A gentle, step-by-step guide to help you face your money without shame or spreadsheets.

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I hate that “buy less coffee to save money” kind of advice.

At this point in life, buying coffee is how I save myself. And I need to save myself first before saving money. High-five if you can relate.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with your finances and ready to stop being scared of your bank account, this one is for you.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to audit your finances step by step, in a way that is realistic, gentle, and shame-free.

No Excel spreadsheet. No lecture. Just small, doable action that actually helps.

You’ll walk away with a clearer view of your money. Let’s get into it.

#1 Gather everything — yes, everything

Open all your money apps. Not just the bank one but all of them;

• Bank balance
• e-Wallets (Shopee PayLater, GrabPay, Atome, Touch ’n Go)
• Savings (ASB, Tabung Haji, EPF)
• Debts (PTPTN, credit cards, personal loan)
• Any side hustle income

You just want to see roughly where you are financially.

Write it down in your notebook or your messy note app. Anywhere that works.

Don’t try to fix anything. YET.

Just embrace the chaos. This is step one. You’re looking at your reality – that’s brave.

#2 Create a budget that works for you — not against you

You’ve probably heard of the 50/30/20 rule: 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings.

Sounds nice, right?

But what if your life doesn’t fit that formula?

What if your breakdown looks more like:

• 80% needs (because rent is due and the car broke down),
  
• 10% minimum payment to debt, and
  
• 10% leftover (if any)?
  

That’s fine.

The goal is to build your way towards the minimum 20% savings – not force yourself into a budget that doesn’t match your life because some finance guru said so.

You can try any budgeting method and find one that works for you;

• 50/30/20 rule
• Zero-based budgeting
• Pay Yourself First
• Envelope method (even digital!)

I started with the 50/30/20 budgeting method but over time, I found that “Pay Yourself First” works the best for me.

Ask yourself:

• What do you need to survive and stay sane?
  
• What can you reduce without suffering?
  
• Can you start with RM50/month in savings? RM10?
  

Budgeting isn’t punishment. It’s clarity.

#3 Track your spending pattern, not just numbers

Getting your finances in check is more than just numbers.

There’s a lot more of ‘why you buy the things you buy.’

Look back at your last month’s spending. Track your spending pattern.

Then ask:

• Which expenses were absolutely necessary?
• Which were “emotional spends” (retail therapy, delivery because too tired)?
• Which were “self-reward”?

Group them into three categories:
🟢 Must-Haves: Rent, utilities, groceries
🟡 Nice-To-Haves: Dine-out, subscription
🔴 What-Was-I-Thinking: Impulsive buys, retail therapy

You’re not doing this to feel guilty about what you have bought unnecessarily.

This is about awareness.

Once you see where your money goes, you gain back control.

#4 Know your “minimum survival number”

How much do you actually need to survive each month?

Start with the essential – rent, utilities, food, transport, loans.

Let this number become your mental safety net.

Because once you know that “Okay, I just need RM2,500 to survive”, everything above that becomes opportunity – to save, invest, or breathe.

It helps you to:

• Plan your life transitions
• Stay calm when life feels chaotic
• Stop panicking when about money

I took my “minimum survival number’ seriously when I was stuck with a 8-5 job I grateful to have but really need to get out from.

Once I learned my survival number, I plotted my resignation and everything else became easier.

#5 Choose one thing to act on — just one

Financial clarity is not about fixing everything overnight. 

We are in it for the long run.

Start with one small shift:

• Pause one subscription
• Set RM20 auto-transfer to savings
• Learn to delay gratification
• Start a budget tracker
• Dedicate 10 minutes per day to learn about money – how to make more, save and invest

Keep it doable. Keep it light. Keep it simple.

Financial clarity doesn’t come all at once. It comes with consistent, tiny effort.

Final Thoughts

Auditing your finances doesn’t have to feel scary.

You don’t even have to do it all in one sitting.

You just need a starting point and a little kindness towards yourself.

Keeping your finances in check isn’t just adulting – it is self-love.

The fact that you read this until the end means you are serious about getting your financial health better.

You are doing great. Keep going 🙂