Guest Letter is a series of anonymous submissions published by RinggitFreedom.com on behalf of Guest Authors who'd like to share their money stories to the bigger audience of like-minded folks.
Submissions are preserved as much as possible in its original format, with touch-ups done to ensure consistent quality and reading experiences, as with other articles on the blog.
As the stories are submitted by Guest, any references such as "I", "me" , "we", and so on should be associated in full to the Guest Author throughout the article, and should not be in any way associated to the publisher (Ringgit Freedom / Gracie). Any comments added by the publisher will be quoted explicitly in (brackets) as (Publisher's Note).
If you'd like to publish your story, feel free to reach out to Gracie @ringgitfreedom.
Also check out the Introduction to Guest Letters Submission with all the guidelines and details you need.
All Guest Letters are numbered.
This is submission #002.
If you're in your 20s and feeling overwhelmed by budgeting, tracking expenses, or even opening your bank app—you're not alone.
Personal finance burnout is real. It hits especially hard when you're navigating big life changes like starting grad school, switching careers, or just trying to keep up with adulthood.
As someone who used to love tracking her net worth and planning her finances to the decimal, I completely stopped once I became a full-time Master's student. Not because I didn't care—but because it started to feel too heavy.
Here's why this burnout happens—and what to do about it.
Personal finance burnout is a state of mental and emotional fatigue caused by prolonged stress or pressure related to money management. It can show up in subtle ways:
In your 20s, you're expected to "have it together" financially—while also figuring out your career, social life, and personal identity. No wonder it gets overwhelming.
Before starting my Master's, I had a system. I tracked my finances every month. I loved seeing my savings and investments grow.
But once I left my job to study full-time, everything changed.
I stopped tracking expenses—not out of laziness, but fear.
I didn't want to see how tight things were. I told myself I was “too busy” to budget, but deep down, I just couldn't face the numbers. It felt like I was taking ten steps backward. The same person who blog about financial tips was now dodging her own bank notifications.
Sometimes I still feel that panic creeping in—the financial anxiety. But I also remind myself: this is a season, not a failure.
Here are a few common triggers of personal finance burnout, especially for young adults:
Starting uni, changing jobs, moving cities, or pivoting careers (hello, grad school!) can throw your finances out of balance.
Even if it's for a good reason, the instability adds stress.
There's a sea of financial advice online. Save 50%, invest early, build an emergency fund, track every RM—it's helpful, but also overwhelming.
When perfection feels impossible, we shut down.
Balancing studies, relationships, side hustles, and self-growth leaves little energy for money management.
Sometimes you just don't have the bandwidth to also be your own CFO.
When money's tight, tracking finances can trigger guilt or shame.
So we avoid it altogether—until anxiety builds up.
We're told that financial stability = success.
So when our income drops (even temporarily), it feels like regression. But really, it's just a recalibration.
If this sounds like you, don't worry—you're not failing. You're human. Here's how to gently regain control without overwhelming yourself:
Instead of full-on budgeting, start small. Just check your account balance once a week. Or track one category like food.
Progress > perfection.
I personally focus on controlling my daily spending, since the most I've spent on is either on necessities or courses. It's simple, but it helps me feel a sense of control without burning out.
Set aside 30 minutes once a month for a low-pressure “money date.” Light a candle, play some lo-fi beats, and review your bank statements—not to judge yourself, but to stay aware.
For me, this happens on the last day of the month. I scroll through my transactions to ensure everything looks in order. I don't analyse it as thoroughly as I used to, but it gives me a general picture—and that's enough right now.
This isn't a financial failure; it's a conscious pivot. You're not going backwards—you're investing in your future.
I always think of how much I've learnt over the past year and how much freer I feel now. I met people who inspire me, build things that bring value to the world, and have the time to learn about anything that curious me!
Financial success doesn't have to mean rapid wealth accumulation. Sometimes, it means staying afloat, paying your bills on time, or living within your means while you focus on personal growth.
Right now, my financial goal is simple: take full advantage of this one-year sabbatical while surviving off savings. I won’t lie—sometimes I panic, thinking about how long it took to build those savings. But I remind myself: I saved for a reason. I owe it to myself to honour that effort by becoming the best version of me and leaning into my natural strengths.
What would your future self—degree in hand, re-employed, wiser—say to you now?
For me, it's probably:
“Thanks for trusting yourself and making a bold choice—you're doing better than you think.”
It’s OK to not be OK
Personal finance burnout in your 20s is more common than we think.
You're navigating uncertainty, ambition, and limited resources—all while trying to make sense of adulthood. Be kind to yourself. You don't have to track everything perfectly to be financially responsible. Even pausing, reflecting, and caring is part of your money journey.
If you're in the same boat, I hope this post reminds you that it's okay to slow down.
Financial self-care is still self-care. ❤️
In my early 20s, I believed success meant getting good grades, landing a well-paying job, and climbing the corporate ladder. But as life shifted, so did my relationship with myself—and with money.
I'm sharing this story in hopes it resonates with anyone feeling uncertain about their financial journey or life direction. You're not alone, and it's okay to slow down, take a step back, and redefine what success means to you. After all, you only live once.
My blog: https://miliesjourney.com
I write about adulting, personal finance, and figuring things out as I go.
Big thanks to Gracie for creating space for honest, human stories like this.
Interested to publish your story? Feel free to reach out to Gracie @ringgitfreedom
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