Stay-at-home mom money-making projects this year : for beginners aimed at mothers seeking flexibility create financial freedom

Let me spill, being a mom is not for the weak. But you know what's even crazier? Attempting to make some extra cash while dealing with children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.

I started my side hustle journey about several years ago when I figured out that my retail therapy sessions were way too frequent. I needed my own money.

The Virtual Assistant Life

Right so, I kicked things off was jumping into virtual assistance. And honestly? It was ideal. I was able to work during naptime, and all I needed was my laptop and decent wifi.

My first tasks were basic stuff like organizing inboxes, scheduling social media posts, and basic admin work. Super simple stuff. My rate was about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but as a total beginner, you gotta build up your portfolio.

Here's what was wild? Picture this: me on a video meeting looking all professional from the shoulders up—looking corporate—while sporting pajama bottoms. Living my best life.

My Etsy Journey

Once I got comfortable, I wanted to explore the selling on Etsy. Literally everyone seemed to sell stuff on Etsy, so I was like "why not me?"

I created creating PDF planners and wall art. The thing about selling digital stuff? Design it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Actually, I've made sales at 3am while I was sleeping.

When I got my first order? I actually yelled. He came running thinking there was an emergency. Nope—I was just, celebrating my $4.99 sale. Don't judge me.

Content Creator Life

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

I created a mom blog where I documented what motherhood actually looks like—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Keeping it real. Just honest stories about the time my kid decorated the walls with Nutella.

Getting readers was a test of patience. At the beginning, it was basically creating content for crickets. But I persisted, and eventually, things began working.

At this point? I earn income through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and advertisements on my site. Last month I made over $2K from my blog income. Crazy, right?

The Social Media Management Game

When I became good with managing my blog's social media, brands started reaching out if I could do the same for them.

Here's the thing? Most small businesses suck at social media. They understand they have to be on it, but they can't keep up.

This is my moment. I currently run social media for a handful of clients—various small businesses. I make posts, schedule posts, respond to comments, and check their stats.

They pay me between $500-$1500/month per client, depending on the scope of work. Here's what's great? I do this work from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.

Freelance Writing Life

For those who can string sentences together, freelance writing is seriously profitable. This isn't writing the next Great American Novel—I mean commercial writing.

Businesses everywhere are desperate for content. My assignments have included everything from the most random topics. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to know how to Google effectively.

Usually charge fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on how complex it is. On good months I'll crank out ten to fifteen pieces and earn $1-2K.

Here's what's wild: I'm the same person who thought writing was torture. Currently I'm making money from copyright. Talk about character development.

Tutoring Online

When COVID hit, everyone needed online help. I used to be a teacher, so this was an obvious choice.

I joined several tutoring platforms. The scheduling is flexible, which is crucial when you have children who keep you guessing.

My sessions are usually basic subjects. Income ranges from fifteen to thirty bucks per hour depending on where you work.

What's hilarious? There are times when my children will photobomb my lessons mid-session. I once had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. My clients are totally cool about it because they're living the same life.

The Reselling Game

So, this particular venture I stumbled into. I was decluttering my kids' stuff and listed some clothes on copyright.

Things sold immediately. That's when I realized: people will buy anything.

At this point I frequent thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, on the hunt for name brands. I purchase something for a few dollars and make serious profit.

It's labor-intensive? For sure. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding hidden treasures at Goodwill and making profit.

Bonus: my kids are impressed when I discover weird treasures. Recently I grabbed a vintage toy that my son lost his mind over. Got forty-five dollars for it. Score one for mom.

The Honest Reality

Truth bomb incoming: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. They're called hustles for a reason.

There are days when I'm running on empty, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm grinding at dawn getting stuff done while it's quiet, then all day mom-ing, then working again after bedtime.

But you know what? These are my earnings. I can spend it guilt-free to get the good coffee. I'm contributing to my family's finances. I'm teaching my children that women can hustle.

Tips if You're Starting Out

If you're considering a mom hustle, here's my advice:

Start small. You can't start five businesses. Pick one thing and become proficient before starting something else.

Be realistic about time. Your available hours, that's okay. Two hours of focused work is better than nothing.

Avoid comparing yourself to what you see online. That mom with the six-figure side hustle? She's been grinding forever and doesn't do it alone. Stay in your lane.

Spend money on education, but strategically. There are tons of free resources. Be careful about spending thousands on courses until you've tried things out.

Work in batches. This saved my sanity. Set aside specific days for specific tasks. Make Monday making stuff day. Make Wednesday administrative work.

The Mom Guilt is Real

I'm not gonna lie—the mom guilt is real. Sometimes when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I struggle with it.

But then I consider that I'm teaching them work ethic. I'm proving to them that you can be both.

Additionally? Earning independently has been good for me. I'm happier, which translates to better parenting.

The Numbers

The real numbers? Typically, total from all sources, I pull in $3K-5K. Certain months are higher, it fluctuates.

Will this make you wealthy? Not really. But we've used it to pay for so many things we needed that would've stressed us out. It's also building my skills and knowledge that could grow into more.

Wrapping This Up

Listen, combining motherhood and entrepreneurship is challenging. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. Most days I'm winging it, powered by caffeine, and doing my best.

But I'm proud of this journey. Every bit of income is a testament to my hustle. It's evidence that I'm not just someone's mother.

For anyone contemplating beginning your hustle journey? Start now. Begin before you're ready. Future you will appreciate it.

Keep in mind: You're not merely making it through—you're building something. Even if you probably have mysterious crumbs everywhere.

Not even kidding. The whole thing is where it's at, mess included.

Surviving to Thriving: My Journey as a Single Mom

I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood was never the plan. Neither was making money from my phone. But fast forward to now, years into this crazy ride, paying bills by posting videos while parenting alone. And honestly? It's been the most terrifying, empowering, and unexpected blessing of my life.

The Beginning: When Everything Fell Apart

It was 2022 when my divorce happened. I can still picture sitting in my half-empty apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), scrolling mindlessly at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had less than a thousand dollars in my account, two mouths to feed, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The panic was real, y'all.

I'd been mindlessly scrolling to avoid my thoughts—because that's how we cope? when everything is chaos, right?—when I saw this divorced mom talking about how she made six figures through posting online. I remember thinking, "No way that's legit."

But being broke makes you bold. Or both. Often both.

I downloaded the TikTok creator app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, talking about how I'd just spent my last $12 on a frozen nuggets and juice boxes for my kids' lunches. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Who wants to watch someone's train wreck of a life?

Spoiler alert, a lot of people.

That video got 47,000 views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me almost lose it over chicken nuggets. The comments section was this safe space—fellow solo parents, others barely surviving, all saying "me too." That was my turning point. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted honest.

My Brand Evolution: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand

Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: you need a niche. And my niche? It chose me. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.

I started creating content about the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I didn't change pants for days because washing clothes was too much. Or the time I gave them breakfast for dinner several days straight and called it "survival mode." Or that moment when my daughter asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to talk about complex things to a kid who still believes in Santa.

My content was raw. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a busted phone. But it was unfiltered, and evidently, that's what connected.

After sixty days, I hit 10K. 90 days in, 50,000. By six months, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone blew my mind. People who wanted to listen to me. Little old me—a financially unstable single mom who had to ask Google what this meant months before.

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 goes off. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my work time. I make coffee that I'll forget about, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a get-ready-with-me talking about financial reality. Sometimes it's me cooking while discussing parenting coordination. The lighting is not great.

7:00am: Kids get up. Content creation ends. Now I'm in mommy mode—making breakfast, locating lost items (why is it always one shoe), making lunch boxes, mediating arguments. The chaos is real.

8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom making videos while driving when stopped. Not proud of this, but content waits for no one.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. Kids are at school. I'm cutting clips, responding to comments, ideating, doing outreach, checking analytics. Folks imagine content creation is only filming. It's not. It's a real job.

I usually create multiple videos on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means shooting multiple videos in one go. I'll swap tops so it seems like separate days. Life hack: Keep wardrobe options close for fast swaps. My neighbors must think I'm insane, talking to my camera in the parking lot.

3:00pm: School pickup. Transition back to mom mode. But plot twist—many times my biggest hits come from this time. A few days ago, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I said no to a expensive toy. I created a video in the vehicle later about handling public tantrums as a solo parent. It got 2.3 million views.

Evening: Dinner through bedtime. I'm typically drained to create content, but I'll schedule content, reply to messages, or plan tomorrow's content. Certain nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll edit for hours because a brand deadline is looming.

The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just managed chaos with occasional wins.

Income Breakdown: How I Generate Income

Look, let's get into the finances because this is what everyone wants to know. Can you make a living as a creator? Yes. Is it effortless? Nope.

My first month, I made zilch. Month two? Also nothing. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—one hundred fifty dollars to post about a food subscription. I cried real tears. That $150 fed us.

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

Sponsored Content: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that my followers need—affordable stuff, mom products, kid essentials. I get paid anywhere from $500-5K per deal, depending on the scope. This past month, I did four partnerships and made $8K.

Ad Money: Creator fund pays basically nothing—maybe $200-400 per month for massive numbers. YouTube revenue is more lucrative. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that took two years to build up.

Affiliate Marketing: I promote products to things I own—everything from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If anyone buys, I get a cut. This brings in about $1K monthly.

Downloadables: I created a budget template and a meal prep guide. Each costs $15, and I sell fifty to a hundred per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.

Coaching/Consulting: New creators pay me to guide them. I offer 1:1 sessions for two hundred per hour. I do about several each month.

Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making $10-15K per month at this point. Some months are higher, some are less. It's inconsistent, which is scary when there's no backup. But it's 3x what I made at my old job, and I'm available for my kids.

The Dark Side Nobody Mentions

It looks perfect online until you're losing it because a video flopped, or dealing with nasty DMs from internet trolls.

The haters are brutal. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm exploiting my kids, accused of lying about being a single mom. One person said, "I'd leave too." That one stung for days.

The algorithm is unpredictable. Certain periods you're getting viral hits. Then suddenly, you're barely hitting 1K. Your income varies wildly. You're never off, never resting, worried that if you take a break, you'll fall the extended version behind.

The mom guilt is amplified beyond normal. Every upload, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Are my kids safe? Will they be angry about this when they're grown? I have strict rules—limited face shots, nothing too personal, nothing humiliating. But the line is hard to see.

The I get burnt out. Sometimes when I don't want to film anything. When I'm done, over it, and just done. But life doesn't stop. So I create anyway.

The Wins

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

Financial stability for once in my life. I'm not rich, but I became debt-free. I have an cushion. We took a family trip last summer—Disney World, which I never thought possible two years ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.

Flexibility that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or lose income. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a class party, I attend. I'm available in ways I wasn't able to be with a corporate job.

My people that saved me. The fellow creators I've found, especially solo parents, have become my people. We talk, collaborate, support each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They celebrate my wins, encourage me through rough patches, and make me feel seen.

Me beyond motherhood. For the first time since having kids, I have an identity. I'm not just an ex or only a parent. I'm a entrepreneur. A content creator. A person who hustled.

Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start

If you're a single parent curious about this, listen up:

Begin now. Your first videos will be awful. Mine did. That's okay. You get better, not by waiting until everything is perfect.

Authenticity wins. People can sense inauthenticity. Share your actual life—the unfiltered truth. That's what works.

Guard their privacy. Set limits. Have standards. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I keep names private, limit face shots, and respect their dignity.

Build multiple income streams. Don't rely on just one platform or one revenue source. The algorithm is fickle. Multiple streams = safety.

Create in batches. When you have time alone, create multiple pieces. Tomorrow you will appreciate it when you're drained.

Build community. Engage. Reply to messages. Build real relationships. Your community is everything.

Monitor what works. Some content isn't worth it. If something requires tons of time and tanks while a different post takes very little time and goes viral, change tactics.

Prioritize yourself. Self-care isn't selfish. Step away. Set boundaries. Your mental health matters more than going viral.

Give it time. This is a marathon. It took me months to make real income. Year one, I made barely $15,000. Year 2, $80K. Year three, I'm making six figures. It's a marathon.

Stay connected to your purpose. On tough days—and trust me, there will be—think about your why. For me, it's financial freedom, being there, and showing myself that I'm capable of more than I thought possible.

The Honest Truth

Real talk, I'm being honest. This journey is hard. Incredibly hard. You're operating a business while being the sole caretaker of children who require constant attention.

Many days I wonder what I'm doing. Days when the nasty comments get to me. Days when I'm burnt out and questioning if I should just get a "normal" job with stability.

But and then my daughter shares she appreciates this. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I understand the impact.

The Future

A few years back, I was broke, scared, and had no idea what to do. Fast forward, I'm a full-time content creator making more than I imagined in my 9-5, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.

My goals moving forward? Get to half a million followers by December. Start a podcast for single moms. Maybe write a book. Expand this business that changed my life.

Content creation gave me a lifeline when I had nothing. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be present in their lives, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's not what I planned, but it's meant to be.

To every single mom out there on the fence: You can. It isn't simple. You'll struggle. But you're already doing the toughest gig—parenting solo. You're tougher than you realize.

Begin messy. Keep showing up. Protect your peace. And don't forget, you're doing more than surviving—you're building an empire.

BRB, I need to go make a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and surprise!. Because that's the content creator single mom life—making content from chaos, one video at a time.

Seriously. This path? It's worth every struggle. Even though there's definitely old snacks all over my desk. That's the dream, one messy video at a time.