Mamamia’s What My Salary Gets Me asks Australians to record a week in their financial lives. Kind of like a sex diary but with money. So not like a sex diary at all. We still find out the best kept secrets though. We discover what women are really spending their hard-earned cash on. Nothing is too outrageous or too sacred. This week a 54-year-old community sector worker shares her diary.
Age: 54
Job: My typical day is working four hours a day, four days a week in providing community access and personal care to elderly people in their homes. I do three morning shifts and one afternoon shift per week (16 hours). I choose not to work full time as I have to look after a health condition.
Salary: I work in the community sector and clear $31 an hour after tax. My Earnings are $3757.78 per month, or $822 per week. I also receive a government pension
Housing: I live in public housing and have done for 14 years. I first entered public housing at 40 with my two-year-old daughter to enable me to have housing security. I am extremely lucky to have stable housing and very low rent in a capital city. As a single parent it is extremely hard to survive on a part time income and pay private market rent in our city. An equivalent inner city, two bedroom unit is $440 per week.
Watch: The optimal salary for happiness. Post continues after video.
Regular expenses:
Rent: I pay $110 rent a week on a Friday
Top Comments
For someone who lives in public housing she spends A LOT on going out, clothes, etc. I earn a little more than her, actually have to pay my own rent (in Sydney) and go out less and save way more money. Why are we subsidising housing for this woman when she could easily pay if she stopped spending hundreds of dollars a week on clothes and bowling and brunch. I am paying that for her and I can't afford to do it myself!!!
Thank you so much for sharing this!!!