In our current era, young adults face an increasingly difficult challenge when it comes to saving money.
This is mainly due to the persistently low salary rates that do not align with the continuously rising cost of living.
Photo via Human Resources Online
What makes saving money even more challenging for many is the pressure from family members who often treat them like a personal ATM, assuming that having a job means endless financial support.
A story recently went viral shared by X account @TwtSecretsMY, as a recent graduate shared her feelings of guilt about lying to her family about her actual earnings from her first job. She feared that revealing her true income would lead to constant financial requests.
She revealed, "I have a secret. I'm not proud of it, but I don't know what else to do. I recently graduated and quickly found a job. My salary is RM3,000."
During her job search, she kept her efforts secret from her family. Only her boyfriend and best friend were aware when she signed her employment contract.
When the time came to inform her family about her new job, she hesitated. They were shocked by the news and inquired about the job details and her salary. In response, she understated her income, stating, "Oh, just RM2,000." Her family accepted this as a typical starting salary for fresh graduates.
The reason for her dishonesty was clear: her family had a habit of regularly asking for money. Refusing these requests often resulted in being labeled as rebellious, ungrateful, or arrogant. Seeing her parents daily, she felt a constant burden of guilt due to her deception.
Ultimately, she felt forced to lie to her family to protect her financial stability. This situation raises a compelling question: What would you do if you were in her position?
