasionally my children will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I've had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they're parents too.

Reselling and Flipping

So, this side gig wasn't planned. While organizing my kids' stuff and posted some items on Mercari.

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

Currently I visit estate sales and thrift shops, on the hunt for quality items. I grab something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.

It's labor-intensive? Not gonna lie. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But I find it rewarding about discovering a diamond in the rough at a yard sale and turning a profit.

Plus: the kids think it's neat when I score cool vintage stuff. Just last week I scored a rare action figure that my son went crazy for. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Mom win.

The Honest Reality

Real talk moment: this stuff requires effort. There's work involved, hence the name.

Certain days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm up at 5am working before my kids wake up, then being a full-time parent, then more hustle time after 8pm hits.

But this is what's real? I earned this money. No permission needed to treat myself. I'm helping with our financial goals. My kids see that moms can do anything.

Tips if You're Starting Out

If you're considering a hustle of your own, here's my advice:

Begin with something manageable. Don't attempt to start five businesses. Choose one hustle and get good at it before starting something else.

Be realistic about time. Your available hours, that's fine. A couple of productive hours is better than nothing.

Don't compare yourself to what you see online. The successful ones you see? They put in years of work and doesn't do it alone. Do your thing.

Invest in yourself, but strategically. There are tons of free resources. Don't waste huge money on programs until you've tried things out.

Batch your work. This is crucial. Block off time blocks for different things. Monday might be content creation day. Make Wednesday admin and emails.

The Mom Guilt is Real

I have to be real with you—the mom guilt is real. Certain moments when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I feel terrible.

However I remind myself that I'm demonstrating to them that hard work matters. I'm showing my daughter that moms can have businesses.

Plus? Earning independently has been good for me. I'm more content, which makes me more patient.

Let's Talk Money

The real numbers? Most months, between all my hustles, I make $3,000-5,000 per month. Some months are lower, others are slower.

Is this getting-rich money? Not exactly. But it's paid for stuff that matters to us that would've been really hard. Plus it's developing my career and expertise that could grow into more.

In Conclusion

Here's the bottom line, doing this mom hustle thing isn't easy. It's not a magic formula. Often I'm improvising everything, surviving on coffee, and praying it all works out.

But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every dollar earned is evidence of my capability. It shows that I'm a multifaceted person.

If you're on the fence about beginning your hustle journey? Start now. Start messy. Future you will be so glad you did.

Keep in mind: You're not just surviving—you're growing something incredible. Even when you probably have snack crumbs stuck to your laptop.

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

My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom

I'm gonna be honest—being a single parent was never the plan. I never expected to be becoming a content creator. But fast forward to now, three years later, paying bills by creating content while handling everything by myself. And honestly? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.

Rock Bottom: When Everything Came Crashing Down

It was a few years ago when my life exploded. I can still picture sitting in my mostly empty place (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), wide awake at 2am while my kids slept. I had $847 in my bank account, two kids to support, and a job that barely covered rent. The panic was real, y'all.

I'd been mindlessly scrolling to numb the pain—because that's the move? in crisis mode, right?—when I stumbled on this divorced mom discussing how she changed her life through posting online. I remember thinking, "She's lying or got lucky."

But desperation makes you brave. Or stupid. Usually both.

I got the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, talking about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunches. I uploaded it and wanted to delete it. Who gives a damn about this disaster?

Apparently, way more people than I expected.

That video got 47,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me get emotional over $12 worth of food. The comments section turned into this incredible community—people who got it, others barely surviving, all saying "I feel this." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted raw.

Discovering My Voice: The Honest Single Parent Platform

Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: niche is crucial. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.

I started filming the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I lived in one outfit because laundry felt impossible. Or when I fed my kids cereal for dinner all week and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked about the divorce, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who is six years old.

My content wasn't polished. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was real, and apparently, that's what worked.

In just two months, I hit ten thousand followers. Month three, 50K. By half a year, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone seemed fake. These were real people who wanted to know my story. Little old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to figure this out from zero recently.

The Daily Grind: Content Creation Meets Real Life

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

5:30am: My alarm screams. I do not want to move, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a getting ready video discussing financial reality. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while discussing dealing with my ex. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.

7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in mommy mode—feeding humans, hunting for that one shoe (where do they go), making lunch boxes, stopping fights. The chaos is real.

8:30am: Drop off time. I'm that mom creating content in traffic when stopped. Don't judge me, but content waits for no one.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. I'm alone finally. I'm cutting clips, engaging with followers, ideating, reaching out to brands, analyzing metrics. People think content creation is just posting videos. Nope. It's a entire operation.

I usually batch-create content on certain days. That means creating 10-15 pieces in a few hours. I'll switch outfits so it looks varied. Advice: Keep multiple tops nearby for outfit changes. My neighbors definitely think I'm crazy, talking to my camera in the backyard.

3:00pm: Picking them up. Parent time. But here's the thing—frequently my biggest hits come from this time. Just last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I refused to get a toy she didn't need. I recorded in the parking lot once we left about managing big emotions as a solo parent. It got 2.3M views.

Evening: All the evening things. I'm completely exhausted to film, but I'll plan posts, answer messages, or strategize. Many nights, after bedtime, I'll stay up editing because a deadline is coming.

The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just controlled chaos with moments of success.

The Money Talk: How I Generate Income

Look, let's get into the finances because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you actually make money as a influencer? 100%. Is it simple? Absolutely not.

My first month, I made zero dollars. Second month? Zero. Month three, I got my first sponsored post—$150 to share a food subscription. I actually cried. That one-fifty bought groceries for two weeks.

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

Collaborations: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that align with my audience—budget-friendly products, mom products, kid essentials. I get paid anywhere from five hundred to several thousand per campaign, depending on the scope. Just last month, I did four collabs and made $8K.

Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: The TikTok fund pays very little—$200-$400 per month for huge view counts. YouTube revenue is more lucrative. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.

Affiliate Marketing: I share links to things I own—ranging from my go-to coffee machine to the kids' beds. If anyone buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about $1K monthly.

Online Products: I created a money management guide and a meal prep guide. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.

Teaching Others: Other aspiring creators pay me to mentor them. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200/hour. I do about five to ten a month.

Total monthly income: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month currently. It varies, some are less. It's variable, which is scary when you're solo. But it's three times what I made at my old job, and I'm present.

What They Don't Show Nobody Mentions

This sounds easy until you're sobbing alone because a post got no views, or dealing with vicious comments from keyboard warriors.

The trolls are vicious. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm using my children, called a liar about being a divorced parent. A commenter wrote, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one stung for days.

The algorithm shifts. Sometimes you're getting viral hits. The following week, you're getting nothing. Your income goes up and down. You're constantly creating, always "on", afraid to pause, you'll fall behind.

The mom guilt is amplified exponentially. Every upload, I wonder: Is this too much? Am I protecting my kids' privacy? Will they hate me for this when they're teenagers? I have strict rules—protected identities, no discussing their personal struggles, protecting their dignity. But the line is blurry sometimes.

The I get burnt out. Sometimes when I am empty. When I'm exhausted, over it, and completely finished. But the mortgage is due. So I create anyway.

What Makes It Worth It

But the truth is—even with the struggles, this journey has brought me things I never expected.

Money security for the first time in my life. I'm not rich, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an savings. We took a actual vacation last summer—Orlando, which was a dream not long ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.

Time freedom that's priceless. When my child had a fever last month, I didn't have to ask permission or lose income. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a school thing, I'm present. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't manage with a traditional 9-5.

Community that saved me. The other influencers I've befriended, especially other single parents, have become my people. We support each other, help each other, lift each other up. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They support me, lift me up, and remind me I'm not alone.

My own identity. After years, I have something for me. I'm not defined by divorce or someone's mom. I'm a CEO. An influencer. Someone who built something from nothing.

What I Wish I Knew

If you're a single parent considering content creation, here's what I'd tell you:

Begin now. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. That's normal. You grow through creating, not by waiting until everything is perfect.

Be authentic, not perfect. People can spot fake. Share your true life—the mess. That's the magic.

Guard their privacy. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is the priority. I keep names private, limit face shots, and keep private things private.

Build multiple income streams. Don't rely on just one platform or a single source. The algorithm is unstable. Multiple income streams = stability.

Batch create content. When you have free time, record several. Next week you will thank present you when you're drained.

Build community. Engage. Reply to messages. Create connections. Your community is everything.

Track metrics. Time is money. If something takes forever and flops while a different post takes very little time and gets massive views, adjust your strategy.

Self-care matters. Self-care isn't selfish. Take breaks. Guard your energy. Your sanity matters more than anything.

This takes time. This requires patience. It took me half a year to make any real money. My first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. The second year, $80,000. Year 3, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a journey.

Know your why. On hard days—and they happen—think about your why. For me, it's financial freedom, flexibility with my kids, and demonstrating that I'm stronger than I knew.

The Reality Check

Real talk, I'm keeping it 100. Being a single mom creator is hard. So damn hard. You're basically running a business while being the only parent of tiny humans who need you constantly.

There are days I doubt myself. Days when the trolls hurt. Days when I'm drained and questioning if I should get a regular job with consistent income.

But but then my daughter shares she appreciates this. Or I see financial progress. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I know it's worth it.

Where I'm Going From Here

A few years back, I was scared and struggling how to survive. Currently, I'm a content creator making more money than I ever did in my 9-5, and I'm available when they need me.

My goals moving forward? Hit 500K by December. Launch a podcast for single parents. Write a book eventually. Keep building this business that supports my family.

This path gave me a second chance when I needed it most. It gave me a way to support my kids, be there, and build something real. It's unexpected, but it's where I belong.

To every solo parent wondering if you can do an original article this: Hell yes you can. It will be hard. You'll consider quitting. But you're currently doing the toughest gig—single parenting. You're powerful.

Start imperfect. Keep showing up. 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 film a TikTok about another last-minute project and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's how it goes—making content from chaos, one video at a time.

No cap. This path? It's everything. Even though there might be Goldfish crackers in my keyboard. Living the dream, chaos and all.