What to Do When Your Salary Isn’t Enough

“Why does my pay slip away from my palm right after receiving my payslip?”  

Ito yung tanong natin makalipas ang isang linggo pagkatanggap ng sweldo.  Di man natin aminin, nakakalungkot isipin na pambayad lang ng bills ang mga kinita.  Minsan nga wala pang isang linggo ubos na.

We cannot control how much salary we receive especially if we’re new and don’t know how to negotiate.  We accepted our jobs for a reason and it has a corresponding rate that goes with it.   Unless you were handed an offer for a high paying job you like, quitting because you’re not earning enough is not the solution.  

Here are some ways you can do if you’re challenged with the same situation.

Excel at what you do.

Productivity leads to promotion.  When you are a performing employee, your supervisors will notice and it will be easy for you to get promoted.  This is one way for you to get a higher salary offer.  Galingan mo, especially for your first six months at work. Remember that you people will entrust you with big responsibilities when you’re faithful with little tasks.

Choose a job you enjoy.

Salary shouldn’t be your only basis in choosing a job.  The first consideration you should think about is if you can actually enjoy the work.  If you’re earning a lot but your daily tasks makes you feel miserable, it won’t benefit you in the long run.

“You must have [financial] goals.  But your happiness should not be tied with your goals. If your happiness isn’t there, your impact is lost.”, says Vishen Lakhiani, founder of Mind Valley.  

Being happy with our job or business is a gift.  Whenever we are working on a project that we are passionate about, the thought of doing too much or not being paid well will not even cross your mind.  

Upgrade your skills and enhance your personality.

If you keep learning new things and continuously improve, your colleagues and even potential employers will see you as an asset.  Maybe the reason your salary isn’t increasing is because you stopped growing.  Attend seminars, read books and connect with people who can be a positive influence to you.

Take part-time jobs or business projects.

I worked for seven years in the nonprofit sector as a fundraiser. It was my choice to use my marketing and communication skills to promote social causes than work in large corporations . It’s simple to be in charitable institutions when you’re single, but it’s a different story when a family depends on you.

On my second year as an NGO worker,  unexpected situations led me to become the breadwinner of the family. I’m the eldest child and my two siblings haven’t graduated yet.  I loved my job but needed to earn more.

This led me to read books about personal finance and try business opportunities.  I ventured into buy and sell- offered my colleagues clothes and accessories during break time or after office.  I also applied for freelance writing jobs and submitted articles weekly to foreign clients. These initiatives helped me gain supplementary income and in a way helped me establish myself as an entrepreneur.

Keep a positive attitude.

Complaining about your lack will not solve your problem.  Focus on what you can do to, who to approach for support, and where to look for opportunities.  Kung pera ang problema, laging may paraan.

Jonah Chipeco is a resource speaker, marketer and writer. She believes that effective writing skills act as enabler in any business and shares her knowledge among young professionals through seminars and e-books. As an entrepreneur, she has been managing an online store and events company since 2011. Visit her website jonahchipeco.com or add her on LinkedIn.

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