I Used an AI Code Assistant to Start a $300 Side Hustle in a Week

I Used an AI Code Assistant to Start a $300 Side Hustle in a Week

Let’s get this straight: I’m not a coder.

I don’t have a computer science degree. I never went to a bootcamp. Heck, the last time I “coded” was customizing my MySpace layout in 2008.

But I just made $300 in a single week—thanks to an AI code assistant that did the heavy lifting for me.

This is exactly how I started a simple side hustle using tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Replit Ghostwriter, without needing to be a tech expert.

Day 1: I Had Zero Clue What I Was Doing

It started with a YouTube video titled: “Use AI to Build Apps with No Coding Skills.”

It sounded too good to be true—but also, too interesting to ignore. The creator was using ChatGPT to build calculators, landing pages, and automation scripts—and selling them to small businesses online.

I thought, why not me?

So I signed up for Replit (a free browser-based coding environment), opened ChatGPT, and typed:

“Create a basic HTML/JavaScript BMI calculator with modern design and mobile-friendly layout.”

Boom. In seconds, I had a complete web app. I barely knew what the code meant, but it worked beautifully. I customized the colors and added my own branding with ChatGPT’s help.

Day 2–3: Testing and Posting Online

I posted a screenshot in a Facebook group for fitness entrepreneurs with this caption:

“Just built this BMI calculator with AI. Want one for your brand? Logos and contact buttons included. DM me.”

Within a few hours, I had 3 DMs.

One person asked, “Can you add my logo and website link?”

I said yes.

“Cool, how much?”

I said $50.

They sent it via PayPal. Just like that, I had made my first $50 using AI-generated code.

Day 4–5: Building a Portfolio and Packages

Feeling confident, I made a few more simple tools using AI:

A tip calculator

A daily quote generator

A calorie tracker

A simple lead-capture landing page

I bundled them in a Notion portfolio and created a pricing model:

Branded tool: $50

Simple website or landing page: $75–$100

Google Sheets automation: $50+

I began promoting on Reddit (in r/smallbusiness and r/freelance), Facebook groups, and Discord channels for coaches, creators, and solopreneurs.

Day 6–7: The $300 Week

By Day 7, I had:

Sold 2 branded calculators = $100

Created 1 landing page for a life coach = $100

Built a Google Sheets automation for a content planner = $100

All this using ChatGPT for code, Canva for visuals, and Notion to showcase my work.

Time spent: ~12 hours

Money earned: $300

What I Learned

AI Doesn’t Replace You—It Supports You

ChatGPT did the coding, but I guided the logic, styling, and communication with the client. That human touch still matters.

Simple Tools Are in High Demand

People aren’t paying for rocket science—they’re paying for solutions. If it saves them time or money, they’re interested.

Prompting is a Superpower

The better your prompts, the better the AI output. I learned to say things like:

“Mobile-friendly, add logo here, editable color scheme, clean design with comments in code.”

You Don’t Need to Be a Pro

Clients didn’t care if I was a dev or not. They cared that I delivered fast, working tools at a fraction of agency prices.

My AI Side Hustle Setup

ChatGPT: For writing and debugging code

Replit/GitHub Copilot: For coding assistance

Canva: For visuals and mockups

Notion: Portfolio & client tracking

Stripe/PayPal: Payment processing

Facebook & Reddit: Free lead generation

Final Thoughts

I didn’t build a startup or write a viral app. I just used the power of AI to offer simple, useful digital tools to people who didn’t want to build them themselves.

If you’re waiting for the “right time” or think you need to learn everything before starting… don’t.

The tools are here now—and they’re insanely powerful.

All you need is an internet connection, curiosity, and the courage to pitch.

Think you need to code to earn online? Think again.

AI can do the heavy lifting—you just need to offer the solution.

Start small, stay consistent, and let AI be your smartest business partner.

Your $300 week might be next.