Budget Update: May 2024 – Of Hospitals and Books
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 May? For me, I think I’m just… hanging in there. I am grateful to be able to stay at home to be baby Mika’s primary caregiver but I admit I am bored half the time.
I can’t help it, okay. I am used to being independent but now being the primary caregiver means I can’t do a lot of things (or, I can but it requires a lot of planning, which I find too taxing at times I just give up)
But then I remember, being bored is a privilege. Many people – people in the war zone – would take my place in a heartbeat. I have to remember to be grateful, always.
Before I know it, Baby Mika will be off to preschool and I’ll get my time and focus back. Before I know it, I’ll be complaining about work and clients instead and wishing I was snuggling with baby Mika at home.
Ah, the inner monologue of a mom who is used to working. Now let’s get on to the budget part.
Budget Update: May 2024
In May 2024, I spent RM10,968.76. The top 3 top expenses were:
- Insurance & Medical (RM2,851) – Usual insurances; bought a DNA genetic testing test for myself and husband
- Dates/Travel (RM1,923.63) – KL Staycation, eating out
- Donations & Gifts (RM1,371) – Parents electric, various donations
Cumulatively, the top 3 expenses make up 60% of my total May 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 May 2024
Here’s what I spent on in the whole month of May 2024, in their respective categories and from highest to lowest amount:
Yay of the Month:
#1 – Celebrated my birthday, baby Mika’s birthday, and my first ever Mother’s Day
I turned 36, and baby Mika turned 1 year old! For birthday/Mother’s Day present, my husband took me to the gold jewelry store and told me to pick whatever I wanted so I have a new pair of gold earrings yay.
#2 – Only paid RM339 out of pocket for baby Mika’s hospitalisation
Unfortunately, Baby Mika got hospitalised (more under Nay of the Month).
Baby Mika’s 3 day 2 nights total hospitalisation bill came to… RM5,605.40. But the total we paid out of pocket, thanks to medical card was RM339* (*RM300 deductible + RM39 exceeded room & board).
Thank goodness for insurance!
Yes, the original bill was RM5.6k. What made it expensive?
Well, it was a private hospital. Government hospital wouldn’t cost that much. Way less, in fact (subsidised, not because it’s cheap).
But the cost came from…Mostly the tests. They didn’t know what he had, so they tested for seemingly EVERYTHING: covid, salmonella, dengue, rotavirus, flu, dysentery, etc. One of the test alone costs >RM1k!
Finally, baby Mika tested positive for something called parainfluenza. The antibiotic fixed him up but still. Kesian baby Mika 🙁
I want to say thank you to my agent @ainzaabar for helping me during the admission process. She helped so much. I’m happy I got baby Mika’s medical card from her 🙂
(medical card is about the only one I buy investment-linked, the rest all term insurance/takaful)
#3 – Meet & Greet at PBAKL 2024
Thank youuu everyone who came by the meet & greet at PBAKL 2024 on Saturday! A few told me they enjoyed my book Bergaji & Pokai and even followed my work for a while.
I’m so happy to hear that 🥹 You have no idea how much I appreciate your support 🫶🫶🫶 Thank you Iman Publication for inviting me!
A special thank you too to Danisha and Fatihah, my assistants at PBAKL 🙂 They were great!
#4 – KL Staycation (with cheaper rate!)
I figured, if I were going to be in KL anyway, might as well make it a staycation and bring along my husband and baby. So that’s what we did! We had fun staying in Sunway Putra Hotel and exploring the Sunway Putra Mall.
Additionally, I managed to get cheaper rate on the room I wanted by booking directly at the hotel website!
The other day I randomly saw someone say booking hotel room directly is cheaper and they're right! I checked and now saved ~RM200 by booking hotel room directly rather than through Booking dot com 🤯 from RM867 to RM664
— Suraya: bestselling Bergaji & Pokai book (@surayaror) May 18, 2024
Always check!
#5 – Misc
Read 0 book 🙁
Bought for myself:
- Dress from Carousell (impulse purchase; will be donated)
- Top from Max (impulse purchase; will be donated)
- New powerbank
- Baju kurung from Carousell (cute and a complete steal at RM67 inc delivery!)
- Some hangers, home stuff
Nay of the Month:
#1 – Spent my first ever Mother’s Day in the hospital
I’m glad everything turned out okay and baby Mika recovered and better than ever but still. My poor baby 🙁
My first ever Mother's Day…at the hospital. Baby Mika admitted due to fever 🙁 pic.twitter.com/im2z83HMzA
— Suraya: bestselling Bergaji & Pokai book (@surayaror) May 12, 2024
#2 – Received a compound for my dormant LLP
I can’t believe I’m going through this shit, AGAIN!
I’m too tired to explain it in full but basically I am fined RM2000 for not submitting my Annual Declaration on time. However I am able to appeal so I’ll do that. But even with appeal, I’m looking at paying RM400-600 out of pocket, so…
Sighhh. Opening an LLP was one of my biggest financial mistakes ever!
Things to Look Forward to:
- Learning trading. I’ve registered to join Derivatives Virtual Trading Challenge. Come join me trade RM100k (of virtual money)! Simply register before 25 July 2024 and join all of the workshops and webinars designed to teach you how to trade derivatives
Well, that was my May 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)
