(Source: 123rf)
A Malaysian Thread recently went viral, and it is a reality check wrapped in emotional honesty. The person behind those heart-to-heart words (original poster) had walked away from a job earning about RM4,000 one month, all in the name of mental peace and personal growth. He took a pay cut, landing at RM3,500 a month, because money meant less than the freedom to breathe, step back, and feel alive again.
“Am I a failure!???? I made a tough decision! Left RM4k+ job for RM3.5k – not for money but for peace & growth!
Salary – RM3.1k (after deductions)
Mortgage – RM1,876
Car – RM922
Phone bill – RM80
Food & petrol – RM200 + RM400 = RM600
Insurance – RM334
Total – RM3,812”
Then came the reality of bills. After EPF and SOCSO, take-home pay dipped to around RM3,100. But commitments had already stacked up. Housing loan was RM1,876. Car loan took RM922. Phone bill RM80. Then there was RM600 for food and petrol. Insurance added RM334. All totaled, monthly expenses came up to RM3,812 – about RM700 more than the salary.
If you’re wondering how does one land such steep loans with a salary below RM5,000, the original poster explained that the housing loan was initially co-shared with his older brother.
“I bought this car 5 years ago and 2 years later I bought a house sharing the monthly mortgage with my elder brother. A year later I took over the commitment alone with my then-RM4.5k salary and YES I was fully able to manage all my commitments.”
Despite being able to afford his lifestyle with his then-RM4,500 salary, the job was affecting his peace as his then-manager was toxic and the original poster was starting to get very exhausted.
“I am happy and have peace of mind at my new job but financially I'm not stable as the salary is lower.”
Being a hardworking and responsible man, the original poster, whose mum and sister are living with him, shared that he is looking into upgrading his salary.
“I am actually planning to work at Grab as an e-hailing driver as a side hustle but unfortunately my current car insurance doesn't cover e-hailing. But I'm still under probation, and I am planning to discuss with my boss for an increase in my salary, otherwise I would be left with no choice but to apply for other higher paying jobs.”
Still, the OP’s story struck a chord with many netizens, who made the his day with a lot of comforting words.
“Same here. I left my previous job and took a RM300 pay cut, but I’m happier.”
“It’s ok, you still have other options. You can take up a side hustle. Keep moving forward! You can definitely do it. Usually when you’re desperate, things will work out despite the struggles.”
“Those calling you a failure or whatever, it’s because they’ve never been in your shoes. You made your choice. You’re at peace. Keep moving forward. As for the gaps, just find a way to fill it up.”
Here’s where the numbers get even more important. In Malaysia, banks look at something called the Debt Service Ratio (DSR) before approving loans. It is the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward paying debts. The formula is simple: total monthly debt commitments divided by net income, times 100. Most banks allow a DSR of about 50-70% depending on your income level. In this case, with a take-home pay of RM3,100 and debt commitments of roughly RM2,800, the DSR already crosses 90%, which is way above the recommended range. This shows just how tight the financial squeeze really is.
Life sometimes forces us onto smaller paychecks just so our minds can finally rest, but bills don’t sleep. Peace is priceless, but planning is essential. Before taking the leap for a less stressful job, always check your commitments and calculate your DSR. If the ratio is too high, you may end up trading workplace stress for financial stress. Balance both, because peace of mind should not come at the cost of sleepless nights over money.