Everyday Life
One of the best anime movie that i watch for 2025. The pace and songs and the way the male demon sacrifice himself to save the 1/2 demon female. My daughters watched it with me and my youngest daughter who is 7 years old was moved to tears. She like the movie from Netflix so much that she will play the songs over and over again.
I would say Netflix have another movie hit for this year 2025.
Switching to a vegetarian diet is one of the most transformative decisions you can make—not just for your health, but also for your wallet, your conscience, and the planet. For many, going vegetarian starts with curiosity. For others, it’s driven by health concerns, environmental awareness, or compassion for animals.
But here’s the truth: adopting a vegetarian lifestyle doesn’t have to happen overnight. In fact, it shouldn’t. Making a slow, conscious, and informed transition leads to a sustainable change. This blog is your guide—built to walk with you through 100 days of shifting your relationship with food, one meal at a time.
In our modern world of processed meat, fast food, and protein obsession, the idea of removing meat from your plate may seem daunting. What will you eat? Will you get enough nutrients? Will it be boring or tasteless? The short answer is: you will thrive, if you do it right.
This isn’t a crash diet. It’s not a detox. It’s a lifestyle reimagination. So, let’s begin.
Before diving into the 100-day plan, let’s define what it actually means to be a vegetarian. There are several variations:
Lacto-ovo vegetarian: Includes dairy and eggs, excludes meat, poultry, and fish.
Lacto-vegetarian: Includes dairy, excludes eggs, meat, poultry, and fish.
Ovo-vegetarian: Includes eggs, excludes dairy, meat, poultry, and fish.
Vegan: Excludes all animal products, including dairy, eggs, and honey.
Flexitarian: Mostly plant-based with occasional meat or fish.
You can choose what fits your goals best. For most beginners, a lacto-ovo approach is the easiest to start.
Health: Lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers. Rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Environment: Reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and deforestation.
Ethics: Promotes animal welfare and a more compassionate lifestyle.
Transitioning gradually over 100 days allows your body and mind to adjust, reducing overwhelm. Here’s a 5-stage plan broken down into 20-day segments.
Goal: Reduce meat intake, understand habits, explore plant-based foods.
Track your meals: For a few days, note how often you eat meat and in what form.
Start with one vegetarian meal a day: Try oatmeal for breakfast, a veggie stir-fry for lunch, or lentil curry for dinner.
Practice Meatless Mondays: Dedicate one day a week to go completely meat-free.
Try plant-based protein: Tofu, tempeh, lentils, chickpeas, beans, and quinoa.
Watch documentaries: Learn about plant-based living through “Forks Over Knives,” “The Game Changers,” or “Cowspiracy.”
By Day 20, you should be eating vegetarian meals at least 3 days a week.
Goal: Become comfortable with mostly plant-based meals and reduce dependency on meat.
Shift to 50% vegetarian meals per week
Experiment with global cuisines: Indian, Mediterranean, Thai, and Middle Eastern dishes are naturally veg-friendly.
Replace dairy with alternatives: Try oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk in coffee and cereal.
Prepare your pantry: Stock up on whole grains, canned beans, herbs, and spices.
By Day 40, meat should only appear on rare occasions in your meals.
Goal: Build confidence in preparing full vegetarian meals and understanding nutritional needs.
Go vegetarian for 5 out of 7 days weekly
Prepare batch meals: Cook in bulk—soups, curries, roasted vegetables, stir-fries.
Learn basic nutrition: Understand key nutrients—iron, calcium, B12, protein, omega-3s—and where to find them in plant sources.
Join a veg community: Online forums, social groups, or Instagram pages for support and recipes.
By Day 60, your weekly menu should be predominantly vegetarian.
Goal: Eliminate all meat, poultry, and fish from your meals.
Go 100% vegetarian for 2 full weeks
Read food labels: Watch for hidden animal products like gelatin, rennet, or fish sauce.
Explore egg and dairy alternatives if you're leaning toward veganism.
Focus on whole foods: Less mock meat and processed foods; more vegetables, grains, legumes.
By Day 80, you should feel confident navigating meals without relying on animal meat.
Goal: Solidify habits and plan for the long term.
Plan weekly menus: Choose 10 go-to vegetarian dishes to rotate.
Dine out vegetarian: Discover local vegetarian-friendly eateries.
Celebrate with food: Host a vegetarian dinner for friends or family.
Reflect on your journey: What improved? Health, energy, digestion, weight?
Set new goals: Move towards veganism, eat more organic, or reduce processed food.
By Day 100, you’ll have fully transitioned to a vegetarian diet and developed lasting habits.
Start slow: Gradual reduction avoids shock and cravings.
Plan ahead: Keep healthy snacks and meals ready.
Be flexible: It’s okay to make mistakes. Keep going.
Make it fun: Try new ingredients, challenge yourself with meatless recipes.
Involve family: Cooking together makes the transition easier and fun.
Transitioning to a vegetarian lifestyle over 100 days is a personal journey of growth, health, and awareness. By pacing yourself, staying informed, and staying open to trying new things, you can change your diet—and your life—in a way that feels sustainable, rewarding, and deeply meaningful.
Whether you’re motivated by health, ethics, or the environment, this shift can make a powerful difference. Start today, one meal at a time, and by Day 100, you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come.
If you're planning to start a blog in 2025, you’re probably stuck on a common question:
Should I use Google Blogger (Blogspot) or WordPress?
Both platforms have been around for decades. Blogger is owned by Google and is known for being easy and free. WordPress, on the other hand, powers over 40% of all websites globally and offers unmatched flexibility.
But which one is right for you?
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into a feature-by-feature comparison between Blogger and WordPress — from cost and control to customization, SEO, and monetization. By the end, you’ll know which platform suits your goals, especially if you’re aiming to build a blog that earns income.
Launched: 1999 (acquired by Google in 2003)
Cost: Free
Hosting: Provided by Google
Domain: blogspot.com subdomain or custom domain
Target Users: Casual bloggers, personal journals, beginners
Launched: 2003
Cost: Free software, but you need paid hosting
Hosting: Self-hosted (you choose your provider)
Domain: Custom domain (e.g. yoursite.com)
Target Users: Bloggers, entrepreneurs, marketers, businesses
| Feature | Blogger | WordPress (Self-hosted) |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Usage | Free | Free (open-source) |
| Hosting | Free (Google) | $3–$10/month |
| Domain Name | Optional, ~$10/yr | Required, ~$10–$15/yr |
| Maintenance | Google-managed | You manage it |
Verdict:
If you're on a tight budget or just want to test blogging, Blogger wins here. But WordPress's modest cost unlocks serious growth potential.
Your blog is hosted on Google’s servers.
You follow Google's policies.
Google can suspend or delete your blog without warning.
You own your domain and content fully.
You control backups, policies, and data.
Nobody can delete your site (except you).
Verdict:
WordPress gives you complete ownership, which is crucial if you're building a long-term brand or online business.
Beginner-friendly dashboard
One-click post editor (like using Gmail)
Limited design controls, basic layout
Steeper learning curve at the start
Powerful block editor (Gutenberg)
Thousands of themes & plugins
More room to customize as you grow
Verdict:
Blogger is easier on Day 1, but WordPress becomes easier in the long run once you learn the basics.
Around 50–100 themes
Very basic customization (colors, fonts)
Responsive but dated templates
Over 10,000 free themes
Full visual builders (Elementor, Divi, etc.)
Custom headers, sidebars, footers
Can create a blog, portfolio, or full website
Verdict:
WordPress wins by a huge margin. If you care about branding and a professional look, go with WordPress.
Basic SEO options (title, description, permalinks)
Limited tools and plugins
Not actively updated by Google
Powerful SEO plugins like Yoast or RankMath
Custom URLs, image alt text, schema markup
Fast themes, mobile optimization
Better control over technical SEO
Verdict:
If you're serious about ranking on Google, WordPress is far better.
| Method | Blogger | WordPress (Self-hosted) |
|---|---|---|
| Google AdSense | ✅ Easy to enable | ✅ Easy to install |
| Affiliate Marketing | ❌ Limited support | ✅ Full plugin & link tools |
| Sponsored Posts | ⚠️ Basic only | ✅ Unlimited layout & control |
| Digital Products | ❌ Not practical | ✅ Use WooCommerce or Gumroad |
| Membership/Email List | ❌ Difficult | ✅ Plugins like Mailchimp, Substack, etc. |
Verdict:
WordPress unlocks multiple income streams — perfect if you want to reach your $10K/year blogging goal.
Help articles from Google
Minimal community (declining over the years)
Massive open-source community
Countless forums, YouTube tutorials, courses
24/7 support from web hosts
Verdict:
WordPress has the strongest ecosystem in the blogging world. You’ll never be stuck for long.
Rarely updated since 2018
Looks and feels outdated
Google may eventually shut it down
Constantly updated by developers worldwide
Massive plugin/theme ecosystem
Used by companies like CNN, Sony, TechCrunch
Verdict:
WordPress is a future-proof choice. Blogger feels like a sunset platform.
| Feature | Winner |
|---|---|
| Cost | Blogger |
| Ownership | WordPress |
| Design Flexibility | WordPress |
| SEO Tools | WordPress |
| Monetization | WordPress |
| Ease of Use (Beginner) | Blogger |
| Growth Potential | WordPress |
If you’re a casual blogger or hobbyist:
👉 Start with Blogger — it's free, fast, and easy.
But if you're serious about:
Building a personal brand
Making money online
Creating a blog that could earn $10,000/year or more
👉 Start with WordPress (self-hosted). It’s the best investment you can make as a blogger.
Buy a domain – from Namecheap or GoDaddy (~$10/year)
Get hosting – from Bluehost or Hostinger (~$3–10/month)
Install WordPress – usually 1-click from your hosting dashboard
Choose a theme – use a free one to start
Start writing – aim for 1–2 SEO-optimized posts per week
Monetize – with AdSense, affiliate links, or your own products
Still not sure? Let me know your goals (e.g., niche, writing experience, income target), and I’ll help you:
Pick your domain name
Set up your WordPress blog step by step
Create your first SEO blog post
by Lew Wenwan
When I turned 48, I looked in the mirror and realized something sobering — I was behind. Not just in fitness or hobbies or travel, but financially. I didn’t have a proper retirement plan. I had no passive income streams. I wasn’t debt-free. I wasn’t even sure how much I spent each month.
But instead of spiraling into worry, I decided to do something radical — I committed to starting over.
This is my plan to achieve early retirement, starting from age 48, and how you can do it too — even if you’re starting from scratch.
For some, early retirement means lying on a beach at 50. For others, it's leaving corporate work to run a small business. For me, it means achieving financial freedom by 60 — the point at which I can choose not to work because my income from investments and passive sources covers my living expenses.
My goal:
✅ Retire by age 60
✅ Maintain $100,000/year income (inflation-adjusted)
✅ Keep total monthly expenses below $5,000/month
✅ Build at least $1.8 million in assets or passive income streams
When I took stock, I realized:
No savings
No investment accounts
Monthly income: ~$12,000 (my wife and I combined)
Monthly expenses: ~$8,000 (family of four in Singapore)
No CPF withdrawals yet (but building up)
No property investment — still paying mortgage
This was both alarming and motivating. At least now, I had clarity. From here, I built a plan.
2025 (Age 48) to 2037 (Age 60):
Save at least $6,000/month (50% of combined income)
Cut lifestyle inflation: fewer upgrades, smarter spending
Pay off high-interest debt (if any)
Build emergency fund (6 months' expenses)
Automate investments monthly
By the end of 2028, I aim to accumulate:
$250,000+ in investments
$30,000 emergency savings
CPF OA & SA balances optimized for growth
Build a dividend portfolio that pays $2,000–$3,000/month
Explore rental property in Malaysia or second-tier SG properties
Start an online business or consulting — part-time, scalable
Use CPF Special Account to generate 4–5% p.a. compounding
By age 56, the goal is:
$900,000+ in investable assets
$30,000/year in passive income
$500,000+ CPF RA projection
Withdraw 4% of portfolio (~$36,000/year from $900K)
Collect CPF LIFE payouts (~$2,000/month projected from 65)
Supplement with dividends, side business, or part-time gigs
Relocate temporarily to lower-cost countries for geo-arbitrage (e.g., Malaysia, Vietnam)
Every month, I do these five things:
Track every dollar spent – I use apps like Seedly or Spendee
Review investment performance – Singapore REITs, ETFs, blue-chip stocks
Increase income by 10% annually – through value at work, upskilling, side hustles
Learn one new thing about money – books, YouTube, blogs
Have a money talk with my wife – align goals, check progress
These small monthly actions build long-term financial muscle.
At 48, you can’t afford wild speculation. I stick to:
Dividend-paying stocks and REITs (SATS, DBS, Keppel DC REIT, etc.)
Global index ETFs (via Saxo or Endowus)
CPF SA top-ups for risk-free compounding
Singapore Savings Bonds for liquidity and safety
If I invest $6,000/month at an average of 6% return, I’ll have about $1.2 million in 10 years — enough to retire early with peace of mind.
You can’t just depend on one job.
Here's what I'm building:
Main job income – max performance, ask for raises, switch if needed
Side business – online store, content writing, or digital products
Dividend income – target $3,000/month by age 60
Rental income – co-invest in Malaysian or Batam property
CPF LIFE payouts – starts after 65, bonus cushion
Each stream strengthens my retirement buffer.
Early retirement isn't just about money. It’s about time, health, family, and freedom.
So I also:
Walk 10,000 steps a day
Do 16:8 intermittent fasting
Read daily (finance, psychology, philosophy)
Journal weekly
Travel with my family — affordably but memorably
Because what’s the point of retiring if your body is broken and your relationships are strained?
Some of you reading this may be 48, 50, even 55 — and thinking it's too late.
It's not.
You may not retire at 45 like the influencers on YouTube, but you can create a life where you work because you want to — not because you must.
And even if you hit your financial independence mark at 62 or 65, that's still decades of freedom ahead of you.
Looking back, I wish I had started in my 20s. But I can’t change that. What I can change is what I do today.
If you’re 48 and behind like me, here’s your mantra:
Start now. Start small. Stay consistent.
No more excuses. No more delay. I’m building my early retirement, one smart choice at a time. You can too.
Let’s meet again at 60 — not in an office, but on a beach, with time, health, and freedom on our side.
—
Signed,
Lew Wenwan,
Helping Singaporean families raise money-smart kids—starting at home.
🏷️ 1. Three-Jar Labels (Spend • Save • Share)
Print or handwrite labels for three jars per child:
Encourage kids to decorate their jars with stickers and color markers.
📆 2. Allowance Tracker (Monthly)
Date | Amount Received | Spend | Save | Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
How much save after spending per week?
How much share after saving per week?
Add a monthly reflection section:
“What did I learn about money this month?”: ____________________________
🎯 3. My Savings Goal
Let each child write and visualize their saving plan:
📈 Draw a progress bar or use stickers to mark milestones.
🎲 4. Budget Challenge Cards
Print and cut these out for a weekly challenge draw:
Write about each challenge afterward:
“How did it feel to stay within a budget?” ________________________
📋 5. Family Budget Meeting Template
Hold a monthly huddle using this agenda:
End the meeting with a snack or fun family treat!
🧠 6. Money Conversation Starters
Use these during meals or car rides:
These open doors to deep conversations about values, not just spending.
By James Lew
Our 4-room HDB is often filled with the soundtrack of life—homework debates, snack negotiations, and an ongoing chorus of “Can we buy this, Daddy?” Somewhere between boiled eggs and bedtime routines, we’ve carved out a unique family ritual: budgeting—with the kids.
Financial literacy isn’t something we teach once in a while. It’s baked into the everyday, shared like a family meal. And with four children under one roof, we’ve learned that the earlier they understand the value of money, the smoother the journey toward financial freedom becomes.
Here’s how we turned budgeting from a boring grown-up task into a lively, teachable experience that benefits us all.
🍯 It Starts with Storytelling, Not Spreadsheets
We didn’t begin with Excel. We began with stories.
We told our kids how Ah Gong used to walk to school barefoot, how myself saved my first $500 from working as a cadie so that i can buy sega to play, and how our family chose to live simply to build a future of choice.
Money, when framed as a tool—not a trophy—becomes something they feel empowered to manage, not afraid to confront.
These stories set the tone: budgeting wasn’t about restriction. It was about respect—for effort, value, and intention.
🏦 The 3-Jar System: Spend, Save, Share
Each of our kids has three labeled containers. Not high-tech apps—just jars from Daiso, lovingly decorated with stickers and their names.
Every week, they get a small allowance, and we guide them to divide it among the jars. At first, they wanted to put everything into “Spend.” No surprise! But over time, they started shifting priorities themselves. The eldest even asked to start a fourth jar: “Invest.”
A proud dad moment, indeed.
🧾 Grocery Runs = Teachable Moments
We made NTUC our classroom.
Each child gets a mini list and a budget. One’s in charge of comparing egg prices; another checks for discounts on fruits; someone’s racing to find the lowest per-gram price for rice. It’s chaos—but delightful chaos with purpose.
They now know the difference between “value” and “cheap.” They’ve learned to read labels, use mental math, and argue (convincingly) about whether grapes on promotion should be a “need” or a “want.”
Budgeting, it turns out, is hands-on learning disguised as a family outing.
🎮 Wants vs Needs: The Great Console Debate
When our kids started asking for the latest gaming console, we turned it into a budgeting challenge.
We sat together, researched prices, and calculated how long it would take to save up—individually and as a team. We discussed trade-offs: fewer bubble teas, postponed toy buys, delaying gratification.
They ended up choosing a cheaper secondhand model. And they appreciated it more because they’d earned it. Even now, they take extra care with it—it carries the weight of effort.
And they’re already saving for their next “big dream.” Financial patience is a muscle. This was their first real workout.
We keep it short, fun, and age-appropriate. Sometimes there’s a quiz. Sometimes there are mini rewards. Always, there’s open conversation.
Budgeting becomes less of a mystery, more of a family sport.
🌈 Embracing Mistakes as Lessons
There have been moments. Oh yes.
Like when our daugher blew her entire “Spend” jar on rubber and pencil at the school bookshop. Or when one child “borrowed” from their “Save” jar for snacks during school canteen break.
We didn’t scold—we reflected.
We sat down, talked through what happened, and asked how they felt. Disappointed? Frustrated? What would they do differently next time?
By allowing financial mistakes in a safe environment, we teach resilience. Better to learn these lessons now—with $2 rubber and perncil—than in adulthood with credit cards.
💡 Incorporating Fun: The Budget Challenge Game
To keep things exciting, we came up with mini family challenges:
The laughter, the bonding, the skills—they’re worth more than any finance seminar. It turns budgeting from a chore into something they look forward to.
🌱 Planting Seeds for Lifelong Financial Habits
My hope isn’t just that our kids grow up debt-free.
I hope they grow up confident in their relationship with money—unafraid to talk about it, equipped to manage it wisely, and generous enough to use it for good.
Budgeting with kids isn’t always neat. But neither is parenthood.
It’s messy, joyful, slow-growing work. Just like tending a garden in clay soil, it takes time before the roots deepen. But when they do—it’s beautiful.
✨ Final Thoughts
Raising kids in Singapore is no small feat. There are tuition bills, peer pressure, and that ever-present comparison trap. But by budgeting as a family, we’re choosing a different path—a slower, more deliberate one.
We're teaching our children that money is a tool, not a measure of worth. That living simply can be joyful. That every cent has power when used with purpose.
This is financial education, the Lew way. From our 4-room flat to their future—the seeds we sow today will become the freedom they inherit tomorrow.
By James Lew
Beneath the hum of ceiling fans and the jangle of kids’ laughter bouncing off our HDB walls, a quiet revolution is taking place. We're not chasing Ferraris or landed property. We're chasing something far more radical in Singapore's fast-paced, achievement-obsessed culture: freedom.
Our family of six lives in a four-room flat nestled in the heart of the heartlands. It’s not big by conventional standards, but it’s where our roots grow deep—where tuition notes are scribbled on walls, where curry puffs cool on mismatched plates, where dreams are whispered over Milo and late-night prata.
And from this modest space, we’ve begun to build our version of wealth: one of choice, intention, and peace. This is the story of how we’re growing financial freedom, one seed at a time.
🌱 Redefining Wealth
For years, I believed wealth was about having more. A bigger flat. Fancier car. The latest gadgets for the kids. But the pursuit left me burned out, chronically tired, and disconnected from the very people I was hustling for.
Then one night, I caught my youngest—barely five—pretending to "go to work" with his school bag slung over his shoulder. He looked exhausted, mimicking me. That night, I asked myself: Is this what I want to teach them?
That moment seeded a different question in our home: What if wealth wasn’t just more things—but more time, more freedom, more choice?
We started defining wealth as the ability to say “yes” to the things that matter and “no” to the things that don’t.
💸 Budgeting with Values, Not Guilt
To make changes, we needed clarity. We tracked every expense for three months—not to punish ourselves, but to understand how we truly lived.
We kept it simple:
Our spending wasn’t about deprivation, but direction.
🏠 Letting Our HDB Work for Us
Our home isn’t just shelter. It’s a co-investor in our FIRE journey.
We opted out of lavish renovations. No feature wall, no walk-in wardrobe. We wanted functionality, not debt. The money saved—tens of thousands—was diverted into investments that now quietly grow every month.
We also played the long game. While friends talked about upgrading, we stayed put. Our flat became a wealth-building anchor, not a stepping stone. When the kids grow older, we’ll consider right-sizing, potentially unlocking equity without touching our core savings.
Sometimes, the best upgrade is a mindset shift.
🌾 Growing Income like a Garden
One stream of income is like relying on one crop—it’s risky. We learned to diversify, slowly.
We start to invest in dividend stocks in Singapore. We also invest in Singapore Savings Bonds which give a nice yield @3%. It is not much but it create passive income for us. We also look at investing in bonds like Bigfundr which gives a higher yield at 5%-6% 9months or 12 months.
Every dollar earned this way felt different. It carried pride. Ownership. Legacy.
📚 Teaching Our Kids, the Best Investment
No tuition center teaches what a piggy bank can. We gave each child three jars: Spend, Save, Share. It became a ritual: every Sunday, allowance day, we’d sit down and talk money.
They learned the difference between “I want it now” and “I want it more later.” They made decisions, sometimes mistakes, but grew wiser each time.
We kept birthdays simple. We skipped toys in favor of experiences. And in doing so, we taught our kids something powerful: that joy doesn’t come from things, but from meaning.
🛡️ Protecting the Roots
The journey to freedom isn’t just about growing assets—it’s about protecting them.
We reviewed our insurance carefully. MediShield Life, Integrated Shield Plans, a simple term life policy for me. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. Freedom means knowing our family is safe, even if storms come.
We also built an emergency fund—six months of expenses stashed in a high-yield account. It’s our sleep-at-night money. And trust me, with 2 kids and parents, we need that kind of sleep.
✨ Tiny Wins, Big Impact
There’s a common misconception that you need a six-figure salary to retire early. We’ve learned the opposite: consistency matters more than intensity.
Every time we cleared a credit card in full, we celebrated—with teh peng and kaya toast. Every time our net worth grew by $10,000, we high-fived. Every time we said “no” to something shiny and “yes” to our future, we felt the quiet thrill of self-respect.
These wins don’t go viral. But they matter. They build the momentum we need to keep going.
🌄 What Freedom Looks Like
For us, financial freedom isn’t about not working—it’s about choosing when and how to work. It’s about school holiday mornings spent making pancakes instead of commuting. It’s about traveling in off-peak seasons, giving back generously, and aging with dignity.
We’re not there yet. But we’re closer today than we were yesterday.
And it all started here—in a humble HDB flat, with big dreams and even bigger love.
🌟 Final Thoughts
If you're a parent in Singapore feeling the squeeze, wondering if this dream is possible—know this: it is.
You don’t need a finance degree. You need courage, clarity, and community.
Plant small seeds today. Water them with discipline. Protect them with love.
And one day, those roots will give rise to the freedom you always dreamed of—not just for you, but for generations beyond.
—
“Roots & Freedom” isn’t just our blog title. It’s our life in motion. Join us on this journey—we’ll grow together.
—
Model: Import in-demand products (household, pet, gadgets) from Malaysia, China or Taobao via ezBuy and sell on Shopee or Carousell. Add social media marketing to grow.
✅ Startup Cost: S$1,000–S$3,000 (initial inventory, basic ads)
💰 Monthly Sales Target: ~$25K sales → ~35–40% gross margin → ~$8–9K net/month
⚙️ Key Skills: Product sourcing, branding, listing optimization
📊 Success Rate: ~15–25% (higher if you reinvest profits & build a brand)
Why It Can Work: Singaporeans love gadgets, unique lifestyle products, and quick delivery — ideal for small inventory eCommerce.
Model: Offer premium services like project management, IT consulting, career coaching, resume writing, or B2B training (based on your domain).
✅ Startup Cost: Under S$500 (branding, website, marketing)
💰 Revenue Target: ~S$8,500/month from 2–5 clients at S$1.5K–S$4K/project
⚙️ Key Skills: Expertise in a field, client acquisition, professional network
📊 Success Rate: ~30–40% (higher with existing network or industry authority)
Why It Can Work: You already have 15+ years of working experience — turning your knowledge into income is cost-effective and scalable.
Model: Create and sell downloadable products (eBooks, Excel tools, CPF calculators, Notion planners) or online courses (e.g., finance, parenting, PM skills) on Gumroad, Udemy, or your own site.
✅ Startup Cost: Under S$1,000 (tools, video recording, hosting)
💰 Revenue Target: 1,000 sales/year × $100 product = S$100K/year
⚙️ Key Skills: Content creation, SEO, audience building
📊 Success Rate: ~10–20% (scales well after initial grind)
Why It Can Work: No inventory, passive income, and taps into demand for knowledge — especially around Singaporean systems (CPF, finance, career change).
Model: Launch a part-time or full-time service business like:
Home cleaning
Pet care (walking, grooming)
Freelance logistics
Elder care concierge
Car grooming
Market through Facebook Ads or SEO.
✅ Startup Cost: S$1,000–S$5,000 (gear + basic marketing)
💰 Revenue Target: ~S$10K/month sales with 30–40% margin
⚙️ Key Skills: Operations, online ads, customer service
📊 Success Rate: ~25–40% (high if operations are tight)
Why It Can Work: Many working professionals in Singapore outsource daily tasks. If you niche down and provide quality, demand is strong.
Model: Build a content site (CPF guides, retirement planning, local deals) or YouTube channel with a Singapore audience. Monetise through affiliate links, brand deals, and ads.
✅ Startup Cost: <$500 (domain, camera, hosting)
💰 Revenue Target: S$10K/month from affiliate commissions, ads, sponsorships
⚙️ Key Skills: SEO, storytelling, persistence
📊 Success Rate: ~10% (but long-term passive income if done well)
Why It Can Work: Singapore has few high-quality content creators in niche domains. Local brands will pay for access to engaged, trust-based audiences.
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Niche selection | High — choose what people pay for, not just what they like |
| Consistency | Critical — 6–12 months of grind before real profits |
| Reinvesting profits | Growth needs capital — spend on ads, team, tools |
| Personal branding | Builds trust, especially for consulting or content-based models |
| Differentiation | Compete on value, not just price (better service, unique product bundle, etc.) |
| Business Idea | Startup Cost | Time to $100K/year | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| eCommerce Import | S$1K–3K | 6–12 months | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| High-Ticket Freelancing | <S$500 | 3–6 months | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Digital Products | <S$1K | 6–18 months | ⭐⭐ |
| Local Service Biz | S$1K–5K | 3–6 months | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Content/Affiliate Biz | <S$500 | 12–24 months | ⭐⭐ |
Use autocomplete: Start typing keywords (e.g., “kitchen”, “USB”, “foldable”) and see what phrases pop up.
Look at “Top Sales” in various categories:
Go to Shopee > Categories > Filter by Top Sales
Observe products with high orders + low competition
Check reviews: Products with 500+ reviews indicate demand.
Look for "New but Trending" items with <50 reviews but high “sold” count (means they are new but hot)
Use Terapeak Product Research (available in eBay Seller Hub) to see:
Sell-through rate (how fast it sells)
Average price
Competition
Search trending items: “air fryer accessories”, “standing desk converter”
Look at prices, photos, and how sellers word their titles
Bonus: DM sellers to ask about stock — if many say “sold out” → high demand!
| Tool | What It Does | Free? |
|---|---|---|
| Google Trends | See interest over time (e.g. “mini humidifier”) | ✅ |
| TikTok (#TikTokMadeMeBuyIt) | See what’s going viral and buyable | ✅ |
| AliExpress Top Rankings | See global hot items in different categories | ✅ |
| Shopee MY / Lazada MY | Look for cheaper versions of what’s hot in SG | ✅ |
| eBay Watch Count / Completed Listings | See what’s being watched/sold recently | ✅ |
When you shortlist products, make sure they are:
| Criteria | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Lightweight & Small | Lower shipping costs (ideal for dropshipping or ePacket) |
| Non-electronic | Avoid returns & high failure rate |
| Solves a Problem | E.g., "car scratch remover", "cord organizer" |
| Not easily found in stores | Unique or quirky always performs well |
| Profit Margin > 30% | Sell $12+ items that cost <$5 landed |
Use tools like:
Shopee Keyword Ads Tool (My Ads) – enter keywords, see traffic & bid suggestions
Google Keyword Planner – shows average monthly searches globally and locally
Ubersuggest / Ahrefs – for deeper SEO if you blog or use affiliate marketing
When you find a few potential products, check:
| What to Look At | Platform | What to Learn |
|---|---|---|
| # of Listings | Shopee/Lazada | Is it saturated? |
| Price Range | All | Can you compete? |
| # of Reviews | Shopee/eBay | How many are selling? |
| Branding Style | Shopee | Can you do better photos or bundles? |
Shopee autocomplete: “mini humidifier for car”, “usb humidifier”
Top listing: Sold 10k+, priced at $12, has 1,200 reviews
Found cheaper version on Shopee MY or AliExpress for $4.90 landed
Profit margin: 60%
Looks underserved in SG with bad photos — opportunity to improve
Start with 3–5 products and test in small batches
Track everything in a simple sheet: cost, shipping, sale price, profit
Look for bundling opportunities (e.g., sell humidifier + essential oil pack)
Add localised touch: "Best for SG HDB rooms", "USB-powered – works with Xiaomi Power Bank"
