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We asked you readers to tell us about your first salary and how you spent it. Here's the latest set of responses we received. Illustration by Uttam Ghosh
In his response, reader Rakesh Pal tells us about the special gift he bought for his mother from his first salary:
I got my first salary Rs 500 when I was in class 11. I had worked as a milk delivery boy. With my first salary I purchased an electric sewing machine for my mom.
I had seen that every evening her leg would ache from working on the manual sewing machine so I bought her a one that ran on motor.
From my second salary, I bought her a saree.
In 1971, at the age of 21, I a small town science graduate was warned and threatened by my prospective father-in-law (a local but powerful minister) that if I didn't stop seeing his daughter (presently, my wife), he would ensure that no government job offer came to me.
Although I appeared for several interviews and performed well, I failed to receive the offer letter. That's when I realised that I will have to think differently.
I went to an army recruitment centre and applied for a job. I immediately received orders of selection asking me to proceed to Madgaon, Goa in Corps of Signals for basic military training.
After all the hardships, I received Rs 115 as my first salary of which I money-ordered 100 to my parents and kept the remaining Rs 15 to buy cigarettes.
When I completed my training and returned to attend my ailing mother, I faced my prospective father-in-law again. Since I was dressed in uniform, he was astonished to see the change!
I started my first job on March 1, 2010 in a chartered accountant firm named P N Ganguly and Company as an assistant accountant for a salary of Rs 3,500.
After completing a month, I received my first salary on April 1, 2010.
With the money, I bought sweets worth Rs 300 for my family and close relatives. I gave the remaining money to my mother.
Not having a girlfriend definitely reduced my expenses and helped me save, but I did arrange a small party to my dearest friends.
I joined as an analyst in a leading publishing house on January 1, 1994 and received Rs 1,500 as stipend. This came with deductions which caught me by surprise and I wasn't too happy about it.
Later, my father explained to me that these are PF deductions and actually contribute to my savings. After the deductions, my first salary was Rs 1,050 per month.
I offered it first to Lord Tirupati. Since then, it has been a tradition -- every time, I join a new company, I always offer my first salary to God.
With my first salary, I bought a three-month first class pass and secured Rs 15 per day for a snack and return bus travel.
My first job was with Infosys Technologies Ltd which I joined in October 2004. I worked as a software engineer and received Rs 14,000 as my first salary.
I was very happy and thrilled to receive my first salary. Since I was staying as a paying guest, a part of my salary (around Rs 6000) was spent on rent and other lodging expenses.
Ten days later, Diwali followed. When I came home, I got gifts for my parents and family. That year's Diwali was very special for me.
I also got a Nokia mobile phone. Incidentally, that was the first time I started using a mobile phone. Nostalgic moments to cherish!
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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Here, Yogendra Deoskar explains why memories of her first salary will stay with him for life:
I completed my Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunication in June 1999 and started working in January 2000. I received my first salary of Rs 3,000 but never ever compared myself to some of my friends who'd got better paid IT jobs.
For me, the feeling of achievement was greater than anything else. I purchased a saree for my mom who treasures the saree till date.
My father had told me not to get anything for him and that seeing me taking responsibilities itself was a gift for him. I still bought a pen for him.
I could easily save Rs 1,000 from my first salary as my father was employed and I stayed with them.
In my second job, in 2002, I got a salary higher than my father and I could see tears of happiness in his eyes after he heard that.
Today, I am in the United States and have a well paying job, but the old days bring back memories that will linger for life.
Thank you Rediff for bringing this up.
I joined my first company on December 1, 1982. Every day, I would journey by rail and public transport to reach my workplace.
I worked as a clerk in a ration shop and poultry manufacturing unit and used to get Rs 400 per month as my salary.
With my first salary, I bought a kerosene stove for mom.
In 1983, after completing my textile engineering and securing a merit class from Bombay, I was fortunate to get a job in Mafatlal-Standard Mills as a trainee.
Those were the days when Dr Datta Samant was leading a strike in the textile sector. I was fortunate to get a job before my results were declared. My first paycheque was a princely amount of Rs 1,250.
For my parents, it was a huge achievement, because, even after their long years of services, they could not go beyond drawing a three-figure salary.
Although I wanted to immediately take over the responsibilities of my family, my parent's pride did not allow me to contribute for household expenses. Thus, I began to save that money so that I could buy a 1-BHK flat (with help of my parents, of course) in the Bombay Housing Board.
Today, I am earning much more than my first salary, but saving money has become difficult and I also worry about my retirement plans.
I still find these two incidences from my life to be the most precious. The first one was when I was recruited through my MBA campus placements in October 2008.
On September 25, when I was selected for Asus, I felt exuberated and shared the joy with my father whose birthday incidentally fell on the same day. The second precious moment was when I joined office.
After completing my course, in March 2009, I joined Asus' Mumbai office as a deputy manager for their windows based handhelds. Since I had joined the company in the middle of the month, the first salary I received was around Rs18,500.
With the salary, I bought sarees for mum and bhabhi (sister-in-law) and a beautiful dress for my cute niece Rhea. I gave Rs 5,000 to my mom and a part was religiously dedicated to God for being so kind on me.
I felt so good and proud to share my first salary with my parents and loved ones -- the feeling will perhaps last forever.
I got my first salary of Rs 3,000 on March 30, 1999. I valued the salary even more because in 1994, after completing my graduation and before pursuing post graduation, I had worked in a firm for about seven months for no salary.
After that, when I neared my final semester of Master of Computer Applications course, I worked on a project between May 1998 to January 1999, without receiving a stipend.
When I received my first ever salary, I shared Rs 500 with my grand mother (who unfortunately, passed away a couple of days later). The remaining, I spent on my personal needs.
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!