"From Zero to $67 in 17 Days: How I Started Earning Online Without Any Skills"

By Umar Farooq

Back in early 2025, I found myself sitting on my bed, scrolling through endless YouTube videos about “how to make money online.” Most of them seemed fake or way too complicated. Some asked for upfront money, others felt like scams. I wasn’t looking for a get-rich-quick scheme — I just wanted to make a few honest dollars from my phone or laptop.

At that time, I didn’t have any special skills. I didn’t know how to design, code, or even write that well. I was just like thousands of people out there: hopeful, confused, and overwhelmed.

But everything changed one lazy Sunday afternoon.


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The Accidental Beginning

I was on Reddit, just browsing random subreddits, when I stumbled upon a post in r/beermoney — a place where people share small online tasks to earn money. One user had shared how they made $10 in a day using a site called TimeBucks. It sounded too good to be true, but it was free, so I thought: Why not?

I signed up using my Gmail. Within minutes, I saw a dashboard with multiple ways to earn: watching ads, completing surveys, clicking ads, even posting TikToks. I chose the easiest: viewing content and short surveys.

That day, I earned $1.23.

It wasn’t much. But it was real. And for someone who had never made a single dollar online, it felt like winning the lottery.


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Building Trust, Bit by Bit

The next few days, I made a routine:

Wake up, check TimeBucks

Complete 4–5 surveys

Watch a few ads

Log the daily earnings in a notebook


In 5 days, I made $7.82.
In 10 days, I made $23.50.
By day 17, I had $67.29 in my wallet.

The best part? TimeBucks allowed PayPal withdrawal, which was perfect for me. Once the money hit my PayPal account, I smiled like a kid. That was the moment I truly believed: online earning is real — but it’s not magic, it’s consistency.


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Lessons I Learned Early On

1. Start small, but stay consistent.
Even if you make $1 a day, that’s $30 a month. It adds up.


2. Don’t fall for “get-rich-quick.”
Most scams promise $500 in a day. Real platforms reward effort, not dreams.


3. Stick to trusted platforms.
I also explored others like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and ySense. They’re all legit, but TimeBucks felt the most beginner-friendly.


4. Track your progress.
Keeping a daily log kept me motivated and showed me what worked best.




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How I Took It Further with Amazon Affiliate Marketing

Once I had a little money, I started researching more passive ways to earn. That’s when I discovered Amazon Associates — Amazon’s own affiliate program. It lets you earn commission by sharing product links.

Here’s how I started:

I created a free Pinterest account

Designed simple pins using Canva

Added product links from Amazon with my affiliate ID

Shared pins around niche topics like “home gadgets,” “office tools,” and “kitchen hacks”


Within 2 weeks, I got my first 3 clicks. Then 10. Then 45. On day 34, someone bought a kitchen knife set. I earned $3.88 commission.

Was it huge? No. But it was passive — I made that while sleeping.


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My Daily Routine (First 30 Days)

Morning:

Check TimeBucks dashboard

Do 2–3 surveys

Watch ad videos


Afternoon:

Explore trending products on Amazon

Create 2 Pinterest pins using Canva

Add affiliate links and post


Night:

Watch YouTube tutorials (free learning)

Plan for next day

Celebrate small wins



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Most Memorable Day: My First $10 Day

On Day 28, I had a lucky run:

One high-paying survey on TimeBucks: $2.75

3 product purchases from my Pinterest links: $4.12

Bonus for logging in daily: $1

TikTok task: $2.50


Total: $10.37 — in one day.

It might sound small, but in that moment, it was proof. Proof that I could earn online. That I wasn’t just wasting time.


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Final Results After 45 Days

Total earned: $132.91

Time spent daily: 1.5 to 2 hours

Skills needed: Basic English, patience, and free tools

Confidence gained: 100%



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Tips for Beginners (If You’re in the USA)

1. Use your location wisely. USA users get higher-paying surveys and offers — don’t miss that opportunity.


2. Pinterest + Amazon = passive magic. Focus on “gift guides,” “best of” lists, or viral gadgets.


3. Never underestimate small tasks. Even watching ads for cents adds up.


4. Use PayPal or Wise for smooth withdrawals.


5. Keep learning. YouTube is a free goldmine of information.




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What I’m Doing Now (And You Can Too)

Now, I’ve started building a blog using free tools like Blogger. I post product reviews and link my Amazon affiliate products. Slowly, I’m getting clicks from Google.

I also created a TikTok account where I post short videos showing cool Amazon finds — with my affiliate link in bio.

The growth is slow, but real. And that’s all that matters.


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Final Thoughts

If you’ve never made money online, I want you to remember this:

> You don’t need to be a tech expert. You just need to start.



That first dollar is your turning point. After that, you’ll never see the internet the same way again.

This is my story.
I’m Umar Farooq — and if I can go from zero to $67 in 17 days, without any skills, you can too.

Start now. Stay real. Stay consistent.