HOW does a family with a household income of less than RM3,000 per month spend their money? MALAY MAIL spoke to three families who fall under the “urban poor” category, and based on their expenditure breakdown, it appears that they have barely enough to survive the high cost of living in the city.

MIKE LIEW works as a technician for an electronics appliances store in Subang and earns a monthly salary of RM1,800. The 28-year-old is the sole breadwinner for his family — consisting of his wife, a housewife, and a one-year-old baby.

He is able to afford at least RM100 on entertainment and another RM100 to be set aside for lifetime savings — and that is only possible after spending frugally on basic necessities.

“We have to spend wisely on our food, which is around RM250 a month,” said Liew.

“That means cooking at home and bringing food from home to work.

“We hardly can afford to eat out. Only after the next pay day, and there is remainder from the previous
month, will I treat my wife to KFC or bak kut teh.”

Liew spoke also of the importance of having at least RM100 for savings: “Savings is important, even if it means spending less that month.”

BREAKDOWN OF LIEW’S EXPENDITURE

Household income: RM1,800

• House rent - RM400
• Car instalment - RM500
• Petrol and car maintenance - RM200
• Utility bills - RM100
• Food expenditure (rice, cooking oil etc.) - RM250
• Baby (clothes, milk powder) - RM200
• Entertainment - RM100
• Monthly savings - RM100

POOR BUT HAPPY: Firdaus (right, holding baby) is the sole breadwinner of his family. He earns RM1,100 as a company van driver. His wife Nuraini Okin (left) is a full-time housewife

As his wife is a full-time homemaker, the Firdaus family, which also consists of two daughters below the age of three, solely relies on Firdaus’ salary, which really isn’t much.

“We spend really little every month, even then there’s hardly enough left,” Firdaus said at his home at a  low- cost flat in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya.

“I can’t even afford to save money at the end of each month.”

Asked what he hopes from the newly-established Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry, Firdaus said: “Monetary assistance. A little bit of extra money will definitely be great.”

BREAKDOWN OF FIRDAUS’ EXPENDITURE

Household income: RM1,100

• House rent – RM400
• Car petrol – RM150
• Utility bills – RM50
• Food expenditure – RM200
• Children’s expenses (milk powder etc) – RM200

HARD AT WORK: Repairman G. Narayanasam is a disabled person, earns between RM500-RM1,500 a month from his electronics repair store

Due to his permanent injury, he is not fit for work. That was when he decided to set up a small electrical repair shop, while his wife shares the same shop lot for her tailoring business.

The rental for the shop is RM1,500 per month, and the husband and wife’s combined income varies from RM1,500 to RM3,000.

“Our business is very uncertain, sometimes it’s okay, sometimes it’s really poor.

“And since it’s just on a small scale we can’t expect much,” said Narayanasamy.

“The bottomline, however, is what we earn is barely enough to feed our four children (between 11 and 17 years old).

“My eldest son had to quit school because I couldn’t afford to spend on him — and that just spells how bad our situation is.”

BREAKDOWN OF NARAYANASAMY’S EXPENDITURE

Household income: RM1,500 – RM3,000 (varies, depending on business)
• Shop rental – RM1,500
• House rent – RM400
• Food expenses – RM500
• Children’s school expenses – RM300
• Utility bills, home – RM50
• Utility bills, shop – RM150
• Car petrol – RM100