Argh… things are too expensive. Time to do something about it.

Argh… things are too expensive. Time to do something about it.

Do you feel things are getting too expensive?

Food is getting too expensive right? Gone were the days when a plate of chicken rice was RM2.80(Haha… ok, I may belong to a much older generation). I remember when a plate of wanton men became RM5, everyone was shouting but today, it could have easily doubled in some restaurants. When it comes to cafes with air-conditioning, the prices would easily start from RM13.80 for the cheapest fried rice with egg to RM18.80 for fried rice with fried chicken for example.

If we just eat three times a day in these cafes, it would easily be RM50 and we have not yet included the price of drinks yet. RM1,500 just for food and drinks per month? Another RM1,600 for an apartment rental? Plus RM1,000 for a Japanese branded car at 9 year loan? Just for these few things, we would already need RM4,600. We have yet to include petrol, toll, PICKLEBALL and that overseas vacation.

Malaysians are feeling it too; things are too expensive

Article in businesstimes.com.sg Malaysia’s middle class is feeling the squeeze – rising costs are eroding savings, insurance cover is thinning and buffers are wearing down, the recent RinggitPlus Malaysian Financial Literacy Survey (RMFLS 2025) indicated.

The financial strain is not unique as similar pressures are rippling through South-east Asia, where the middle class, once the region’s engine of growth, is showing signs of fragility in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

Malaysia’s middle class is feeling the pressure, with just 23 per cent of households earning RM5,000 (S$1,530) to RM10,000 a month managing to save RM1,001 to RM1,500. This is down from 29 per cent in 2024, as rising living costs erode buffers.

Nearly four in 10 middle-income earners now save less than RM500 monthly, the survey indicated. Article in businesstimes.com.sg

What could we do about it?

#1 – Earn More.

There is nothing stopping anyone from having a second job of a couple of hours during the weekends. Let’s not think people will look down on us because we are the only one who can feel the suffering if we do not have enough money to even buy proper food to eat every month. Opportunities are aplenty, whether it’s selling things through online platforms, or driving for GRAB and others.

Virtually every other shops I pass by in popular malls are also looking for people, part-timers or full-timers. Working there would earn money and at the same time, free food too, why not? When we earn more, we can then save and invest more. This will ultimately help us in the future. Hey, just an extra 4 hours per day on Saturday and Sunday will earn us enough money for lunch during the week days, if not more.

#2 – Spend Less.

If we are allergic to Android phones, buying a refurbished iPhone is perfectly fine too. If we feel food is too expensive in Malaysia, it may be prudent to also consider cheaper food such as bread. One loaf is merely RM2.20 and should be enough for a number of meals. It’s not the best? Well, there’s also eggs which is around 50 sen per egg for Grade A. Oh, we also need meat protein since egg protein is not good enough?

Vacations can be better planned. Hotels can be focused on clean and comfortable versus luxury and selfies. Airplanes could be low-cost instead of traditional carriers. Renting a small car is fine, does not need to be a SUV. Just these steps alone would already enable us to save a lot more. Savings would then be multiplied through investments too.

#3 – Upgrade / Upskill to stay competitive

This is not just about a Master Degree. It could be a certificate on Artificial Intelligence. It could even be self-learn if we are disciplined enough. It could be reading books to enhance our knowledge. It could be joining Toastmasters so that we learn the necessary soft skills to help us manage stakeholders better. The more skills we have the higher the chance that we could be presented with the next set of opportunities. Suffice to say, whatever we learnt last year could be obsolete this year.

Action is Louder than Words

Enough of more new year resolutions. Enough of never ending complaints about the world, about greedy vendors, about how some colleagues were promoted ahead of us or about how some people have rich parents. My parents are both educators, they taught me discipline, resilience and the need to continue moving forward. When I want to do something, I just set out to do it and if it does not happen, it’s time to also pivot because continuing to drive along the wrong road would ultimately lead to the dead end.

Let’s do it fellow Malaysians!

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