Marriage is often viewed as a natural next step for couples in a serious relationship, but one 25-year-old Malaysian man has found himself questioning whether he is financially prepared to take the plunge.
Sharing his concerns on Threads, the man said he had been trying to estimate his potential income and expenses in the coming years before deciding whether he could comfortably support married life with his girlfriend.
Based on his calculations, he estimated that a future take-home salary of RM6,000 a month could quickly be stretched by household and lifestyle commitments. He budgeted RM2,000 for housing and another RM1,000 for his car, including road tax, insurance and servicing.
His estimated monthly grocery bill, kitchen essentials and toiletries would come to around RM600, while meals for two people could cost approximately RM1,200. Utilities, including water, electricity and WiFi, were expected to add another RM350.
After adding everything up, he estimated that only around RM850 would remain at the end of each month.
That remaining amount, however, would still have to cover emergency savings, unexpected expenses and leisure activities. The couple had also hoped to go on a holiday after getting married, while their occasional café-hunting outings would add another lifestyle expense.
The financial calculation left him wondering whether RM6,000 would really provide enough breathing room for married life, especially when savings and unforeseen costs were taken into account.
The man also clarified that his girlfriend would have her own income. However, he questioned whether he would still be expected to shoulder most of the household expenses, referring to the common saying that a wife’s income belongs to herself while the husband’s income is used to support the household.
His dilemma has since highlighted a familiar concern among young couples: whether being ready for marriage is simply about having a stable income, or whether it also requires enough financial flexibility to handle savings, emergencies, lifestyle choices and future plans.
