Stay-at-home mom extra income ideas for today – broken down that helps mothers seeking flexibility create additional revenue

Here's the tea, mom life is not for the weak. But plot twist? Working to secure the bag while dealing with kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.

This whole thing started for me about three years ago when I figured out that my Target runs were getting out of hand. I was desperate for my own money.

Being a VA

So, my initial venture was jumping into virtual assistance. And I'll be real? It was perfect. I could hustle while the kids slept, and literally all it took was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.

I started with easy things like handling emails, managing social content, and entering data. Not rocket science. I started at about $15-20 per hour, which felt cheap but when you're just starting, you gotta begin at the bottom.

Honestly the most hilarious thing? I would be on a client call looking all professional from the shoulders up—looking corporate—while sporting pajama bottoms. Peak mom life.

Selling on Etsy

After a year, I thought I'd test out the Etsy world. Literally everyone seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I was like "why not join the party?"

I started crafting downloadable organizers and home decor prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? Make it one time, and it can generate passive income forever. Genuinely, I've made sales at midnight when I'm unconscious.

When I got my first order? I literally screamed. My husband thought I'd injured myself. But no—I was just, celebrating my $4.99 sale. Don't judge me.

Content Creator Life

After that I started the whole influencer thing. This particular side gig is playing the long game, real talk.

I started a blog about motherhood where I documented my parenting journey—the messy truth. No Instagram-perfect nonsense. Only authentic experiences about finding mystery stains on everything I own.

Building traffic was a test of patience. Initially, I was basically my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I persisted, and slowly but surely, things gained momentum.

At this point? I make money through promoting products, brand partnerships, and display ads. Recently I earned over two grand from my blog alone. Crazy, right?

The Social Media Management Game

As I mastered my own content, small companies started inquiring if I could do the same for them.

Here's the thing? Many companies struggle with social media. They understand they should be posting, but they're clueless about the algorithm.

Enter: me. I oversee social media for three local businesses—different types of businesses. I develop content, queue up posts, respond to comments, and track analytics.

I charge between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on the scope of work. What I love? I do this work from my iPhone.

Writing for Money

If writing is your thing, freelance writing is incredibly lucrative. I don't mean writing the next Great American Novel—this is business content.

Websites and businesses need content constantly. I've written articles about everything from literally everything under the sun. Google is your best friend, you just need to know how to find information.

Generally earn $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on the topic and length. When I'm hustling hard I'll write a dozen articles and bring in a couple thousand dollars.

What's hilarious: I was that student who struggled with essays. Now I'm a professional writer. Talk about character development.

Virtual Tutoring

After lockdown started, online tutoring exploded. As a former educator, so this was kind of a natural fit.

I started working with various tutoring services. The scheduling is flexible, which is crucial when you have tiny humans who throw curveballs daily.

I mostly tutor elementary school stuff. You can make from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on where you work.

Here's what's weird? Occasionally my children will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I once had to educate someone's child while mine had a meltdown. The families I work with are totally cool about it because they're parents too.

The Reselling Game

Alright, this particular venture I stumbled into. I was decluttering my kids' things and listed some clothes on Facebook Marketplace.

Items moved within hours. I suddenly understood: one person's trash is another's treasure.

At this point I frequent thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, searching for name brands. I'll find something for $3 and sell it for $30.

This takes effort? For sure. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's oddly satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at a garage sale and turning a profit.

Plus: my kids think I'm cool when I bring home interesting finds. Just last week I grabbed a rare action figure that my son lost his mind over. Sold it for $45. Score one for mom.

Real Talk Time

Here's the thing nobody tells you: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. It's called hustling because you're hustling.

There are days when I'm surviving on caffeine and spite, asking myself what I'm doing. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then all day mom-ing, then back to work after the kids are asleep.

But this is what's real? I earned this money. I can spend it guilt-free to treat myself. I'm supporting our financial goals. My kids are learning that moms can do anything.

Tips if You're Starting Out

If you're considering a side gig, here are my tips:

Start with one thing. Don't attempt to launch everything simultaneously. Pick one thing and get good at it before expanding.

Work with your schedule. Whatever time you have, that's perfectly acceptable. Two hours of focused work is more than enough to start.

Don't compare yourself to the highlight reels. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? They put in years of work and has resources you don't see. Stay in your lane.

Invest in yourself, but strategically. There are tons of free resources. Don't spend thousands on courses until you've tried things out.

Batch your work. This is crucial. Dedicate time blocks for different things. Use Monday for writing day. Wednesday might be handling business stuff.

The Mom Guilt is Real

Let me be honest—I struggle with guilt. There are times when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I feel terrible.

Yet I remember that I'm teaching them what dedication looks like. I'm teaching my kids that motherhood doesn't mean giving up your identity.

Plus? Making my own money has made me a better mom. I'm happier, which helps me be better.

The Numbers

So what do I actually make? Generally, from all my side gigs, I bring in three to five thousand monthly. Some months are lower, some are slower.

Is this millionaire money? Not exactly. But this money covers family trips and unexpected expenses that would've caused financial strain. It's developing my career and experience that could turn into something bigger.

Wrapping This Up

At the end of the day, being a mom with a side hustle takes work. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. Many days I'm flying by the seat of my pants, running on coffee and determination, and praying it all works out.

But I wouldn't change it. Every dollar I earn is a testament to my hustle. It demonstrates that I'm not just someone's mother.

If you're thinking about starting a side hustle? Start now. Begin before you're ready. Future you will appreciate it.

Always remember: You're not just getting by—you're hustling. Even though there's probably snack crumbs in your workspace.

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

From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom

I'm gonna be honest—being a single parent wasn't on my vision board. I never expected to be turning into an influencer. But fast forward to now, three years later, paying bills by posting videos while doing this mom thing solo. And not gonna lie? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.

How It Started: When Everything Imploded

It was three years ago when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my bare apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had $847 in my bank account, two humans depending on me, and a income that didn't cut it. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.

I was scrolling social media to distract myself from the anxiety—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when we're drowning, right?—when I came across this woman talking about 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. Or stupid. Probably both.

I installed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, sharing how I'd just blown my final $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunch boxes. I shared it and felt sick. Who gives a damn about this disaster?

Spoiler alert, thousands of people.

That video got 47,000 views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me breakdown over $12 worth of food. The comments section was this safe space—women in similar situations, people living the same reality, all saying "this is my life." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want filtered content. 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 mom who tells the truth.

I started posting about the stuff everyone keeps private. Like how I didn't change pants for days because executive dysfunction is real. Or the time I served cereal as a meal multiple nights and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked why we don't live with dad, and I had to explain adult stuff to a kid who is six years old.

My content wasn't pretty. My lighting was trash. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was honest, and evidently, that's what resonated.

In just two months, I hit ten thousand followers. Three months later, 50K. By six months, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt surreal. People who wanted to know my story. Little old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to ask Google what this meant six months earlier.

The Actual Schedule: Juggling Everything

Here's the reality of my typical day, because this life is not at all like those aesthetic "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm blares. I do absolutely not want to wake up, but this is my hustle hours. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I begin creating. Sometimes it's a GRWM talking about single mom finances. Sometimes it's me cooking while discussing dealing with my ex. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.

7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation ends. Now I'm in parent mode—pouring cereal, the shoe hunt (seriously, always ONE), throwing food in bags, mediating arguments. The chaos is intense.

8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom creating content in traffic at stop signs. Don't judge me, but bills don't care.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Kids are at school. I'm editing content, engaging with followers, thinking of ideas, pitching brands, looking at stats. Folks imagine content creation is just posting videos. Absolutely not. It's a entire operation.

I usually batch-create content on Monday and Wednesday. That means filming 10-15 videos in one go. I'll change shirts between videos so it looks varied. Hot tip: Keep different outfits accessible for quick changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, recording myself alone in the yard.

3:00pm: Getting the kids. Parent time. But this is where it's complicated—often my viral videos come from real life. Recently, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I wouldn't buy a toy she didn't need. I created a video in the car later about managing big emotions as a single parent. It got over 2 million views.

Evening: All the evening things. I'm typically drained to film, but I'll plan posts, check DMs, or outline content. Often, after everyone's sleeping, I'll stay up editing because a deadline is coming.

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

Let's Talk Income: How I Actually Make a Living

Okay, let's talk dollars because this is what people ask about. Can you legitimately profit as a online creator? Absolutely. Is it easy? Nope.

My first month, I made zero dollars. Second month? $0. Third month, I got my first collaboration—$150 to promote a meal kit service. I literally cried. That $150 bought groceries for two weeks.

Today, three years in, here's how I monetize:

Brand Partnerships: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that make sense—practical items, mom products, kid essentials. I charge anywhere from $500-5K per partnership, depending on deliverables. Just last month, I did four partnerships and made eight thousand dollars.

Creator Fund/Ad Revenue: The TikTok fund pays basically nothing—maybe $200-400 per month for millions of views. YouTube money is actually decent. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that required years.

Link Sharing: I share links to things I own—anything from my favorite coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If they buy using my link, I get a commission. This brings in about $800-1,200 monthly.

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

Coaching/Consulting: Aspiring influencers pay me to show them how. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for $200 hourly. I do about several each month.

Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month now. Certain months are better, some are tougher. It's variable, which is terrifying when there's no backup. But it's 3x what I made at my 9-5, and I'm there for them.

The Hard Parts Nobody Posts About

Content creation sounds glamorous until you're sobbing alone because a video flopped, or dealing with hate comments from strangers who think they know your life.

The hate comments are real. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm exploiting my kids, accused of lying about being a solo parent. One person said, "I'd leave too." That one destroyed me.

The algorithm changes constantly. One week you're getting huge numbers. The following week, you're getting nothing. Your income varies wildly. You're always creating, never resting, worried that if you take a break, you'll fall behind.

The mom guilt is intense exponentially. Every upload, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Is this okay? Will they be angry about this when they're teenagers? I have non-negotiables—no faces of my kids without permission, no sharing their private stuff, no embarrassing content. But the line is fuzzy.

The burnout hits hard. Certain periods when I can't create. When I'm depleted, talked out, and totally spent. But life doesn't stop. So I do it anyway.

The Unexpected Blessings

But here's what's real—through it all, this journey has brought me things I never expected.

Economic stability for once in my life. I'm not rich, but I eliminated my debt. I have an safety net. We took a real vacation last summer—Disney World, which I never thought possible a couple years back. I don't panic about money anymore.

Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or stress about losing pay. I worked anywhere. When there's a field trip, I'm there. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't be with a regular job.

Support that saved me. The creator friends I've found, especially solo parents, have become true friends. We talk, help each other, have each other's backs. My followers have become this family. They hype me up, encourage me through rough patches, and make me feel seen.

Identity beyond "mom". Since becoming a mom, I have an identity. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or just a mom. I'm a CEO. A content creator. A person who hustled.

What I Wish I Knew

If you're a single mom wanting to start, here's what I wish someone had told me:

Start before you're ready. Your first videos will suck. Mine did. That's normal. You improve over time, not by waiting until everything is perfect.

Be authentic, not perfect. People can smell fake from a mile away. Share your real life—the unfiltered truth. That's the magic.

Keep them safe. Create rules. Be intentional. Their privacy is everything. I protect their names, limit face shots, and protect their stories.

Build multiple income streams. Spread it out or one income stream. The algorithm is fickle. More streams = less stress.

Batch your content. When you have time alone, film multiple videos. Next week you will be grateful when you're unable to film.

Interact. Engage. this commentary Answer DMs. Be real with them. Your community is what matters.

Analyze performance. Time is money. If something takes four hours and gets 200 views while another video takes very little time and blows up, adjust your strategy.

Take care of yourself. You need to fill your cup. Unplug. Create limits. Your health matters more than going viral.

Give it time. This takes time. It took me half a year to make decent money. Year one, I made fifteen thousand. Year 2, eighty grand. Now, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a long game.

Don't forget your why. On bad days—and there are many—think about your why. For me, it's money, being present, and proving to myself that I'm capable of anything.

Being Real With You

Look, I'm being honest. Content creation as a single mom is difficult. Really hard. You're basically running a business while being the sole caretaker of children who require constant attention.

Certain days I second-guess this. Days when the nasty comments get to me. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and wondering if I should go back to corporate with a 401k.

But and then my daughter says she loves that I'm home. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content gave her courage. And I understand the impact.

Where I'm Going From Here

Three years ago, I was scared and struggling how to make it work. Currently, I'm a full-time content creator making more money than I ever did in traditional work, and I'm present for everything.

My goals for the future? Hit 500,000 followers by year-end. Create a podcast for solo parents. Possibly write a book. Continue building this business that supports my family.

This journey gave me a lifeline when I had nothing. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be present in their lives, and create something meaningful. It's unexpected, but it's where I belong.

To every single mom out there considering this: You absolutely can. It will be challenging. You'll consider quitting. But you're currently doing the toughest gig—parenting solo. You're stronger than you think.

Jump in messy. Stay consistent. Protect your peace. And don't forget, you're more than just surviving—you're building something incredible.

Time to go, I need to go create content about the project I just found out about and nobody told me until now. Because that's the reality—content from the mess, one post at a time.

Seriously. This journey? It's worth it. Even when there's probably crushed cheerios all over my desk. Dream life, imperfectly perfect.