Money matters can get tricky in any relationship, especially after marriage.
From splitting bills to deciding who pays what, it’s something many couples struggle with.
And when big commitments like buying a house come into play, things can get overwhelming fast, particularly when the expectations aren’t clear from the start.
A house and a heavy burden
That’s exactly what one Malaysian man is going through. He recently shared his story on X (formerly Twitter), and it quickly struck a chord with netizens.
According to his post, his wife had bought a house under her name before they got married.
At first, things seemed fine, the house was her personal decision. But as the completion date nears (it’s expected to be ready by the end of this year), things took a turn.
She asked him to contribute half of the house’s cost, despite the fact that it wasn’t purchased together or under both their names.
90% of his salary gone every month
That request came as a shock, especially since the man revealed that the monthly instalments alone eat up nearly 90% of his salary.
To keep up with the payments and support their household, he’s now working two jobs, which has left him feeling drained and frustrated.
The house will be ready at the end of this year. My wife bought it before we got married. The problem is, the monthly payment is almost 90% of my salary.
“Now I’m working two jobs because she asked me to pay half. If only she hadn’t bought that house, I wouldn’t be this stressed,” he wrote.
Netizens offer advice
His story drew immediate attention from the online community, with many expressing concern over how the situation was being handled.
Some questioned why he was expected to shoulder such a massive financial load for a house that technically doesn’t even belong to him.
‘Since when does a husband have to provide a house based on the wife’s loan? Shouldn’t it be based on your means? If you’re paying 50% and it’s already 90% of your salary, how much is the instalment? RM6,000?’
Others didn’t hold back and encouraged him to reconsider the arrangement entirely, pointing out that this could be a serious imbalance in the relationship.
‘You don’t owe her anything for that house. Especially not 90% of your salary. Sounds like she’s unknowingly taking advantage of you. Flip the script. Tell her you’ll ‘rent’ the house at 25% of your salary. If she doesn’t agree, tell her to find another tenant. You can move to a place you can actually afford.’
Several also offered practical alternatives to ease the financial pressure.
‘1, pay RM800 if that’s what you can afford and treat it like rent. She covers the rest; 2, rent a separate home together and let her lease out her house to someone else; 3, find a new wife.’
Some were brutally honest, like this netizen:
‘You’ve basically become an ATM. A house is a necessity, yes but it should fit your budget too. If it’s too much, ask her to rent it out. You shouldn’t be killing yourself financially just to make it work.‘
At the end of the day, every couple has their own way of managing finances but stories like this highlight how important it is to have clear and open communication early on.
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