About mr-stingy

mr-stingy is my personal blog dedicated to the art of optimization — getting more value by using resources better.

Each of us has a finite amount of time, energy and money. The idea is to be stingy with things that don’t matter, so we can give more to the ones that do matter.

The ones that really make us happy: like our families & friends, passions and life goals.

Picture of Aaron Tang


About Me:

My name is Aaron and I live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

I have no formal qualifications or credentials to give life advice. Neither am I a self-made Internet millionaire living on a tropical island.

What I do have is a hatred of wastefulness and inefficiency. A desire to pursue progress. And a happy life filled with gratitude.

I’m in my late thirties and have tried optimizing my life since I was a teenager. I hope my posts will help you in yours too.

Professionally, my degree is in electrical & electronics engineering. I’ve experience in multiple fields including oil & gas, training & development, and social enterprises. I currently work at Malaysia’s first and largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Logos of where mr-stingy has appeared


Connect With Me:

My work has appeared on international websites like The Huffington PostThe Good Men Project and Business Insider. I’m also a frequent contributor to Malaysian websites like iMoney, SAYS, Vulcan Post, The Malaysian Insider (now defunct) and Emmagem.

Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or email me at: mrstingy2014(at)gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

Finally, if you like my work, please subscribe through the box below and stay in touch.

Thank you for your support.

– Aaron –


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59 comments

  • Hi Mr Stingy,

    I stumbled across your article on LLP and it is very interesting. The detailing out of each step must be gruesome.

    Anyway, I am just thinking if you could do an article on maxing out EPF. If the additional contribution is maxed out (60k, next year 100k), I am just wondering how can LLP be used as an avenue to contribute EPF for self employed etc? What other optimization strategies that you use?

    • Hi Joseph,

      Thanks for dropping by and your kind words. Appreciate your kind suggestion.

      Unfortunately, I haven’t really “optimized” my LLP for tax purposes. Last I checked, I think some deductions (including EPF if not mistaken) aren’t actually tax-deductible from LLPs.

  • Hey Mr. Stingy,

    Been following your blog for few years now. Love every time I read them because they are so informative.

    Would be interesting if you could write an article on Passive Income Ideas for Working Adult in Malaysia.

  • Hi Aaron!

    I came across your blog through an organic search some time ago and have been reading your articles every now and then. I have to say I love your posts because it feels genuine and humorous in a natural way; a style that I would like to incorporate in my own blog posts (cause I think my writing style seems boring😅).

    Personally, I’ve just started my own personal finance blog about a month ago because I would like to learn about it while sharing my knowledge with people who want to learn too.

    Just wondering if you’d mind telling me about how you got published on big sites like Huffington Post, Business Insider, and others?

    Thank you and have a great week! 😀

  • Hi Aaron,

    I hope this message finds you well.

    I chanced upon your website and enjoy reading your blogs, such as the latest post about finding satisfaction in life, it is definitely not easy to find a balance among so many things in life and it take years to find the fundamental truths. It resonates a lot.

    From the book [The One Thing] by Gary Keller, I learned that life is more like a constant counter-balance in various aspects, career, life, health, family.

    Btw, I manage a website (www.panelplace.com) to help people find and discover opportunities offered by digital products. We run a blog on our website and I’m wondering if you’d be open for collaborations such as sponsored posts, content writing gigs etc.?

    Thanks and hear from you soon. Cheers!

    • Hi Denniz,

      Thanks for dropping by. Appreciate your kind words and sharing. panelplace looks nice! One thing I’m seriously exploring right now is a YouTube channel — where I host sponsored interview sessions with people to chat about their products and story. In the final stages of planning now though. Perhaps after I get started, and if this is something you’d be keen to explore we can chat further?

  • Hey Aaron,

    Just wanted to say thanks for the articles. Been working in oil & gas and all my assests are in cash. My friend was really surprised that I was holding only cash and he trudged me into finding investment avenues.

    Literally have zero knowledge in this area so thanks a lot of the insight.

    • Hi Yusouf,

      Thanks for dropping by and your kind words. Wishing you much success in your investment journey!

  • Love how Mr Stingy speaks candidly about things and gave me direction on personal finance!

  • Just came across your site and am impressed with the content. I am finding the information about opening companies in Malaysia super useful, so thank you for this. I will reach out to you as we seem to share similar passion for productivity and optimization.
    Cheers,
    Adam

  • Hi Mr-stingy, i read your online articles which related to LLP in Malaysia. Me and my partners done the online registration for LLP last year 7th May 2018, but we do not have any business and operation after registration done. Now we would like to de-register/ dissolution of the LLP, do you know what we need to do? I have done the research online which have some complicated step to follow, but i am not sure if we dont have any business started do we need to follow the same procedures?

    • Hey Wen Ann,

      Unfortunately I haven’t gone through the LLP winding down process myself, so I’m not in a good position to advise. I guess the best thing to do is to speak to SSM about it for guidance? And if that doesn’t really help, perhaps company secretaries (paid tho) might be able to help?

  • I just came accross your article on SAYS and goodness I love it!!Keep inspiring with stories and writings Aaron 😍

  • Hi mr. stingy, I’m 30 currently working in oil and gas industry. I love writing and journalling since I was in primary school but never took it seriously. I’m serious now but feel like I’m already too late. I’m taking a gap year in few months (unpaid leave) to focus on writing and if that doesn’t work, I’ll treat it as just ‘rest and refreshing’ year. Found your blog just at the right time. I love your work and thankful that Malaysia has someone like you.

    • Thanks Aishah,

      I really wish you the best in writing. It can seem daunting in the beginning — but keep at it and you’ll keep getting better. Checked out your blog too. Nice one there… All the best ahead ya!

  • Hi Mr. Stingy,

    I’m 25 this year, turning 26 next year but I’m still searching for what I want. I been reading those self development book to search for what I really want in life. I been feeling depressed all the time, sometimes even have the thought of suicide. I need someone to give me guidance.

    • Hey Jo,

      Sorry for getting to this so late. Have you already gotten treatment from a therapist/psychologist? Sometimes, we need to get professional help in these kinds of things.

  • Hi Mr Stingy, I read through your articles and feel that you are actually content and having peace with yourself with your current job! It’s quite amazing how you can take such a risk to quit your initial day job. As a Gen Y myself, I think the usual norm of working does not satisfy us anymore and we want satisfaction and at least, a cause that we can feel good about! Have you always realised that you wanted to be involve in social enterprise work? Sadly, I am still looking for what I want in life.

    • Thanks Abby,

      I think all of us go through this process of soul searching (or at least, all of us should). It’s not a bad/sad thing! And no — it took me a long time of soul searching to realize I wanted to be involved in a social enterprise. All the best to you okay!

  • Hi Mr Stingy,

    can you please pm me as I need your financial advise and I’m lost don’t know what to do.

    Sherrei

  • Hi Aaron,
    Would like to get medical insurance…Could you please recommend the AIA agent that you engaged…Thank you.
    Jack

  • I came across your article on the Huffington Post. The one about The First 10 years of your Career. So glad I did. Keep up the great work!

  • Hey Aaron. You’re doing an amazing job educating the Gen Y’s especially who seem to lack awareness on managing their finances. Keep this great job going and i’d love to see more from you!

    Kudos!

  • Hi Mr. Stingy!

    This is my first time to open your webpage and I don’t know how it appears but I believe there is a reason because I am an Asian girl too who is dreaming and wishing to build a career in blogging and investing too but I am afraid to start. Thank you so much for giving me more courage by the help of God to start my dream and waking the fire within me that someday I can be a good example for other people not only focus being an employee but employee and having other sideline job is a must to help more people….

    • Hi Charry,

      Thanks for your kind words. I really hope you will start working on that dream of yours. Just take one small step at a time, and maybe someday you will inspire other young people! Let me know if you need any further advice or if I can help otherwise. All the best!

  • One of the most refreshing writers I’ve read in quite a while. Kudos to you and your blog, keep writing! =)

    • Hi Richard,

      Thank you so much for your kind words. Please come by again, and do let me know if you have any suggestions!

  • Yr writing really motivate me to learn how to save money at this age…. 50. But still… I don’t know where/how to start

    • Hi Liza,

      Thanks! Start with something really simple… Anything… even saving RM1 every day. It’s not about the amount, it’s about developing the right habits. Then every time you do something good when it comes to saving money — celebrate and reward yourself. And then the next day, make another improvement.

      (Also, keep reading and learning — you’re never too old to learn!)

      Wishing you all the best!

  • We used to work together on my first job. I knew right then that this humble guy from aloqstaq is different. Great writings, I’m exploring the art of optimisation and being thankful too now. Keep it up bro

  • Love your blog! From your articles alone I began to notice that I shared a lot of your views, and now I know we’ve even got similar day jobs! Looking forward to more posts =D

  • Very useful advice… I wish one day I will write and share good things like you do. Keep it up!

  • your post about settling edu debt is very amazing. we’re in same boat but mine is rm100k only

  • Hey mr.stingy, just read one of your post about you paid off your debt. It was really interesting and that post in the other website brought me to here and I find that the idea of optimization is really good.

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