i feel like a loser now after scrolling through this thread

I think nowadays 10k is like more of a need than nice to have

If you consider nett take home of 10k; thats about 7k++?

Assuming alone without family and kids

Room Rental - rm700?? (include all the utilities)
Car - lets say rm600
30 days makan - 1000 a month (kind of no fancy stuffs and stick to rm10 per meal avg)
Petrol - rm300
Insurance & medical - rm500
Basic living stuffs - rm500 ~ rm800 - home cleaning stuffs, groceries, hair cut, personal hygiene stuffs, basic clothes, car insurance, road tax,
30% of nett pay savings - 2100

Which gives you a bit of balance for some indulgence like mini travel, hanging out with friends, having some life
Also if you have your parents, you will need to support them too. So earning 8k to 10k is more like the 5k 20 years ago

I’m 44, lucky enough to say i earn a decent sum where i am starting to save for retirement age after having saved for my kids college education; although i think by then the inflation will be worse