Financial pressures reshape family and retirement decisions

KUALA LUMPUR: Financial pressures are increasingly influencing Malaysians’ family decisions, savings habits and retirement plans, with a new survey highlighting widening gaps in financial resilience among different income groups.

The 2026 Malaysian Financial Literacy Survey (RMFLS), released by RinggitPlus, found that 24.3% of Malaysians aged 25 to 44 had delayed or decided against marriage, a wedding or having their first child because of financial considerations in the past five years.

The survey also found that 63% of respondents provide financial support to their parents or parents-in-law, including 32% who contribute monthly.

Financial vulnerability was particularly evident among lower-income earners. Some 39% of respondents earning below RM2,000 monthly said their savings would last less than a month if they lost their jobs, compared with an adjusted 35% in 2025.

Financial pressures

Meanwhile, 36% of this income group reported saving nothing each month, against 33% previously.

The survey also found that 45.6% of Malaysians expected to continue working beyond retirement age, while 56.2% of respondents with a main job earned additional income through other paid work.

Digital financial risks remained significant, with 25.3% reporting financial losses to scams in the past 12 months. About 21% encountered scams they believed involved artificial intelligence or deepfake impersonation.

RinggitPlus chief executive officer Yuen Tuck Siew said financial education needed to be practical and accessible to help Malaysians make better everyday financial decisions.

“The findings also show the gap in savings widening between those with a personal income under RM2,000 and everyone else. That deserves attention.”

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