We asked you, our readers, to tell us about your first salary and how you spent it. Here's the latest set of responses we received.
Dhiman Chakraborty remembers the time he got his first salary:
I got my first salary in July 2003 in an IT company in Chennai; after completing my graduation.
I was paid Rs 10,000! I have seldom felt a joy like this in my life till now. I bought a watch for Didi and a Mysore Silk saree for Maa and most satisfying of all - I could finally support my family. But wait the fun part is not over yet, before everything else, I laminated the first 100 rupee note which still stays as my prized possession.
Sreeram Sankar tells us about the time he was summoned inside his boss' cabin:
My first salary was Rs 750 in 1994. I was working in a Tea Brokers firm in W. Island, Cochin. When Finance Manager called me inside his cabin, I was so frightened and I could not even answer properly in English since I was a Malayalam Medium product. Now I am in Muscat and fluent in English as well, still the first salary scene is evergreen. I am earning Rs 75,000 p.m. still it is not giving the happiness of Rs 750 i.e. my first salary.
Abhishek Gupta writes:
I had started my job in June 2007 in Gurgaon, and got my first salary of Rs 6500 when I received the amount butterflies are taking move inside my body and in my mind. I was totally out of control and also not in the condition to think now what to do with this amount.
I called my papa and told him that DAD apaka beta bada hogaya, then he told me not to go high many more will come, today I am working with ALSTOM India and last month I have received my first salary form this company, and again called up my papa then he told me mera beta bada ho gaya.
Apart from this from my very first salary I spend Rs 3000 for my PG bill and Rs 500 for my traveling and balance I had given to my Maa soon after my reaching my home town.
Sharing the experience of taking over of first salary is not easy you can not explain this in the word, but this is the experience which you can feel deep in your heart and mind. And this memory will remain fresh in your mind till you remain.
Kapil Bhadane remembers:
When I was in school studying, I was working in a greeting shop 1999. I got my first salary of Rs 500. I have to work daily for 2 months from morning 12:00pm to night 12:00pm standing whole day selling a greeting cards off diwali in stall.
From the money Which I got gift for my mom and dad which was the best for me today I have now my own software company cromasolutions.com in Nasik.
PM Kannan writes about the time he could manage with as little as Rs 125:
In 1972, I started working in a Private Company while I was studying Commercial Diploma Course. My salary was Rs125 for 3 months and after that Rs150 from 4th month onwards.
That time I felt salary was not so important as getting a job was more important. Even in that Rs 125 salary, I could manage to save some amount as I opened an SB account in a Bank.
Those days we could even open with an Account with the nationalised bank for Rs 10.
My family members allowed me to keep the salary with me for my monthly maintenance, so I was managing all my travel expenses, etc and also saved some amount in the bank.
Now I am working in a well know Real Estate Company drawing a five figure salary. There are so many changes compared to those days and the present day especially in the cost of living.
Dear Readers, what was your first job? Do you remember what your first salary was?
Tell us a little about where you worked and what you did there? And of course, what did you do with your first salary? Did you buy a sari for your mum or a gift for your girl/boyfriend? We want to know so tell us all about it!
Write in to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (Subject line 'My First Salary') and we'll publish the best responses right here on rediff.com!
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First salary: I bought Raymond suits for my teachers
Shri remembers the time he earned his first salary:
"My first salary was. Rs 50 in late 70s as tea maker and office boy, courier boy using bicycle in my brother's office as I was not fluent in Hindi.. We were living in one small room without fan in Delhi. Though my brother used to serve me tea at our room, in our office it was other way around.
When I completed my first month and went for asking my first salary, it was taken by my brother in advance that too for the next two months salary as well as we were going through very bad financial situation.
We had slept in the park in summer and on newspapers and cardboard in winter.
I could take my salary in cash only in the 4th month of the job. Today I am earning Rs 8,00,000 per month and when I look back, I really need my old those suffering days back and live through it once again."
Retna Kumar writes:
"I received my first salary of Rs 300 during the month on Nov 1986 as part time pharmacist. I was very happy on that day. Opened a post office RD with Rs 25 per month and kept Rs 75 as pocket money (to meet bus fare etc) and gave rest of the money to my father that time my family was gone through very serious financial crisis i.e to meet my brothers and sisters education and other expenditure.
My father was very happy. Later in 1990 I joined BSF and got Rs 4000 pm. All my brothers and sisters completed their education and doing well. Now I am making Rs 60,000 per month and happy for what I have done and what Iam getting now."
Devendra Kumar Agrawal preferred to buy gifts for his teachers over gods:
"I did my BTech from IIT Bombay, EE, 2001-05 batch. I got my first job in Texas Instruments and in June 05 I got my 1st salary was Rs 24,000 which I used to buy Raymond suits for my 4 teachers and send them with a card and thank you note.
My mother being a devout lady wanted me to donate my entire salary to our family god but I considered guru comes before Govind and I went ahead with my decision to contribute my entire salary towards my teachers I still feel happy and proud about my decision.
The reason why I did this was the deep gratitude I felt towards these teachers who transformed me from a simple/shy kid who can score good marks in Board exams to a confident student who not only can solve complex problems of physics/maths/chemistry but also can take challenges ahead in life."
Chinmoy Chakravorty from Vadodara writes in:
"I joined MTech program in ISM Dhanbad in the year 1981 and got a scholarship of Rs 600. Out of which I purchased a Levi strauss jeans worth Rs 450 and from rest money clear the mess dues."
Saurabh Singh from Hyderabad bought a new set of clothes for his son from his first salary:
"I got my first salary when I had taken up a part time job in physiotherapy clinic way back in 2003. It was nominal amount of Rs 1500.
I had given it to my mother but she asked me to spend as I want to. By that time I was married and my son was seven months old till then all his expenditure was taken care by my father.
I got a new set of clothes for my son (Rs 700) and I felt really happy I still remember the colour and pattern of the cloths I got it for my son.
Whenever I buy them clothes now I still remember that time. Now I am well settled but still that feeling of gifting clothes to my son remains fresh in my mind."
Dear Readers, what was your first job? Do you remember what your first salary was?
Tell us a little about where you worked and what you did there? And of course, what did you do with your first salary? Did you buy a sari for your mum or a gift for your girl/boyfriend? We want to know so tell us all about it!
Write in to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (Subject line 'My First Salary') and we'll publish the best responses right here on rediff.com!
Please click NEXT to continue reading...
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