View on Amazon

Living in a Car: A Malaysian’s Journey to Financial Freedom

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 33-year-old marketing professional Mushamir, or Mush, has embraced an unconventional lifestyle to tackle his financial challenges. By transforming his Proton Iriz, a compact urban hatchback, into what he calls his “palace on wheels,” Mush has significantly reduced his living expenses, saving approximately 2,000 ringgit ($450) a month. This article explores Mush’s innovative approach to minimalism, his motivations, and the practicalities of living in a car.

View on Amazon

From Compulsive Spending to Minimalism

Mush earns over 10,000 ringgit monthly, more than enough to afford an apartment in Kuala Lumpur. However, past compulsive spending habits left him with little savings, barely covering essentials like food. Determined to curb his expenditure, Mush decided to live in his car over a year ago, inspired by a video of someone converting a hatchback into a living space. “If all I need to do when I go back home is just to lie down and that’s my entertainment, then why don’t I give it a try?” he reasoned.

By living in his car, Mush eliminated major expenses like rent, utilities, and transport. A typical studio apartment in Kuala Lumpur costs around 1,300 ringgit, while a small room averages 800 ringgit. Add to that transport costs of about 800 ringgit monthly, and the savings from car living are substantial. The confined space also forced Mush to adopt a minimalist mindset. “I can’t go on a shopping spree anymore because space is very, very limited,” he explains. This shift has helped him prioritize essential needs over impulsive purchases.

View on Amazon

Converting a Car into a Home

Mush’s Proton Iriz is more than just a vehicle; it’s a carefully curated living space. To make it habitable, he folded the rear seats, added a cooler box and memory foam pillows to create a flat sleeping surface, and installed a roof bar to hold essentials like fans, a tablet, lights, books, and a gaming pad. A large power bank, charged at his office or with solar panels at his mother’s house on weekends, provides electricity. This setup ensures that utilities like water and electricity are free, as Mush showers in public or office toilets and uses their soap and facilities.

Mush has also upgraded his car home with a luxury mattress and a mini mobile kitchen for preparing light meals. His goal is to cook full meals using rice, an air fryer, and a steamer, further reducing food costs by relying on office fridges and nearby convenience stores like 7-Eleven. “If I can fully cook my meals, I will save even more money because I just buy groceries,” he says.

View on Amazon

Practical Solutions for Daily Needs

Living in a car presents challenges, particularly around hygiene and laundry. Mush addresses these by using free public and office facilities. He washes his clothes with provided soap in office toilets and dries them using the heat from his car’s engine hood, a creative solution that avoids additional costs. “I turn on the engine for five minutes, let it heat up, and then I put my clothes on top of the hood,” he explains.

Parking safely is another hurdle. Mush chooses discreet locations to avoid attention, as he sleeps with windows open for ventilation, relying on privacy curtains and screens. However, he has faced issues with security and police moving him along, highlighting the need for caution. Despite these inconveniences, Mush values the financial freedom this lifestyle affords. “The fact that everything is free of life is such a big thing. Your mind becomes so you don’t have to worry about the bills,” he says.

Social Perceptions and Future Plans

Initially, Mush worried about how colleagues, family, and ex-partners would perceive his choice, with many assuming he was struggling financially. “My ex-girlfriends, my ex-colleagues, and my ex-bosses were messaging me, ‘Mush, are you okay? Do you need money?’” he recalls. To counter this, he framed his lifestyle as a “social experiment,” emphasizing his stable job and intentional choice to save money.

While Mush hasn’t ruled out owning a house someday, he’s content with his current setup and even considers upgrading to a larger vehicle, like a one-ton truck, for more space. His minimal bills—covering only his phone, Netflix, and food—allow him to redirect savings toward improving his car home and securing his financial future.

A New Perspective on Freedom

Mush’s story is a testament to rethinking conventional living to achieve financial independence. By embracing car living, he has not only slashed his expenses but also gained a sense of freedom from the burden of bills. His journey challenges societal norms about home and success, proving that with creativity and discipline, a compact hatchback can indeed become a palace on wheels.

View on Amazon