A Malaysian man recently went viral after sharing his 21-year experience with credit cards, from swiping recklessly and paying minimum balances to finally learning how to use them with discipline.
In a Threads post, the man, @adeqmie made it clear that he was not a financial expert, but was only sharing what he personally went through as a credit card user.
He said he had experienced almost every phase, from spending beyond his means to being charged interest for years, before finally understanding the method that worked for him.
1. His first mistake was treating a RM3,000 limit like spending power
According to him, his first credit card was approved in 2005 with a RM3,000 limit.
Back then, he said he had “zero knowledge” and simply swiped without thinking too much about whether he could afford it.
This eventually led him to spend beyond his ability, pay only the minimum amount, and allow interest to roll every month.
He admitted that this same mistake continued for years.
2. Paying minimum every month kept the interest going
One of the biggest lessons he shared was how dangerous it can be to only pay the minimum amount due.
In his case, doing so meant that the remaining balance continued to carry interest month after month.
This was why he eventually described his earlier phase as one where he “paid interest for years” before realising how credit cards should actually be used.
3. He used his year-end bonus to clear everything
In 2013, he finally decided to stop the cycle.
He said that after receiving his year-end bonus, he used it to clear all his outstanding balances and cancelled all his credit cards.
At that point, he thought he had learnt his lesson and took a break from using credit cards altogether.
4. He only returned to credit cards after learning the “rules”
In 2016, he started using credit cards again, but said it was different this time because he came back with knowledge, discipline, and strategy.
He began learning about cashback, Easy Payment Plans (EPP), card perks, terms and conditions, and most importantly, how to separate needs from wants.
Instead of using credit cards for impulse spending, he studied how each card could fit different types of spending and actual needs.
5. He tested many cards to see what was worth it
The man also shared that he had used many cards over the years, including cards from CIMB, AmBank, RHB Bank, Alliance Bank, HSBC, Citibank, UOB, Maybank, AEON Credit, EON Bank, Hong Leong Bank, Public Bank, and OCBC Bank.
He said he applied for and used these cards to study which ones were most worthwhile based on usage and current needs.
Some of the cards he mentioned included cashback cards, Visa Signature cards, Visa Infinite cards, Enrich Platinum, Shell Visa, Maybank Barcelona Visa Signature, Petronas Gold, Ikhwan MyImpact, Ikhwan Amex, PBB Quantum Visa, and OCBC 90°N Visa Card.
6. His current rule: use, pay full statement, repeat
Today, his monthly habit is simple.
He uses credit cards for purchases or payments as long as the shop accepts cards. But once the statement comes out, he pays the full amount without leaving even a cent unpaid.
By doing this, he said he only receives cashback and no longer pays interest or profit charges to the bank.
His advice can be summed up as: use the card, pay the full statement, repeat.
7. For big purchases, he prefers EPP if available
When a netizen said they once swiped impulsively for three months before learning their lesson, the man replied that credit cards can be used, but must be used carefully.
He added that for big purchases, he would use EPP if available, while still keeping it within his own financial ability.
8. He now only keeps 3 Islamic credit cards
The man also shared that as a Muslim, he has fully moved to Islamic banking, including credit cards.
He said he has closed all his conventional credit cards and now only keeps three Islamic credit cards, which he feels is enough for the time being.
9. He says credit cards are not for everyone
While sharing his experience, he also acknowledged that everyone has their own way of managing money.
When another netizen said they had tried many cards but eventually cut all of them for peace of mind, the man agreed and said some people are comfortable using credit cards, while others are not.
He added that people should not judge others for choosing a different financial approach.
Although his post was not meant as professional financial advice, many Malaysians found it relatable as it showed both sides of credit card usage: how it can become a burden when used carelessly, and how it can become useful only when handled with discipline.
His debt didn’t come from luxury shopping
Speaking to WeirdKaya, AdeqMie clarified that contrary to what some people may assume, his credit card debt did not come from impulsive shopping or buying expensive luxury items.
According to him, he was never really a “shopping addict” to begin with.
My spending habits weren’t actually that bad because I wasn’t someone who liked shopping a lot,” he explained.
Instead, he said the main reason his credit card debt accumulated over the years was because he developed the habit of only paying the minimum amount due every month, especially during a period when his salary was still relatively small.
At the time, AdeqMie said his expenses mainly revolved around necessities such as petrol, groceries, and dining rather than large purchases or luxury spending.
My salary back then wasn’t enough to fully pay everything off. I could only afford the minimum payment, so the balance never really went down,” he shared.
He used his year-end bonus in 2013 to clear all his debt
AdeqMie said he eventually made the decision to completely clear all his outstanding credit card balances in 2013.
After receiving his year-end bonus that year, he used the money to pay off all of his accumulated debt at once.
“In 2013, I became determined to clear everything. Once I received my year-end bonus, I immediately paid off all the outstanding balances,” he said.
Although he admitted it was painful to use such a large amount of money all at once, he knew it was something he needed to do for his own financial future.
“It didn’t feel good, but I knew I had to do it.”
According to him, that moment became a major turning point in his financial journey and helped him completely eliminate the unhealthy repayment habits he once had.
His current rule: only swipe if the money already exists
Today, AdeqMie says he follows several strict personal rules whenever using a credit card.
One of the most important rules he follows is to only use his credit card if he already has the money available in his bank account.
“I only swipe when the money already exists,” he explained.
Aside from that, he also limits his card usage mainly to necessities instead of wants, while making it a strict habit to pay the full statement balance every single month.
“Paying the full statement balance monthly is non-negotiable for me now.”
He said this is the main reason he is now able to enjoy cashback and other credit card perks without falling back into debt or interest payments again.
Young adults not to rush into getting a credit card
AdeqMie also shared some advice for younger Malaysians who are considering applying for their first credit card.
According to him, getting a credit card should not simply be seen as something people automatically do once they start working.
Instead, he believes a person should only apply for one after meeting several conditions first, including having a stable enough salary, sufficient knowledge about how credit cards work, and strong financial discipline.
Most importantly, you must be able to fully pay your monthly statement balance,” he stressed.
He added that without proper understanding and discipline, it can be very easy for someone to slowly fall into long-term debt without even realising it.
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