Like many Canadians worrying about their income, Vancouver local Natasha Acuba-Bailey found her passion while looking to make extra money.

She had been the assistant manager at the local Sephora for 12 years and that salary wasnB次元官网网址檛 keeping up with inflation.

Her idea came in 2020, when Acuba-Bailey created TellyB次元官网网址檚 Manila Kitchen, a Filipino food business. She said that she initially needed the money to take care of her grandma.

B次元官网网址淥ne night I decided that I wanted to do something for my grandma to help her pay for the medical bills because she needed 24-hour care.B次元官网网址�

TellyB次元官网网址檚 Manila Kitchen began as a side hustle, but now itB次元官网网址檚 a full-time business B次元官网网址� and Acuba-Bailey isnB次元官网网址檛 the only Canadian to have a secondary source of income.

A recent survey from the Angus Reid Institute found that many Canadians are struggling with living costs.

A study from H&R Block Canada backs this up, finding that 85 per cent of Canadians are concerned that their job isnB次元官网网址檛 enough to deal with inflation. It also found that 28 per cent of adult Canadians were taking a second job to support their earnings B次元官网网址� 13 per cent more than in 2022.

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Acuba-Bailey is one of the lucky ones; she was able to quit her full-time job in January 2022 to focus on TellyB次元官网网址檚 Manila Kitchen.

Her job with Sephora may be gone with the wind, but Acuba-Bailey uses her skills in cosmetics and salesmanship to advertise her product: adobo flakes.

Adobo is a traditional Filipino meat dish, usually served with garlic fried rice and fresh tomatoes. Adobo flakes are a twist on this dish; Acuba-Bailey says theyB次元官网网址檙e like B次元官网网址渂acon bites.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a spice, it can be used as a topping but not a condiment,B次元官网网址� said Acuba-Bailey. B次元官网网址淭he most common misconception about it is that itB次元官网网址檚 spicy because when you hear adobo youB次元官网网址檙e like, oh, the Mexican adobo, like the chilies.B次元官网网址�

Acuba-Bailey sells both pork and chicken adobo flakes. After getting her food safety certificate, along with all other necessary paperwork, she purchased a commissary kitchen and began bringing TellyB次元官网网址檚 Malina Kitchen to farmerB次元官网网址檚 markets.

B次元官网网址淚 looked up all the markets, all the festivals, all the pop up events, to see where I can get myself in,B次元官网网址� Acuba-Bailey said, adding that includes anywhere from Langley to North Vancouver.

After three years of hard work, TellyB次元官网网址檚 Manila Kitchen has a solid customer base. Acuba-Bailey is determined to find the best deals for herself so that she doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to raise her own prices for customers.

B次元官网网址淚t just takes a little bit of research and some phone calls B次元官网网址� and IB次元官网网址檒l do a tally,B次元官网网址� Acuba-Bailey said. B次元官网网址淚f I find that Costco has the best deal then IB次元官网网址檒l just stick with Costco.B次元官网网址�

Most recently, Acuba-Bailey participated in Philippines Independence Day celebrations in Vancouver.