how many properties do you owned? Respect to you, I can't be that frugal even if i wanted to.

Sorry, do you mind explaining the different between stingy and frugal? You said frugal can pay more for quality items, can you give an example? Because you were sharing this:
Minimum 50% savings rate.
Using phones until they are obsolete (banking app no longer support) or dead or too slow
Able to shop second hand, buy pre loved clothing, buy reduce to clear fruits and veges.
Wait for discount to buy things.
Know what is expensive.
No fancy facial, aesthetic treatment or fancy makeup.
No branded items.
Able to choose a RM500 rental Vs a RM1500 rental. This one shows me that she is being frugal even though she damn well can afford the RM1500 place.
Appreciate just walking in parks
Able to eat at kopitiam or economy rice stall.
Able to say no to overseas holiday to save up for the future.
No Starbucks, mixue, chatime, no netflix.

What sort of quality items you talking about by being frugal?


I wanna asked but someone edi asked. So your aim is 45, you really reminded me someone that I know.

Seriously I think we can set up a Whatsapp group to discuss

There is frugal and there is FIRE frugal.

Frugal is living below your means, usually saving 10-30% of ones income monthly. This one is already tough for many people as can see people bank account gone at end of month.

FIRE frugal is living WAAY below your means, This is saving more than 50%, maybe like 70% of ones income monthly.

I don't do properties or intend to own properties as
1. You pay lots of tax. I prefer to be tax free or pay as much minimum tax as possible. I tend to pay zero tax except for maybe car tax and tax for my parents. That's all. Zero income tax.
2. Having a property means you are locking substantial amount of your money in ringgit which is a bad idea as it is a depreciation currency.

Never sacrifice your health. For me, I buy and shipped lots of wild blue berries and other black/purple berries and high quality Japanese green tea from overseas as buying form Malaysia means paying extra 200-500% more. This is willing to pay for your health.

I am not interested in being in a WhatsApp group. Sorry.

Few way I can think of are
1. Pay only RM40 for phone bill Vs paying few hundred for phone bill
2. Buying reduce to clear stuff as majority of them are still in very good.
3. Buying the same food when they are offering 50% discount as it is the end of the day.
4. Using a RM10 ugly shoes that last for like 1y+ Vs fancy shoes paying few hundred.
5. Using budget airline vs normal economy, business or first class even though can afford economy.
6. Know when is something is expensive
7. Buying bulk to save cost.

I only know LEAN and FAT FIRE.

This post has been edited by Ramjade: Jul 31 2025, 10:04 PM

This is where our strategy is different. Well, you are right about the taxes. Your second point, I beg to differ. I knew it is a depreciation currency, that's why I opted for property due to its "wealth retainer" nature. This is provided I don't invest in wrong properties, otherwise Holland is the way I go so this is one of my investing style to fight against currency depreciation, I left very less MYR with me, either in properties or in oversea.

If you don't intend to purchase any property, when old age stay where? Your fiancé also agreed with you on this?

You really crazy... haha. So well thought. I wanna emulate from you also can't


For me, everything in life must be balance. Must learn to save but at the same time also have fun. What's the point of saving so much then later can't live long enough to enjoy the fruits? Future is important but present is equally important imo

This post has been edited by MasBoleh!: Jul 31 2025, 10:08 PM

Why would you want to retain wealth in ringgit when you can do it with other better currencies?

You buy say RM500k of property in Malaysia will not retain your wealth as much as RM500k in Singapore banks. When you invest in properties especially for rental you have to income tax, all kind of taxes. I don't get that with overseas stocks

Yes she agreed. Continue staying parents house.

That's why be healthy. That is why I focus a lot on healthcare prevention.There are ways to be healthy and continue to enjoy life Vs enjoying health and eat so call "atas food".

Because my root is here. I have this belief that our foundation aka root must be strong and stable, then only we are capable of progressing well in other sectors/fields. Which mean I will have better concentration on the current defined short-term and long-term goals, even though migration is a topic that is involved and may happens in future 10 years or less.
So i focus on setting up a strong foundation first, then need to chase back the lost time in investments.

However, imo having property is not all bad. First of all, tenant helped to fund one of the houses. It's true there will be some taxes involved, the biggest will be income tax, I can use the bank interest rate to offset that income tax.

Tell me, yea you got a lot of so-called liquid assets, but when old age, what you gonna do? You still eventually need a place to stay... be it right now or in future. You paying rental = paying for someone else mortgage instalment, it doesn't mean the money can be saved to invest into equities.

And the RM 500k not directly from my pocket, it is from Bank and currently my tenant is repaying back, so I don't see any problem. And I am saying in the context, provided the said property's rental able to cover both mortgage payment, maintenance fees and some other housing taxes. Otherwise, it is a different story.

Ramjade, I still got more to learn from you... from financial management to investing to healthy lifestyle And you and Dreamer101 have been preaching to transfer and save in foreign stable currencies since many years ago, time has proven both of you 100% right. over the past 10 years, the MYR has weakened about 14.5% against SGD.

This post has been edited by MasBoleh!: Aug 1 2025, 01:35 AM

Got nothing to do with roots. Roots is not as important as protecting your hard earned income.

I am staying in my parents house.

If you want to talk about tenant paying for your house/condo, come on. If you loan is say RM700-800k, and they are paying only say RM1500/month = RM18k p.a = 2.57%p.a or 2.25%p.a

I can get easily 4% with Singapore banks and Singapore banks are helping me to own the shares. Same concept

You do you, I do me.

Anyway off topic about keeping your money in Malaysia or overseas.

Back to topic of finance with spouse. Very important that future spouse and you be on the same page. He or she must know your financial capability and your loans. Live within expectations of each other salary. Whether want to combine salary or separately need to sit down properly and discuss it out.

Highly recommend anyone getting married or in boyfriend and girlfriend stage to seat down and read this book altogether.
https://www.amazon.com/Eight-Dates-Essentia...e/dp/1523504463

Hello wanna ask, which brand of Astaxanthin do you consume? I heard this brand is good, just wondering if there is other alternatives?

https://asxence.sg/products/asxence-astaxan...0v-8JcfcZi_CAEw

Also for vitamin D3, do we need to consume together with magnesium tablet to aid absorption? And those supplements u mentioned is it best to consume before food or after food or during meal?

You kena conned already. Astaxanthin no need to be so expensive.

https://healthyorigins.com/products/astaxan...=18223506456635

Vitamin D3 must have magnesium and vitamin K2 to work. Vitamin D3 need oil and need to be taken in the morning. Vitamin D is just the car. Vitamin K2 is the driver. Without the driver, you can get calcified blood vessel.

japan trip already 28k, somemore dowry want 25k....already trip want dowry somemore for what??

mana ada orang dulu ask for trip and dowry?

wahh all that you doing ah? you better not have any sickness/built up tolerance.

all this before or after covid?

everyday go toilet or not? if constipated/diarrhea body can ownself fix or not?

when sleeping can immediately sleep or not?

can wake up ownself or not? skin hydrated or not?

Of course got. You have no idea. Is see if you got the money only.

There is no tolerance as you are giving what the bodies need. Food as medicine.

Already before and after COVID. I realise I point have so much money when you cannot enjoy and use it..only way to enjoy and use it is if you are healthy.

I make sure to be able to poop everyday and eat lots of fibre both soluble and insoluble fibre to prevent constipation and to feed the gut.

Depends on individual. Some people lie in bed and can't sleep. Some people straight sleep. I am more of the person who needs time as I can't sleep easily unless super tired.

Wake up on my own can. But I won't take my chance. Still use alarm clock. When I was practiced LEAN FORE, no alarm clock.

Now now, first of all, after reading for so long, my hands now itchy to comment.

1. In my opinion, most women nowadays aren't frugal. No matter the age group, YES, cause they are EXPENSIVE to maintain. Imagine a young fresh graduate who has no commitment because he/she still stays with the parents and using the parents' car spends like RM20 on lunch + another RM15 for Boba Tea / Coffee after. How's that frugal if it happens like 2-3 times a week?

2. And when young, these people are exposed to such "lavish" lifestyles, how are they going to learn about frugal when advertisements and propaganda about STARBUCKS (or any high end drink) will somehow elevate the socio-economic status of the person? It will surely get worse.

3. Don't even talk about marriage. Even in first dates / meet-ups, going to a cafe for a meal of about RM50 per person IS A NORMAL EXPECTANCY OF MOST WOMEN OUT THERE. Imagine if it's RM50 per person, we are looking at RM100 just for the meal and we didn't even count the other stuffs like MOVIE etc. So a date costs like what? RM200? So if you date ONCE on a weekly basis you are looking at RM1k or so a month. Maybe if you earn above 5 figures might see it as "sap sap water" but most wage earners don't. And if we talk about 25% to 20% of monthly GROSS EARNINGS spent on DATE, how much savings do guys have?

3. Weddings cost a BOMB nowadays especially Chinese on the guy's side. Dinner already 30-40k average, the Chinese Basket already nearly 15k to 20k, dowry 20-30k. Marrying a daughter needs 100k roughly nowadays, so can frugal partners help you? Even if the girl is FRUGAL, she and her parents will be EXPECTING something there because it's her supposedly ONCE IN A LIFETIME.

For all these things, I feel it's very hard to compromise or discuss. Why? Simple, a person's mind set in stone is already set in stone. You can't change a few years habit in one day. So the advice is still, CHOOSE PROPERLY.

True but there are still gems out there. You just need to keep digging. Let me reply you one by one.
1. Find one who don't take Starbucks/mixue/bubble tea. It's already bad for health drinking those things regularly. Find one who drinks plain water or make their own tea at home. Ask when you meet them. Not difficult to ask hey what are you opinions on Starbucks/mixue/bubble tea/teaalive? You have your answer there.

2. People who are exposure to lavish lifestyle can be frugal. I have met like 2 of them. One I am seeing. She knows the value of money when she tells me damn, that's expensive, don't know how people can spend like that. Those are the words you need to hear. Did she said those things when we go window shopping at the mall? Of course.

3. Make it a habit to keep the cost low. I bring my dates to sushi zanmai/fish bowl/salad altheir It comes up to around RM25/person max. No need RM50/person dates. You can even do like economy rice dates and see her reaction. If she cannot eat economy rice dishes, then no point continuing seeing her. You don't need movies. Simple walk in the park, sitting down on the bench and spending time also ok. Go hiking. It's a free and fun date. That's what me and my girl are doing always.

4. Ah the wedding cost. I told my girl let keep the cost as low as possible. No fancy wedding dinner. Keep it around RM20k max. Can it be done. Yes. We are planning for it. Keep the excess for honeymoon and investment. We are targeting RM10k. RM20k if exceed budget.

So yeah need to dig for gems, talk and find out her lifestyle. If lifestyle and future goals cannot match walk away even though how pretty or hot she is. Take your time to look.

This post has been edited by Ramjade: Aug 2 2025, 10:36 AM

Yeah, I totally agree with your points but let me like add:

1. Maybe in the beginning the girl might not be truthful to you (yes, red flag there) but by the time you already invested some effort, time and money into her, do you sampai hati divest immediately? Assuming that the drinking Boba / Coffee thing is the only thing you cannot tolerate AT THAT MOMENT? For me, most guys might feel like, ok la, other parts she ok, I should continue BUT I WANT TO STRESS OUT, DO NOT CONTINUE. First you will keep penalising her for expensive drinks even if you did accept her behaviour (I did last time so I know) and it won't be healthy. Secondly, she will expect the drinks to come from the guy's wallet which you clearly didn't have the heart to even buy for yourself.

2. On the other hand I met a few who has been doing well in their careers and earning big bucks actually saying a RM100 meal is like dust to them. It's not even close to impress 1 bulu of her. High flyer right? There's more, she also keep insisting she is frugal and spends within her limits BUT she expects the NON FRUGAL part coming from the guy.

3. I am from Selangor / KL and if you can find 1 GIRL at her late 20s up to end 30s, willing to go out with you FIRST DATE at a mixed rice stall, I salute you bro. It's hard and not because they made it hard for us, it's the other guys. Like if another guy brings her to RM100 PER PERSON restaurants, she will slowly have her expectations up that other dates will live up to that expectation or even outdo that. Yes, it's wrong but the society has linked HOW EXPENSIVE THE FIRST DATE IS to the SINCERITY OF THE GUY / HOW MUCH THE GUY LIKES THE GIRL. I hear also I feel sick.

4. Most of the time, the girl got no say in wedding costs. The girl's parents makes all the decisions. You may keep the costs low but then again, if the parents start to intervene, we can't do much since rightfully the daughter will be more inclined to listen to them. I am seeing a close friend of mine keeping his finances together and struggling so bad because his future MIL is giving him a hard time and it's wayyyy beyond his expected budget.

1. Ask right away in the first meeting. What are your thoughts on those drinks I mentioned? How often do you drink them. I asked them on the first or second meeting.

2. You don't need to impress people. People who said RM100 is nothing is not frugal. Watch her actions not her words. I known girls who said they are frugal, they told DM they send like SGD2-3k for one night at Marina Bay Sands and only earning ringgit, that is not frugal.

3. Economy rice stall comes later say 3rd or 4th meeting. Actually no. A girl who knows money is not easy to earned will be alarmed that they guy is like spending RM100 per person. How I know? The girl I am seeing currently told me that. It makes her feel like the guy doesn't know about finance and just spend money away.

4. Again come down to the girl. My cousin was one of them. They have no big dinner. Just simple ceremony. We are also doing that except we are having Indian buffet which is like half the cost comes up to around RM35-70 per person depending on which place we are going.

Noted bro. I will read that book

1. Somehow they say you weed them out early and yeah. I know from the get go they are frugal or not with how they dress up also.

2. Agreed to that though there was an example of a frugal person but was misguided. I know of a friend, he dated a girl and wanted and hoped the girl to be frugal so he brought her to Suki-Ya for first date. The girl was ok and all at first but few days after the date, the replies were slower. He asked her why. She told him that she felt ok at first but her circle of friends told her that he was being cheap. She felt it was ok but was eaten up by the words that "If a guy can't show you sincerity at first, he won't show you anything after". So she ended up distancing herself from him.

3. If the girl really loves / likes the guy yes and maybe. But if both also dunno each other, coming out on 1st 2nd meet then probably the girl might think the guy is cheap haha. I tried that a few times suggesting cheap cafes for first second dates. End up, most don't wanna go.

4. I think how the parents perceive plays important part. Most of the time, parents got the big say on things related to marriage and they will go excuses like "If a proper wedding also cannot afford, how will you take care of my daughter in the future?".

1. You can't judge the way they dress. You can get a hint by their phone and their handbag.

2. If friend said cheap so be it. Move on. If that happens to me, ok. Next.

3. Got nothing to do with loves or like the guy. If a girl cannot follow me to eat at cheap place and economy rice stall then next. So be it.

4. Yes and no. Parents play a part but you must also show to the girl about your future plan. How you plan to go about it. Then up to her to make decision. Again talk to her. Discuss with her your plan. If you tell me I don't to spend for the weding, then I would like to know what you want to do with it. You better give me a good reason. So you need to tell him or her what you plan to do with the savings.

This post has been edited by Ramjade: Aug 3 2025, 04:32 AM