Busy parent extra income ideas this year – broken down to busy moms create additional revenue

Here's the tea, mom life is no joke. But plot twist? Working to hustle for money while juggling kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.

My hustle life began about a few years back when I discovered that my impulse buys were way too frequent. I needed my own money.

Being a VA

Here's what happened, my first gig was jumping into virtual assistance. And I'll be real? It was exactly what I needed. I was able to get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and all I needed was my laptop and decent wifi.

Initially I was doing basic stuff like organizing inboxes, doing social media scheduling, and basic admin work. Nothing fancy. I charged about $20/hour, which wasn't much but for someone with zero experience, you gotta start somewhere.

Honestly the most hilarious thing? I'd be on a Zoom call looking completely put together from the waist up—looking corporate—while rocking pajama bottoms. Peak mom life.

My Etsy Journey

After getting my feet wet, I thought I'd test out the whole Etsy thing. Everyone and their mother seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I thought "why not get in on this?"

I created crafting PDF planners and digital art prints. The beauty of printables? One and done creation, and it can generate passive income forever. Actually, I've gotten orders at 3am while I was sleeping.

The first time someone bought something? I literally screamed. My husband thought I'd injured myself. Nope—I was just, celebrating my $4.99 sale. No shame in my game.

Blogging and Creating

Next I ventured into the whole influencer thing. This hustle is playing the long game, real talk.

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

Growing an audience was painfully slow. Initially, I was essentially writing for myself and like three people. But I persisted, and eventually, things began working.

At this point? I earn income through promoting products, collaborations, and ad revenue. Recently I earned over $2K from my website. Crazy, right?

SMM Side Hustle

When I became good with running my own socials, brands started reaching out if I could run their social media.

And honestly? A lot of local businesses struggle with social media. They know they need a presence, but they can't keep up.

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

I bill between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on how much work is involved. The best thing? I can do most of it from my phone during soccer practice.

Writing for Money

If writing this post is your thing, freelance writing is where it's at. This isn't writing the next Great American Novel—I mean content writing for businesses.

Companies are desperate for content. I've written everything from literally everything under the sun. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to know how to find information.

I typically earn fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on length and complexity. On good months I'll write 10-15 articles and pull in an extra $1,000-2,000.

The funny thing is: Back in school I hated writing papers. Now I'm a professional writer. The irony.

Tutoring Online

After lockdown started, virtual tutoring became huge. I was a teacher before kids, so this was right up my alley.

I signed up with a couple of online tutoring sites. The scheduling is flexible, which is absolutely necessary when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.

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

Here's what's weird? Every now and then my own kids will burst into the room mid-session. I've literally had to be professional while chaos erupted behind me. My clients are totally cool about it because they understand mom life.

The Reselling Game

So, this one happened accidentally. During a massive cleanout my kids' stuff and posted some items on Facebook Marketplace.

They sold instantly. I had an epiphany: one person's trash is another's treasure.

These days I shop at estate sales and thrift shops, looking for things that will sell. I'll find something for cheap and resell at a markup.

This takes effort? Yes. You're constantly listing and shipping. But I find it rewarding about spotting valuable items at the thrift store and making profit.

Also: the kids think it's neat when I discover weird treasures. Recently I scored a collectible item that my son went crazy for. Got forty-five dollars for it. Mom for the win.

The Honest Reality

Let me keep it real: this stuff requires effort. The word 'hustle' is there for a reason.

There are days when I'm completely drained, wondering why I'm doing this. I wake up early getting stuff done while it's quiet, then handling mom duties, then back at it after bedtime.

But this is what's real? This income is mine. I don't have to ask permission to splurge on something nice. I'm contributing to my family's finances. My kids see that you can be both.

Tips if You're Starting Out

If you want to start a side gig, here are my tips:

Start with one thing. Don't try to do everything at once. Pick one thing and nail it down before expanding.

Use the time you have. If you only have evenings, that's okay. A couple of productive hours is a great beginning.

Comparison is the thief of joy to other moms. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? She's been grinding forever and has support. Stay in your lane.

Invest in yourself, but wisely. Free information exists. Don't waste thousands on courses until you've validated your idea.

Work in batches. I learned this the hard way. Block off time blocks for different things. Use Monday for content creation day. Wednesday could be handling business stuff.

Dealing with Mom Guilt

I'm not gonna lie—the mom guilt is real. Sometimes when I'm hustling and my child is calling for me, and I feel guilty.

Yet I remember that I'm modeling for them what dedication looks like. I'm demonstrating to my children that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.

And honestly? Earning independently has made me a better mom. I'm more content, which makes me more patient.

The Numbers

How much do I earn? On average, combining everything, I earn $3K-5K. Some months are lower, others are slower.

Will this make you wealthy? Nope. But I've used it for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've stressed us out. And it's creating opportunities and experience that could grow into more.

Final Thoughts

Here's the bottom line, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship takes work. It's not a magic formula. Often I'm improvising everything, running on coffee and determination, and doing my best.

But I don't regret it. Every dollar earned is a testament to my hustle. It demonstrates that I have identity beyond motherhood.

So if you're considering diving into this? Go for it. Begin before you're ready. Future you will be so glad you did.

Keep in mind: You aren't only surviving—you're growing something incredible. Even if there's probably Goldfish crackers 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

Here's the truth—being a single parent wasn't the dream. Nor was turning into an influencer. But yet here I am, three years into this wild journey, paying bills by creating content while parenting alone. And real talk? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.

How It Started: When Everything Fell Apart

It was three years ago when my relationship fell apart. I can still picture sitting in my bare apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had eight hundred forty-seven dollars in my account, two mouths to feed, and a job that barely covered rent. The stress was unbearable, y'all.

I'd been mindlessly scrolling to escape reality—because that's how we cope? when everything is chaos, right?—when I saw this solo parent talking about how she changed her life through making videos. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."

But rock bottom gives you courage. Or stupid. Sometimes both.

I installed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, explaining how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunch boxes. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Who gives a damn about someone's train wreck of a life?

Spoiler alert, tons of people.

That video got 47,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me get emotional over $12 worth of food. The comments section became this safe space—other single moms, folks in the trenches, all saying "this is my life." That was my epiphany. People didn't want perfect. They wanted honest.

My Brand Evolution: The Unfiltered Mom Content

The truth is about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the real one.

I started sharing 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 gave them breakfast for dinner three nights in a row and called it "cereal week." Or that moment when my kid asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who still believes in Santa.

My content was raw. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was authentic, and apparently, that's what connected.

Two months later, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, 50,000. By six months, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone seemed fake. These were real people who wanted to follow me. Plain old me—a broke single mom who had to ask Google what this meant months before.

The Daily Grind: Balancing Content and Chaos

Here's the reality 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 want to throw my phone, but this is my sacred content creation time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me discussing financial reality. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while venting about custody stuff. The lighting is natural and terrible.

7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation pauses. Now I'm in full mom mode—pouring cereal, finding the missing shoe (it's always one shoe), packing lunches, stopping fights. The chaos is intense.

8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom creating content in traffic in the car. Not my proudest moment, but bills don't care.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. Peace and quiet. I'm in editing mode, being social, thinking of ideas, sending emails, checking analytics. People think content creation is just posting videos. It's not. It's a whole business.

I usually batch-create content on certain days. That means making a dozen videos in one go. I'll change shirts between videos so it looks like different days. Advice: Keep multiple tops nearby for quick changes. My neighbors think I've lost it, recording myself alone in the parking lot.

3:00pm: Getting the kids. Back to parenting. But here's where it gets tricky—sometimes my best content ideas come from this time. A few days ago, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I refused to get a toy she didn't need. I filmed a video in the Target parking lot afterward about dealing with meltdowns as a single parent. It got 2.3 million views.

Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm usually too exhausted to film, but I'll schedule uploads, reply to messages, or outline content. Many nights, after everyone's sleeping, I'll edit videos until midnight because a brand deadline is looming.

The truth? No such thing as balance. It's just managed chaos with occasional wins.

The Financial Reality: How I Generate Income

Okay, let's get into the finances because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you really earn income as a influencer? Absolutely. Is it straightforward? Not even close.

My first month, I made zero dollars. Month two? Still nothing. Month three, I got my first collaboration—$150 to post about a meal kit service. I broke down. That one-fifty paid for groceries.

Fast forward, three years in, here's how I monetize:

Sponsored Content: This is my main revenue. I work with brands that align with my audience—affordable stuff, single-parent resources, kid essentials. I bill anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per partnership, depending on the scope. Last month, I did four collabs and made eight grand.

Platform Payments: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—two to four hundred per month for tons of views. YouTube ad revenue is actually decent. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that took forever.

Affiliate Income: I share links to items I love—anything from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds I bought. If someone purchases through my link, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.

Downloadables: I created a financial planner and a meal planning ebook. Each costs $15, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.

Consulting Services: People wanting to start pay me to guide them. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200 hourly. I do about 5-10 each month.

Total monthly income: On average, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month at this point. Certain months are better, others are slower. It's variable, which is nerve-wracking when you're it. But it's triple what I made at my corporate job, and I'm home when my kids need me.

What They Don't Show Nobody Talks About

It looks perfect online until you're crying in your car because a post got no views, or managing cruel messages from keyboard warriors.

The trolls are vicious. I've been mom-shamed, told I'm problematic, told I'm fake about being a divorced parent. Someone once commented, "Maybe that's why he left." That one stuck with me.

The algorithm is unpredictable. One week you're getting insane views. The following week, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income varies wildly. You're constantly creating, 24/7, scared to stop, you'll fall behind.

The guilt is crushing exponentially. Every video I post, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Are my kids safe? Will they regret this when they're adults? I have clear boundaries—protected identities, nothing too personal, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is hard to see.

The burnout is real. Sometimes when I have nothing. When I'm depleted, socially drained, and totally spent. But life doesn't stop. So I show up anyway.

The Unexpected Blessings

But here's the thing—even with the struggles, this journey has created things I never imagined.

Financial freedom for the first damn time. I'm not rich, but I became debt-free. I have an cushion. We took a vacation last summer—Disney, which felt impossible two years ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.

Time freedom that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to stress about missing work or panic. I handled business at urgent care. When there's a class party, I'm present. I'm available in ways I wasn't with a traditional 9-5.

Connection that saved me. The other creators I've met, especially solo parents, have become actual friends. We support each other, exchange tips, have each other's backs. My followers have become this family. They cheer for me, send love, and remind me I'm not alone.

My own identity. After years, I have something that's mine. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or just a mom. I'm a content creator. An influencer. Someone who created this.

My Best Tips

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

Begin now. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. It's fine. You get better, not by waiting until everything is perfect.

Be authentic, not perfect. People can tell when you're fake. Share your real life—the mess. That's what works.

Keep them safe. Set limits. Know your limits. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I never share their names, minimize face content, and respect their dignity.

Don't rely on one thing. Don't rely on just one platform or one revenue source. The algorithm is unstable. Multiple income streams = stability.

Batch your content. When you have available time, record several. Tomorrow you will be grateful when you're unable to film.

Interact. Respond to comments. Reply to messages. Build real relationships. Your community is crucial.

Track your time and ROI. Be strategic. If something takes four hours and gets 200 views while another video takes no time and goes viral, adjust your strategy.

Self-care matters. You need to fill your cup. Step away. Set boundaries. Your mental health matters more than views.

This takes time. This takes time. It took me months to make decent money. The first year, I made $15K total. Year 2, $80,000. Year three, I'm making six figures. It's a journey.

Stay connected to your purpose. On hard days—and they happen—think about your why. For me, it's independence, being present, and validating that I'm more than I believed.

Being Real With You

Here's the deal, I'm keeping it 100. Being a single mom creator is hard. So damn hard. You're managing a business while being the lone caretaker of children who require constant attention.

Some days I doubt myself. Days when the hate comments hurt. Days when I'm burnt out and questioning if I should quit this with benefits and a steady paycheck.

But then suddenly my daughter mentions she's proud that I work from home. Or I see financial progress. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I remember my purpose.

My Future Plans

Not long ago, I was scared and struggling how to survive. Today, I'm a full-time creator making more than I imagined in traditional work, and I'm available when they need me.

My goals for the future? Get to half a million followers by year-end. Launch a podcast for solo parents. Possibly write a book. Keep building this business that changed my life.

Content creation gave me a path forward when I needed it most. It gave me a way to support my kids, be present in their lives, and build something real. It's not what I planned, but it's perfect.

To any single parent considering this: You absolutely can. It will be challenging. You'll want to quit some days. But you're handling the most difficult thing—raising humans alone. You're more capable than you know.

Jump in messy. Stay consistent. Prioritize yourself. And remember, you're beyond survival mode—you're building something incredible.

Gotta go now, I need to go record a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's the reality—turning chaos into content, one post at a time.

No cap. This journey? It's the best decision. Even if there's definitely old snacks all over my desk. Living the dream, mess included.