Budget Update: June 2023 – Confinement Month
Welcome to another edition of my monthly budget updates, where I break down my expenses by category and share the highlights and lowlights of the month.
So how was your June? Was it good, bad or meh?
For me, June 2023 contained multiple big expected and unexpected expenses. The big ones were budgeted for, but the unexpected ones threw me off.
As you can see, I’m spending thousands in unexpected expenses. And there’s nothing I can do about it.
While it sucks, I don’t wish to dwell on this longer than I need to and torture myself. All I can do now is make peace with it (and make more money, I guess).
Let’s get on to the budget part.
Budget Update: June 2023
In June 2023, I spent RM13,295.49 The top 3 top expenses were:
- Donations & Gifts (RM4,985.29) – Parents’ electric bill, gift money and presents
- Project M (RM4,811.40) – Paid balance for confinement lady
- Utilities & Mortgage (RM1,371) – Half mortgage and bills
Cumulatively, the top 3 expenses make up (a whopping) 85% of my total June 2023 expenses.
(My belief is, if you want to save money, trim first from the top 3 expenses rather than cut out a few ringgits from other already-low expenses)
My Spending Breakdown in June 2023
Here’s what I spent on in the whole month of June 2023, in their respective categories and from highest to lowest amount:
Yay of the Month:
#1 – Ended confinement period
As some of you may already know, I gave birth in May 2023. The traditional Malay confinement period – or pantang – can last as long as 44 days, but generally one feels ‘better’ after around 2 weeks post-birth.
For me, I had the extreme luck to get a wonderful stay-in confinement lady, Kak Sha. Y’all, she was amazing. Her massages, her meals, her support with baby care… top notch.
In June 2023, I paid off the balance for confinement service, which explains the high cost under ‘Project M’ category. In total, I paid RM6000 for one month of her services. But seriously, she was worth every cent and then some. I must admit I got attached to her and when she left, I cried :’)
#2 – A programmer turned my idea into an app (so cool!)
Software engineer Afif Sohaili aka Programmer Dad turned my grocery-tracking system into an app, which is FREE for you to use! Try it out at https://groceror.netlify.app/
#3 – Managed to complete some pending work
Thanks to Kak Sha my confinement lady, and also my husband, I managed to find time to complete some work pending – two sponsored posts on two very different types of financial products. Have a read!
- The Beginner’s Guide to FCPO Trading in Malaysia [SPONSORED]
- Explaining Every ETF You Can Invest and Trade on Bursa Malaysia [SPONSORED]
#4 – Bergaji & Pokai on best-selling list during PBAKL 2023
I was so sad over not being able to attend PBAKL or Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair this year, but what to do, I gave birth and all. All I could do was do some online marketing.
Despite that, Bergaji & Pokai sold well at the fair?? I’m so happy!
Not only that, a follower also reported the book was SOLD OUT at PBAKL 2023, because he fought someone else for the last copy? (My head straight went to rom-com situation LOL)
#5 – Bought medical card for baby Mika
I bought Baby Mika a medical plan that covers him for up to RM150k annually and unlimited lifetime. Cost: RM143 per month
Glad to have this out of the way. Babies are considered high risk, medically speaking. If anything happens (hope not), his bills are covered.
#6 – Misc
Read 0 books
Bought for myself:
- 2 pants from Uniqlo (impulse buy)
- New pans and pots to replace my old ones
- A haircut
Nay of the Month:
#1 – OPR increase reflected in mortgage and ASB Loan
In early May 2023, BNM increased the OPR from 2.75% to 3%. Thanks to that, our mortgage increased by RM88 and my ASB loan increased by RM8.
I understand why they do the move (some macroeconomic reasons), but sigh higher monthly commitment nonetheless.
#2 – Paid RM600 to get 80% SSM discount
I covered this in Budget Update: May 2023 article under Nay of the month, but basically I got hit by 4 x RM2000 compounds from SSM. That’s right, 8000 big ones. For the horrible crime of… not submitting annual declaration.
Thankfully, one can get discounts via appeals. It’s a long story but I finally got approved for 80% off discounts but only after paying RM600 (or RM800 total).
Things to Look Forward to:
- Watching Baby Mika grow. As I’m writing this, Baby Mika is 6 weeks old 🙂 I know the newborn phase doesn’t last very long (2, 3 months at most?), so I’m just looking forward to get as much quality time with him as possible.
- Dip my toes back into work. Technically speaking I’m still in my maternity leave, but there’s no harm doing a little bit of what makes me happy, even if it’s technically work, yes?
Well, that was my June 2023. How was yours? What’s your yay of the month, nay of the month, and something you’re looking forward to? Tell me in the comments section 🙂
—
To read about my past monthly budget update, click here. Graphs are taken from my expense-tracking app Money Lover (find out your budgeting style)
