Balancing mental health and money is never easy, and one Malaysian’s story proves just how tough the trade-off can be.
A Malaysian recently took to Threads to share a life decision that instantly went viral. They left a RM4K plus paying job for one that pays less, choosing peace of mind and personal growth over a bigger paycheck.
‘Am I a failure?’
In the post, the individual questioned if they had made a mistake:
Am I a failure!???? I made a tough decision! Left RM4k+ job for RM3.5k, not for money but for peace and growth!”
After deductions, their take-home pay comes to RM3.1K. However, their monthly commitments already exceed that:
- Housing loan: RM1,876
- Car loan: RM922
- Phone bill: RM80
- Food & petrol: RM600
- Insurance: RM334
Total: RM3,812. That is about RM700 more than their monthly salary.
Netizens question financial commitments
Many netizens were quick to ask how they ended up with a RM1,876 housing loan and RM922 car loan with a salary below RM5K.
The OP clarified that the house loan was shared with their elder brother, while the car loan was on their own.
Others empathised with the situation but questioned the sustainability:
Definitely not a failure. I don’t see any harm taking a lower-paying job if it gives you less stress and more growth. But how do you plan to bridge the gap between your commitment and salary?”
The OP replied that they initially planned to do Grab as a part-time hustle, but unfortunately, their current car insurance doesn’t support e-hailing, leaving them with no clear backup plan.
‘Good for mental health, but not financial freedom’
Another commenter pointed out:
It’s good for your mental health but not on your financial freedom… have faith and pray you have more to come.”
At the end of the day, it is a reminder that peace of mind often comes at a price, and finding the balance between both is the real challenge.
What do you think about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
Here is the post:
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