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First Salary: I received the cheque and broke down
Last week, we asked you readers to tell us about your first salary and how you spent it. Here's the sixth set of responses we received. Illustration by Dominic Xavier
First up, we have Sunil Singh telling us why he wept after receiving his first salary:
I was enrolled with Wipro in November 2003 which was my first job. Since I was going through bad financial times before getting the job, I broke down and wept upon receiving my first paycheque.
Once the cheque was cleared, I bought a jacket for my younger brother as the weather in Delhi was severely cold at that time. I also bought new sets of clothes for myself which I could wear to office. I bought watches for my parents as my father was wearing his old watch for more then 20 years. I also offered a puja to god and donated a certain amount in the temple. I saved some for my rent and other monthly expenses.
Prabhu Boniface who works as an architect from Trivandrum tells us why after 18 years, nothing much has changed:
After being jobless for six months, I finally got a job with Ramanathan and Associates in Chennai and my first salary was Rs 2,000 which I received in December 1994.
With my first salary, I was able to pay a rent of Rs 1,100 and the rest went towards my meal expenses and buying fuel for my second hand Luna.
Even in 1994, I was not able to save any significant amount with my salary and now 18 years later, though I am getting a multi lakh package, I still am not able to save any significant money.
Next, we have Ramasamy Mahendra who takes us back to 1981:
I had joined a reputed textile mill on August 31, 1981 immediately after completing Bachelors in Commerce. My first salary was Rs.400, which I received on September 3, 1981. I remember that I had shared the salary with my parents, particularly, my father.
Here, Vinayak Kulkarni from Bahrain tells us why his first salary is special to him:
It was 2002, and I had just graduated from college with a chemical engineering degree. Since it was the times of recession, finding a job were not easy, (except if you were opting to venture into software).
I joined a small company in Mumbai and got a salary of Rs 3,000 of which I sent Rs 1000 to my mother, to do small pooja at a temple in my place in Karnataka. I asked her to donate the remaining to needy and poor students.
Later on, my mother told me that she organised the pooja with her own money and donated the entire Rs 1000 to a needy student in a government college. I spent the rest of my salary on my living expenses in Mumbai.
We also have this response from Rachit K who works in Mumbai.
My first job was after class 12 science, which wasn't exactly a career start for me. However, in my first job, I was working in GKW, a screw manufacturing factory as a packaging guy.
Based on the number of boxes we packed, the daily wages would be calculated. We used to trade chapatis/bananas which we got in our lunchboxes with co-worker, so that they could help us in increasing the count of packed boxes. That way, we could reach a maximum of up to Rs 1,800 a month. I worked here for two months. From my salary, I managed to help my dad in managing the month's expenses for the family.
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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'I bought a Kodak camera for Rs 1,100 in 1999'
Meanwhile, here's what Nishigandha R Marathe has to tell us about her first salary:
I started my first official job in 1999 as a stenographer at United Instrument Services in Baroda where I was paid Rs 2500 per month.
I bought a Kodak camera (not the digital one) worth Rs 1100 for my family and handed over the balance to my parents.
Of course, my parents were kind enough to return it to me. But I did ask my parents to tell me what they would like as a gift because I did not want to surprise them with something they won't like.
My parents told me to treasure the money, which I eventually did.
We also have Suraj reminiscing what he did with his first salary:
I got my first paycheque in December 2010 while working for a small IT firm at Chennai. I got Rs 6500 as my first salary. I wanted to go to my dad's office and show it to him.
Unfortunately, he was out of station. So, I scanned my pay slip and sent him a mail thanking him for all the encouragement.
With the salary, I purchased a music phone for my mother and two watches for my father and brother.
I believe, that all the firsts, especially the first salary is always a special memory irrespective of the amount it entails.
Next, Sanjeeb Kumar Ray from Jamshedpur tells us how he spent his first salary:
My first job was in the year 1990 in Gujarat where I was working as an assistant maintenance officer in a pharmaceutical farm. I received my first salary of Rs 1500 of which, I sent Rs 500 to my father in Kolkata, purchased a pair of jeans for me and a sari for my mom.
And last, but not the least, we have Ashutosh Roy telling us how his daughter spent her first salary:
This is not about my first salary. This is about my daughter Enakshee's salary . Since she will not write how she spent her salary I am writing in for her.
Her first net salary was Rs 14,000 of which she purchased a saree for her mother and a dress for her mausi (aunt). Since she was very fond of mausi's son, she fulfilled his wish of getting a guitar worth Rs 5,000.
She bought herself a dress worth Rs 2000 and shared the remaining Rs 4000 with me which I refused to accept. It feels painful to take something from her. But I was content with the fact that she offered to gift me.
She, of course tells me "It is worth knowing how to take a gift, papa". I think someday I will take a gift from her.
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!