From high-stakes losses to sleepless nights, Shallum Mas rebuilt his life through strict budgeting, sacrifice and determination.
At one point, Shallum Mas was living a life that looked glamorous from the outside but was spiralling out of control behind closed doors.
The 40-year-old banker from Singapore racked up debts of nearly £60,000 chasing luxury goods and gambling — until he forced himself onto a “debt diet” that saved his future.
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It all began in his 20s, when a £40,000 salary at a bank put him among colleagues flaunting designer watches, clothes and gadgets.
Wanting to fit in, Shallum bought a £230 Montblanc pen, a £13,900 Ducati motorbike, and splashed out on nights out.
But the rush of each new purchase quickly faded.
“It wasn’t even about enjoying the stuff anymore – it was about proving I could afford it, even when I really couldn’t,” he admitted.
Soon, the debts piled up. Maxed-out credit cards left him trapped, his stress compounded by gambling four nights a week.
At his worst, he was placing £5,800 bets and once lost £17,300 in a single night.
“The more I lost, the more I thought I had to keep playing to win it back,” he said.
Realising he couldn’t go on, Shallum restructured his finances. He took out a low-interest loan, sold his beloved Ducati for £16,200, and even borrowed from a friend to start clearing his debt.
He cut every unnecessary cost – quitting gambling, skipping designer splurges, and bringing lunch from home instead of spending £145 a week eating out.
Half of his £3,000 monthly salary went straight into debt repayment, and within three years he was free of it. Today, Shallum owns a £1.03 million property and has left his reckless spending behind.
“Clearing the debt wasn’t just about money – it was about taking my life back,” he told Hype Daily.
“There’s always a solution, and it’s never the end of the world. You just have to take a step back, face it and start again.”
The urge to gamble still lingers occasionally, but now he knows his limits.
His story, once one of excess and denial, is now a lesson in discipline, resilience, and financial recovery.
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