With the rising cost of living, it’s no surprise that many people have made changes to their lifestyles to save money. A 32-year-old Malaysian man named Mushamir Mustafa has come up with the most ingenious way to stay frugal.
Mushamir, who was born in Bangladesh and grew up in countries including Brazil, Kosovo, Namibia, and Sudan, is a marketing and communications manager based out of Selangor. Despite having a stable income, he has been living in his Proton Iriz supermini since January.
In an interview with Malaysian media, Mushamir said he came across a video about a man living in his car. Inspired, he decided to do the same to reduce his monthly expenses
“Times were a little tough, and money was a little bit tight,” he said.
Mushamir is 177cm tall but fits comfortably in the bed he places over the rear seats of his car. He said he hangs out in his office after work, then goes out for dinner and hits the gym, before returning to his car at night to rest. The next morning, he takes a shower in his office toilet.
On his TikTok page, @guylivingincar, Mushamir shares more about his ‘house’, like how he uses his engine to dry his clothes. He also installed a generator to power his portable lights and multiple fans.
This living arrangement has allowed Mushamir to save up to RM2K (S$570) a month.
On the weekends, he parks his car at his regular spot near his office in Petaling Jaya, and returns home to visit his mother. He used to drive 60km to work daily, but is now able to save money on petrol, parking fees, and toll costs.