The post How I Live In My Car In Kuala Lumpur on RM1,500 a Month appeared first on In Real Life.
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This is the story of a marketing manager who earns RM10,000 but is forced to live in his car to make ends meet. Here’s how he does it:
Back when I was the editor at a media company, I recall receiving the occasional email from random people telling me about how they were forced to live in their cars.
There are multiple stories of people compelled to live in their cars, such as the Kajang couple who lived in their car and also a man who lives in a car and uses 90 percent of his salary to pay off his RM1 million debt.
But I never thought that I myself would also have to live in my car.
I have just Rm1,500 for living expenses.
I’m 31 years old and currently working as a Marketing and Comms Manager, earning RM10,000 a month. As an endangered M40 single, we are often left out from receiving government assistance because we are classified as ineligible.
However, due to getting into debt (near-bankruptcy) the year before and currently undergoing the Debt Management Programme under AKPK, I have to service my debt for the next 10 years and also repay the people I used to borrow from.
After deducting income tax and EPF/retirement contribution, I am left with RM8,000. Long story short, after paying off all my debts, commitments, and bills, I have just RM1,500 for living expenses.
It is with shame that in the year 2022, on the last week of the month, I had to borrow money from my mom, my boss, my best friends, my colleagues, and ask my boss thrice for an advance payment of my salary just to survive until our salary is banked in.
I am not lying when I say I am always left with RM50 or RM100 before I receive my salary 5-6 days later.
I pay RM650 a month just for parking, toll, and petrol. The government’s decision to stop giving fuel subsidies to those who aren’t B40 doesn’t help.
I work at Damansara Perdana and live with my mom at Ampang.
Here’s the breakdown of what I am paying per day just to go to work:
Toll: RM16 (6 tolls, I drive past 3 tolls one way)
Parking: RM2 (the parking costs RM100 a month, divided by the number of working days)
Petrol: RM10 (I drive a 1.3L manual Proton Iriz, which consumes RM70 in petrol every week)
Daily Travel Total: RM28 a day just to go to work. When you multiply that by the number of working days (23), it amounts to RM644. This doesn’t include fuel, toll, and parking costs for weekends when I go out. So my total transportation bill easily reaches up to RM800 a month.
The distance from Ampang to Damansara Perdana is 30km, so I drive 60km every day, passing through 6 tolls and getting stuck in traffic jams in a manual car.
The Inspiration
I always wanted to try solo camping, especially after watching ASMR solo camping videos on YouTube.
I was browsing these videos when I chanced upon one titled “Convert any Hatchback Car to a Practical Micro Camper in Less than 10 Minutes without Making a Mess” and it caught my attention. I went down the rabbit hole and started researching the topic. I already drive a hatchback car. I thought to myself, hmm, maybe I could camp like this?
That’s when the YouTube algorithm suggested a few more videos, and I came across these two: “Living In A Car To Save Money | How I Did It & Complete Guide and Daily routine of living in a small car“
As someone who was left with just RM50 to survive one week until payday, I was hooked. If I can save RM650 – 800 a month, I’m in! I am sick of constantly borrowing money from others.
Despite being in the top 20% of high-income earners, my lifestyle now aligns more with the B40, the bottom 40% of the population. It’s a stark contrast that often leaves me pondering the unpredictable turns of life.
Starting Car Life and Car Camping
Embarking on this car life journey, I’ve made several purchases to make my situation more comfortable.
Here’s what I bought:
- A compact, soft mattress (single size) that fits perfectly in the back of my hatchback
- Ice cooler boxes to keep my clothes and items (doubling up as my bed stands – I place them in the rear passenger seat footwells, then place the mattress on top)
- 2 portable fans
- 1 pillow
- 1 thermal flask
- my tablet
- a Bluetooth speaker
- magnetic ceiling lamp
- (most importantly) two power banks to charge my two fans, which have to run all night long.
Privacy was a key concern, so I also invested in some sun shades for the car windows.
Day-to-Day Life and Concerns
My daily routine involves finding a quiet, safe spot to park for the night. I usually opt for areas that are not too isolated for safety reasons, but also not too crowded to avoid drawing attention. I’ve developed a keen sense of finding spots where I won’t be disturbed.
Safety is a major concern, so I always make sure that the car is locked from the inside, and I keep a police baton and metal shield within reach. Staying connected with friends and family is also crucial for my peace of mind.
After work, I hang out at the office and play video games with my colleagues (sometimes joined by my boss), then work on my computer or watch movies. I grab dinner, then prepare my car for sleep. Whether I am at home or not, my relaxation activities are similar: playing video games, video editing, working on my PC, or lying in bed watching YouTube and Netflix. And that’s no different from what I can do in the office or when lying down inside my car.
In the morning, I am gently awakened by sunshine, and I go hiking/walking for an hour (roughly a 5km walk), head to the gym for a quick pump, then shower and get into my office clothes before entering the office.
I usually wash my clothes using hand soap in the shower and dry them by placing them on the roof of my car – or I run the engine for a few minutes to get it hot, then leave my wet, damp clothes inside the engine bay to dry them.
I still remember the first time I slept without a mattress pad – it was painful! And the biggest lesson I learnt was never, ever park your car far from the nearest toilet – trust me, you don’t want to make the same mistake I did!
Finding Locations to Park and Sleep
One of the most challenging aspects of car life is finding a suitable place to park and sleep each night. The best places?
- Near a mamak restaurant (access to food and toilet facilities)
- 24-hour KK Mart (access to anything you need to buy)
- Near your office (so you can just walk to the office)
- Near a gym (for showering, toilet use, and workouts anytime)
Fortunately, I found a spot where I am literally in the middle of all four convenient spots! It’s a continuous learning process, and I often must be prepared to move if a location doesn’t feel right. That’s why I keep the driver’s seat upright and clear of any items, so I can just jump in and drive away quickly.
However, there were locations with too many mosquitoes (how did they even manage to get through the tiny cracks in my windows?), too many people observing me as I set up my mattress, or my office colleagues asking why my car is always there early in the morning and evening.
Usually, when I sleep, I leave the windows open about 3 inches to let some air in. Unfortunately, car camping is extremely new in Malaysia, and not many people have done it, so I can’t rely on online communities, apps, or word of mouth to find spots that are safe and legal.
That’s why most YouTubers call Car Camping/Car Life ‘urban stealth camping,’ as you do not want to attract unwanted attention.
Toilet and Hygiene
For bathroom needs, I usually rely on public restrooms at gas stations, malls, gyms, the office toilet, or 24-hour mamaks. It’s not ideal, but it’s manageable. For hygiene, I have a gym membership, which I primarily use for showering facilities.
Essential Equipment
In addition to the initial purchases, I’ve also invested in a new and cheap power station – basically a MASSIVE power bank to keep my devices powered, so I don’t have to worry if my power bank has enough juice to power my two fans and my phone/tablet/Bluetooth speaker.
Two fans are necessary, one directed towards your face, and the other over your body – it’s a trick to fool the body into thinking you are in a cool place. I also keep my clothing minimal, focusing on functionality and ease of care.
You will also need to custom-make a piece of plywood that fits your boot, so you can have a flat surface for where your legs/feet will be.
Conclusion
Living in a car was never something I envisioned for myself, especially given my income level. However, this experience has been eye-opening, teaching me about minimalism, resilience, and the importance of financial planning.
While it’s not a permanent solution, it’s a life lesson I value. It’s also a stark reminder that financial stability isn’t just about how much you earn, but how you manage what you earn.
Despite the challenges, I’ve found a sense of freedom in this lifestyle that I hadn’t anticipated. I can literally CAMP anywhere in KL! Or drive to Melaka, Penang, or Pahang and just sleep in my car! Or why just Malaysia, what if I were to drive all the way to Thailand, Vietnam, and China, with accommodation already settled?
While car life has been working for me so far, only about 5 people know of my current life setup. There is still a huge social stigma attached to living in one’s car – that of poverty and desperation. I mean, I would also judge someone if they were living in their own car, but now that I am living this life myself, I understand why.
In any case, car camping and car life is not just about saving money; it’s also about re-evaluating what’s essential in life and finding contentment in simplicity. Although I do wish I had discovered this lifestyle much earlier – I would have saved so much money!
And guess what? Even this very article is being written on my laptop, as I sit inside my car.
Would you live in a car to save money?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
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The post How I Live In My Car In Kuala Lumpur on RM1,500 a Month appeared first on In Real Life.