Alysha Nij, 28, was working three jobs in the UK
A young woman who was living “pay cheque to pay cheque” despite juggling three jobs has swapped the UK for an island paradise, where rent is just £190 a month and a meal out can cost as little as 50p.
Alysha Nij, 28, made the bold decision to up sticks after gruelling 12-hour shifts left her perpetually exhausted and with little hope of ever saving enough for a house deposit. She turned her back on “unsafe” and “expensive” London, where she had been forking out £1,300 a month for a one-bedroom flat, and now enjoys a one-bed apartment just two minutes from the beach for a mere £190 a month, bills included.
Originally from Leeds, Alysha has been able to ditch two of her jobs thanks to the low cost of living, and is now channelling her newfound financial freedom into launching two businesses.
Alysha, who works in creative management, 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. It’s a different world out here; the people are so friendly, relaxed and happy.
“English people are so anti-social, but here I’ll end up talking to a random person for 20 minutes. I’ve given up almost all my work, I no longer have to worry about money, because everything is so cheap.”
Following trips to Malaysia and China last September, Alysha was captivated by the chilled-out way of life and set her sights on relocating to Asia. Despite having plans to launch a venture in London with a mate, she found the capital’s sky-high costs unbearable and scrapped the business idea.
“When I was living in London, my money just wasn’t stretching at all, I was living pay cheque to pay cheque,” she said.
Working across creative management, social media management and special effects makeup artistry, she struggled to put any savings aside and couldn’t envision ever scraping together enough for a house deposit. In March, she returned to her parents’ home in Leeds to build up funds for her travels, flogging all her possessions ahead of her departure to Malaysia on May 29.
While bidding farewell to loved ones proved difficult, Alysha’s Malaysian roots meant she avoided any major culture shock. Her mum and dad are set to follow her out to Asia once she’s properly settled. She’s now based in a flat in Langkawi, an archipelago made up of 99 islands.
“I’d just come from living in a big city, so I wanted a completely different way of life,” she said. “There are lots of beaches and mountains and no distractions.”
Alysha is now pocketing £1,100 in savings on rent and reckons her new digs are “much nicer” than her British gaff. Thus far, she’s absolutely loving island living and feels considerably safer than she ever did in London.
“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,” she explained. “It takes so much mental stress away, especially being a woman.”
Alysha reveals that while a meal out in Britain would set her back £20, in Malaysia it costs just 50p, with coffees coming in at around 70p. She never forks out more than £1 for a taxi ride.
“It’s super affordable, and you get more than what you paid for,” she noted. When it came to furnishing her new home, Alysha visited Malaysia’s answer to Poundland and managed to pick up all her cutlery, crockery, towels and storage solutions for a mere £12.
“When I moved to London, it cost me £380 to get everything,” she recalled. Having dropped two of her three jobs, Alysha now does a spot of freelance creative management but admits she’s not “too focused” on work, given her drastically reduced monthly outgoings.
Once fully settled, she’s planning to launch two ventures – one importing and exporting products from China, and another offering support to female solo travellers. Alysha is currently pursuing Malaysian residency and hopes to purchase a property in either Malaysia or China within the next year to make it her permanent home.
She documents her journey on @alyshainasia.
Breakdown of Alysha’s cost
Rent for a one-bed flat in London – £1,300 a month
Rent for a one-bed flat in Malaysia – £190 a month
Cost of a meal out in London – £20
Cost of a meal out in Malaysia – 50p
Cost of buying essentials for her new home in London – £380
Cost of buying essentials for her new home in Malaysia – £12
