broke college lifestyle to abundant thriving lifestyle

 I've been living the broke college lifestyle for the longest time, i always felt that I don't have enough money to spend, especially when I see my colleagues buying the latest iphone or going on overseas trip and going out every weekend to super instagrammable hipster places. The envy thing is going hard. But I gotta be realistic and looking at my budget, there is no place for that. Maybe the monthly ZUS coffee as a treat? 

My monthly pocket money is RM500 (increased from RM400 since 2020) and grocery money of RM700. I always overspend though cos food is life.

Rough overview of my current (Nov 2021) monthly expenses: 

Houses (Loan): 2400, 

Utilities: RM700. (Electricity, Digi, Unifi and Air Selangor), 

Insurance and CC: RM1000~1500, 

Mom & Dad: RM650, 

Investments and Savings: RM2000~RM2500 

Pocket Money and Grocery: RM1200 

And I have been living like this for years now, maybe since 2014? Ever since I bought a house out of my paying ability and I had to househack (I am not good at it) to be able to afford it and then I stopped househacking since last year so my family could move in with us due to the pandemic. So if i don't budget, I'm dead. By allocating my money and saving as much so that in case the house rental does not come in time, I would have a buffer and I won't have to go into more debt that I already had. 

From 2014 till early 2021, I have been paying the bank about RM4500 for the house loans and with my salary then, there is no way that i could splurge like my peers. 

But I'm beginning to feel that I'm blessed. I am blessed because I had to learn to manage my money early on, and living like 'broke college students' and socking away any extra money every month for 8 years and not going into credit card debts has given us a great progress. One that I thought I won't be able to reach cos it is a long journey... but Our current net worth is RM1.8 million right now. Like i could quit my job now and I can take a break and I won't feel it financially, (that thought is so empowering and freeing!!) 

I used to always wonder if I am doing the right thing for me, putting money away for retirement, instead of current gratification, but now I really believe it has been the best thing i could have done for my self 8 years ago. I didn't know how its going to be, but I put my head down and put money away (sometimes I hated it cos I wanted to spend it!!!!! but now i know better) 

My mindset truly shifted when I listened to "The Richest Man in Babylon" by George S Clason. When you invest your money or saving your money, (putting away your money), it is giving yourself the money that you worked for to work for you, instead of giving it to other people (like shopping malls, restaurants, tnb, digi, loans, apple...) When I got that, wow, it became so much easier to save and invest and easier to spend money on things that will give value instead of giving into instant gratification. 

 I am slowly shifting my mind from a 'survival (broke college) lifestyle' to an abundant thriving lifestyle. Continue to invest, less on being scared that I can't afford to lose my job, to yes, I am here because I choose to, I am here to give value and if the job doesn't serve me mentally anymore, I can leave and find a better calling. 

I am in a abundant state, I am able to do what I choose to do and what I want to do.

keep on growing and learning. be empowered Angie, you are halfway on the mountain to financial freedom.