I can still recall the sting of that day. It was the end of yet another month when I received a bank notification — I had been charged a service fee for not maintaining the minimum balance. Out of curiosity (and dread), I checked my past transactions. To my horror, I had been penalised multiple times for the same reason.

That sinking feeling hit me hard: after working for three years, I had absolutely nothing saved. No rainy-day fund, no investments, not even a proper account balance. Just a growing pile of receipts and bad financial decisions.

Where did all the money go? In my early 20s, I equated “adulthood” with the freedom to earn and spend. I believed working hard justified rewarding myself with treats — whether it was new clothes, fancy meals or spontaneous getaways. It felt like I was living the dream, but in reality, I was draining every cent I earned.

To make things trickier, I was in a relationship with someone who adored spending. Think weekend trips to Bangkok, $100 brunches and a sneaker collection that could fill a small shop. Splitting bills didn’t help much either — I always ended up paying more than I wanted, just to avoid being “the boring one”.

The turning point The relationship ended in a messy breakup, but it turned out to be the wake-up call I desperately needed. For the first time in years, I wasn’t distracted by cafe hopping or impulsive shopping trips. Instead, I was forced to confront the truth: I had worked for years but had no savings, no assets, and not even an emergency cushion to fall back on.

The frustration pushed me to take charge. My very first step? A simple, colour-coded budget in Google Sheets. I tracked every dollar — from kopi to groceries to online purchases. Soon after, I found an expense tracking app that made things even easier.

Small changes, big wins Once I saw where my money was really going, I made small but impactful changes. I traded expensive lattes for kopi, cut down on unnecessary online shopping, and started suggesting affordable outings with friends. Slowly, my savings began to grow.

Motivated, I opened a high-interest savings account, read personal finance blogs, and learnt how to maximise credit card perks. For the first time in my life, I felt in control.

Taking the leap into investing When I had built up a basic safety net, I knew the next step was investing. I had always believed investing was “risky” or “only for rich people”, but I decided to start small with a robo-advisor. It was simple, automated and took the stress out of choosing stocks. From there, I gradually explored ETFs, dividend stocks and even CPF top-ups.

Five years later Fast forward five years — I’m not a millionaire, but I’m far from broke. I now have an emergency fund, a growing investment portfolio, and a financial plan that gives me peace of mind. I’ve even become the “lobang queen” among my friends, always on the lookout for good deals and smarter ways to stretch our dollar.

Most importantly, I no longer panic when I log into my bank app. I’ve built healthier money habits and the confidence that I’m on the right track.

Here’s what I’ve learned along the way:

• Love shouldn’t cost you your financial peace. If your partner’s spending habits make you uneasy, take it seriously.

• Budgeting isn’t about cutting joy from your life. It’s about aligning your spending with your values and goals.

• Starting small is always better than not starting at all. Even tracking your expenses for a week can reveal habits you didn’t notice.

• Personal finance resources online are a game-changer. They make complex ideas simple and actionable.

• Most importantly: no matter how bad your finances look today, you can always turn things around.

Looking back, hitting rock bottom financially was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. It forced me to take control, build discipline, and start afresh. And if I can do it, so can you.