Martha's husband had been unemployed for several months until recently. Before, the entire family was living only on Martha's meagre salary."I don't like to talk about it because it makes me just want to cry," an obviously flustered Martha tells The Sunday Gleaner as she relates her story.
"Sometimes it can be very difficult," she adds.
Food for the entire month is $4,000 - that is more than half of her wages. She only buys the basic food items and buys them in bulk. She buys five pounds each of flour, sugar and rice and three pounds each of chicken parts and mutton; some ground produce, three tins of condensed milk, a box of corn flakes and rarely, some snacks and a bread for her children.
Rent is $9,000. Luckily, because of where she lives, that includes the basic utilities, electricity and water.
No family treats
Money to send the children to school comes from a little 'partner' she throws on a weekly basis. It yields $15,000 every three months and she saves it.
There are no treats for the family. No occasional outings for her husband and her. There is no money to do that.
"I just thank God for the little job my husband get the other day. It really will help. I just want a little work for my big [child] now," she says.
In Mary's corner, things are little brighter. She has a boyfriend who is working and who offsets some of her costs. He takes care of her three children, though he is father to none of them, and pays half the rent. Mary provides the rest of the rent and buys the food.
Rent is a little more expensive for her than Martha. She pays $12,000 per month and food is $2,000. She offsets the food cost by deliberately not eating at home. Therefore, the food she buys each month is mostly for the children. The food is generally the same as Martha's - five pounds each of rice, flour and sugar and three pounds each of mixed chicken parts and mutton. Bread and some snacks are bought occasionally.
"My children have to take care of themselves until I come from work, because I can't afford to make somebody stay with them until I come," Mary says. All three are under 12 years old.
Both Mary and Martha are feverishly awaiting the next wage increase. It won't be much, but it is a little bit more in their pockets. A newly appointed minimum wage commission is consulting with unions and employers on the increase. Some have already indicateded that they are looking for an increase of $600 to match inflation. Minister of Labour Pearnel Charles says the increase could come before the end of the month.
"I don't want to seem ungrateful because me never go bed hungry, but trust me it hard," says Martha.
Not real names.
gareth.manning@gleanerjm.com
