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‘Vegetables are expensive, so I grew my own' — M'sian housewife says her RM50 home-grown veggies now earn her RM5K–RM8K/month for selling them 50% cheaper than market price

‘Vegetables are expensive, so I grew my own' — M'sian housewife says her RM50 home-grown veggies now earn her RM5K–RM8K/month for selling them 50% cheaper than market price

MALAYSIA: In a quiet corner of Kelantan, a modest garden is growing far more than just vegetables — it's growing independence, income, and inspiration for countless others across Asia who are trying to make ends meet.
Meet Noor Shahiran Yusoff (Sha), a 33-year-old housewife who turned a RM50 (S$15) investment into a thriving RM5,000 to RM8,000-a-month side hustle — all from the soil beneath her feet.
And while her success story sprouted in Malaysia, it's a seed of possibility for anyone across Asia—from Singapore's HDB flats, to urban rooftops in Bangkok, back lanes in Jakarta, corridor gardens in Manila, or even sunlit balconies in Ho Chi Minh City—wondering if there is something similar can be done to beat the rising cost of living like Sha did, one seed at a time. From RM50 to a business rooted in resilience
It all started during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many families across the region, Sha's household was hit by financial uncertainty. Food prices were going up, income opportunities were down, and staying at home became the new normal.
'Vegetables are expensive,' she said in a Channel NewsAsia (CNA) Insider interview. 'That motivated me to start growing and using my own produce in the kitchen.'
So instead of giving in to anxiety, she started planting a few vegetables in her 2,000-square-foot backyard—simple staples like coriander, lemongrass, and okra to begin with. It wasn't a business plan at that time. It was just survival. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider
However, in 2023, thanks to social media, she began to notice something: other housewives were turning their home gardens into side hustles. Inspired, Sha did the same.
Her strategy? Start small. Sell what you grow. Use the profits to grow more. From harvest to hustle
Sha's breakthrough came when she realised people weren't just interested in buying fresh vegetables—they wanted seedlings to grow their own. Urban families were also looking for affordable ways to cut their grocery bills, and Sha felt she could meet that demand. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider
Over time, her initial selection of five basic plants blossomed into over 70 types of seedlings, including rare herbs and high-demand fruit trees.
'One of the rarer ones is white 'senduduk.' The flowers and leaves of the white senduduk are used for medicinal purposes and health benefits. For example, if you have a wound or injury, you can crush the leaves and apply them directly to the wound,' Sha said. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider
She marketed her products in Facebook gardening groups, where hobbyists and homemakers were hungry for both knowledge and plants. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider
Orders then started pouring in—not just from Kelantan, but across Malaysia. Sha says her customers love to buy from her because her prices are up to 50% cheaper than in the market. Prices even start from just RM1.
'One of the most famous types I sell from home or market is the green chilli pepper,' she said, adding that 'the second most popular type I sell is the long purple eggplant.'
Her other top sellers are: Water spinach (kangkung) – just RM1 per bunch
Vegetable seedlings – RM5 each, with multiple harvests possible in three months
Calamansi trees – RM25 for a plant that fruits year-round
She also offers mixed vegetable sets for RM5, which include ingredients such as eggplant, beans, and bird's eye chillies—bundles that are both affordable and practical for the average household. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider
Today, her garden business earns between RM5,000 and RM8,000 each month, depending on the season. No training. No loans. No staff. No fancy setup.
Sha started her business just by learning from others who were doing the same and sharing their experience on social media.
With just RM50, she slowly and carefully grew her business without taking unnecessary financial risks. She would even wait until she had profited at the end of the month before buying more seeds and fertiliser to avoid debt and to sustain her business.
What's most striking is how low-risk and low-cost her business model is. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider
Instead of borrowing money or taking out a business loan to buy expensive tools, Sha let the business fund itself. She reinvested each month's profits into seeds, equipment, and better soil, building slowly but steadily.
'With that RM50, I bought a sack of cocopeat, which cost RM10, two years ago. I bought seed packets from a farm shop. Each packet costs around RM5. I would get two to three types of packet seeds, so that's RM15. Then I bought fertilisers for growing and flowering,' Sha explained how she initially invested in her garden.
Then, her lean approach paid off. After deducting costs, she keeps a steady RM3,000+ in net profit monthly, while avoiding debt entirely. It's not just smart—it's sustainable.
And she did it all while staying at home to raise her children. It's not always a bed of roses though…
Of course, even the best gardens face storms. Sha has to contend with seasonal flooding in Kelantan, which means scaling back operations during monsoon months to avoid losses. Plant disease prevention is another ongoing challenge when you're growing 70+ varieties side by side. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider
However, she adapts. She scales down when needed. She manages risk by staying flexible, and despite these challenges, she's never stopped growing—literally and financially. 'It gave me financial independence and confidence…'
While the income is empowering, what Sha values most is what the business gave her internally.
It gave her financial independence and confidence, she told CNA Insider, adding that she can even contribute while still being at home with her family. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider
'In a span of five months, I was able to buy myself a motorbike worth RM14,000 by cash from my own earnings, and now, I have managed to put a downpayment for a car, also from my own earnings, so this is a proud moment for my parents and my husband,' Sha expressed how happy she was for being able to enjoy the fruits of her labour. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider
Sha also shared that she didn't expect that her income would be more than her husband's. 'I achieved this on my own,' she shared her proud moment, and added that, 'I hope other housewives will also take the opportunity available to generate their own income.'
She's now also thinking bigger. With a customer base across Malaysia, she's exploring ideas to expand nationwide and even ship internationally, someday. So, could you do the same?
Of course, you could! And yes, we do understand that not everyone has a 2,000-square-foot backyard like Sha, but that doesn't mean her model can't be adapted.
Across Singapore, balcony gardening and corridor crops are growing in popularity. In urban Thailand and Vietnam, rooftops are being converted into micro-farms. In the Philippines, small-scale vertical gardening is helping families stretch their pesos further. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider
Even with just a few pots, a window, and a social media account, along with your building management's approval (if applicable), you could try: Selling starter herb kits (think curry leaves, pandan, mint)
Teaching micro-gardening basics on TikTok or YouTube
Offering fresh vegetable bundles to neighbours
Starting a seedling swap or sale in your community group
You don't need to grow 70 plant types or earn thousands a month on day one, but what matters is just starting. Like Sha, you can start with an affordable amount and slowly build your way up to something that generates a sustainable income and restores your sense of control. A new kind of growth
Sha's story is a gentle reminder: real growth takes root slowly.
Thousands across Asia just want to earn enough, live with dignity, and gain a little freedom.
Sha's garden might not look like much from the outside, but from the inside, it's a model of what's possible for ordinary people facing extraordinary pressures.
You don't need to reinvent the wheel. Just plant a seed, nurture it, and watch what grows.
If Sha's story inspires you, watch the full episode on CNA's Insider's Money Mind below:
In other news, when a Singaporean full-time Grab rider shared his story of earning a six-figure income while living in a RM1.4 million villa in Johor Bahru, the internet sceptics didn't hold back. From 'Really meh?' to 'Sure ah? Can get S$4,000 to S$6,000 working as a Grab rider?' the comment section fired off their doubtful questions.
It also cued some haters, as the rider described one of the comments he received, mocking his earnings and hard work by telling him to just 'Cut the c**p, bro! 4K to 6K with those working hours? Hahaha.'
And so, the man behind the helmet decided to deliver his proof to his doubters—Grab rider receipt style. 'They said it's impossible… but here's the REAL proof of my Grab rider salary!' he wrote, adding: 'You want proof? I'll give you proof…' — Grab rider discloses his payslip to sceptics, detailing how he nets S$6K/month in SG; RM20K in JB
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‘I now run seven 7-Eleven stores in Singapore' — 30 y/o man shares how he started his first 7-E store with just $20K of his own savings
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‘I now run seven 7-Eleven stores in Singapore' — 30 y/o man shares how he started his first 7-E store with just $20K of his own savings

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That is, if, like Jaymes, you've got no fear of 3 a.m. emergencies, no desire for material fluff, and have enough fire in you to run a business that never sleeps, then perhaps his secret sauce could work for you, too. Just don't expect any days off, any time soon, though. Think you're up for the challenge? Here's what you need to know: Franchise Programme Franchise fee starting from S$30,000 S$40,000 security deposit (refundable upon exit) Must be able to work shifts on weekends and public holidays (six-day work week) Open to Singaporeans or Permanent Residents (PRs) only, aged 21 and above Franchisepreneur Programme (Fresh Graduate Track) S$20,000 security deposit (refundable upon exit) Must be able to work shifts on weekends and public holidays (six-day work week) Open to Singaporeans or PRs aged above 21 For fresh tertiary graduates or professionals with less than six years of working experience You can fill out the application form here, and for more information, visit: We wish you all the best! And if you'd like to watch Jaymes in action and hear more about his journey, here's the full feature on CNA Insider's Money Mind episode below: So yes, indeed, if 'you're determined enough, you can do anything,' as Jaymes encouraged, which is something Reshveen Rajendran's mother also told him when he suffered a stroke: 'I had a stroke; my entire left side paralysed, but my mum told me, 'Son, you can do anything'' — SG man recalls the words that drove him to become a self-made millionaire

Yet another S$3.4 million rental demand hits Cathay Cineplexes over former Jem outlet
Yet another S$3.4 million rental demand hits Cathay Cineplexes over former Jem outlet

Independent Singapore

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Yet another S$3.4 million rental demand hits Cathay Cineplexes over former Jem outlet

SINGAPORE: Yet another claim over unpaid rent has surfaced against Cathay Cineplexes—this time, a statutory demand for S$3.4 million owed for its former Jem outlet. This followed a letter of demand the company received in February for about S$2.7 million in rent and other costs for its cinema outlets at Century Square and Causeway Point. Channel News Asia (CNA) reported, citing a bourse filing on Wednesday (Jul 2), that Cathay Cineplexes' owner and operator mm2 Asia said the cinema chain received the statutory demand on Tuesday from the landlord's solicitors. In the statutory demand, it was stated that Cathay Cineplexes has until July 22 to pay the outstanding sum of S$3,446,748.26 or to secure or compound the sum to the landlord's satisfaction. Otherwise, the company would be considered unable to pay its debts. The statutory demand also stated that interest at 1% per month, calculated daily, will continue to accrue on the outstanding amount until payment is made. See also Medical fees sharing outlawed finally mm2 Asia said its board is seeking legal advice and will issue further updates if there are material developments. It added that Cathay Cineplexes' board is doing the same in response to the statutory demand. According to CNA , the cinema at Jem closed on Mar 27 after the company received a notice of termination from DBS Trustee Limited, the trustee of Lendlease Global Commercial REIT. At the time, mm2 Asia said it owed about S$4.3 million in rent for the outlet and cited ongoing industry challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for the closure. It noted that negotiations with the landlord had been ongoing for more than a year before the termination took effect. In a May 19 filing, mm2 Asia said that Cathay Cineplexes owed around S$10.26 million to multiple landlords across its cinema locations in Singapore. Of this, approximately S$3.07 million is backed by corporate guarantees from mm2 Asia. The group said these debts stemmed mainly from the closure of loss-making outlets during the post-pandemic recovery, as well as cash flow difficulties that are affecting the cinema business. See also SIA flight from New Delhi to Singapore carried a dead passenger Since 2022, the cinema chain has faced a series of shutdowns. In February, it also closed its West Mall outlet in Bukit Batok . /TISG Read also: Save Our Screens: Cathay Cineplexes launches S$100 voucher deal for 10 movies, popcorn, and drinks

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