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We'd asked you, dear readers, to tell us what your first salary was and what it meant to you at the time.
Rediff reader Deepika Pattnaik shares her story.
On August 13, 2004, I joined my first job as a customer care executive in Delhi.
For the first time, I was away from home, living in a new city to make a career.
To be able to earn and become financially independent was one of my dreams.
I can't describe the feeling when I received a cheque of approx ₹ 4,500. I didn't encash it for days.
The feeling of holding the envelope and cheque with my name written on it was special.
When I was young, I had occasionally won a few cash prizes in competitions, but this was different.
It seemed like a beautiful reward for my hard work.
Even though my father had offered to buy a cellphone, I wanted to wait until I earned on my own.
I saved a part of my first salary to buy a phone and spent the remaining to buy some basic necessities. I also treated my elder sister.
Subsequently, I saved small amounts every month to buy gifts for my parents and siblings back home.
The amount increased gradually, but the feeling of drawing my first salary, even though it was a meagre amount, was special.
READER INVITE
Dear readers, do you remember what your first salary was?
When did you receive it? Which year was it?
Do you have a photograph of it?
What did it mean to you at the time? Tell us all about it.
What was your first job and salary? And how did you spend it?
Did you buy a sari for your mum or a gift for your girl/boyfriend?
Write in to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (Subject line 'My First Salary') along with your NAME, AGE, LOCATION and photograph, if possible. We will publish the best responses right here on Rediff.com!