A wife says she stopped cooking for her husband after his monthly allowance dropped to RM350, sparking debate over shared financial responsibilities.
MANAGING HOUSEHOLD expenses can cause tension in any marriage, especially when one party feels that they are shouldering a disproportionate share of these responsibilities.
One Malaysian woman recently triggered discussion online after claiming she had stopped cooking for her husband because the amount he contributes each month is no longer enough to cover the family’s daily expenses.
The woman claimed that she pays for the household bills, including utilities, internet and her child’s school allowance.
“Yes, he gives me money — RM350 a month. That amount is only enough to pay for my child’s transport fees,” she said.
According to a viral Threads post, the woman has been married to her husband for nine years.
She also said she now buys takeaway food only for her child because she is tired of cooking for her husband, whom she feels is “taking advantage” of her salary.
To make matters worse, she claimed she discovered that her husband had taken a salary advance for his own personal expenses and had never once offered to pay for her meals.
“I used to cook delicious meals even though he gave me so little because I’m not the type to keep track of these things. But over time, it felt as though he was taking advantage of my kindness,” she lamented.
She further alleged that her husband’s attitude had changed over the past two years and revealed that they had attended marriage counselling, only to be advised to make peace with the situation.
Replying to a comment, she claimed that her husband had previously given her up to RM1,200 a month, but the amount was later reduced to RM350 and, at times, even RM150, which she said was insufficient to cover the family’s daily expenses.
She also alleged that her husband had been offered a delivery job by a friend but repeatedly came up with excuses not to accept it, claiming that his car was not working. She said she eventually spent more than RM100 to replace the car battery.
“He knows I can support our child, so he’s left all the responsibility to me. I regret marrying him,” she wrote in a reply.
Unsurprisingly, many netizens criticised the husband’s alleged lack of consideration for his wife’s situation and encouraged her to stand firm.
While some encouraged the couple to continue seeking ways to resolve their differences, others urged the woman to prioritise her own financial wellbeing and stand firm against what they viewed as an unequal arrangement.
“You’re paying all the bills, so what is your husband contributing? He’s become far too comfortable over the past nine years,” one user remarked.
“You might as well not have a husband if that’s how things are,” another commented.
“Maybe he should try surviving on RM350 a month and see how he manages,” another wrote.
