Queensland mum Kelsie, 24, didn’t want to go back to work after giving birth to her second child but felt she had no choice.

More than 4000km away in WA, first time mum Abby-Rose, 25, felt the same way.

Both wanted to stay home with their children but worried their families would struggle on a single income; a common fear in the cost of living crisis.

Neither expected user-generated content (UGC) would be the solution.

UGC is digital content created by everyday people to promote products or services, usually in exchange for free products or a fee.

The booming social media side hustle allowed them to make money filming product reviews and unboxings at home without sacrificing time with their children.

”I’ve been paid to go out, eat food and hang out with my friends, or have a date night with my partner,” Kelsie told 9news.com.au.

“I never in a million years thought that I would be doing that.”

She and Abby-Rose are making thousands and don’t plan to return to traditional jobs.

But they have a serious warning for other Aussies hoping to jump on the bandwagon, one that could cost you thousands if you don’t heed it.

Mums making thousands from home

Kelsie discovered UGC through a mum friend who makes $10,000 a month doing it.

“I thought ‘what do I have to lose?'” she said.

It was March when she made her first videos, 38 weeks pregnant with her phone propped up on a cardboard box.

She spruiked products she already owned, made a portfolio and started emailing brands UGC pitches.

In six weeks, she’d landed a deal paying $450 per video.

Now she can make four figures in a single month.

Abby-Rose also discovered UGC through a friend and started making videos in April, after welcoming her first child.

She was making money the next month and now earns around $750 a week ($3000 per month), though her income fluctuates based on how many campaigns she takes on.

But having control over her workload is what attracted her to UGC in the first place.

“Some days it’s chaotic, but I love the flexibility,” Abby-Rose told 9news.

”I can work around my baby’s routine… and of course the extra income is a bonus.”

Like Abby-Rose, Kelsie said the biggest perk of becoming a UGC creator is making money without missing out on time with her children.

ABS data from 2024 found that of the 6.2 million ‘couple families’ (those with two parents) with kids under 15 in Australia, almost 73 per cent had two employed parents.

Two decades ago, that number was significantly lower at around 60 per cent.

Financial pressure is partly to blame as it’s become increasingly difficult for families to pay rent and put food on the table with a single income.

And while work home arrangements during the pandemic made it easier for parents to juggle work and family responsibilities for a while, businesses are increasingly encouraging employees to return to the office.

It has forced some parents to choose between time with their kids and stable finances.

“When you’re a working mum, it’s very hard to negotiate with work around doctor’s appointments that your kids might have, or if they get sick,” Kelsie said.

“As well as trying to find time to be social, spend family time together, and have any life that’s not just working then coming home and looking after the kids.

“It’s very hard to juggle everything.”

UGC has been a “game changer” for her and Abby-Rose, allowing them to earn money without compromising on family time.

But success isn’t guaranteed and a single mistake could cost you thousands.

UGC isn’t a get rich quick gig

Three of the biggest blunders new UGC creators make is assuming the work is easy, expecting to get rich quick, and not knowing their tax obligations.

A 30-second video can take hours to produce and it often takes weeks or months for beginners to land paid work.

“A lot of planning, shooting, editing, and communication goes on behind the scenes,” Abby-Rose said.

Income can be inconsistent and not all brands are willing to pay UGC creators well – if they pay at all.

Kelsie was once offered $1000 for 1000 videos ($1 per video), and Abby-Rose was asked to produce 13 videos for nothing more than ‘gifted’ products.

But freebies aren’t going to pay the bills.

In fact, they could incur additional bills if you don’t declare them at tax time.

“Whether it’s a paid post, gifted skincare, or a free hotel stay, if it’s part of a commercial arrangement, it needs to be declared,” Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand tax expert Susan Franks told 9news.

“If it’s part of the job, it’s part of your taxable income.”

It’s best to keep records of what you earn, what you spend on UGC, and register for GST if you’re making over $75,000 a year to avoid making costly mistakes at tax time.

Failing to do so – of trying to fly under the ATO’s radar – could land you with a hefty bill.

“The ATO actively monitors social media [and] uses this data and sophisticated data analysis to check tax returns and is increasingly questioning tax returns,” Franks warned.

“Failure to include amounts in your tax return can not only attract strong financial penalties but accompanying interest which can all accumulate very quickly.”

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