I had an emcee job yesterday, so we checked in early for briefing and wanted to have late lunch/dinner before I got ready for my gig.
I told Azmi that we could just walk to the mall nearby and look for food there but he told me that we could just eat at one of the eateries at the hotel itself to “save time”.
The cafe was closed for a private event, so we went up to the Japanese restaurant and though I love my Japanese cuisine, I was not willing to part with RM130 for a premium bento lunch menu.
I am leaving for a summer course soon to help with my advocacy work and I need every sen to help pay for my stay there.
So I told Azmi, let’s eat somewhere else, or I can just grab a sandwich. He agreed.
We walked across and bumped into a friend of mine who told us about this food court which serves an array of food, was decently priced and the place was clean and “not smelly”.
Went there and had a sizzling seafood claypot for just RM12.90. It was piping hot and delicious.
I bring my flask of water everywhere I go. So I didn’t need to buy a drink. Azmi’s bebek dish was RM12.90 too and he shared water from my water bottle.
This is how I save money ... whenever and wherever I can.
People say “oh you are so lucky! You have so much money to travel!”
Alhamdulillah.
Most times, it’s part work where we are commissioned to shoot. But for our epic family trips or my charity work, it’s all paid via our savings.
I’ve learnt to only spend money when it’s an absolute necessity (like education, food and utility bills) and as I’ve said before, travelling is not expensive, if you learn to travel cheap.
I research for deals and draw excel sheets to compare prices of other promotions - I spend a lot of time planning the logistics and purchase most tickets online to get the best pricing.
Anyone who travels with us will see the food and portable cooking equipment we take with us on our travels.
Not only is packing food on the go cheaper, but the kids get hungry really fast, so having tuna or egg spread with bread ready, makes a fast snack. I buy salads and fruits at the local grocers and that’s a healthy way of filling our stomachs up (and helps with travel indigestion too!)
We don’t splurge on expensive hotels nor do we travel first class. I’m frugal but I will spend on excursions that bring forth experience and exposure to the culture and knowledge about the place. I’d rather spend money on that.
Someone DM when I IG storied my food at the food court.
“You eat at the food court?”
Yes. I do.
“Wow”
I also do my own laundry and pack super light for my travels. I travel on budget and have even slept in our rented car en route one place to another, during our road trips.
That is why my husband is probably my best travel buddy. He doesn’t mind my hippy ways. As long as we get to discover places ... together.
Like this Medan Selera. Never knew this place existed till yesterday.
