You’re Not Broke Or Bad With Money, You’re Just Penat From Experiencing Money Fatigue
Be real with me. When was the last time you stopped thinking about money?
Whether it was “how can I earn more?”, “can I buy an americano today?”, or a simple “where to makan today?”, such questions will circle back to money talk.
Yes, you just received your salary or allowance. But you also have rent or mortgage, car instalments, utility bills, insurance, PTPTN loans, and your monthly streaming subscriptions, which you should unsubscribe from if you haven’t used them in the past 3 days. Oh! And your favourite americano or matcha too!
Pejam celik, pejam celik, next thing you know, you’re waiting for next month’s salary or allowance to come in… Just a few days after you got this month’s.
Honestly, penat right? I get it. However, you’re not bad with money; it’s just money fatigue. And every Malaysian feels the same.
What is money fatigue, and how does it affect one’s daily life?
It’s not about being broke or being bad with your finances.
To me, money fatigue means you’re mentally or emotionally exhausted from constantly thinking about where, how and why your money comes and goes.
Even when you’re paying your bills on time and managing your finances well, this feeling never seems to fade. That’s money fatigue.
And how do you know if you’re experiencing this feeling?
- You feel bad for spending, even if it’s just a little “treat yourself” moment.
- You have one (or more) side hustle aside from your full-time career.
- Instead of feeling helpful, using a budgeting application leaves you feeling overwhelmed.
- You worry about life after retiring.
- Even when your bestie ajak you for a yumcha session at the mamak, you worry about how much you’ll spend.
In short, any financial decision can leave you anxious, drained, or both.
This exhaustion… It’s different for everyone.
It doesn’t care about your age or income bracket. Inflation happens, the cost of living keeps rising, but our salary and allowances… Ada lah naik sikit-sikit, but somehow rasa macam sama je from 10 years ago.
Students are stressing over their student debt, fresh graduates are surviving on low entry-level salaries, young married couples are delaying their shared life goals, and other working adults are managing their loans, commitments, and future plans for their whole families.
Everyone feels the same way, differently.
“So, why don’t you be more disciplined with your monthly budget?”
It’s a traditional suggestion, but it doesn’t work for everyone, not gonna lie. Everyone has different commitments in their lives, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. And life is unpredictable after all.
“Or try to save more lah”.
It’s easier said than done. We’re trying our best to spend below our means, really.
But when money feels like another chore in your day, it will add more stress to your life.
Instead of trying to control every single sen, here are some things you can do to reduce money fatigue:
- Automate fixed expenses so you don’t think about them (and avoid late penalty charges).
- Do not over-track your budgeting. It will leave you feeling extra anxious.
- Reduce the number of money decisions you make each day.
- Focus on stable spending, not constant impulsive spending.
- A credit card might also help, but only if you refrain from using it impulsively and hastily.
Wondering whether owning a credit card can reduce money fatigue?
If you can strategically control your spending, yes, you can! A credit card can:
- Consolidate your spending into one single billing (easier to track your expenses).
- Give you cashback, rewards or points on things you’re already spending on everyday, like petrol, groceries, online shopping, etc.
- Reduce your mental load with clear monthly statements.
At the end of the day, it will not only help you spend less, but you can also spend smarter and ease up on the financial anxiety.
And if money makes you feel overwhelmed, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
You can always reach out to our iMoney Financial Advisory. Sometimes, what you’re seeking isn’t another tip, but clarity and guidance. We can help you understand your finances, take control, and find a solution that fits your lifestyle with our predictive tools and expertise.
Money fatigue is real, but with the right support, it’s possible to feel calmer when it comes to your finances. And that peace of mind is priceless.
