A PhD student from China living in Switzerland has gone viral after revealing his shocking secret to surviving the country’s high cost of living — by eating cat food as his main source of protein.
The student, who goes by the alias “The Artful Cheapskate”, shared his story online, stunning netizens with his extreme frugality while pursuing his doctorate at one of Switzerland’s top research institutes.
Before moving abroad, Meiri Renwu, a medical graduate from China, had managed to save around 300,000 yuan (≈ RM200,000) from working in Shanghai. But once in Switzerland, he realized his savings were draining fast — with monthly expenses hitting between 1,000 and 1,500 Swiss francs (≈ RM5,200–RM7,800).
Since international students in Switzerland are not legally allowed to work, Renwu decided to take “budgeting” to a whole new level. In one of his viral posts, he revealed that he relies on cat food to maintain his protein intake and muscle health.
“People were shocked by my choice, but I did the math,” he explained. “A 3kg pack of cat food costs only 3.75 Swiss francs (≈ RM19) and contains 32% protein. It’s the most cost-effective meal option I’ve found here.”
That’s not all — Renwu also found another unusual money-saving trick: donating blood for free lunches.
“It’s like a buffet,” he said. “I plan my donations around lunchtime — the soup is hot, and there’s plenty of food.”
Despite the bizarre methods, his determination has paid off. Renwu recently received a scholarship offer and is set to continue his academic journey at Harvard University in the U.S.
Still, he insists his humble habits won’t change:
“Even at Harvard, I’ll keep living frugally. It’s how I survived, and it’s made me stronger.”
His story has sparked heated debate online — with some praising his discipline and grit, while others worry about the potential health risks of eating pet food just to save money.
One thing’s for sure — this “Artful Cheapskate” has taken student life on a budget to a whole new level.
