Budget Update: April 2019
Budget Update: April 2019
In April 2019, I spent just under RM6k, inclusive of Zakat payment. That’s alright, I guess.
Okay let’s talk about something else. I like brainstorming for different ways to make money – regular readers know that. Recently, I thought of two more ways in addition to what I’m already doing now.
- Coaching services – Not for financial planning, but for financial organisation. I’m good at tracking my expenses, putting them neatly in categories, and reviewing them regularly to look for patterns. It’s a service I can sell on an individual or group basis.
- Personal finance retreat – Think of it like yoga retreat but for financial mindset. I figure this is a good way to get a fully-paid retreat for myself while helping others at the same time.
Which one would you join?
Again, both are in the consideration stage, nothing’s concrete yet, they just sound fun and financially worthwhile to do. I’d probably give early access and get beta testers from email subscribers, so join the mailing list if you’re interested.
Yay of the Month:
- Work is plentiful, Alhamdulillah. I’m busy with sponsored posts, website copywriting and script-writing work.
- Met some bloggers I’ve been following and interacting with IRL! It’s amazing to finally meet LuWee from Entrepreneur Campfire, Ariff Shah from AriffShah.com and Marion St Joan from Mimirello.com. I’m a happy fangirl ^___^
- Isabelle Zhen, the Warrants Issuer from Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad is the closest brain twin I’ve ever met. We’re actually spooked by how much we have in common. By the time we discovered we’re paying exactly the same amount in monthly rent (RM1200 btw), we’re like wtf is going on already. I’m doing an article about making money from trading warrants soon, so look out for that.
- An obligation yay but a yay nonetheless – paid my zakat.
- Bought a ticket for the Westlife concert!
- So happy to watch Avengers and Game of Thrones. While I’m sad they will end/have ended, I’m grateful to have been part of the journey!
- Crypto is kinda showing signs of going bullish again, so that’s good! I’ve earmarked my crypto funds as my fuck-you funds, and it’s always nice when they grow
- Going through Ramit Sethi’s Earn $1k course. It’s really good. Learning a lot about the professionalism side of earning money as a freelancer.
- Read 2 books. Holy Men, Holy Women: A Journey into the Faiths of Malaysians & Other Essays by Dina Zaman (see pic below) and 1984 by George Orwell (now I understand why some institutions ban the book. Also, didn’t expect the manic pixie dream girl part.)
- Bought the annual subscription for Grammarly – a proofreading tool – on a whopping 80% sale! Love it when something you want anyway goes on sale <3
- Did my first public book reading 🙂 Apparently authors do this as part of book promotion, I had no idea. Thanks Malaysian Writers Society for the opportunity! Now I can brag that I did a book reading of Money Stories from Malaysians: Volume 1 at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Festival at PWTC.
Nay of the Month:
- My watch needed battery replacement. Again. I just did it in January 2019 kot – it lasted barely 3 months. You’d be annoyed too right? It was supposed to last longer than that.
- Attempts to sell Money Stories from Malaysians: Volume 1 via Facebook marketing didn’t give good ROI. Nicole from I’m Funemployed helped me to setup Facebook Pixel and I ran some ads on Facebook. Unfortunately, I had to pull it because the cost-per-sale ended up being too high – like RM9 or so per sale. It would be okay if I sold something costing RM100ish, but the book is between RM9.90-32.90. Not worth continuing – in some cases I even lose money from the sale. Ah well at least I tried
- To increase book sale, I also sent some inquiries to bookstores, hoping they would be interested in stocking the book on their shelves. A few said no. I know rejection is part and parcel of life, and it’s good to get used to it, but it still stings.
- Groceries bill was quite high at RM767.95 (!!!!). And Food too at RM171.48 (!!!). That’s almost RM1k spent just for food omg omg omg. No wonder I’m…
- Facing some body image issues. I’ve gained 10kg since I quit smoking 4 months ago. Look, I’m happy that I’ve quit and all, but I’ve pretty much only replaced one drug with another: nicotine to sugar. Both are bad and going to affect my health. Sometimes I feel like, might as well I go back to smoking, at least I was thinner and look better then. I need to get my head right la. This is not good.
- I *am* making effort. Tried out that Noom app, which promises sustainable, psychology-backed weight loss through healthy habits. Still going to the gym around twice a week. To reduce stress and anxiety, I bought a new plant and a watercolour set.
- That’s all I can do – keep trying, right? Try and try and hope one of them, or a combination of them will work.
- I’m also trying to improve my relationship with my parents.
Things to Look Forward to:
- Planning for Money Stories from Malaysians: Volume 2! Look out for the writing contest announcement – you can have your personal finance short stories published, too!
Intermittent fastingPuasa month- My birthday. I’m turning 31 on 15th May! It’s going to be boring because it’s the fasting month, but hey.
Wish me happy birthday 🙂 I would shamelessly ask for presents but your support – your likes, shares, subscribes, and comments – make me happy already 🙂 Just keep doing that <3
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To read about my past monthly budget update, click here. Graphs are taken from my expense-tracking app Money Lover (how expense tracking works)
