Estimates of monthly expenses:
Estimates of monthly expenses:
Case 1: Christian, a section head at the Ministry of Mines and
Energy, level IV for two years, married and has a five-year-old
and a 13-year-old:
- Maximum total earnings, including
net minimum salary of Rp 900,000
with extras from projects
allowances include car, driver,
fuel, with extras from projects Rp 3,000,000
Expenses:
- Monthly supplies 300,000
- Daily meals/gas 200,000
- Servant's wage 55,000
- Garbage/security 10,000
- subscriptions 25,000
- arisan (collective savings) 50,000
- family transportation apart from business 150,000
- school fees 100,000
- electricity 75,000
- TV tax 6,000
- health costs (later reimbursed) 100,000
- telephone 40,000
- recreation 100,000
- savings 100,000
---------
Total Rp 1,311,000
This leaves Christian with Rp 2,289,000 a month.
Case 2: Taufik, 26, from South Jakarta. A elementary sports
teacher, level IIB of 6 years, married, no children:
Salary/allowance Rp 130,800
Additional earnings 15,000
(swimming lessons, Rp 500
per child, at least 30 pupils)
Wife's salary Rp 200,000
(contract by her employer,
a department store stall owner
may not be extended after
delivery of baby)
-------------
Total earnings Rp 345,000
Expenses:
- Electricity 6,000
- Transport to workplace
(both) Rp 1,100x26 286,000
- Meals in work hours (both) 3,000 78,000
- collective savings 20,000
- savings 50,000
- daily groceries 60,000
- monthly supplies 30,000
- kerosene 9,000
- garbage/security 2,500
- check-ups of wife's pregnancy to midwife 5,000
--------
Total 536,500
This leaves Taufik with a deficit of Rp 191,500 a month.
How to manage: Taufik cut down on costs since his wife's
pregnancy; he left university, saving on transportation costs of
Rp 90,000, photocopy costs and stopped his newspaper
subscriptions of Rp 15,000.
Annual house rent of Rp 900,000 was borrowed from school
cooperative. Parents lent the annual fee of the private
university of Rp 450,000. Other needs borrowed from
acquaintances.
Savings are for delivery of baby.
Case 3: Budi, 39, of Tangerang, district official, level IB of
six years, married with three children, five to 13 years old:
Minimum total earnings, including a net
salary of Rp 86,000 (plus tips) Rp 200,000
Expenses:
- Electricity Rp 6,000
- School fees 7,700
- Children's transportation
and allowance, savings 20,000
- Daily meals 150,000
- supplies 30,000
- kerosene 9,000
- TV tax 3,500
-------
Rp 226,200
This leaves Budi with a deficit of Rp 26,200 a month.
Budi doesn't have rent, collective savings, security/garbage
dues, rice, or transport costs because he works close to home.
How to manage: Borrow from friends or superior in emergencies.
Wife saves from daily meals expenses to buy supplies. A friend
provided costs for Budi's study this semester at the open
university. School books can be photocopied or handed down if
possible. Parents still help sometimes.
Bonuses help for annual Idul Fitri festivities. Buy cheap
drugs for light illness, visit cheap community health center for
more serious problems. Astek (health insurance) cards are only
used when really necessary, given still poor services.
** Notes: other cases reveal that housewives often help with
trade or other activities.