Corporate Youth Jan. / Feb. 2014 | Page 31

Selam Mussie speaks to two Selam Mussie speaks to two young Architects about their young Architects about their spending ways spending ways Have you ever compared your monthly expense with your immediate colleagues? Maybe your colleagues’ spending is carefully planned out and he or she saves up good hundreds while you are all over town, shopping, eating and having so much fun and complaining that you don’t get enough money to do something real with it. Khlud ‘Ludi’ Mohammed is a 26 year old architect who graduated from college about a year and half ago. As being one of the active and smart students from her class, it didn’t take her long to get a very good job in an international architectural and engineering firm for a good salary considering the country’s average salary. Mulugeta ‘Mulae’who got a job in Begashaw was also Ludi’s classmate the same company after his graduation. He, too, gets a good salary compared to the market price of new graduates and the level of youth unemployment. “I earn Birr 6,700 per month. I’m happy with my job but not satisfied with my salary,” says Mulae. He has moved out of his family home so his expenses are a little bigger as he has to pay rent and eats out except for lunch which is sponsored by the firm. “My expense is not really constant but on average, I spend Birr 1,500 for rent and 2,000 for food. He sometimes makes graphic designs as a freelancer that helps get more income but that is never stable. “My salary is enough for my current spe