Well, we are not rich but we are comfortable.
My starting basic pay as a medical graduate was RM2777, and after adding all the other allowances, my take home pay was about RM3.5 - RM3.7k depending on how much was deducted for EPF.
That is definitely more than my other peers who started working as a non-doctor. It was even higher than my siblings' take home pay when they first graduated few years after me.
Almost 5 years down the road, my take home pay is a tad more than RM5k (sorry, salaries are such sensitive issues it's hard for me to disclose it in public here).
And my increment over these early years was more than some of my non-doctor peers, and even my siblings in the private sector.
But I get only RM500 bonus per year (when PH first ruled, I wasn't eligible for any bonus as the country was supposedly near the brink of bankruptcy) while some other people working in the oil and gas industry received one, two- or sometimes 6-months pay as their bonus. My sister Aisyah received her bonus of an undisclosable amount (even I don't know how much), and she can afford to treat our and my in-law families to a dinner celebrating my birthday in a fine-dining restaurant (it definitely was more than RM500 in total).
And yes, even though my increment was almost exponential these first few years, they will plateau over time.
After 10 years, I will earn less than those of my age in private sector. The trend is obvious. The more experienced you are, if you are hard working and smart, you will get paid more in the private sector. My brother is now being sought after by multiple companies for his barely 4 years experience and if all goes well, he might earn twice as much or even more as I will in 10 years time.
That is why also, many specialists are leaving the government hospitals to join private sectors.
But what government offers, which the privates can't is stability.
I know I will get my pay by the end of the month.
I will get all my allowances.
I can get my parents and hopefully children medical bills to be reduced so much, which still enjoying the first-class treatments should they ever need it.
Anyway back to my topic of doctors being not rich.
Yes, we are not rich but we are comfortable.
I can afford Sakae Sushi or hotel buffet every now and then.
I can afford a Macbook and an iPhone.
I can afford some TudungPeople shawls once in a while.
I have more than enough food in my fridge, a comfortable bed to lie on with many many comforter sets that my husband rolls his eyes every time I want to buy more beautiful comforter sets on sale.
But I am not rich because I still need to weigh and decide if I want to buy a pair of branded shoes or a handbag, or if I want to install a water heater in my bathroom because I can't afford all of them at the same time.
I have a course in KL some time this month and yes I received a complementary hotel room but if I want Akmal to come with me, I either pay for a separate hotel room, or I can use that money to buy the Tudung People tudungs that are on Merdeka Sale now, or again, install water heater in my shower. It's either one.
I gotta change my car battery anytime soon and it cost RM500, but I also want to install and air-cond for my brother's room in mum's house.
It's always a fight of luxury vs necessity and of course, necessity always have to win.
But even my necessities are luxuries to some people and I really really need to realise that and be thankful.
And now, my already-out-of-warranty macbook is giving my trouble.
The screen is flickering and it's impossible to do work on it.
I am now typing this on Akmal's computer.
I wonder how much it will cost me to get this repaired. Heck it wasn't even 3 years yet! Perhaps just passed the 2 years mark.
How can how can the macbook disappoint me like this?!
So many things to buy but also so many things to pay.
Being an adult is so difficult.
But then again, I lead this kind of life because I am still child-less.
Maybe I will learn to let my "wantings" go and work my way around my "needings" once I am with child.
-Because life is a test-
-AkMaR-
http://nur-akmar.blogspot.com
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