I Tried Freelancing, Selling Health Mix, and Teaching Tuition. My First Income Came From an Unexpected Place.

When I started the EYFI Challenge, I thought freelancing would be a good way to earn money. I tried offering technical services online, but soon realised that my fundamentals weren't strong enough yet. I was relying too much on AI tools instead of understanding the concepts properly.

That attempt didn't work out. Neither did my effort to teach a friend how to write Kannada poems.

But I didn't stop there.

Over the next 30 days, I tried selling homemade health mix and offering tuition to students in my neighbourhood. Those experiments taught me something I hadn't fully understood before: earning money isn't just about having a skill or a product. It's about finding the right people who need it.

When My First Ideas Didn't Work

My first attempt was freelancing. I wanted to offer technical services online, but I struggled to deliver because I hadn't built strong enough fundamentals. Depending too much on AI tools slowed me down instead of helping me move forward.

I also tried teaching a friend how to write Kannada poems. I wanted to help her think creatively and structure her writing, but I limited myself to a small circle because I was afraid of being judged. The effort didn't turn into paid work.

These experiences made me reflect on what I needed to improve. I couldn't rely on shortcuts or expect people to pay for something simply because I was interested in doing it. I needed to build my skills and become more confident about offering them.

Selling Homemade Health Mix

My next experiment was selling homemade health mix prepared at home.

Initially, I approached people without a clear idea of who was most likely to buy it. Finding customers was difficult, and the effort didn't immediately translate into sales.

Eventually, I started thinking more carefully about the audience. I considered people who regularly depended on outside food and might be interested in a homemade alternative.

I sold the health mix to two customers, earning ₹698 in revenue. I spent ₹20 on covers for packaging, leaving ₹678 after that expense.

The experience helped me understand that identifying a relevant audience matters. Instead of trying to sell to everyone, I needed to think about who might actually want the product and why.

It also made me realise that having a product ready is only one part of the work. Branding, packaging, and reaching the right customers are important too.

The Neighbourhood Tuition Opportunity

My most important learning came from an opportunity much closer to home.

It was March, and students were preparing for their exams. I approached a neighbour about offering tuition to her children. After several conversations and follow-ups, she agreed to let me teach her two sons.

I helped them with Maths and Hindi, focusing on their exam preparation.

Getting the opportunity wasn't easy. Initially, I struggled to convince the parent. I had to explain how I could help and keep following up instead of giving up after the first conversation.

Eventually, one of the two students' tuition resulted in a payment of ₹300.

Although the amount was modest, the experience showed me the difference between approaching people randomly and offering something that addresses a clear, immediate need.

The parent had children preparing for exams, and I could offer academic support at the right time. That made the value of my service easier to understand.

What I Earned in 30 Days

Across my paid activities, I reported ₹998 in total revenue and ₹20 in investment, leaving me with ₹978 in net income.

The challenge also pushed me to balance earning experiments with college placements, interviews, Polygnan masterclasses, and my other responsibilities.

There were days when I was managing tuition, packing health mix, preparing for placements, and working through other commitments. I had to learn to make progress even when I didn't have unlimited time.

What I'd Do Differently

Looking back, my biggest challenge was converting effort into income.

I learned that targeting the right audience matters more than simply having an idea. I also realised that consistency is important, but it works best when combined with a clear understanding of what customers need.

If I were to do the challenge again, I'd identify my target audience earlier, test ideas faster, and build stronger technical fundamentals before offering freelance services.

I'd also pay more attention to branding and packaging for the health mix. And rather than being hesitant about approaching people, I'd try to communicate the value of what I can offer with more confidence.

I'm also learning to bake cakes, which I hope to sell in the future. This time, I want to gather real feedback and improve the product before trying to grow it.

Learning to Earn by Taking Action

The EYFI Challenge wasn't a straightforward journey from idea to income. I tried things that failed, questioned my approach, and had to change direction.

But that was the point.

I learned that rejection and confusion are part of trying something new. What matters is whether you learn from them and adapt.

I'm Tejaswini M, a Cohort 2 fellow at Jyothy Institute of Technology, Bengaluru. If I had to tell another student one thing about EYFI, it would be this: start trying, learn from every attempt, and don't be afraid to change your approach when something isn't working.

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This story was adapted from Tejaswini M's original EYFI Challenge report and edited by the YouStart team.