You know I am an anti-car person. I still think it is a luxury, not a need.
My choice: I would stay somewhere near to the work place, or near LRT station. the benefit of driving for such a high cost is not worth it.
I think many people are brainwashed to believe that a car is a basic need. Even my mother think so.
KCLau
· 1 year ago
that might apply to those staying in Singapore. But in KL, it is really a different story. For those staying in KL, do you think you can scrap your car and stay just next to your work place? I heard that LRT are very congested. The commuter is so slow and not enough train to take the load. Is it true?
Kelly from Almost Frugal
· 1 year ago
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Kenny Lau
· 1 year ago
KC, sometimes I was thought that our living standard in KL actually is higher than Singapore. For instance, I was working in Singapore 6 years back. My monthly expenditure is rental- 250, you could get S$3 (include water) per meal; which is equivalent to 300 per month, I bought a used motorbike there with $S4000 (is a Honda Rebal chooper bike, man...cool). You would not get this price in Malaysia) and I was payed the season parking for $S40 per month, the mobile phone line that I got is S$30 per month, my petrol expenses + my transitlink card for LRT and bus is around 100, for entertainment and other expenses is around 200. So, the total is 920 which is equivalent to 2110 ringgit Malaysia. If we compare apple to apple, let push away other expenditure, talk only about car- monthly installment for Myvi (i.e.)- 400, petrol-400, roadtax + insurance 100- Total is 900. Other basic expenses estimation is rental-400, tol- 100, parking- 50, meal/month-500 (in KL, per meal will cost around 5-6 rinngit minimum), mobile phone- 50, entertainment- 100- Grand total now is 2100.
In Singapore, I earned S$2500 per month as the Operation Sup. I saved S$400 (800 ringgit) per month. My variable bonus + 13rd month salary is around S$ 6K per year. In yearly basis, I could save total S$15.6K (35.8K).
In KL, You probaly earned 2500- 3000 ringgit per month as the Operation Sup. You could only save 400 ringgit per month. Normally, many local company would not pay us variable bonus. We only could get 1 month bonus for instance 2.5K ringgit per year. The total saving is 7.3K ringgit + EPF 6.9K= 14200 ringgit. The cash on hand at the end of the year is only 6.9K.
The weird of the Malaysia government felt majority family has increased the income. But, have they ever calculate the monthly expenditure? No doubt , we could live without the luxury things, but we could not live without insurance. If the main income in a family collapsed, there is no financial freedom for their kids and other family members. Their will live even more difficult than before.
Thus, my thought is Government should not only save money but cut off the fuel subsidy. But, they must use the extra money for country development. As I saw today, public transportation is the top priority. Because every one of us could save extra money and use it for other useful purpose.
The Penang bridge and the Plus higway has proven to us from the history. Why Malaysia still develop KL and other big city only.. Just look at China. The bullet train connected from Shanghai to Nanjing only take 3.5 hours to reach. (the total journey is 450km ++). Is our government scared Proton will making loss afterward? Just try to learn from India la...... look at people technology in develope a small car like Nano... I can't even imaging why Proton sold MV Agusta? It is a mistake, we should make use of the engine technology to develope a small vehicle like Nano, probably combination motorbike and car?
Anyway, this is just my thought. The final conclusion is our government should look at the minimum expenditure (insurance covered) instead of average income. This will make more sence to peoples in Malaysia. Cheerssssssssssss
KCLau
· 1 year ago
Hi Kenny,
Thanks for your opinions. I can summarize that our buying power is so weak, except for the local hawkers foods and pirate software and DVD, if compared to Singapore. Inefficiency is the main problem to tackle.
Mike
· 1 year ago
Transportation is a need in malaysia but a lot of people make it a want/luxury. I have until now still not purchase a new car yet. I have been holding back for the last 4-5 months even though i have the $$$$ to buy a big new car. A lot of people will feel that i am stingy but I do not feel this way as i would definitely prefer seeing my money grow rather than spending my $$$$. A car for me is basically getting me from point A to B plus low fuel consumption due to the recent fuel price hike.
Like what i have mentione before you determine your own fate. Spend now suffer later or save now enjoy later.
Jean
· 1 year ago
I worked in Singapore for 10 years, and I fully agreed with Kenny that purchasing power in Singapore is much better than here in Malaysia due to our lower currency rate.
I can't imagine go without a car in Malaysia......but for many families, they will just survive with a motorbike for the whole family (with kids on board as well). I have seen often on the road and am feeling anxious for the little one whom goes without a helmet.....
KCLau
· 1 year ago
Jean, I agree with what you said too. Most of my friends and classmates who works in Singapore never thought of coming back, yet.
hanson
· 1 year ago
Let me see.... Food - breakfast for 2, Rm5 i.e. nasi lemak and teh tarik - lunch economy rice plus chinese tea for 2 RM10 - dinner economy rice plus tea for 2 RM10 That's RM25 per day and 750 per month. Balance RM50 for prepaid card
...and you said they have RM800 for variable expenses... which means that no movies, no astro, no trips
KCLau
· 1 year ago
yeah .. so now it means it is quite poor if a family is earning an average income.
All Comments
I still think it is a luxury, not a need.
My choice:
I would stay somewhere near to the work place, or near LRT station.
the benefit of driving for such a high cost is not worth it.
I think many people are brainwashed to believe that a car is a basic need.
Even my mother think so.
For those staying in KL, do you think you can scrap your car and stay just next to your work place?
I heard that LRT are very congested. The commuter is so slow and not enough train to take the load.
Is it true?
In Singapore, I earned S$2500 per month as the Operation Sup. I saved S$400 (800 ringgit) per month. My variable bonus + 13rd month salary is around S$ 6K per year. In yearly basis, I could save total S$15.6K (35.8K).
In KL, You probaly earned 2500- 3000 ringgit per month as the Operation Sup. You could only save 400 ringgit per month. Normally, many local company would not pay us variable bonus. We only could get 1 month bonus for instance 2.5K ringgit per year. The total saving is 7.3K ringgit + EPF 6.9K= 14200 ringgit. The cash on hand at the end of the year is only 6.9K.
The weird of the Malaysia government felt majority family has increased the income. But, have they ever calculate the monthly expenditure? No doubt , we could live without the luxury things, but we could not live without insurance. If the main income in a family collapsed, there is no financial freedom for their kids and other family members. Their will live even more difficult than before.
Thus, my thought is Government should not only save money but cut off the fuel subsidy. But, they must use the extra money for country development. As I saw today, public transportation is the top priority. Because every one of us could save extra money and use it for other useful purpose.
The Penang bridge and the Plus higway has proven to us from the history. Why Malaysia still develop KL and other big city only.. Just look at China. The bullet train connected from Shanghai to Nanjing only take 3.5 hours to reach. (the total journey is 450km ++). Is our government scared Proton will making loss afterward? Just try to learn from India la...... look at people technology in develope a small car like Nano... I can't even imaging why Proton sold MV Agusta? It is a mistake, we should make use of the engine technology to develope a small vehicle like Nano, probably combination motorbike and car?
Anyway, this is just my thought. The final conclusion is our government should look at the minimum expenditure (insurance covered) instead of average income. This will make more sence to peoples in Malaysia. Cheerssssssssssss
Thanks for your opinions. I can summarize that our buying power is so weak, except for the local hawkers foods and pirate software and DVD, if compared to Singapore.
Inefficiency is the main problem to tackle.
Like what i have mentione before you determine your own fate. Spend now suffer later or save now enjoy later.
I can't imagine go without a car in Malaysia......but for many families, they will just survive with a motorbike for the whole family (with kids on board as well). I have seen often on the road and am feeling anxious for the little one whom goes without a helmet.....
Food
- breakfast for 2, Rm5 i.e. nasi lemak and teh tarik
- lunch economy rice plus chinese tea for 2 RM10
- dinner economy rice plus tea for 2 RM10
That's RM25 per day and 750 per month.
Balance RM50 for prepaid card
...and you said they have RM800 for variable expenses...
which means that no movies, no astro, no trips