Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
Mercelyn Burton has been a female cane cutter at Bernard Lodge for two years. - Carlington Wilmot/Freelance Photographer
IT'S BELT tightening time as Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, sharpens his scissors to cut, slash and burn public sector spending in his upcoming budget.
Jamaican women are known to make a dollar stretch and so Flair asked two cane cutters how they manage on their meagre salary.
Mercelyn Burton, 29 and a mother of three, and 30-year-old Margaret Bennett, mother of six, each make an average of $6,000 every two weeks.
MERCELYN BURTON
Burton has one child in high school, the other two in primary school. She lives in her boyfriend's house and so does not pay rent and utilities.
Here is a brief overview of how her salary is spent.
Food $2,000. She sticks to bare bone necessities.
Savings $1000. She tries to leave at least $1,000 from each pay cheque in case the children get sick or for other emergencies. She adds that when she's had a good week at work and takes home more than $6,000 she puts a little extra in the bank.
School $2000. Her eldest son who attends high school, $1000 each week. The other two each receive $100 a day for a total of $1,000 each week.
Burton notes that when she runs out of money the children's father pitches in with lunch money.
SACRIFICES: She doesn't go to the hairdresser and cuts her eyes past dresses and shoes that she would dearly love to have.
"It don't worry me because whatever I'm doing is for my children and I know someday I'll get over it. If I didn't have to spend so much on them I would have a place for myself."
MARGARET BENNETT
She has a two-year-old, two children in basic school, two in primary and one in high school.
"My husband really help me out a whole lot though."
Food: $2,500 to $3,000 every two weeks.
School, $2,500 per week: Her daughter who goes to high school gets $150 per day for lunch money and transportation. The two in primary school receive $80 to $100 each per day $1000 each week
School fee for the two in basic school is $2,000 per month.
"I'm not doing it for myself I'm doing it for my children. I don't want them to experience what I'm going through. I'm a businesswoman and the money I now make can't even give me a start.
"Can't even do a evening class computer because if yuh cant' use the computer yuh can't get a job to better yuh life.
I see nice things I'm a sporter and I can't buy for myself. I have to think about my children. I leave myself out to take care of my children's need. There are so much (things I would want to get for myself).
It don't matter when or how long. I know I'm gonna make it. I try to put some in the bank. Sometimes I don't have anything to put in."
MONEY EXPERTS SAY...
Low income earners like Burton and Bennett have limited options to accumulate wealth.
Janice Wedderburn, Client Care Officer, Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) suggests...
Save smart account with as little as $1,000 for a deposit. With a return of 12.07 per cent at the end of three months. Interest is higher than on ordinary savings account. Interest is compounded daily and it fluctuates.
Claude Thompson, financial advisor, JN Fund Managers advises...
Open an account at a credit union or a building society as this is accumulative.
