Suraya's Monthly Budget Update

Budget Update: March 2024 – Should I Plan A Birthday Party?

BySuraya
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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 March? Was it good, bad or meh?

For me, March 2024 was half ‘eat out whenever since Ramadan is coming’ and half ‘cook from home, too lazy to go out for buka puasa’. You know, balance 🙂

But I have been entertaining a lingering thought for months now and thought this is the space to vent it out. It’s about Baby Mika’s first birthday in May 2025 (??!!). I have been going back and forth between throwing him a birthday party or just keep it a private family affair.

On one hand, I want to do it. A birthday party is just an excuse for me to invite friends I haven’t seen for a while, and to build relationships with my extended family members. I can also arrange photography and keep the memories for years to come.

On the other hand, I’m not a natural host. I’ve never planned a party, let alone birthday party. Also I’m lazy to plan it all. There is an easy enough solution for this – party planner – so that’s not an excuse though. But how much would that cost? I have no idea.

There’s also that part of me that’s resisting this because this whole planning your kid’s birthday and family and friends gathering in general thing, it’s such a gendered role. Why does usually the women are the ones to do it? I mean I don’t *have* to do it, I just feel the obligation, but no one’s forcing me. A lot of self-reflection happening as well.

Anyway, there’s still time to decide. Now let’s get on to the budget part.

Budget Update: March 2024

In March 2024, I spent RM16,957.73(!!!). The top 3 top expenses were:

  • Dates/Travel (RM6,044.77) – KL Staycation, flight tix to Hokkaido
  • Donations & Gifts (RM4,349.75) – Parents’ electric bill, belanja flight tix, bday gift, etc
  • Insurance & Medical (RM1,661) – New retainers

Cumulatively, the top 3 expenses make up 71% of my total March 2024 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 March 2024

Here’s what I spent on in the whole month of March 2024, in their respective categories and from highest to lowest amount:

Yay of the Month:

#1 – KL Staycation

March was my husband’s birthday month so I treated him (us) to a KL staycation weekend – we stayed at Trader’s Hotel and had fun going around KLCC and TRX Mall.

I also gifted him over RM500 in Uniqlo clothing. I do this for his benefit but also for mine – he’s the type that ONLY buys clothes out of necessity and I don’t want him to walk around in ill-fitted and worn-out outfits haha.

#2 – Spent almost RM1.2k on groceries

One of my favourite things to do is buy groceries. Since it’s Ramadan and all, I went on many happy sprees stocking up the fridge.

I love it. The joy of breaking fast with delicious food. Except for buka puasa with the parents and parents in law, I mostly cooked at home and have somehow avoided going to Ramadan buffets and bazaars.

One of my favourite orders was from BarangDapurBasah on Shopee. Btw they sell nice cooking pastes! Recommend!

#3 – Updated living room for baby

I spent an obscene amount of time deciding which baby playmat is the best for our space. It has to be of good quality, the right size (hard), reasonably priced AND pretty (very hard).

Happily, I found an option that works. The playmat below is RM440~. It looks like a rug, and fits into the house’s home decor. So far, I love it!

#4 – Bought flight tickets to Hokkaido

As the primary carer of baby Mika, and a WFH mom at that, I was feeling STUCK at home.

So I did the extremely impulsive thing and booked myself flight tickets to Hokkaido in April. Bringing my sister as well and will be covering her flights and accommation. Even after baby, I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE.

Ah, money. This is what you’re best for. Impulsive flight tickets. Love this for me.

#5 – Renewed critical illness plan on EPF i-Lindung

Done renew my Critical Illness insurance from EPF i-Lindung 🙌 paid RM430 but from my money in EPF

I like the FWD option because of early CI – I get RM50k if early (as opposed of late) diagnose cancer, heart attack or stroke*

*these 3 make up 85% of medical claims

Obligatory promote my How to Buy Your Own Damn Insurance course. I help ppl understand the jargon AND the industry. Over 100 sold on shopee. See the reviews in link: https://shope.ee/7KUZeNqjvI

#6 – Delivered IWD session

Thank you TNB for having me as your IWD speaker. From 35-50 attendees as originally planned, turn out more than 300 attended! Scroll to see some of the feedback received 🙂

(This was a private session. Get your company to book me to speak/do workshop at your workplace 🙂

#6 – Misc

Read 0 book 🙁

Bought for myself:

  • Muji shirt
  • Lemon set from Body Shop
  • Home stuff from Nitori
  • 2 skirts (BOGOF!)
  • Steam game
  • Baju raya (one new, one secondhand)
  • Tank top

Nay of the Month:

#1 – Retainer broke

Unexpected expense in March 2024: new retainers. The last one broke. There goes RM1230.

*price includes scaling, xray, molding, and a specific set that might work better for me as someone who have bruxism

#2 – Paid fidyah

Didn’t manage to finish ganti puasa, so I had to pay fidyah as a ‘fine’. Paid RM120.

(I didn’t fast at all the previous Ramadan because I was pregnant)

Things to Look Forward to:

  • Raya
  • Hokkaido trip
  • Baby Mika’s first birthday (???!!!)

Well, that was my March 2024. 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 🙂

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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)


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