After work, I had to DoorDash to pay for our motel room. I brought my toddler with me to avoid childcare costs.

Miller, shown with her daughter, Emory, was determined to pay her own way.

Courtesy of Emily Miller.

• Emma Miller moved into a motel room with her toddler daughter.
• It cost them $60 a night to stay there.
• She helped meet the cost by doing DoorDash, due to its flexible hours and no need for babysitting.

This interview is based on a conversation with Emma Miller, 32, a mom of two from Columbia, South Carolina. It has been edited for length and clarity.

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