4 tips for Malaysia's middle class to cope with the rising cost of living

This year’s affair highlighted the government’s plans to narrow its budget deficit, as well as measures to address issues such as the rising cost of living and housing unaffordability.

These measures include increasing its cash handouts under the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) assistance programme and raising the minimum wage for workers.

They also introduced new income tax provisions, such as the introduction of tax relief for children who provide for their parents and an increase in tax relief from RM1,000 to RM2,000 for each child from year of assessment 2016.

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But let’s face it – amid inflation woes triggered by the sharp drop in the Ringgit, the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the recent increase in toll rates across the Klang Valley – these measures really don’t do much for those already grappling with the rising cost of living.

Middle-income earners who are not eligible for cash aids, and yet do not earn enough to weather the rising living costs, continue to bear the biggest brunt of the current economic situation.

Many middle-income earners in Malaysia are already resorting to drastically cutting back on their expenses, including fewer trips to restaurants to tackle rising living costs.

A better solution for this would be to boost their disposable income. The million dollar question is, how?

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1. Generate your passive income

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One of the easiest ways to do this is by increasing your passive income. Unlike active income (which you usually earn through having a job or running a (profitable) business), passive income generation typically requires less time and effort.

Passive income can include investments, especially with low-to-mid risk instruments that let you leverage on capital with minimal active input.

This could be in the form of unit trusts, REITs, shares, investment-linked policies or even in your good ol’ fixed deposit account. They let you accumulate returns while you grow your savings pool.

The more you save, the more returns you will get. Lower-risk financial instruments like fixed deposit will give you lower returns, but they are generally considered safe and are an effective tool to help preserve the value of your contingency funds.

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2. Make your money work harder for you

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Stretch your Ringgit further by adopting strategies that allow you to save while you spend. For example, buying essential items such as rice and toiletries in bulk can save you a small fortune.

You can also save a few bucks with hypermarket loyalty cards. Benefits often include reward points, special member price for selected items or additional discounts from selected merchants. They may also offer shopping-related benefits.

You can save money on purchases when you shop online as well, or by using a shopping credit card that offers rebates or privileges when you shop online.

Bogged down by fluctuating petrol prices? You can fuel up your purchasing power as you fill up your tank when you use a petrol credit card that gives you cashbacks or reward points.

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3. Avoid investment mistakes

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There’s a difference between investing and investing properly. Anyone can put their money into investment products, but without a sound financial plan, you may not know which investment strategy or products will work best for you, and how to build a balance portfolio.

The key to building your financial strategy starts with understanding your goals and risk appetite. Younger investors typically have a higher tolerance for risk and can afford to make riskier investments due to their longer investment horizon. They also have longer time to work on achieving their financial goals.

Next, you will need to identify your short and long-term goals, and how much you can afford to set aside, in order to determine the type of financial products that will work best for you.

Without taking these factors into consideration, you may end up investing too much in the “wrong products”, or end up putting all your eggs in the same basket, financial advisor and coach Yap Ming Hui explains on his website.

For example, investing in property is not a bad thing. But if you’re putting your entire fortune into a single asset class, you risk “over investing” and exposing yourself to “too much risk”.

“If the property sector takes a dip, it will badly affect your investment. In addition, it may also affect your cash flow if you take too much loan to finance your property investment,” Yap says.

Having a diversified investment portfolio that comprises various asset classes can help protect your capital from adverse market conditions.

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4. Get a financial planner

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If you have the capital and a goal but are a little sceptical on how to reach it, a financial planner can give you a nudge in the right direction and help devise a financial strategy to help you get there.

This strategy will work as a road map towards your money goals – whether it is buying a house, saving for your kid’s education, or achieving early retirement.

A financial planner can also help you buy or sell, and manage your investment portfolio on your behalf, depending on the nature of the agreement.

Some planners do not charge a fee but are paid commissions on the financial products you purchase. Meanwhile, others may charge an hourly rate or a retainer fee.

With their expertise, a financial planner can point you to the right financial tools to help you make informed money decisions.

The current economic situation is unlikely to improve in the months and years ahead. For the time being, Malaysians will just have to suck it up and learn to adjust to higher prices.