My January Highlight: I Spent RM430 on Covid-19 Tests, Twice!

In 2020, part of my monthly routine was updating about my No Buy Year – the ups and downs, challenges and reflections. Now that it’s over, my month feels somewhat incomplete without those routine reviews. So here I am, starting my new monthly routine for 2021 – My Monthly Highlight! This is where I will share about… yes, you got it right. The highlights of my month, financial wise.

MAIN HIGHLIGHTS

1. Paid RM430 for Covid-19 tests

Of course my first highlight of the year will be about Covid-19. What’s new.

Long story short, there were positive cases in my company and I happened to be one of the close contacts. Surprisingly, I wasn’t all panicky as I would if this happened during the beginning of this whole pandemic. I’ve become somewhat desensitized as I’ve received news almost on a daily basis from people that I know who got affected in one way or another by the virus. Having to go to work almost daily, I knew it’s just a matter of time before this thing hit us.

Then it hit us.

(Oh wah, that better be the prologue to my biography if the pandemic turns into a zombie apocalypse.)

Okay, where were we? Ah yes. The tests. I went to have my Covid-19 test on the 5th day of contact at one of the private hospitals in the Klang Valley. I knew I could have it for free at KKM, but I couldn’t wait, KKM was already (and still is) overwhelmed with 4 digits of new positive cases daily. So I set for an appointment in the morning, and I went to the hospital that same noon. The registration and swabbing process was swift.

After 10 days of self-quarantine, I took another test to be sure despite not showing any symptom. Glad I did because it sure gave my parents their peace of mind back.

Anyway, those two tests cost me RM430. RM150 for RTK test and RM280 for PCR test. Here’s the difference between PCR test vs RTK test.

Oh if you never did swab test before, afraid not, it’s not painful. It doesn’t hurt. Or… maybe yes but because it’s super quick 5 4 3 2 1 you can’t even fathom it.

2. Paid RM68 for one day of Internet

Which was stupid.

Celcom gives this very confusing text on the last day before the next bill cycle where they say – “Your pass will be auto-renewed today. If you wish to make any changes to your pass, please do it now“. Which was what I did. I made changes to my pass now. Because it says NOW. On the same day I received the text, I immediately cancelled my current pass and upgraded to a more expensive pass.

Little did I know, when they say NOW, it means not now. Not on the day where they themselves say they will auto-renew your pass and ask you to change your pass. If you upgrade or subscribe to a new pass on the very same day they send you that text, you’ll get charged in full on that month’s bill cycle for that one day use of your new/upgraded pass.

If you don’t use Celcom and have no idea what I’m talking about, please just read this text and tell me what you understand of it: “Your pass will be auto-renewed TODAY. If you wish to make any changes to your pass, please do it now vide Celcom apps…”

Seriously, did I misunderstand their text? Or do they give confusing text? If it’s the latter, then please don’t fall for that same trap people. Sigh.

I contacted their customer service; they simply said I would still have to pay for that one month pass, although it’s only for one freaking day. No explanation was given on their own confusing text. They just asked me to pay.

Lessons learnt. I’m still on the lookout for new telco provider. Any suggestion?

3. Finally buying things after one year of not buying things!

What I didn’t expect to happen after my no-buy year was that I would actually need to convince myself to start buying. Haha, look at how the table turns when all these years, I need convincing to stop buying stuff.

Anyway, amongst the first things that I bought was a photo album. I’ve had these bunch of pictures from my university years printed out but I never got around to putting them properly in an album. So I bought a photo album. How nostalgic.

What else I bought? Well, will share later. I intend to compile the first 10 things I buy after my no buy year. At this point in time, I’m happy to say that I haven’t hit my 10th item. Wow who is this new person?!

4. Redeemed RM40 of petrol for free!

I finally redeemed my Bonuslink points after around a year of using it. RM40 is one week worth of petrol for me, so yeay!

RANDOM HIGHLIGHTS

This is just for random happenings, thoughts, lessons and randomness of the month.

1. I still can’t bring myself to sell stuff that I don’t use. But it’s always at the back of my head this whole month.
2. The start of MCO 2.0 made me fall into the scrolling cycle again, looking for news. But our news is depressing. Mostly filled with our disappointing politicians and their ever-changing SOPs.
3. I read Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois P Frankel, which lists mistakes women unconsciously make that sabotage their career. And oh (wo)man did I make so many mistakes. I’m on the course of applying what I learned.
4. I didn’t fall into panic buying this MCO! I embarrassedly and guiltily did last MCO.
5. I haven’t kicked start my side hustle project of the year. A very slow start.

ALL IN ALL

The first month of the year is usually the time when we become so productive and pumped up for the year. But it’s not the case this year, for me personally. I was excited to begin the year (exhibit A, my post on my goals of 2021; exhibit B, creating my financial vision board), but then… less than two weeks in, we have all these happenings in the country – banjir, worsening pandemic, MCO, darurat, politicians, the government, SOPs that don’t make sense, etc. It can be disheartening.

If you’re affected by any or all of these, I’m sorry. I hope you (and I) get the help, strength, and support that we need. We will get through this.

On a personal level, I’m thankful for everything I have. Hey, I was tested negative, that should be more than enough of a reason to be grateful. So, I’m not gonna be hard on myself for the slow start this month though I really hope things will change for the better. For all of us.

Stay safe and let’s continue figuringgitout.