A woman recently sparked a discussion online after sharing how she stretches her remaining money for the month after deducting her monthly commitments.
In a viral post, the woman said she was left with RM718.92 after settling her monthly commitments.
RM2.50 nasi lemak for lunch
According to her, she has been trying to survive until the end of the month by keeping her meals simple.
She shared that she would boil two eggs every day and buy a packet of plain nasi lemak for RM2.50.
I don’t take breakfast, just drink plain water. I only eat lunch, which is nasi lemak with two eggs. It can really keep me full until I get home,” she wrote.
Based on her calculation, spending RM2.50 a day for 30 days would come up to around RM75 a month for lunch.
She added that she has also stopped shopping and rarely joins her friends when they invite her out.
Clarified that she still has other expenses
After her post gained attention, the woman later clarified that she was not yet including other expenses such as petrol and groceries.
She also said she forces herself to save RM500 every month for her emergency fund.
Responding to those who said RM700 was still a “luxury” because she is single, she explained that the money was not entirely for herself.
“I have four younger siblings. Sometimes I also spend on my family. This money is not 100% for me only,” she wrote.
She ended her post by wishing everyone ease and blessings in their sustenance.
Netizens share budgeting tips
Her post led to many Malaysians sharing their own ways of saving money.
One netizen suggested buying a whole chicken from Baker’s Cottage for RM19, saying it could last about a week when paired with boiled eggs and home-cooked rice.
They also advised her to look out for discounted vegetables and fruits at supermarkets, especially during clearance hours.
Another netizen encouraged her to cook simple meals like fried rice, fish, and vegetables, adding that bringing food from home could be more nutritious and cost-saving in the long run.
Others also related to her situation, with one saying that even after deducting commitments, they would force themselves to save RM3,000 every month into savings accounts such as Tabung Haji, ASB, or KWSP.
They claimed they would live on around RM500 for food and shopping, eating RM5 nasi katok daily while prioritising their savings.
However, not everyone agreed with being too strict on oneself, arguing that while saving up is important, people should not be too hard on themselves.
