A Malaysian man recently sparked widespread discussion online after sharing that despite earning RM5,000 a month, he had to scrimp and save for an entire month just to buy a basic RM49.90 piece of clothing for his child.
In his social media post, the man explained that people around him often assume a RM5,000 salary is “more than enough”, with some even questioning his money management skills.
However, he said that after deducting housing loan repayments, car instalments, utility bills, communication expenses, and daily household costs, there was barely anything left.
Barely hanging on
He described what remained not as “living expenses”, but as money used to “barely hang on”.
As the head of the household, the man shared that he deliberately cut back on small daily indulgences such as coffee and simplified his lunches. After a month of careful saving, he finally managed to set aside enough to buy new clothes for his child.
My child was happy, but my heart was filled with mixed emotions,” he wrote.
He added that wage growth has failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living, remarking that “RM5,000 simply doesn’t go very far in this era”.
Resonated with many Malaysians
The post quickly resonated with many Malaysians, sparking widespread discussion online as netizens shared similar struggles with rising living costs and stagnant wages.
Many commented that a RM5,000 monthly salary no longer stretches far enough to comfortably support a family in today’s economic climate.
‘I earn RM15,000 a month and it’s just barely enough. Housing loan RM2,500, car RM1,000, parents RM3,000, family food expenses RM2,000, two children’s school and tuition fees RM800, fuel, tolls, water, electricity and internet RM1,200. Eating out and entertainment as a family RM1,000 a month, insurance RM1,200, and income tax RM1,200.’
‘It depends on the situation. A little over RM5,000 is generally fine for basic living. RM5,000 isn’t a high salary but it’s not low either. For regular jobs, that’s usually the range unless you keep upgrading your skills, have higher education, or start your own business. Otherwise, it’s more or less the same.’
‘If you’re single, it might be manageable. But once you have children, it becomes very tight. Just childcare and insurance can easily cost over RM1,000 a month. Not to mention housing, car, and daily meals. That’s why many people now need two incomes.’
