Why do some people withdraw only RM10 from ATM??

I used to find the action of withdrawing ONLY RM10 from ATM machine being really peculiar. I asked myself, “Why that uncle only took RM10 from his bank account. Is he really that broke?”

Is the economy so bad that people can only withdraw RM10 from their Bank Account?

What is RM10 worth?

RM10 really isn’t really that much nowadays. Look at these RM10 equivalences.
-1 pack of cigarette with RM1 change.
-7 cans of retail Coke.
-1 copy female magazine
-A full tank of 5 liter motorbike.
-1 teh ais in Hotel.
-Single bet of Russian roulette in Genting.
-17 minutes of prepaid cell phone call.
-2 person entry fee of KLCC premium toilet.




Effort, Time and Money consumed

The following are consumed when you go to ATM:
-Effort
-Time
-Money

By the time you walk to an ATM machine, you spend some amount of calories in your body. These calories came from the food you consume. The food that you consume cost money.
(Proven: Effort, Time and Money used here)

The time you spent doing your ATM withdrawal would have been productive time for another activity (E.g: To make money).

On top of that, you'll create extra time in queue for the ATM machine usage. (Due to the fact that you’ll have to spend more time withdrawing money than others)


Let’s do some Math

Assuming that you need to take your motorbike and travel a 2km distance; and you need to eat a 200calories of equivalent food to produce the energy enough for you to get from your bed(because you’re heavy) to the ATM machine and come back.

You would have consumed 40cent worth of Bike Fuel and 60cent worth of Food value to get you there. (Only assumption) That is excluding the intrinsic value of your time that could be spent working.

That’s RM1 consumed to withdraw RM10 from ATM.




Why withdraw only RM10 (minimum)?
I'm trying to think of the scenarios on why people would want to withdraw RM10 from ATM machine.

-The person refuses to carry too much money in the pocket; scared of kena pau by friend.
-The person is living off parents who will only bank in RM20 every week into the bank account.
-The person doesn't want the wife to know he has extra money in the bank. (This happens to a lot of Cinaman uncles who have to share everything with their wives)
-The person only has RM20 in the account and he/she desperately need RM10 to use.
-The person has no idea that withdrawing RM10 each time is a waste of Time, Effort and Money.

If you don’t fit into any of the above scenarios, please stop wasting Time, Effort and Money by withdrawing RM10 every time you head to the ATM machine.




General Advise

I know ... I know….. Poverty exists.

I'm trying to draw a line here. If these guys genuinely knows why RM10 withdrawal is not worthy, they would have withdrawn their entire bank account and keep the money under the pillow (If it's less than RM200 in the bank). It’s a lot easier to withdraw money from your pillow.

My point is….... if you want to withdraw money for personal consumption. Please withdraw a moderate amount that suits you.

If you earn RM2000 per month, you should withdraw RM500 and try to make it last more than a week.

Even if you earn RM700 per month (minimum wage), please withdraw RM200 and make it last more than a week before you come back for more.