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Episode 9 – From <RM5K Savings to Building a Secure Future | @rmhustler

ByMilie J

Since 2022, @rmhustler has been sharing her personal finance journey by opening up about navigating high monthly commitments, wedding expenses, and the realities of homeownership on an average salary. It began as a way to hold herself accountable and has turned into an honest space where she documents her budgeting system, side hustles, and progress toward financial stability.

In this interview, we explore her early struggles, the habits that helped her grow her savings to RM10K in under a year, and how she’s redefining success to mean security and simplicity rather than chasing endless wealth.

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Q1: Hi Elodia! For those who don’t know you yet, could you briefly introduce yourself and what sparked your interest in personal finance?

Hi, I’m your average salarywoman in Malaysia earning an average income. 

Since young, I had always been self-conscious about my finances and always put in effort to stay on track with them. 

Unfortunately, that didn’t completely stop me from making some financial mistakes later on in life. 

So, I wish to be a reminder not only to me but to others to not neglect their finances, like I did. 

Q2: You’ve mentioned that you once had less than RM5,000 in savings. What was life like during that period, and what pushed you to start taking control of your finances?

Yes, that was back when I was in the midst of preparing for my wedding while paying the house installments – both of which are the most expensive commitments in my life. 

Seeing my savings deplete each time broke my heart, but there was nothing much I could do about it. 

I remembered feeling anxious all the time and battling insomnia due to that. 

I was afraid of looking at my bank accounts. 

I only realized later that I had to change my mindset and lifestyle according to my income and what I can actually afford.

Q3: What was your first real step toward building better money habits? Was it budgeting, saving, investing, or something else?

The first thing I did was to list down every commitment that I am currently paying and to budget consistently every month. 

But having a budget alone is useless without sticking to it and tracking my expenses, so I did just that daily. 

I set up a fixed amount of money to save each month and only spend what is left, which is called zero based budgeting. 

Once my savings have reached a certain amount, I will transfer some into low risk investment platforms.

Q4: You’ve openly shared your experience handling over RM5K in monthly commitments. How did you avoid falling into debt, and what helped you stay on track?

I avoid applying for personal loans (and moneylenders are a big NO) and focus on paying off my commitments and debts, especially the short term ones, with the savings I had. 

There was a time where I had to ask for help and I was so grateful, though I couldn’t help but felt really ashamed of myself. 

From then on, I reminded myself to never spend more than I earn and to reduce as many commitments as possible. 

We accumulate debt when we convince ourselves we can afford things we actually can’t. 

That seems to be a problem with most people nowadays.

Q5: You’re now a homeowner and recently got married — huge milestones! How did those major life events affect your financial game plan?

Since all the renovations and the required appliances are all set and paid for this year, we just have to focus on paying off the monthly installment. 

In terms of marriage, we are honestly still recovering financially 😂 and therefore, are not in a rush to expand the family any time soon. 

I think starting a family is something to be financially prepared for even with our combined income. 

For now, I budget everything and make sure that I am saving money each month.

Q6: You’ve tried various hustles such as reselling pre-loved items, using cashback apps, surveys, and more. Which one made the most impact, and why do you think it worked for you?

In my opinion, I would recommend reselling preloved items. 

You’ll be surprised at how many things you actually own but end up never using, or worse, disposed of. 

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. So let’s give our preloved items a new home instead of leaving them unused or thrown away. 

This habit also helps me realize the importance of spending money more mindfully next time.

Q7: How has your approach to budgeting evolved since the beginning, and are there any tools or systems that you swear by today?

I guess I can say that I have now successfully turned budgeting (and tracking expenses into habits). 

For people with average income like me, I think these immensely help me be in control of my expenses.

Q8: What’s one financial win that you’re really proud of? The kind that reminds you how far you’ve come?

Growing my savings into RM10k in just less than a year 🥹 

To others, this might be a small amount, but for people with a fixed income and pretty high commitments, saving money can be a challenge. 

Q9: What are your current financial or lifestyle goals? Are you aiming for financial freedom, flexibility, or simply a more secure future?

I used to think I wanted to be just like everyone else – rich and able to afford everything I want. 

However, life has taught me this year that nothing is actually as it seems. 

Now, I just wish for a simple life ahead so a secure future is more important to me, where I can still afford to pay my commitments while treating myself to good things I can afford once in a while.

Q10: Lastly, what advice would you give to fellow Malaysians who are just starting their personal finance journey, especially those who feel like they’re already behind?

Not a financial advisor, but if you feel like you’re not able to save money at all or you’re living paycheck to paycheck, that probably means that your expenses > your income = NOT GOOD. 

It feels good to be able to spend money whenever you want, but this is not sustainable in the long run. 

So either try to budget, track your expenses and commitments, start a side hustle, or look for a higher paying job. 

Just don’t stay in that situation for too long.

Also, a reminder to everyone and myself: just because we earn more, does not mean we have to spend more or need to elevate our lifestyle (it’s a trick by the capitalists for us to spend more money 😂).

Final Thoughts

A huge thank you to @rmhustler for opening up and sharing her story with us so candidly. It’s not often you come across someone who is willing to talk about the anxiety, shame, and small wins that come with managing money on an average salary in Malaysia. 

Here are three takeaways we loved from this interview:

  • Budgeting works when you stick to it. Tracking daily expenses may feel tedious, but it builds financial awareness.
  • Side hustles don’t have to be glamorous. Something as simple as reselling unused items can free up cash and change your spending habits.
  • A secure future matters more than endless wealth. Redefining success around peace of mind and sustainability keeps financial goals realistic and motivating.

You can follow her journey on Instagram @rmhustler for more relatable budgeting tips, side hustle ideas, and honest reflections on navigating money in Malaysia.

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