Monthly pay usually gone in 16 days

It usually takes 16 days for office workers to spend all their monthly pay, according to a survey conducted by the job recruitment portal site Saramin April 8.

They surveyed 5,531 office workers Feb. 18-27. Some 20 percent of the surveyed said it took 20 days.

Many of them said that they maintain cash-strapped life until the next paycheck came in.

A variety of reasons were affecting their lifestyle. Almost half the respondents said the cost of living is getting higher, and not getting paid enough were the main reasons.

Another said that they have a lot of debt, including that arising from installment purchases.

About a third of the surveyed said irregular spending on marriage or death of family members and friends was one that they cannot control.

The additional need was compensated by using credit cards or stashing away money.

Aside from that, 70 percent of the workers said that they got a raise, the average increase rate being 4.8 percent.