Malaysian parents share emotional stories of borrowing duit raya, revealing financial strain, guilt and children’s empathy
A quiet reality of financial strain is surfacing online as parents admit to turning to an unexpected source in moments of need: their own children’s savings.
What might once have been a guarded family secret is now being openly discussed, revealing a complex mix of necessity, guilt and the surprising empathy of young children.
The conversation gained significant traction following a post on Threads by user @_anisanisa08, who shared a vulnerable moment regarding her financial hardships as a mother.
The user recounted a moment of being overwhelmed by expenses, eventually finding she had no choice but to borrow from her child’s duit raya money gifted during festive occasions.
“Kakak, mummy wants to borrow your duit raya, is that okay?” she asked. Her child’s response was immediate: “Take it, mummy. What colour notes do you want?”
When the mother reassured her daughter that the money would be returned, the child replied: “Okay mummy, just use it first.
When you have money, you can pay it back. I feel sorry for you, mummy. You don’t have money.”
The post concluded with a note of deep reflection and guilt; the mother stated that she currently owed RM400 and expressed a wish that her child did not have to grow up so quickly.
The post quickly drew responses from others who suggested the situation is far more common than many are willing to admit.
User @khairulfaradiana explained that parents often turn to their children’s savings when other options feel out of reach.
Borrowing from extended family can feel burdensome, and asking friends can be embarrassing, making a child’s savings a temporary, albeit emotional, solution, provided it is repaid.
Other parents shared similarly moving encounters. User @itsmezanaa_ described how her child willingly offered help, saying, “Mum, just use it. You don’t have to pay it back.”
Meanwhile, user @khayla_official20 recalled her six-year-old encouraging her to use duit raya for groceries, later tellingly adding, “Mummy has sacrificed so much for me.”
The mother admitted the remark brought her to tears, highlighting how children often possess an awareness far beyond their years.
The discussion also touched on the ethics of managing such “loans.”
User @atirah3229 emphasised the importance of responsibility, noting that she keeps detailed records of any amount borrowed from her child and repays it gradually to ensure full accountability.
At the same time, some framed the practice as a generational cycle. User @nurhudazainal noted that her own parents used duit raya for household expenses when she was young.
She and her siblings accepted it, understanding that the money was ultimately spent on their own upbringing and well-being.
