Budgeting isn’t about depriving yourself. It’s about spending smarter.
And believe it or not, you can shave off RM500/month without living like a monk.
Here’s the step-by-step plan to do exactly that 👇
✅ Step 1: Audit Your Recurring Bills (Save RM100–RM150)
Look at your:
- Subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, Astro, etc.)
- Phone plan
- Internet package
- Insurance payments
Ask yourself:
“Am I using this? Can I downgrade or cancel?”
Example savings:
- Switch to a cheaper mobile plan → Save RM30
- Cancel unused streaming services → Save RM50
- Consolidate insurance plans → Save RM40+
✅ Target: RM100–RM150
✅ Step 2: Reduce Food Delivery & Dining Out (Save RM150–RM200)
We get it. GrabFood is convenient. But it adds up. Fast.
Do this instead:
- Limit delivery to once per week
- Cook or meal prep 3–4 times weekly
- Eat out during lunch (cheaper) instead of dinner
Example:
- 3 Grab orders/week = RM90+
- Cut down to 1 → Save RM60
- Bring lunch 2x/week → Save RM40
- Cook at home more → Save RM50
✅ Target: RM150–RM200
✅ Step 3: Tweak “Fun Money” Spending (Save RM100–RM150)
This includes:
- Impulse shopping
- Café hopping
- Lazada/Shopee splurges
- TikTok “I didn’t know I needed this” items
Try:
- 24-hour rule before buying non-essentials
- Weekly fun budget (e.g. RM50–RM100 max)
- Unsubscribe from shopping promo emails!
✅ Target: RM100–RM150
✅ Step 4: Automate Your Savings First (So You Spend Less By Default)
Set up an auto-transfer:
Every 1st of the month → RM500 into a separate savings account
You’ll adapt to living on what’s left.
(And you won’t even feel it after a while.)
Real-Life Example Breakdown:
| Category | Action Taken | Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Subscriptions | Cancelled Netflix & Spotify Family | RM60 |
| Mobile Plan | Switched from RM80 → RM40 | RM40 |
| GrabFood | Cut from 3x to 1x/week | RM100 |
| Eating Out | Brought lunch 2x/week | RM60 |
| Shopee/Lazada | Enforced 24-hour rule | RM100 |
| Café Hopping | Limit to 1 treat/week | RM80 |
Total: RM500/month saved. Boom.
Final Thoughts
Cutting RM500/month doesn’t mean cutting joy.
It means choosing what actually matters to you — and letting go of the rest.
You can still have your coffee. Still eat out. Still have fun.
Just with more intention and less waste.
Small changes = Big money over time.
RM500/month = RM6,000/year
Imagine what you could do with that 🤯
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