Chapter 5: The Month-End Spender 5
It was just past 3 PM when, after sending off a customer, her colleague Shen Nianzhi came over. “I’m hungry, let’s share an order for delivery, shall we?”
Zhao Qianqian’s internal alarm went off.
Shen Nianzhi was the one who received her year-end bonus and spent it all on the same night.
Zhao Qianqian remained calm and responded, “I’m on a diet.”
Shen Nianzhi found it oddly amusing. “You’re not even fat, why are you trying to diet?”
Not fat, but I’m poor.
Zhao Qianqian maintained a neutral expression and rejected again, “I don’t plan on ordering afternoon tea. You can ask someone else.”
“Who else would I ask?” Shen Nianzhi said, sounding slightly wronged.
“Either you’re focused on saving money, cutting every penny in half, and your biggest interest is buying financial products, or you’re burdened with a mortgage and won’t get out of it for thirty years.”
“You’re the only one without much burden. If you want to eat, you eat, if you want to drink, you drink.”
Zhao Qianqian: … Actually, I’m not as carefree as you think.
But Shen Nianzhi was set on convincing her, continuously persuading her.
Zhao Qianqian remained unmoved.
After a while, Shen Nianzhi slumped her shoulders, looking defeated. “Looks like you’re really set on dieting.”
Even though she had been pleading for a while, the other person was resolute, showing just how firm her decision was.
Zhao Qianqian: “Yes.”
She needed to save money, and there would be no compromise.
“Forget it, forget it, I won’t order takeout,” Shen Nianzhi gave up.
Zhao Qianqian was somewhat speechless, “If you really want to eat, you can order by yourself.”
Why must she insist on sharing the order?
Shen Nianzhi explained, “I can’t eat that much by myself. If I don’t meet the minimum order, there’s an extra delivery fee, which isn’t worth it.”
“Weren’t you the person who spent your entire year-end bonus in one night? How can you care about a few extra bucks for delivery?” Zhao Qianqian couldn’t understand.
“It’s different,” Shen Nianzhi said, defending her logic, “The phone and computer I bought were expensive, but they were of good quality, so the money was well-spent. The delivery fee can be saved, so why waste money on it?”
There were too many things to criticize, but she didn’t know where to begin.
Zhao Qianqian originally thought that she and Shen Nianzhi were both part of the “The Month-End Spender”, so their views on money should be similar. However, when they started talking, she realized that their financial outlooks were actually very different.
If it were up to her, she would have no hesitation in giving up the latest phone and computer, then ordering a few more takeouts.
Seeing Zhao Qianqian stunned into silence, Shen Nianzhi smiled brightly and, with a hint of pride, said, “The latest phone and computer, that’s what you call a refined lifestyle!”
Zhao Qianqian: “…”
She was too frugal to spend a few extra bucks on delivery, and this was what she called a “refined lifestyle”? I don’t know much, but don’t try to fool me.
Zhao Qianqian wasn’t interested in arguing, so she gave an awkward yet polite smile.
Shen Nianzhi thought that Zhao Qianqian was intrigued by the idea of a “refined lifestyle,” so she linked arms with her and enthusiastically recommended, “There’s this lipstick that’s really popular lately, they call it the ‘boy-killer color’! The store’s having a promotion, let’s buy it together? If we pool our money, we can each pay half—it’s such a good deal!”
Zhao Qianqian’s body visibly stiffened.
It wasn’t because she was tempted by the lipstick, but because she suddenly remembered where all her salary had been going.
She never kept track of her expenses, only knew that every month her salary was just enough to get by. It was like spending a little here, a little there, and before she knew it, the money was gone. As for where it all went, she had no idea.
Seeing Shen Nianzhi, it suddenly hit her—this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.
Sometimes, when she had spent less early in the month and still had some cash left, Shen Nianzhi would come over, urging her to share a purchase, combine orders, and take advantage of discounts. Zhao Qianqian would agree.
One time it was skincare products, another time it was a designer handbag, then boots, dresses, and she had lost count of how many things she bought in the end.
Other times, if she had spent more early in the month, and said, “I don’t have money, I’ll wait until next month’s paycheck,” Shen Nianzhi would immediately understand and drop the subject of combining orders.
Little by little, every month, her salary would be gone just like that. No debt, but no savings either.
Once she realized this, Zhao Qianqian: “…”
So, it turns out that part of the reason why she never saved money was because of Shen Nianzhi?
Zhao Qianqian’s expression was strange. Shen Nianzhi, unaware, continued her sales pitch, “This is the hottest lipstick this year, adored by thousands of young women! With it, attracting guys is no longer just a dream!”
“No thanks,” Zhao Qianqian withdrew her arm and spoke with a slightly cold tone. “The lipstick I bought last year still hasn’t run out.”
“Just stock up,” Shen Nianzhi dismissed. “Anyway, lipstick is the kind of thing that will always come in handy. It’s nice to have different colors to switch up, right?”
Zhao Qianqian: You said the same thing when I bought that dress last time. A year has passed, and the new items still haven’t been worn. In the end, they’ve just become clutter.
“I’m not buying it, you go ahead,” Zhao Qianqian said firmly.
If Shen Nianzhi could afford it, she wouldn’t need to persuade Zhao Qianqian to buy with her.
Shopping is all about getting more for less, right? The more you buy, the bigger the discount. If it’s just herself, she wouldn’t get much of a deal and wouldn’t be able to buy anything else after the lipstick.
So, Shen Nianzhi tried to convince her again, “Look at this color, it’s so beautiful! Really not going to buy one?”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, this lipstick is super popular! It’s probably going to sell out tonight. If you want to buy it, you’ll have to wait another half month!”
“Order now, and it will be shipped immediately, arriving the next day. Isn’t that much better than waiting anxiously?”
Zhao Qianqian remained calm, not being fooled into losing her rationality. “Even if it sells out, I won’t be waiting anxiously, because I’m not planning to buy it at all.”
Shen Nianzhi: “…”
She was really puzzled. Usually, after mentioning something a couple of times, Zhao Qianqian would give in and agree to share an order, but no matter how much she tried to persuade her today, she didn’t seem moved at all.
Could it be that she really wasn’t interested in the lipstick?
At the same time, Zhao Qianqian’s gaze toward Shen Nianzhi was like that of someone guarding against a thief.
She had to protect her hard-earned money, safeguard her parents’ pension, and preserve the emergency funds for her family. That was her bottom line, and there was no room for compromise!
Zhao Qianqian stood on high alert, watching closely.
Shen Nianzhi softened her tone and laughed lightly, “If you don’t like lipstick, there’s also a set of foreign-brand cosmetics. It’s not expensive, just about five or six hundred.”
Zhao Qianqian: “…”
Five or six hundred is “not expensive”? That’s almost equivalent to half a month’s worth of her food expenses!
Just then, a customer entered.
Zhao Qianqian almost felt like she’d seen a savior. She quickly said, “I don’t need anything, you should ask someone else.”
Then, she hurriedly left.
“Hey—” Shen Nianzhi didn’t even get the chance to speak before Zhao Qianqian disappeared without a trace.
Shen Nianzhi was puzzled, “What’s up with Zhao Qianqian today? She’s not spending a single penny, this is so unlike her.”
—
It was a busy day at work, and it wasn’t until the end of the day that Zhao Qianqian could finally take a breath.
Before Shen Nianzhi could catch up with her, Zhao Qianqian grabbed her bag and ran out, not even looking back.
As usual, she went straight to the hospital to visit her mother.
As soon as she entered the ward, Wang Yan happily shouted, “Qianqian, I have good news to tell you!”
Zhao Qianqian hadn’t seen her mother this happy in a long time. Since deciding to undergo surgery, her mother’s face had been marked with an indescribable worry, as if she was afraid that they wouldn’t be able to make ends meet the next day.
She had tried to convince her, promised to save money, but nothing worked. In the end, she could only accept things as they were.
Now, her mother was smiling as if she had found money.
Zhao Qianqian asked, “Did you win the lottery?”
“Sort of,” Wang Yan replied excitedly. “Today, the doctor gave me an examination, and I casually asked about it. Guess what? He said that if there’s money in the medical insurance card, I can swipe it to pay!”
Zhao Qianqian froze.
She instinctively sat down at the edge of the bed. “Mom, what’s going on? Tell me in detail.”
Wang Yan held back her excitement. “The doctor said that if a woman has paid medical insurance for 20 years during her working years (in some areas, it’s 25 years), she can continue to enjoy basic social medical insurance benefits after retirement.”
Zhao Qianqian nodded. “I know this. The reason the surgery fee can be waived is because you have social insurance.”
Wang Yan continued, “Do you know that there’s a monthly refund on the medical insurance card?”
Zhao Qianqian was stunned. After a brief moment of shock, she shook her head. “I’ve never heard of this…”
“The doctor said that young people get a smaller refund, about 2%-3%. But for retirees like me, we get 4%-5% back every month!” Wang Yan was beaming with joy.
“To put it simply, every month, the insurance card gets refunded about 100 RMB or so. As long as I don’t use the card at the pharmacy or hospital, this money will keep accumulating.”
“You know me, I don’t understand these things. I only realized after hearing someone mention it. I asked the doctor to check the balance on the card, and found there’s more than 10,000 RMB in it! Now I don’t have to worry about the surgery fee anymore.”
The idea of a monthly refund on the medical insurance card left Zhao Qianqian completely stunned.
“The doctor also said that if the family is financially struggling, and the children’s company pays for the five insurances and one fund, the children can withdraw the housing provident fund to cover the costs,” Wang Yan sighed in relief. “I heard that it doesn’t even require touching the money in the bank account, and that makes me feel so much better.”
Zhao Qianqian went from being confused to being utterly baffled.
At that moment, Yun Luo spoke up, “What your mother said is correct. This money can indeed be used for medical expenses.”
“If the employee or direct family members suffer from a major illness, they can withdraw from the housing provident fund.”
“If there’s a sudden event, such as surgery, leading to significant family expenses and difficulty in maintaining basic daily life, the provident fund can also be withdrawn in such cases.”
Zhao Qianqian, who had once cried over hospital bills and seriously considered faking suicide to collect insurance, was speechless.
She asked Yun Luo expressionlessly, “Why didn’t you remind me earlier?”
Yun Luo replied, “The host didn’t ask.”
Yun Luo continued, “With savings and medical insurance waivers, the surgery fee can be fully covered.”
Yun Luo added, “You should be the most aware of how much wealth you have. Why do you need others to tell you?”
Most importantly, their first meeting wasn’t pleasant, so she didn’t feel like saying much.
Zhao Qianqian was in tears.
Her life had been so chaotic. She really didn’t know how much wealth she had…
“Tonight, I’ll organize it,” Zhao Qianqian silently reminded herself.
Upon hearing that there was more than 10,000 RMB in the medical insurance card, Wang Yan was overjoyed. That evening, her boxed lunch included two meat dishes and even a chicken leg!
Seeing her mother’s appetite improve, Zhao Qianqian finally felt relieved.
After Wang Yan finished her meal, Zhao Qianqian helped clean up before leisurely heading back home.
—
At 9:30 PM, Zhao Qianqian got herself cleaned up and sat at her desk on time. She prepared paper and pen, then took out her phone to search for “how to organize personal assets.”
After all, she had graduated from university, so she still had basic self-learning abilities. After Yun Luo’s teaching, she had firmly remembered, “If you don’t understand something, ask on X degree.”
She browsed a few links but found the answers too complicated, so she changed her search term to “how to check personal assets.”
The results were still unsatisfactory.
Just as she was about to try again, Yun Luo suddenly appeared, sitting at the desk, “Change the keyword to ‘personal balance sheet.’“
Zhao Qianqian followed the advice and typed the words in.
The page refreshed, and new links quickly appeared.
She casually clicked on one and found a table clearly listing assets and liabilities, all she needed to do was fill it out step by step.
—
The author has something to say:
Reader’s Knowledge Sharing:
Q: What kind of commercial insurance should I buy?
A: First, buy medical insurance, then purchase commercial insurance as a supplement.
Q: If I want to buy it, what kind of commercial insurance should I choose?
A: The four most common types are accident insurance, critical illness insurance, medical insurance, and life insurance.
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1.Accident Insurance: The coverage amount is usually five times the annual income. It is paid annually, providing coverage for one year.
For example, comprehensive accident insurance on a certain online platform costs 448 RMB/year, with payouts of 1 million RMB for accidental death or disability.
2.Critical Illness Insurance: The coverage amount is also typically five times the annual income.
If the insured person suffers from major illnesses such as malignant tumors, myocardial infarction, or cerebral hemorrhage, the insurance company will provide compensation.
Critical illness insurance is relatively expensive, with options for one-year, term, and lifetime coverage.
The one-year policy is the cheapest, but if you get sick, you may not be able to renew the coverage.
Usually, people opt for a term policy, which covers until the age of 70.
Lifetime coverage is too expensive.
3.Medical Insurance
For minor illnesses, rely on social security, for major illnesses, rely on medical insurance. Medical insurance is generally used to cover medical expenses beyond what social security covers.
For example, long-term medical insurance on a certain online platform costs 260 RMB per year for young people with social security, for older individuals without social security, it costs 5000 RMB per year. (This means that the premium depends on the policyholder’s age, health status, and whether they have social security.)
4.Life Insurance
If the insured person dies or becomes permanently disabled within the policy period, the insurance company will pay the agreed amount.
For example, with term life insurance on a certain platform, a person pays 575 RMB annually when young, with coverage until the age of 60, and a payout of 1 million RMB if they die during this period.
This type of insurance is mainly for the primary breadwinner in the family, to ensure that the family can maintain their normal lifestyle in case of an accident to the main provider.
Note 1: Choose pure consumption-type insurance. Dividend and return-type insurance policies offer low coverage and poor returns, they are basically a trap.
Note 2: Prioritize insurance for the breadwinner √, prioritize insurance for children ×.
Note 3: Critical illness and life insurance are relatively expensive. Decide whether to purchase based on your financial capability. The total insurance premiums should not exceed 10% of the family income.
Note 4: I specifically checked the information and found that according to Chinese insurance law, if you continuously purchase life insurance, the policy will pay out for suicide after two years. I am correcting this. (This only applies to long-term life insurance.)
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Insurance is something that feels like a waste of money until you need it. Once you use it, you’ll be incredibly glad you purchased it.
Also, I’m not advertising for a certain platform… it just happens to have the products I need, so I’m using it as an example.
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Regarding the minimum annual contribution to social security and the refund ratio, policies differ by region.
If the data in the article doesn’t align with local policies, don’t be surprised.