Language :

What's your spending style?

Managing our spending can be tricky business. So tell us how you spend your money and we'll help you figure out how to make the most of it!

1. How do you earn money?

I get a monthly salary

I earn a daily wage/I'm a gig worker

I get an income from my business

I get a monthly pension

I get an allowance (e.g. students, housewives, etc.)

I'm unemployed

2. How were you managing your finances before COVID-19 hit?

I was earning just enough to cover my monthly expenses

I struggled to cover my monthly expenses

I still had money to save or invest after paying for my monthly expenses

3. How has COVID-19 affected your spending overall?

It's about the same as before

I'm spending more than before...

I actually spend less now (yes!)

4. How did the movement controls (MCO/CMCO) affect your credit card spending?

I used my credit card more

I didn't use my credit card as much

My credit card spending didn't change

I don't have a credit card

5. If you received Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) assistance, how did you use it?

I used it to cover my monthly expenses (groceries, rent, home loan repayments, credit card repayments, etc.)

I went shopping and bought some nice things for myself / my family

I saved it for future emergencies

I Invested it

I'm not eligible for BPN aid

6. If you're taking money from your EPF account during the MCO/CMCO (under i-Lestari), how are you using it?

To cover my monthly expenses (groceries, rent, home loan repayments, credit cards, etc.)

To invest

To buy things I want but don't need

I'm not withdrawing money from EPF

I don't have an EPF account

7. The loan moratorium was helpful for me because:

I used the money for my loan repayment to cover monthly spending

I used the money for my loan repayment to invest

I didn't take the loan moratorium

I don't have any loans

8. The holiday season is just around the corner. What do you have planned for year-end shopping?

I have some spare money so I'm going to buy gifts for myself and my loved ones!

Shopping? What shopping? I'm worried about survival...

I'll buy one or two things if I find good discounts, but mostly focus on essential items

9. Have you planned your budget for 2021?

Yes - I'm all prepared

I don't know how to plan a budget

I don't think it's important

10. How are you preparing financially for 2021?

I don't make enough money to prepare

I'm saving every month to build up my emergency fund

I'm reviewing my savings, insurance and investments to see how I can make more money

I'm not preparing financially - I'll just see what happens

11. How do you think you'll manage your money in 2021?

Buy what I need, spend a bit on shopping and holidays, then set some aside for savings and/or investments

I'm not earning as much so I'll have to cut back a lot on my spending

I'm going to be more careful with spending and might have to use some savings to help me manage

12. What do you think you need most to improve your finances in 2021?

I need to make more money

I need to have savings for emergencies

I need to have insurance

I need to learn how to manage my finances & budget better

13. In 2021, my top financial goal is to:

Build my savings

Invest to make more money!

Stay afloat

Cut down or reduce my debt

I don't have any financial goals

14. In 2021, my biggest financial worry is:

Survival

Sticking to my budget so I can continue to spend less than I earn

I'm not worried - I have a steady job, and enough savings

Where to invest to make the most money, since interest rates are low

15. In 2021, which areas of personal finance would you like to learn more about?

Planning & budgeting

Saving & investing

Tackling debt

Buying a vehicle or house

Insurance

Retirement planning

8 practical tips when buying a home