Behind the cat-themed pseudonym @showmethemeowy is a long-time Malaysian personal finance creator who’s been quietly but consistently sharing her journey since 2019.
What began as a way to stay accountable has grown into a platform filled with relatable reflections, smart money tips, and thoughtful commentary — all while maintaining her anonymity.
In this interview, we speak with ShowMeTheMeowy about how her relationship with money began, the lessons learned along the way, and her goals for the future — all from the perspective of someone who’s lived through credit card debt, built a six-figure portfolio, and continues to keep things real.
Q: Let’s start from the beginning — what sparked your personal finance journey? Was it a specific event, a money mistake, or just a growing curiosity?
My journey into personal finance began as a way to build consistent saving habits and to learn how to achieve Financial Independence.
In the early stages, I invested heavily in books and financial content to educate myself. At that time, I was dealing with credit card debt and my savings were stagnant – I wanted to change that.
Q: What kind of books or financial content were you consuming? Is there any you’d recommend to others who are struggling with debt like you did?
I started with classics like Rich Dad Poor Dad and The Intelligent Investor. The latter can be intimidating to some non-readers and beginners so it’s fine to read other books.
I’ve also found Invested by Danielle Town and Phil Town to be a personal favorite.
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To me it doesn’t matter whether it’s books, articles, podcasts, or YouTube, I think everyone should just immerse themselves in financial content regularly. I especially enjoy browsing the business and finance sections at bookstores.
There wasn’t any book that I read about tackling debt, it was more on the discipline to take control of it. If you need motivation, go listen to dearest Uncle Dave Ramsey—he’ll knock some sense into you!
Q: You’ve been documenting your personal finance journey for years — how has your approach to money evolved since you first started?
I used to focus on diversifying across many types of investment vehicles but these days I’m more selective. Also, I didn’t consider investing overseas until recent years.
Q: What kind of investments did you dabble in back then? And what prompted you to consider investing overseas?
Back then, I mostly focused on stock picking and tried out different options like money market funds (MMFs), Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM), and PRS.
I was open to exploring anything new. The same thinking applied to investing overseas where my main goal was diversification.
Q: What are some core money rules or principles you personally live by, no matter what?
One principal that didn’t change until today is prioritizing in paying my essential expenses (ie. Rent, phone bills, transport, etc.) as soon as I got my paycheck.
Somehow that was instinctive despite being not so financially literate. Though I wished I’d been equally diligent in paying myself next.
Q: What made you decide to share your journey publicly through @showmethemeowy on Instagram and later build your blog showmethemeowy.com? What kind of impact did you hope to make by going public with your story?
Starting an Instagram alter ego is for me to be accountable besides reflecting on what I was learning.
As for blogging, it’s just that I enjoy writing as a way to organize my thoughts and then express them. I often have a lot that I need to get out of my head, otherwise, they’d just stay stuck there.
Check out her article on Why you need a Finance Alter Ego on her blog here!
Q: How do you stay consistent and motivated to manage your finances when life gets overwhelming or unpredictable?
For one, basic routine like paying the bills and myself or whatever that is a default, remains.
Second, I keep finance management simple like how I don’t track every single expense in detail. Instead, I give myself a fixed spending limit and then work within that.
Lastly, I take a step back, avoid making big financial decisions and not fall for stress spending until I’m more level headed.
Q: Can you expand on how much you give yourself a fixed spending limit? And how do you work within that – was there like a 50-30-20 rule or something more personalised to you? Also what’s your thought process when making big financial decisions?
If my basic monthly expenses are around RM3K, I treat that as my limit. Again, basic expenses are dealt with first before I spend on anything else. I prefer to keep things simple.
As for big financial decisions, I usually seek second opinions from people I trust, stay open to different perspectives, and give myself time to sit with the idea before making any money moves.
Q: What has been your proudest money win so far on this journey — big or small?
Getting and staying out of credit card debts for 6-7 years now.
Also managing my own 6-figures portfolio!
The latter is something the younger me couldn’t imagine myself doing!
Check out her article on This Malaysian’s Money Milestones on her blog here!
Q: Congratulations on getting out of credit card debt! If you don’t mind, can you tell me how you rake up credit card debt in the first place?
It was really the small things that added up and I wasn’t tracking my expenses properly.
Q: Also kudos on growing your portfolio up to 6-figures! Have you ever been burnt out or feel demotivated at any point from meticulously growing your portfolio over all those years?
Yes, I’ve felt demotivated at times especially when progress felt slow or when I started comparing myself to others. But I’ve learned that those are part of the process.
I think the key is to stay patient but diligent, and to focus on your own journey. And if you need, take a break then step back in.
Q: Are there any money mistakes you’ve made that taught you a valuable lesson?
Credit card debt. Having the bank pursued me for repayment was enough for a wake-up call.
Thankfully, I learnt that lesson early on.
Q: What are your current life goals, and how does your relationship with money help you move closer to them?
My main goal is to achieve financial security for retirement.
For that, I’m trying to be mindful not to inflate my lifestyle.
Also saving more and letting it compound.
Q: Is there a specific number to your financial independence goal? Or is it more of a timeline? What do you plan to do once you reach that number?
I’m following the general take of aiming for RM1.5 million to RM2 million for retirement. I expect I’ll likely work until retirement to reach that figure, but I would still like to enjoy the journey along the way.
For me, the achieving the number means having peace of mind for when I’m no longer able to work, as well as the freedom to pursue what I want.
Q: Looking ahead, what are your personal finance goals for the next year or two?
It’s definitely to continue contributing to my investment portfolio, mostly diversifying into global markets.
I also plan to increase my emergency funds considering the current uncertain economic climate.
Q: Can you share which platforms you use to invest and save for your emergency funds? If possible, can you even share your experience using those platforms and why you decided to use them?
For my emergency funds, I use Stashaway. I’m aware there are other platforms offering higher interest rates, but I haven’t switched simply because I already have too many accounts. That’s probably not the best reason.
As for investing, I’ve tried several platforms, but if I had to pick one, it would be MooMoo. It’s easy to register, and it allows me to invest in both local and overseas markets with competitive rates.
Q: Lastly, what advice would you give to Malaysians who are just starting out on their own personal finance journey?
That would be to build strong financial habits early on and commit to becoming financially literate!
Final Thoughts
A huge thank you to @showmethemeowy for sharing so honestly and generously with us. It’s rare to find creators who stay grounded and introspective while navigating personal finance — and her story reminds us that slow, steady, and intentional progress is something to be proud of.
Whether you’re just starting your money journey or trying to regain control after setbacks, ShowMeTheMeowy’s story is a reminder that financial growth isn’t about perfection — it’s about consistency. Her decision to keep things simple, stay within spending limits, and prioritize long-term security shows that personal finance is more sustainable when it fits you.
Here are three takeaways we loved from this interview:
- Start small, but start now — even if it’s just paying your bills on time and saving a little.
- Financial literacy is a lifelong journey — invest in learning before you invest your money.
- You don’t have to be loud to be impactful — quiet consistency can lead to six-figure wins.
You can follow her journey on Instagram @showmethemeowy and read more of her posts at showmethemeowy.com.
