Saying RM80 as trivial shows financial privilege and the harsh reality that pocket change for some means survival for others.
DISMISSING RM80 as insignificant while others have to calculate how many days’ worth of meals the amount can cover has highlighted the growing disconnect in financial empathy between people from different backgrounds.
A user recently criticised this attitude after encountering someone who casually dismissed the amount as negligible and unimportant.
“Your ‘oh please, it’s only RM80’ is someone else’s meals for a week. You’re truly out of touch,” the user wrote.
The original Threads post served as a direct response to this mindset, highlighting how an amount that may seem like pocket change to one person could represent essential expenses for another.
The author argued that financial circumstances vary widely and that personal comfort should not be used as a benchmark to judge others’ struggles.
The post quickly gained traction, with many netizens sharing their own experiences with budgeting and managing daily expenses.
One user said they would be grateful to receive even RM5, adding that RM80 could easily last them two or three weeks.
Another netizen pointed out the irony that such dismissive comments often come from people who receive significant weekly allowances from their parents.
Others shared similar frustrations, with several commenters saying RM80 could comfortably cover meals for two weeks or purchase essential groceries such as rice and eggs.
One user stressed the importance of being mindful, arguing that judging others based on personal financial circumstances ignores the challenges they may be facing.
Meanwhile, another commenter highlighted the stark contrast between those with savings and those who rely on a single amount of money to last an entire month.
“He says ‘just RM80’ because he has RM18,000 in the bank, while the other person only has that RM80 to survive the entire month.”
One commenter noted that students who spend less than RM10 a day may see even RM50 as a blessing, making such casual dismissals particularly insensitive.
Further reactions emphasised that empathy requires understanding different circumstances rather than projecting personal privilege onto others.
“Don’t measure other people’s lives based on your own means. We don’t know what others are struggling with.”
For some, RM80 may represent a casual purchase. For others, it could mean several meals, groceries or a crucial amount needed to get through the month.
One commenter summarised the discussion by pointing out that financial situations differ from person to person:
“What’s a dismissive ‘oh please’ to you is an ‘Alhamdulillah’ for someone else. Everyone’s financial circumstances are different; learn to read the room.”
