It was the last day of July yesterday and we got our paychecks. I didn’t have any absences recently so there were no deductions. Yepyep, I got all of my 5,420.87 Philippine Pesos! My salary is 6,500 PHP every 15th and last day of the month but after taxes, that’s what I end up with. It’d actually be getting less if I weren’t considered “head of the family” because I filed my son as my dependent. It’s above minimum wage but it’s nowhere near enough. To give you an idea of how measly it is, it’s about $245/month… (1 USD = 44.20 PHP as of 08/01/08 5 PM Manila Time).
The end of the month paycheck always evaporates much faster than the one we get mid-month. Everything’s due at the end of the month.. power, water, phone, cable, the nanny’s salary. We just happened to be out of everything at home too. We needed everything from baby formula to toothpaste to cooking oil to toilet paper. I’m fortunate not to be the only one providing for the family.. there’s two of us and thank God he gets paid more than I do.
Days like this make me look forward to going back to the States. I may be happier here in the Philippines in general but sometimes it just isn’t worth the stress I go through financially. Hell, I could make my monthly salary here in 2 nights of waiting tables in Georgia but of course, I can’t deny that even though I make dollars there, I spend dollars too. I wish I could make as much money here as I make in the States. I’ll be living so comfortably. *sigh*
So yeah, I’ll be going back to Atlanta in 57 days. My flight is on Sept. 28 and I’ll be flying with my little 17-month old toddler. I wonder how I’ll be able to manage him being on my lap for a 17-hour flight. It’ll be quite the experience I’m sure.
Wow, my second post. I’m so proud of myself ^^.
I wish you much luck on your 17hr flight with your little one. Working out of the country is tough, I have been offered a few jobs out of the country but have turned them down for the reason you are struggling financially. Keep up the blog posts, and with this only being your second post I think you are doing very good.
*sigh* UPDATE!!!
earn dollars, spend dollars.. it’s like the same here in the PI.
with the cost of living going up, we sure hope our salaries increase as well..
i work from home.. and do freelance producing for big events and the pays ok.. but since i still have a lot of free time, i’m still looking for other ways to earn money.. and that’s why i started my own blog
“The end of the month paycheck always evaporates much faster than the one we get mid-month. Everything’s due at the end of the month.. power, water, phone, cable, the nanny’s salary.” – i get paid once a month, but i totally agree with this.. its like when i get my salary then i start scratching off things on my to-pay-list.. i’m left with a measly PHPxxx amount… where are the big buck!?!
ps. nhadnhad says hi (-DEATHROW-)
**Goodluck with your blog!