Man Living Out Of His Car & Eating Leftovers Blames Cost Of Uni For His Situation
He claims he's been living this way since 2015.
Cover image via ThreadsA Malaysian man has gone viral on Threads after opening up about his unconventional lifestyle, one where he's lived like a nomad since 2015, relying on discarded food, public facilities, and sheer grit to survive
In a now-viral post, the user listed out what he described as "survival skills for the poor", including:
- Eating leftover or discarded food from food courts
- Showering at hospitals and gas stations
- Using a bicycle to commute daily
- Living out of his car or abandoned buildings
- Drinking lots of iced water from restaurants to stay full
- Charging his phone and doing work at public libraries
- Washing clothes while showering, rotating one outfit per day
He ended the list, saying, "If you've ever lived like a hobo and are still going through it, we're in the same gang".
Image via Threads
He claims he's been living this way for a decade
When another user asked if he was okay, given how extreme his lifestyle sounds, the guy replied, "I've been doing this since 2015. Still breathing and still cycling to class and work."
He explained that this lifestyle isn't a stunt or short-term experiment, it is simply how he's survived for the past several years. When asked why, he said, "I don't have any other options anymore."
He said this lifestyle is his way of recovering from what he described as a failed investment in higher education, saying, "It's helping me recover from my less-than-stellar return on the high-risk investment that is higher education, which I had hoped wouldn't put me in this position. But it's okay now."
However, many people who came across the post were baffled. While some were sympathetic, others couldn't help but question how he could afford a phone, data plan, and a vehicle, but not food.
When one person asked how he managed to stay online, he replied, "I study part-time and also work. Without a phone, I'd be screwed."
One of the most pointed questions, which he didn't reply to, came from a user who asked, "Do you study and work? If you're working, is it still not enough to afford simple food? Is this just temporary while you save money, or are you planning to live this way forever? What about your family?"
In his other replies, the guy shared that he no longer has support from his parents and feels like he's part of a forgotten group, saying, "There's no longer a 'Mom and Dad Sdn Bhd' to help me."
Even though commenters pointed out there are plenty of support systems in place, like zakat aid, free meals from mosques and gurdwaras, and charity groups, he says he doesn't feel entitled to that help.
"I need to rebuild and save on my own. With inflation, low wages, and the risks I've taken that failed, I'm not entitled to subsidies just because I messed up. There are billions of people more deserving than me," he stated.
When asked how he maintains his car or pays for fuel, he explained that he mostly uses it as a place to sleep, saying, "Unless I need to drive to work, the car is just a place to rest or get some privacy. If I feel up for it, I'll drive to the hospital or somewhere near a mamak to get ready."
Image via Threads
While some users praised his resilience, others questioned the intent behind the thread
One person bluntly asked, "Why post something like this? Is it to show Malaysians care about each other? Are you hungry for views or marketing? Want people to check your profile?"
To that, he replied, "None of what you mentioned are my end goals. Only my close friends know the full story. I'm not the only one living like this, I have people close to me doing the same thing just to survive."
Another user jokingly suggested the lifestyle was for content's sake, to which, he said, "I wish this was just a social experiment. Unfortunately, it's not. I didn't expect so many people to be shocked, I was just sharing my experience."
Image via Threads
