Appearances can be deceiving, especially when it comes to someone’s financial situation.
A Malaysian recently recalled how they mistakenly thought their university roommate was struggling financially because of his extremely frugal eating habits.
However, his savings account revealed a very different reality.
Survived on simple meals and instant noodles
According to a post shared on Threads, the individual said his roommate would regularly eat nasi bujang, a simple meal typically consisting of rice, gravy, egg and cucumber.
His cupboard was also filled with instant noodles, which he would eat whenever he did not visit the university café.
Seeing this made the individual feel sorry for him, as he assumed he was cutting back on food because he had very little money.
He eventually invited the roommate out for lunch and planned to pay for his meal.
Bank balance told a different story
On the way, the pair stopped at a bank to withdraw some cash.
As digital payment methods were not widely used at the time, the roommate checked his account balance and showed it to the individual.
He was apparently worried that he might not have enough money to cover his meals later.
However, the amount displayed left the individual stunned.
The roommate reportedly had significantly more money in his bank account than the person who had offered to buy him lunch.
Despite his healthy savings, he spent his money as though he had only RM10 remaining.
Not everyone who lives frugally is struggling
The experience taught the individual that someone’s spending habits do not necessarily reflect how much money they have.
While some people cut back because they are facing genuine financial difficulties, others simply prefer protecting their savings and avoiding unnecessary spending.
The individual added that saving money can sometimes make people more reluctant to use it because they fear watching their balance decrease.
However, they also recalled their mother’s advice that one should not be overly calculative when it comes to food.
