Since 2017, @theworkingkid has been quietly building a financial foundation—tracking every expense, learning from her missteps, and slowly turning her money habits around.
What began as a way to live within her student allowance evolved into a full-blown budgeting system powered by zero-based budgeting, sinking funds, and consistent investing.
Launched anonymously as a digital diary, her Instagram now documents the real side of personal finance as a young Malaysian juggling a full-time job, debt repayment, car regrets, and investing—without the fluff or filters.
In this interview, she opens up about her turning points: how she bounced back from lifestyle creep, the lessons behind her car and PTPTN decisions, her love-hate relationship with crypto, and why she still uses Excel to this day.
Q: Let’s start from the beginning — what inspired you to start @theworkingkid and document your personal finance journey online?
I have been reading a lot of blogs and articles on investing, savings, passive incomes from long term investments.
Since 2020, I’ve been only exposed to funds from agents and third party apps without any solid guidance.
I’ve been wanting to read from REAL people instead of sponsored articles.
I started to share my thoughts anonymously and treat this as my written finance diary as I look at my personal excel sheet.
Q: You’ve been tracking your expenses since 2017, but really leaned into zero-based budgeting in 2023. What is zero-based budgeting? What made you commit to this method, and how has it changed the way you manage your money?
I started recording my expenses in 2017 because I wanted to live within the pocket money from my parents instead of asking for more.
In the beginning of my career, I lived beyond my means.
I got a new car. I partied with my friends. I had to cover my credit card expenses using my upcoming pay. I preplanned for trips like there’s no tomorrow.
Every month, I will be counting how much my net pay would be. Will it be enough for my card bill? Should I deposit in FD even if I don’t have enough for my bills?
At the start of Covid-19, I managed to control my spending for just one month — April 2020. By the following month, I was already planning future trips, even though I had no idea when I’d be allowed to travel again. Still, my monthly expenses stayed the same because most of them were fixed commitments.
That made me realise that I actually can’t afford anything extra other than my commitments.
That was when I read about budgets.
I studied what kind of methods could help me manage my money better. I try out many budgeting methods during the pandemic.
I came across zero-based budget where I should try living within my means.
I first tried out with RM3000 monthly and I gradually increased it when MCO was lifted and life was back to normal.
Any money extras after RM3000 will go to my emergency funds category.
I cleared my card bills on a weekly basis to ensure I don’t overspend on my budget.
Q: You shared a candid breakdown of your gaji bersih (net salary) vs expenses, including the reality of rising taxes. How do you approach financial planning now, especially after that income tax “wake-up call”?
I almost dropped my jaw when I saw how much was going under income tax.
I couldn’t even complain to my friends since they were not in the same category.
I was crying silently
And I was already maximising out my tax refund in the categories that I could.
To be honest, I do not know how to tackle it at this stage.
I’ll still continue to research and if anyone has any advice while reading this, please help a girl out.
Q: Sinking funds seem to play a big role in your budgeting — from car expenses to healing holidays. How do you decide what categories to create, and how do you maintain them consistently?
Remember how I was spending above my means?
My expenses were all over the place. This month, I’m spending on car service. Next month, I’m paying my life insurance. Next month, I’m owing my study loan.
I read somewhere that I should save up for every big purchase instead of diving into debts after spending impulsively. Since then, I have started to put aside a small amount of money to prepare for my annual fixed expenditure.
I literally save what I think I want to prepare on spending 
My sinking funds category includes cuti-cuti Malaysia, car, household items, celebrations, investments, PRS (Private Retirement Scheme), annual premiums etc.
Before I get my salary, I will split my income and set an auto transfer to another account. It’s not hard to keep track via Excel as sinking funds aren’t daily expenses.
After deducting my sinking funds and fixed zero income budget, those will go into my emergency funds.
Q: Let’s talk about your car. You’ve been really open about regretting the purchase at first. What lessons would you share with someone considering buying their first car today?
Do not buy a glamour car just to show off or please anyone!
We often hear this: don’t worry la, you will have an increment yearly so you only suffer a while now.
When you calculate your monthly payment, always try to keep it lower than 15%.
For example, if I started my first job at net RM3000, my monthly payment should be around RM450. But I signed up for a car that was RM600.
I struggled to keep up with my payment as I didn’t factor in servicing and yearly insurance.
Q: You shared your PTPTN repayment story — from struggling in your early career to finally settling the loan with a government discount. What was the turning point that made you decide to clear the debt, and how did it feel?
I didn’t like having extra monthly repayments deductions cause it didn’t feel good to have debts.
My pockets were tight as I had to pay for commitments – insurance, car, meals, entertainment etc. I didn’t know how to clear my debts. Hence I started listing my assets to check what’s my net worth.
That’s where I realised I had chucked some money into FDs (Fixed Deposits).
During the discount period, I paid off the loan by borrowing some money from my parents but I paid them back within 6 months.
Q: It’s great that you’re now investing through IBKR and Versa. How did you get comfortable taking that first step, and were there any creators or resources that helped build your confidence?
I had 0 knowledge about the market.
I got burnt by following everyone blindly during Covid.
I first started with Wahed and I earned a little with my limited funds. That was when I decided I must be consistent with robo advisor funds even if I don’t have any DIY portfolios.
I also tried Stashaway but I wasn’t comfortable with their changes in funds selection and volatility of currency exchange impacting my portfolio value.
Then I came across Versa when they were one of the first to have MMF (Money Market Fund) with a high return + investment funds. I had my FDs deposited in Versa Cash.
I tried different investment funds but the Malaysian market fund is burning me still (first was glove stocks, second time in Versa).
Versa Global-i and Versa Growth exposed me to S&P500 without me having the knowledge of doing it myself via a brokerage app.
After a year of being @theworkingkid, I learned from different people and I gained confidence to start in IBKR because I believe in what I see.
Q: You’ve also experimented with crypto via Binance. What made you try it, and how do you mentally manage the volatility, especially with a small capital?
This may sound stupid but I followed my friends during the peak.
They say buy, I buy.
They say sell, I sell.
While I was being timid and cautious, I pulled out my capital during this crazy ride, and they lost their capital + gains.
Hence my post below said in 2024 I had $700 balance from that crazy year.
Q: You took a break from posting in 2024 due to work — totally relatable! How do you balance personal finance, content creation, and your full-time job without burning out?
I consider myself as a very very disciplined person in recording my finances.
Once I purchase something, it’s in my budgeting app before I even walk out from the store.
On a weekly basis, I update my budget excel.
On a monthly basis, I update my net worth.
When I first started out this Instagram account, I had the details ready in my Excel spreadsheet but was thinking how to translate it to words to share my own numbers in writing.
I usually do it when I have enough rest mentally.
Q: You’ve come a long way — from budgeting as a student to investing and managing your lifestyle as a young adult. Looking back, what advice would you give to Malaysians who are just starting their personal finance journey today?
Start small.
No matter how small it is, start somewhere.
There are resources available if you are willing to take the first step.
Compare MMF (Money Market Fund) and robo advisor that make you feel comfortable to start out.
Final Thoughts
A heartfelt thank you to @theworkingkid for generously sharing her story. In a world full of noise and pressure to spend for appearances, her journey is a refreshing reminder that intentionality beats impulse — and that financial confidence comes from knowing what works for you, not just what works for others.
Here are three takeaways we loved from this interview:
- You don’t have to follow the crowd — trust your numbers, not the noise.
- Budgeting is personal — your lifestyle, your rules.
- Small wins compound — what feels strict today builds freedom tomorrow.
Follow her journey on Instagram @theworkingkid for relatable insights on budgeting, personal growth, and making money moves as a young Malaysian.
