Last week, we asked you readers to tell us about your first salary and how you spent it. Here's the fourth set of responses we received. Illustration by Uttam Ghosh
First up, we have Saurav Talukdar from Kolkata telling us how he spent his first salary:
Back in May 1999, it was time to be ecstatic when I secured my first job as site engineer for a small time geotechnical investigation company.
My salary was Rs 2,000 per month. The amount may seem meagre now, but in those times, I even managed to save money after paying of my house rent, giving Rs 500 to my mother and securing some for my personal expenses each month.
When I received my first salary, my father was with me, so I handed over the entire amount to him after.
For my expenses, however, I did take back Rs 1,000, but I ensured that I won't use a single note from the bunch, because I felt my parents are the rightful owners to my first salary.
After 14 years of hard work, I am currently working as project manager in a multi national company.
Next, we have Kaustubh Deodhar reminiscing what he did with his first salary:
My first salary was Rs 8,000 of which I bought a Nokia 6600 mobile phone. Since the phone cost around Rs 10,000, my father contributed Rs 5000 to which I added Rs 5000.
I used that phone for almost four years.
With rest of money, I bought a saree for my mom.
At the time, I was working with Deloitte as an assistant manager and used to do small tasks related to statutory audits.
And this is how Kush Gahlaut spent his first salary:
I started my earning in 1996 and joined an IT start-up where I was paid Rs 5,000 per month. At that time I did not have a personal bank account.
I got a cheque from the company, which I encashed from a joint account with my mother.
I brought a saree worth Rs 1,200 for my mother, a shirt costing Rs 1,000for my dad and two watches-- for my twin brother and myself for Rs1,100 each.
I continue to treasure the watch with me, because it reminds me of my first salary.
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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'My annual remuneration is over Rs 1 crore, but I'm nostalgic about my first salary'
Here, Santosh Gopala from Bangalore shares with us how he spent his first paycheck:
In 1999, while doing my CA internship, my first salary was Rs 500.
After four months, I even got a hike of 20 per cent (Rs100 approx). Of the salary, I paid my bus pass which cost Rs 200, secured Rs 100 for my personal expenses and gave Rs 200 to my family.
We also have S Ravishankar from Bangalore telling us his story:
When I started my first job on March 13, 1987 at Automotive Axles in Mysore, it was a Friday. My colleagues had warned me that starting a career on Friday the 13th was not good. I started with a stipend of Rs 950 along with Rs 100 as conveyance allowance, which was good enough.
Here's what we heard from Sanjay Singh from Australia when he got nostalgic about his first salary:
I got my first salary in May 1989 while undergoing apprenticeship with a shipping company in Mumbai. I worked on a small offshore supply vessel and I got Rs 2,500 as my first salary. For my father, it was a moment of pride and he went on to tell all our relatives and friends about it. He advised me to save the money and spend it wisely.
I purchased a top end mixer grinder for my mother which cost me Rs 1,780. I purchased few more kitchen essentials for my mother and spent everything. Today, I am working as a project controls manager in Australia and my annual remuneration is more than Rs 1 crore. But I still feel nostalgic about my first salary.
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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