Supporting a large family is never easy, and oftentimes the sole breadwinner has to tighten their belt to ensure everyone is cared for.
A Malaysian husband recently took to social media to express his sadness over his colleagues constant teasing and ridiculing of his frugal spending habits.
Has to support 5 family members
In the anonymous confession, the man wrote that he earns RM4,500 monthly as a mechanic and assistant department supervisor at a multinational automotive company.
Although he enjoys a stable job, the man said his salary supports his retired parents, wife, and his two young children.
On top of that, he also has to pay the housing loan, medical insurance and daily household expenses, while also setting aside RM450 regularly for his children’s future education. As such, he’s left with little money to spend on himself.
Acutely aware of the financial constraints he’s under, the man resorts to being extremely frugal, such as using the same phone for years, patching up damaged socks without having to buy new ones, or having haircuts once every two to three months.
Endless teasing by colleagues
The man wrote that at the office, he was the only one who lives a thrifty lifestyle as his colleagues had more money on hand to splurge on food and entertainment.
He added that he often found himself in a dilemma whenever his colleagues invite him for gatherings as he feared being labelled as “antisocial” if he rejected them too often but didn’t want to spend his hard-earned money on unnecessary things.
“At first, I would make excuses to turn down their invitations. Over time, however, my colleagues noticed that I was reluctant to replace even my everyday essentials.
“They started calling me stingy and a cheapskate, saying that I was so tight-fisted that I wouldn’t even spend money on myself. Honestly, hearing those comments leaves me feeling rather helpless,” he confessed.
The man said he never once explained his situation to his colleagues as he felt it was a private matter. However, he admitted that he’s deeply uncomfortable over being viewed as a miser when in reality, he was struggling to keep afloat.
“It’s not that I don’t want to socialise with my colleagues, nor do I think spending money on leisure activities is pointless. I just have to put my family’s needs first.
Sometimes, I even ask myself whether I’m being too strict with my spending. I can spend ages debating whether to buy a new wallet or a pair of socks just to save money. Does that mean I’ve become excessively frugal?”
The man then ended the post by asking the public how they’d handle such situations without making awkward for everyone.
“I understand that having a job isn’t just about earning money as it’s also important to maintain good relationships with colleagues.
“However, I don’t want to force myself to participate in activities that exceed my budget just to prove that I can fit in. More importantly, I don’t want to feel as though I’m doing something wrong just because of a few comments from others.”
What would be your advice to this man? Share with us in the comments!
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