As a mom, every dollar I earn has a purpose in my household. My time is very valuable; every hour I work has to make sense- for my child, for my goals. I definitely chose freelancing for flexibility, control over my time, and the income. But over time, I learned how to use my nature skill sets and interests to create and involve myself in need-based work.

In this post, I’m breaking down exactly how I make money as a freelancer, what inspired me to go this route, and the advice I wish someone gave me at the beginning.

Before I dive deep, I don’t think I quite defined what a freelancer is. For those who aren’t familiar, a freelancer is a self-employed person who provides services to multiple clients on a contract basis instead of being a permanent employee to a company. This part of my work life has always left many confused, especially my family. I have a cousin who referred to me as Tommy (from the 90’s show, Martin) because I work but you never quite “see” me working, lol! I live a cross-mix lifestyle as a minimalist and nomad. I move around freely and over the years, I’ve aligned my work life to reflect it.

What inspired me?

Well, years ago during my undergrad studies I worked in a therapy office. Many clients would have an appointment between 10am and 4pm and I questioned: if the average person works 9-5, how do so many people have the flexibility to be out and about during these working hours?. Yes, there are people being excused from work, the retired folks, the stay-at-home moms, but also the owners of businesses. It was a simple question that led me to start asking the clients “what do you do for work?” and MAN, the answers blew my mind. I would hear answers like: professional dog-poop-scooper, horse trainer, owner of a trailer park, trust fund baby. The list continued on of job titles I never even knew existed! Then I had my first experience dating someone who was self-employed. He was confirmation that the life I thought wasn’t possible for little ol’ me was actually very possible. You just need exposure to what you’d want your life to look like or someone else will hand you a life that you settle for.

For years, I played it safe by carrying a professional job and side hustle. I have a long list of side hustles, my very first one was in high school! I used to burn CD’s for people; provide me with a list of songs and they’ll receive a CD with the listed songs for $5. I dabbled into photography, babysitting, ghostwriting, real estate, etc. By my senior year of undergrad, I was ghost writing research papers for students. How did this come about, you ask? I’m a psychology major. The whole curriculum is mostly producing multiple 3-10 page papers for classes. This particular day I walked into class with my completed 10 page assignment and overheard a few students in class moping about not having their assignment and needing help. Guess who offered help? Of course I did, lol! I wrote my assignment in 2 days, I knew I could produce the work needed. They gave me their topic, paid my fee, and I produced their work within the estimated time. Word of mouth traveled fast and I found myself writing research papers well after graduation. I financially survived my 1st pregnancy by writing papers. From 2018-2020, I had written around 100-120 papers ranging from $75-300 per assignment from students at different universities, states, and work industries. That was my first real experience freelancing full-time without maintaining a job.

What does freelancing look like for me now, as a mom?

I have more non-negotiables as a mom. I need time freedom and flexibility around my child’s schedule. I prioritize my family, important events, and our mental/emotional health. I might work non-stop but I do not miss what’s near and dear to my heart.

My work varies depending on the season or what I’m focusing on in my life. That usually determines how hard I need to go in my work sector. But my primary job is working with kids. I work as an RBT 3-6 months out the year (or not at all, if I need a break from my professional life). Believe it or not, my bread & butter to staying afloat is delivery work using gig-apps like Instacart, Roadie, Amazon Flex, or UberEats. I create consistent income by working it like a job. I clock in and clock out around the same time everyday. I take a lunch break during the slow moments. I work while my son is in school and occasionally he comes with me for orders/routes. If I’m working from home-base, my schedule looks different. I’m involved in more work from my real estate & self-care businesses, content creation, and possibly nannying/babysitting. Just depends on how I’m feeling!

My advice to anyone or any mom who wants to start freelancing/gig-work or a business:

1. Start with one income stream at a time

It’s very easy to become overwhelmed. Pick one, then focus on building it. Learn the in’s and out’s. Learn how to make consistent money from it.

2. Treat your work like a business.

Track everything! Track your income and all expenses related to it (tax purposes for sure). Track your best hours and productivity levels. Be intentional.

3. Use your downtime wisely

During slow hours, spend it on you! Not necessarily spending money, but fueling yourself. Use this time to rest, get outside time, listen to motivational music, podcasts, or interviews, and any other activity you see fit.

4. Maximize off your skills!

The things your naturally good at can be turned into income, easily.

5. Evolve

The most important thing is to start. As you gain experience, that’s where you learn and figure things out as you go. Allow yourself to grow in your work but also within!