SHAH ALAM - It is the perennial festive question, delivered between pineapple tarts and ang pow packets: "So, when are you getting married?"
For many young Malaysians, this Chinese New Year, the answer is no longer about age, romance or family expectations - but about financial confidence.
New findings by Vodus Research show that while love, marriage and family remain important aspirations among Gen Z and Millennials (Gen Y), rising living costs are reshaping how and when they plan to take those next steps.
In short, the timeline now depends less on tradition and more on readiness.
"I still believe in love and having a family one day, but I don’t think there’s a fixed timeline anymore.
"With how expensive things are now, it’s important to feel secure and independent first before making long-term commitments," said Jay Boh, 26, a Gen Z working professional in Kuala Lumpur.
That sentiment is echoed across reunion tables nationwide. Mei Wen, 28, said the festive season inevitably brings questions about her relationship status.
"Every Chinese New Year, relatives will ask if I’m seeing someone or planning to get married. I’m open to it, but I think financial stability gives you the confidence to take that step.
"Right now, I’m focused on building my career first so that when the time comes, I’ll be ready," she said.
A generation recalibrating
The study, which examined the attitudes and priorities of Gen Z and Gen Y Malaysians, suggests that family formation remains a shared aspiration but with notable generational differences.
Among Gen Y respondents, 68 per cent said they have or plan to have children.
In contrast, 46 per cent of Gen Z respondents said the same, while 27 per cent said they do not plan to have children and another 27 per cent remain unsure.
The higher level of uncertainty among Gen Z points to a more cautious approach, one shaped by economic realities as much as personal choice.
Career priorities further underline this shift. More than half of Gen Z respondents (53 per cent) said career success and work-life balance are equally important, compared with 48 per cent among Gen Y.
The data reflects a generation seeking sustainable careers and financial footing before committing to long-term responsibilities.
Affordability concerns cut across both age groups, with more than eight in 10 respondents expressing worry over rising living costs.
Yet the mood is not entirely pessimistic.
Despite financial pressures, many young Malaysians remain optimistic about their ability to build meaningful careers and stable futures, even if they are taking a more deliberate route toward marriage and parenthood.
"As Chinese New Year approaches, many young Malaysians will hear the familiar question, ‘When are you getting married?’."
"It has always come from a place of care. What’s different today is that the answer is no longer driven by age or expectation, but by when individuals feel financially and personally ready," said Vodus Research founder Dr Kelvin Goh.
In a season traditionally associated with reunion and renewal, young Malaysians are not rejecting tradition.
Instead, they are redefining it, choosing to embrace love and family on timelines shaped less by pressure and more by preparedness.
For now, the answer around the dinner table may simply be: When the numbers make sense.