Tired of overpriced courses that overpromise and underdeliver? Here’s how I built an online income using free tools—and how you can too.
The Honest Start: From Corporate to Crayons
I never planned on being “in business.” In fact, I avoided it. There were already too many online “gurus” telling moms how to earn—most of them living in a reality that didn’t match ours.
But after I had my little boy, I knew I wanted to be with him every day. The problem? I also needed to replace my income. I left the corporate world where I helped restructure people’s debts and manage their finances, while running a wildlife rescue center —so time and money management wasn’t my struggle. But building an online income in a world of funnels, fancy platforms, and endless tech? THAT was new to me.
I’m not tech-savvy. At all. And investing my hard earned money into something I didn’t believe in, just weren’t cutting it for me. I watched tutorials at midnight, rewound podcasts a hundred times while getting the ironing done at 2am, and kept going even when I felt like I’d never catch up to this ever growing iindustry. It took me two whole years to figure it all out. But I did. And now that I have, I realize: every mom deserves to at least know the basics.
The $100 Trap: Why I Felt Scammed (and You Might Too)
When I finally pieced everything together, I had a weird mix of pride… and frustration.
Why?
Because the tips that actually worked were basic. Common sense. The kind of stuff no one talks about unless you pay R2000+ for a “blueprint” or course—with no guarantees.
And let’s be honest—if you’ve ever searched “how to earn from home as a mom,” it’s probably because money is tight. Who has hundreds to blow on a guide that might not even work?
Plus, most of these “blueprints” come with hidden affiliate links to tools you’re pressured to buy. They profit twice: once when you buy the guide, and again when you buy the tools in it.
I get it—information has value. But charging struggling moms hundreds for basic info felt… wrong.
So I took the long road instead—and I’m so glad I did.
What Actually Worked: The Tools I Still Use Today
Once I stopped chasing the shiny offers and focused on tools that actually worked for free, things got easier. I was determined to make it work paying as little as possible! The truth is, it is possible, but for beter results most tools expect you to pay.. so I set out to find the one that gave the most value for price when the time came.
Here are the ones I still use (and love) across all my online businesses:
Canva (to design everything from social posts, bio links and even eBooks)
ChatGPT (yep, it’s been a game changer for writing, brainstorming and content ideas especially when mom brain hits hard)
MailerLite (for email marketing, landing pages and sign up forms that’s simple and free to start)
Hostinger (affordable web hosting for my blog and custom email address)
Metricool (to plan and schedule social posts without the overwhelm)
ManyChat (
CapCut (to edit reels like a pro… even when I actually don’t have a clue what I’m doing, it makes the tech stuff super easy )
I started with the free versions, tested everything, and only upgraded when it made sense.
What Built Real Momentum: Small Daily Steps
I didn’t wake up one day with a full-on online business.
I started small.
I knew I wanted to blog. (If you know me, you know I love to share way more than what fits in a 10-second reel.) So I picked my platform, wrote one post a week, and showed up on Instagram daily—even if just to share a quick tip or thought.
I didn’t niche down because, well… I couldn’t choose. I’m passionate about too much: animals, homeschooling, real food, saving money, and exposing the massive cracks in systems like school and pharma. Basically just independence and connection to nature, simply put.
So I shared me. And that worked.
Some posts flopped. Others hit. I learned what my audience loved, and I doubled down.
Why I’m Sharing This For Free
Once things finally clicked, I had this moment where I thought, Wow. This is feel like an unfair advantage.
It felt wrong to gatekeep something that changed everything for me. I didn’t pay for this info. I pieced it together with grit, late nights, and trial-and-error.
And you deserve to have that too.
Look, there’s no secret formula. No one’s handing out golden tickets. It’s work—just like any job. But the difference? You can build it around your life, your rhythm, your babies.
You don’t have to ask for time off. You don’t have to miss the good stuff. And you don’t have to buy another R2000 guide to start.
Want to See Exactly How I Earn Online (Without the Overwhelm)?
If you’re a mom who’s ready to start earning from home—but don’t know where to begin—I’ve got you.
I put together a free guide called “Simplified Affiliate Marketing” to show you how I started earning from home without fancy tech, a marketing degree, or paying for overpriced courses.
Inside, I break down:
The tools I use (most are free as I shared above!)
Where to find high-paying affiliate products
How to start sharing them online in a way that feels real
Simple steps to build your email list + digital productsIt’s written for moms, by a mom—so it’s practical, to the point, and fluff-free.
[Click here to grab your FREE Simplified Affiliate Marketing Guide]
Let’s make this the year you stop watching everyone else earn online—and start doing it yourself.
Till next time..
