This is a response to Malaysia Boleh Ke Tak Boleh?? by Jayce Ooi’s Paradise post. It’s not as definitive, but just a rough guideline on how to survive in a big city like KL for under 3000.
To survive in big cities:
1. Don’t eat out for every meal of the day. Eat dinner at home.
2. Skip Starbucks and all the expensive foods. Only bread, cookies and home made coffee.
3. Don’t own a house. Rent it. Or, rent a room. Or, live with your family.
4. Don’t keep on buying cars. Once that Proton’s loan has been paid, keep on driving it.
5. No Astro. RM100 can be spent else where.
6. No drinks while eating out. Bring along a (big) bottle of water from home.
7. Car pool.
8. Plan your journey to avoid jams during peak hours. Pay toll if you have to.
9. Selectively pay toll. Pay on peak hours and only to skip jams.
10. Work from home.
11. Skip movies. If ya have to watch, do it on Wednesdays or early morning shows because they’re cheaper.
12. When eating out, go for economy rice only with loads of vegetables. Meat is expensive. Noodles make you hungry too soon. Bring along snacks (cookies or biscuits) for tea so that you can eat dinner at home (cheaply).
13. Budget = RM 6 per meal. Eat out only once or twice a month, preferably during weekends to socialize. Eating out budget =
14. Learn to make simple meals - egg sandwich, noodles (mee suah & spaghetti is cheap), bread, biscuits, home made rojak, fresh fruits, 1/2 boiled egg, cereal, mush room soup, fried rice, ham, baked beans, etc. If there’s enough variety going, you’ll tend to eat at home.
15. Drive a small car. It’s cheaper in price and also usually saves more fuel.
16. Skimp on parking. Pay selectively depending on time and location. Not entirely legal but…
17. Don’t skimp on breakfast! Eat a heavy breakfast then go light on lunch and dinner. If you skip breakfast, my god will your lunch cost you a bomb. Also, breakfast can be real cheap (cereals, biscuits, home made coffee, eggs) and healthy.
18. Buy new clothes / shoes annually. Only during sales. Ideally done during festive seasons.
19. Buy branded / good quality stuff. Don’t skimp too much. It’s more expensive in the long run. Example: shoes, pants and watches. Don’t need to be premium labels but good enough.
20. Don’t buy a watch, use your cell phone for time.
21. Buy 2nd hand.
Ultimately though, you need to ask for more pay 
Cool… Way to go. Really need to plan and think before act. Else less money left.