By Zakariae Jabel – Tested for 90 days in Morocco, no budget.
I spent 90 days testing 5 different AI side hustles with exactly $0 to start. I didn't watch guru videos. I opened free accounts and tried to get my first dollar. This article is my full report — what took the most time, what earned the first $10, and what I would skip if I started again.
I am a complete beginner. I don't have design skills or a big audience. If you are in the same position, this list is for you.
1. Content Writing with ChatGPT
This was my first hustle because it needed no money. I used the free version of ChatGPT.
My exact process: I didn't let ChatGPT write full articles. I asked it for outlines only. For example: "Give me 5 subheadings for an article about phone cases for students." Then I researched each point on Google for 15 minutes and wrote it myself. Total time per 600‑word article: about 55 minutes.
I created 5 samples and sent them to 31 small businesses on Instagram. I offered 2 product descriptions for $15. After 12 days, one shop in Casablanca replied yes.
That's $2.10 per hour. It's low, but it's the only hustle that paid me in the first month.
Beginner tip: Don't sell "AI writing." Sell "I will research and write for you." Clients pay for your time and editing, not for the AI.
2. Design Services with Canva
I have zero design background. I started with Canva free templates and copied YouTube tutorials exactly.
My first 20 designs were terrible. I deleted them. On day 11, I made a simple Instagram post for a friend's coffee shop for free. It took me 47 minutes. He used it. That screenshot became my first portfolio piece.
After 30 days of practice (about 1 hour every 2 days), I could make a clean post in 18 minutes. I tried to sell a pack of 10 templates for $12 on Facebook groups. Zero sales in 60 days.
What I learned: Design is a slow hustle for beginners. You need 30+ good samples before anyone trusts you. It's worth learning, but don't expect money in month one.
3. Video Editing using CapCut
Everyone says "TikTok is booming." I downloaded CapCut on my phone and tried to edit short videos from free stock clips.
My first video took 3 hours and 17 minutes. I timed it. It got 212 views. No followers, no clients. I made 5 more videos over 3 weeks. Total views: 847. Total income: $0.
Video editing has the steepest learning curve of the three. You need to learn cuts, music timing, captions, and hooks. With 1 hour per day, I was too slow.
My advice: Skip this for your first 60 days unless you already love video. Focus on writing first — it's faster to monetize.
4. Affiliate Marketing – What I Actually Did
This is the hustle everyone promotes. I tried it exactly how beginners are told to.
I signed up for two affiliate programs and wrote 3 blog posts reviewing AI tools. I added my links. I shared the posts in 2 Facebook groups.
Why? Because I had no traffic. Affiliate marketing without an audience is like opening a shop in the desert.
During my research, I found many "systems" that promise step‑by‑step training. I looked at one that kept appearing in my searches. I have not bought it, but I saved the link to study later because it explains the basics clearly for beginners.
Resource I am currently reviewing: View the training here (affiliate link – I may earn a commission if you purchase. I share it for research purposes only.)
I include it because you asked for resources, but my honest experience is: don't spend money on courses until you have earned your first $50 with free methods. Learn the free way first.
5. Blogging with AI
This was not a hustle at first — it was my notebook. I started EasyAIProfit on Blogger to document my tests.
I used ChatGPT for 20% of the work (title ideas, outlines) and wrote 80% myself. I published 12 articles in 90 days.
My traffic after 3 months: 341 visitors from Google. My earnings: $0 from ads (still waiting for AdSense approval), $25 from one small sponsored mention.
Blogging is the slowest hustle but the most important. Those 12 articles are now my resume. When I message a client, I send them a link to my blog instead of a PDF.
📊 My Full Comparison After 90 Days
| Side Hustle | First $ Earned | Hours to First $ | Difficulty (1‑5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content Writing | Day 22 | 20 | 2 |
| Canva Design | None yet | — | 3 |
| CapCut Video | None yet | — | 4 |
| Affiliate Marketing | None yet | — | 5 |
| Blogging | Day 67 | 28 | 3 |
💡 3 Tips That Saved Me
- Pick ONE for 30 days. I failed when I tried all 5. I succeeded when I did only writing for one month.
- Track time honestly. I used my phone timer. I thought I worked 2 hours, it was really 47 minutes.
- Document everything. My blog with my failures got me more trust than any perfect portfolio.
📝 Conclusion
AI side hustles in 2026 are not easy money. They are tools that make you about 30% faster once you know the skill. For a beginner, the first month is learning, not earning.
If I had to start again tomorrow with $0, I would do only content writing for 30 days. Nothing else.
My total after 90 days: $105. It's not much, but it's proof that a beginner can start without investment.
🔗 Explore My Full Journey
This was the quick list. Want to see my daily progress, prompts, and full journal?
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