Spending Patterns and Perceptions: Malaysian Citizens’ Views on the High Living Expenses

Abstract

The cost of living in urban Malaysia is higher compared to rural Malaysia. Individuals with lower incomes face significant challenges in fulfilling fundamental needs such as sustenance, shelter, healthcare, and education because of escalating expenses. With the increasing cost of living, individuals may face difficulties in effectively managing their financial resources, perhaps leading to excessive poverty. The objective of this study is to measure the perceptions of Malaysian individuals on the escalating expense of living particularly for the low-income category (B40), middle-income category (M40), and high-income category (T20). The research methodology utilized in this study was descriptive research, and the respondents were comprised of a sample size of 231 households that originated from various areas in Malaysia. The data were obtained using a standardized questionnaire (involved the application of tables and percentages) and further analysis will use SPSS to analyze the relationship between variables.  The results indicate an insignificant detrimental link between consumption and lifestyle. The distribution of respondents across different states in a study might influence the statistical significance of the test results. Some states may have a larger or smaller representation in the sample compared to others. For future study, we suggest using stratified sampling to guarantee a more uniform distribution of responses across states. To reduce measurement mistakes, we should gather data with more accurate and reliable method.