Minimalism is often seen as a lifestyle choice, owning fewer things, decluttering, and focusing on what truly matters. But for me, it wasn’t a choice. It was a necessity.
Why I Have to Be a Minimalist
Money. It all comes down to money. My husband and I rely on a single income, his job at his family’s company, where he has no fixed off days. If he skips a day, he loses RM50, and to make things worse, the company car (which is also his family’s car) is often unavailable, making it hard for him to work consistently. His income is usually lower than RM1500 because most of the time, he can't even go to work. At our lowest, we only had RM500. We’re lucky to still live with our parents, but as parents in our 30s, it feels humiliating.
The Impact on Daily Life
I have to make conscious spending choices every day. I love buying things I want, but now it’s all about survival. Do I need this or not? Skincare is a must for me because without it, my dry skin leads to inflammation and itchiness. My daughter’s school expenses also take priority, with sudden fees appearing out of nowhere. We get by without worrying about food or shelter, but I truly wish we could stand on our own two feet with a stable lifestyle.
What I Had to Give Up
The biggest sacrifice was traveling. My husband and I once saved up and went on a backpacking trip to Bangkok. We were proud of how we managed everything on a budget, making it a fun and rewarding experience. But now, travel is out of the question. I also stopped buying clothes. My daily wear consists of torn clothes, but since I work from home, I don’t mind. I have two decent outfits for going out, so I basically look like a cartoon character repeating the same clothes. Luckily, my husband isn’t materialistic and doesn’t care how I look most of the time.
The Hardest Part
The hardest part is not having the money to regain our independence. We used to live on our own before we got married, renting a small place and working retail jobs. We were so happy and free back then, but we were childish with money. Looking back, we regret not saving more. We now realize that living simply while saving a little could have made our lives happier in the long run. The best feeling was knowing we did it on our own.
The Plan to Escape This Cycle
Right now, our goal is to save enough money to move to Kuala Lumpur and work hard to build a better future. The plan is for my daughter to stay with my parents in Sabah while we find stable jobs in KL. Once we’ve saved enough and she finishes high school, she can move in with us and continue her studies there.
The Biggest Challenges
Finding work and a place to rent will be the hardest parts. Food isn’t a major issue, we can survive on cheap meals, and honestly, I see it as an opportunity to lose weight. But we need jobs that pay well enough to sustain us in KL and allow us to save for the future.
The Mindset to Push Through
To succeed, we need to be independent and stay focused on our goal. Life in Sabah has been relatively easy, but we know that moving to another city means working harder and proving ourselves. We are ready to push through the struggles, knowing that one day, we will stand on our own again.
Minimalism isn’t a choice for me, it’s survival. But with the right mindset and determination, I hope that one day, it will no longer be a necessity, but a choice we make on our own terms.