Alysha Nij, 28, who was living "pay cheque to pay cheque" despite working three jobs, has moved from the UK to Malaysia, where her monthly rent is £190 and meals cost as little as 50p. She left her £1,300-a-month one-bedroom flat in London for a one-bedroom apartment two minutes from the beach in Langkawi, an archipelago of 99 islands.
From Burnout to Financial Freedom
Nij, originally from Leeds, worked 12-hour days in creative management, social media management, and as a special effects makeup artist. She said: "The UK is really difficult for young people and it's super expensive. I was working three jobs; my days would start at 8am and finish at 10pm. I was constantly burnt out, but I still didn't feel financially free."
After a trip to Malaysia and China last September, she decided to relocate. She returned to her family home in Leeds in March to save money, sold all her possessions, and left for Malaysia on May 29.
Dramatic Cost Savings
Nij now saves £1,110 a month on rent alone. Her new apartment is "much nicer" than her London flat. Meal costs dropped from £20 to 50p, coffee is about 70p, and taxi rides never exceed £1. Furnishing her new home cost just £12 at a Malaysian discount store, compared to £380 in London.
"It's super affordable, and you get more than what you paid for," she said.
Improved Safety and Lifestyle
Nij feels safer in Malaysia. "Whenever I was walking around in the UK, I'd always get cat calls and have to be wary of my belongings, but here it's a completely different environment. It takes so much mental stress away, especially being a woman."
She has given up two of her three jobs and now does occasional freelance creative management work. She plans to start two businesses: one importing and exporting goods from China, and another offering guidance to female solo travellers.
Future Plans
Nij is applying for Malaysian residency and hopes to buy a property in Malaysia or China within a year. Her parents intend to join her in Asia once she settles in. She documents her journey on @alyshainasia.
