A Fresh Start in Malaysia for a Family from Wigan – MM2H Adventure Awaits
As a family of three from Wigan, we've been dreaming of a new chapter in our lives fro some time. My wife and I are both in our mid-40s. I run my own SME business and she's a homemaker, taking care of our 10-year-old son. We own our house outright and we've built up a comfortable cushion of investments over the years—everything from fixed deposits to dividend-yielding stocks. Still, the question that's been on our minds recently is how we can better enjoy our lives. We've long discussed moving somewhere that offers a more laid-back pace of life, preferably with better weather, and Malaysia's MM2H Golden Visa seems to be the perfect fit.
Whilst most of the so-called Golden Visas we found online are aimed at the top 1% of citizens worldwide, down to perhaps upper middle-class, we've discovered that Malaysia's MM2H provides the ideal opportunity for families like ours, i.e. middle-class with decent purchasing power, to live as expats in a beautiful country, without the usual restrictions of other long-term visas.
With the MM2H visa, we can enjoy Malaysia's tropical climate, stunning beaches and meet kind-hearted, friendly people, all whilst having the option to stay there for extended periods. But one of the bigger benefits of MM2H is that it allows us to bring in our foreign income tax-free. In practice, this means that our investments in the UK can continue to support our new life abroad. With a favourable exchange rate between Sterling and the Malaysian Ringgit, our UK-based rental income and investment returns will easily cover our living expenses in Malaysia. Courtesy this unique UK/Malaysia lifestyle arbitrage opportunity.
Anatomy of Lifestyle Arbitrage
Malaysia offers a much lower cost of living compared to the UK. From groceries to public transport to restaurants to entertainment, everything is much more affordable there. This means we can enjoy a higher standard of living without worrying about finances.
As a matter of fact, we've calculated that we can live comfortably off our UK rental income and savings, whilst still have enough left over for what I call "expat extras", like a spacious condo, a domestic helper, a nice car, along with plenty of trips and leisure activities. It's a lifestyle out of reach for most of us in the UK, but in Malaysia, it's very much attainable.
International School
Our son will be starting at an international school in Malaysia, which is one of the other big draws of MM2H. Malaysia offers world-class education through its network of international schools and the diverse range of nationalities among students will give our son global exposure, invaluable as he grows older. Knowing that he'll receive a top-notch education gives us peace of mind. Plus, the proximity of these schools to expat communities means we can settle in comfortably without feeling too far from home.
Health Hub
The MM2H visa also provides us with Malaysia's excellent healthcare system. Private hospitals in Malaysia are known for their high standards and affordability, to the point that Malaysia has become the region's second-most popular medical tourism hotspot, right after its immediate southern neighbour, Singapore. Of course, this is good to know, since access to robust and affordable healthcare is crucial as we grow older. To be honest, it was this aspect of our relocation ambitions that eventually tipped the balance into making them reality.
Overall, we're thrilled to bits about this new chapter of our lives. To us, Malaysia offers the perfect balance of a less stressful, less hectic pace of life, stunning natural surroundings, as well as financial freedom. Thanks to MM2H, we can live like expats and experience everything this amazing country has to offer. But probably the best part of this exciting adventure is that our UK home will always be there for us. In other words, we can always go back to the UK, if, for whatever reason, our dream to live the good life in the sun didn't quite pan out as planned.
Thinking about moving out of the UK? I can suggest this MM2H portal. They pretty much cover all aspects of relocating overseas, specifically if Malaysia is on your bucket list.
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