Mom Juggles Side Hustles Amid Federal Shutdown
Natalie Folino, a stay-at-home mom from Dayton, Ohio, is finding ways to support her family during the federal government shutdown. With three kids at home, she’s relying on social media and a side business to make ends meet.
“My husband works at the Department of Defense, and even though he goes in daily, he hasn’t been getting paid,” Folino explained in a recent interview. “It’s tough for a family like ours.” They’ve been without income for 29 days now, a challenging situation for any household.
Her social media presence was already established, but now it’s become crucial. Folino has taken on various side jobs this month, sharing her experiences on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Surprisingly, she’s gained nearly 200,000 followers and over 2 million likes on TikTok alone during this time.
Her target for October was to earn $5,000—a lofty goal, but she was determined. “I need to make $160 daily. There are no days off,” she mentioned, emphasizing the pressure she feels with the month coming to an end.
Folino began her side hustles about two years ago, initially to fund her children’s soccer activities. This experience, she said, has equipped her with the skills needed for financial emergencies like the one they’re currently facing. “We’re using up our savings,” she said. “But we know we’re better off than many others. So really, aside from shifting our income around a bit, things are pretty much the same.”
This month, she’s turned to a variety of services—from doing laundry and walking dogs to monetizing her social media and offering coaching services. In her videos, she mentions charging $70 for two bags of laundry and $25 for dog walking.
Interestingly, her daily income has fluctuated quite a bit. Some days, she might bring in $431, while others might yield only $22. She noted that the nearby Air Force community has also been affected by the shutdown, which has further strained local revenue as customers face furloughs.
Folino believes that while many factors are out of control during the shutdown, families can still influence their responses to these challenges. “There are certainly things that I think we can manage,” she added.
As she strives to reach her financial goal, she mentioned, “I can control my attitude, my outlook, and my work ethic. If you set goals and work hard, there’s really no limit.” In a recent video, she happily shared that not only did she meet her goal but exceeded it by $224.
Grateful for her followers’ encouragement, she announced plans to donate the extra funds to those in need within her community. “Anything is possible,” she concluded, radiating optimism.
