A 29-year-old man in China has attracted widespread attention after revealing how he managed to save 1.3 million yuan (around S$232,000) in just six years by living an extremely frugal lifestyle and spending less than US$1 (about S$1.30) on each home-cooked meal.
The man, who uses the online alias “Little Grass Drifting North”, works as a livestream host for a major internet company in Beijing. Despite earning a stable income, he has kept his monthly food expenses below 500 yuan by preparing inexpensive meals at home.
According to Chinese media reports, his largest monthly expense is rent, which costs approximately 2,500 yuan. Apart from that, he has maintained a disciplined approach to spending ever since graduating from university, allowing his savings to grow rapidly over the years.
Childhood Hardship Shaped His Financial Habits
The livestream host explained that his determination to save money stems from a painful experience during his childhood.
When he was in Primary Five, his mother became seriously ill, forcing the family into debt as they struggled to pay for her medical treatment. The experience left a lasting impression and changed the way he viewed money.
He said the ordeal taught him that financial security becomes invaluable during difficult times, adding that without savings, people can easily find themselves powerless when unexpected emergencies arise.
Simple Lifestyle Helped Build A Large Nest Egg
To maximise his savings, the man keeps his daily living expenses to a minimum and avoids unnecessary purchases. Preparing his own meals has become one of the biggest contributors to his financial success, with each meal reportedly costing less than US$1.
Despite his reputation for being exceptionally frugal, he insisted he is not unwilling to spend money altogether. He has participated in company-sponsored holidays and acknowledged that constantly cutting costs has affected his health.
As a result, he said he has become more willing to spend on healthcare for both himself and his parents, believing that maintaining good health is just as important as building wealth.
Saving For His Parents’ Future
His long-term goal is to accumulate 2 million yuan, which he hopes will allow him to purchase both a home and a car.
More importantly, he wants to buy a house for his parents as a way of repaying them for their sacrifices. He also hopes to take them travelling whenever he has the opportunity.
Looking further ahead, he said he dreams of getting married, starting a family and achieving financial stability without having to worry about unexpected hardships like those his family experienced years ago.
His story has sparked widespread discussion online, with some praising his discipline and commitment to long-term financial goals, while others questioned whether such an extreme lifestyle is worth the potential impact on health and overall quality of life.