How I Learned to Code (Just Enough) and Started Making Money Online

Last Updated on October 5, 2025 by Jeremy

I’ll be honest with you: the first time I cracked open a “Learn to Code” book, I lasted about 15 minutes before my brain checked out. It felt like I was back in high school math class, staring at formulas I’d never use.

Fast forward to a few years later — I’m parked in my trailer, spotty campground Wi-Fi, kids hollering outside, generator humming. I realized something: I didn’t need to know all of coding. I just needed to know enough to ship something people would actually pay for.

That’s where my journey really started. And if you’re here reading this, you probably don’t want another boring “learn Python for 12 months” syllabus either. You want results. Dollars in the account. Proof this online thing can work.

Let me show you what actually worked for me — and what you can do too.

Table of Contents

Pick a Money Path (Don’t Try All at Once)

There are three main paths people use to turn code into cash. I tried dabbling in all three and, honestly, it just slowed me down. Once I picked one and went all-in, things clicked.

Freelance: Build small but useful things for businesses (like a one-page site, a booking form, or fixing a slow site). Fastest to your first $300.
Micro-SaaS: Build a tiny tool that replaces a spreadsheet. Low monthly subscription, compounding revenue.
Content + Affiliate: Teach, compare tools, write tutorials, and get paid when people sign up through your links. Slower to start, but it snowballs.

👉 I chose Affiliate + Freelance. Why? Because I could start building content while knocking out quick freelance gigs to pay for groceries.

Learn Just Enough to Ship

I didn’t grind through a bootcamp. I learned the bare bones:

HTML/CSS to put stuff on the page.
A bit of JavaScript to make forms and buttons work.
GitHub Pages/WordPress to get it online fast.

The trick is this: learn in service of what you’re building. If I needed a booking form, I learned just enough JavaScript to make the form submit. Then I shipped it.

My 30-Day Plan (You Can Steal This)

Here’s what I did over 30 days:

Week 1: Picked one path and one offer. Mine was “help businesses set up simple online menus.”
Week 2: Built a demo version in a weekend.
Week 3: Reached out to 10 local businesses per day. Got my first yes (discounted, but hey, testimonial secured).
Week 4: Collected feedback, invoiced my first full-rate client, and reinvested the money back into tools.

It wasn’t pretty, but it worked.

The Real Game-Changer: Wealthy Affiliate

Now, here’s where I have to be transparent. I’d tried doing this alone, and it was exhausting. Too many rabbit holes, too many false starts.

When I plugged into Wealthy Affiliate, I finally had:

A step-by-step roadmap (so I wasn’t spinning my wheels).
A community of people doing the same thing.
Tools to track what was actually working.

And no, you don’t need to whip out a credit card to start. You can literally hop in, try the training, and build your first site for free.

Where This Leaves You

If you’re serious about learning to code and making money online, don’t do what I did in the beginning — don’t try to learn everything.

Pick a money path. Ship something small. Charge for it. Build momentum.

And if you want to follow along with me — mistakes, stumbles, and all — join me inside WA. That’s where I’m documenting this whole From 0 to 100K journey.

👉 Click here to start your 30-Day Build (free).

See you inside. And hey, let me know in the comments — would you choose Freelance, Micro-SaaS, or Affiliate as your first path?

Comments

7 responses to “How I Learned to Code (Just Enough) and Started Making Money Online”

October 4, 2025

John Crossley

Really enjoyed reading this — especially the part about “learning in service of what you’re building.” That really resonated with me because I’ve had the same experience. I used to think I had to master a whole programming language before I could even start, and it left me stuck in “study mode” without making progress.

What clicked for me was exactly what you described: focusing on one project, learning just enough to get it working, and then shipping it, even if it wasn’t perfect. That shift made coding feel a lot less overwhelming and a lot more practical.

Out of the three money paths, I think I’d lean toward Affiliate + Content, mainly because I enjoy writing and breaking things down for others. But pairing it with freelance work for quicker wins (like you did) makes a lot of sense too.

John

Reply
1. October 4, 2025
  
  Jeremy
  
  Hey John!
  
  Glad that part hit home — that “learn just enough to ship” mindset was a total game-changer for me too. Funny how momentum teaches you faster than any textbook ever could, right?
  
  Affiliate + Content is a solid choice, especially if you already enjoy writing. Pairing it with a few quick freelance gigs is exactly how I kept the lights on while building the long game. Appreciate you sharing your story, man — sounds like we learned that same lesson the hard (but best) way.
  
  – Jeremy
  
  Reply
October 10, 2025

Cian

This is such a motivating and refreshing read! I love the ‘just enough’ philosophy—it cuts through the overwhelming pressure to become an expert before you can even get started. Your practical, step-by-step journey from learning to earning is exactly the kind of real-world blueprint many of us are looking for. It’s inspiring to see how focusing on solving specific problems and building useful things can be more valuable than just collecting knowledge. Thanks for keeping it real and showing that the path to making money online doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing!

Reply
1. October 11, 2025
  
  Jeremy
  
  Thanks, Cian! That “just enough” mindset is what kept me from stalling early on. Once I realized I didn’t have to master every language to start earning, everything clicked.
  
  Curious — are you coding for your own projects or freelancing right now?
  
  Reply
October 13, 2025

Michel

I have been doing affiliate marketing part time for years now, and never even thought about learning code, as it always looked too complicated. But now I see on the Wealthy Affiliate platform more and more people are doing this. It’s great to learn small tricks to make your website look better and be able to offer more choices. I see there are also some lessons on this in the members area, so I now need to knuckle down and get it all into place.

I love your wording that you need to pick one thing you want to do and learn that, instead of trying to learn it all at once. Thank you for this. How long did it take you to learn how to do a booking form?

Reply
1. October 13, 2025
  
  Jeremy
  
  Hey Michel — totally get that! I used to look at code like it was another language (well, it is, I guess ????). But once I learned just enough HTML and JavaScript to make forms work, it clicked fast. That first booking form took maybe a weekend of trial and error, and honestly, it taught me more than any “how-to” video ever did. You’re right — small tricks go a long way! What kind of site are you working on?
  
  Reply
October 15, 2025

Eric

Jeremy,

Your post “How I Learned to Code (Just Enough) and Started Making Money Online” is truly enlightening. The way you distilled the three main paths to monetize coding skills Freelance, Micro-SaaS, and Affiliate is incredibly valuable for anyone looking to break into the online space. Your real-world experience and actionable advice are a breath of fresh air amidst the sea of generic “learn to code” content.

I particularly appreciate your emphasis on learning just enough to ship something people will pay for. Your 30-day breakdown serves as an excellent roadmap for beginners to gain traction and build momentum. Securing your first client and reinvesting the money back into tools within a month is a testament to the power of focused action.

Your honesty about the challenges of going solo and the benefits of plugging into a supportive community like Wealthy Affiliate is commendable. It’s reassuring to know that there’s a step-by-step roadmap, a community of like-minded individuals, and tools to track progress available for those serious about making money online.

Your post exemplifies the importance of focusing on one path, shipping something small, and building momentum. I’m excited to follow your “From 0 to 100K” journey inside WA and witness your progress.

I’m curious to hear what others think about the three paths you mentioned. Which one would you choose as your first path Freelance, Micro-SaaS, or Affiliate? I’d love to see a lively discussion in the comments!

Keep up the fantastic work, Jeremy! Your post is sure to inspire and guide many aspiring online entrepreneurs.

Reply