Love can wait: how money is reshaping M’sian family plans

Financial concerns are influencing some Malaysian young adults to delay or forgo marriage or having children, even though these milestones often represent key personal aspirations. A recent RinggitPlus survey of 3,005 Malaysians between 25-44 years old found that 24.3% of respondents reported financial considerations played a role in deferring or rejecting these major life events within the past five years.

The impact was most significant among younger adults, with 28.9% of those aged 25-34 citing financial factors compared to 19.1% of those 35-44 years old. This impact was consistent across income levels. Among those earning less than RM2,000 monthly, 22.8% reported financial influence, compared to 25.8% earning between RM2,000 and RM4,999 and 23.1% earning at least RM5,000.

The survey's findings do not indicate that a quarter of young Malaysians have abandoned family aspirations, but rather that financial considerations are shaping when or if they pursue these milestones. Earlier research by the National Population and Family Development Board suggests that while 90.9% of single Malaysians intend to marry and 91.1% hope to have children, financial realities may complicate these plans.

Additionally, 63% of respondents reported providing financial support to their parents or parents-in-law, with more than half of those earning less than RM2,000 doing so regularly. This highlights how family obligations can intersect with individual aspirations, potentially exacerbating the challenge of balancing financial responsibilities with personal goals.