Sometimes, our love for family can push us to make decisions that cost more than just money, they cost our future.
At just 23 years old, a Malaysian woman has found herself drowning in over RM1 million in debt, all because she continuously gave in to her parents’ emotional and financial demands.
It all started with a house
The woman, who’s the youngest among three siblings, said her ordeal began in 2021 when her father sold their family home.
Although the housing loan was almost fully paid off, her second brother had persuaded their father to sell it with the promise of buying them a new house.
However, there was a condition, their parents had to help settle the brother’s personal loan, which he had taken for his wedding.
According to mStar, despite fulfilling their end of the bargain, her brother later claimed that he could no longer afford to buy them a new home due to his own financial burdens.
The broken promise left her father devastated. He would lament every day, “I don’t want to die in a rented house,” a phrase that haunted her deeply.
At that point, the family was forced to live in a cramped single room in her brother’s home. Her father felt betrayed, saying he had been “wronged and left with nothing.”
When illness struck
Things took a darker turn in 2022 when her father’s health deteriorated and he required surgery.
Her second brother managed to secure a loan to pay for the medical procedure, while she devoted herself to caring for their father at the hospital.
“I was the one staying by his side the whole time,” she said, while her older brothers chipped in for groceries.
During this period, she made the difficult decision to give up on her dreams of further studies, choosing instead to prioritise her parents’ wellbeing.
Her mother soon asked her to take on more responsibility.
Mum asked me to buy a dining table, a sofa, a TV, and a kitchen cabinet using a loan,” she revealed.
A business hope that faded
Around the same time, her small business began seeing some success, bringing in RM5,000 to RM6,000 per month.
With some financial confidence, she applied for both a housing and car loan. Though both were approved, she had to make a tough choice.
As a young person, I really wanted a car — but my parents wanted a house,” she explained. The disagreement led to a silent standoff for two weeks.
Eventually, she gave in. By 2023, she finally got the house keys. But just as she stepped into what should’ve been a proud milestone, her business began to struggle.
More loans, more pressure
Barely catching her breath, her parents soon requested another personal loan — this time, to furnish the house.
She was reluctant, but said, “I felt guilty, so I did it anyway.” The money went towards buying new furniture and appliances.
Unfortunately, the situation worsened. She lost RM12,000 to a scam by a dishonest supplier at the end of 2023.
With her business collapsing, she turned to full-time job hunting and side gigs just to survive.
When reality hits hard
The financial weight came crashing down when she was called to court for failing to pay her housing loan for six months.
Emotionally drained, she found herself questioning everything, especially as she saw friends her age living carefree lives.
I regret sacrificing so much. Trying too hard to please everyone is starting to destroy me.”
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