Wage watchers: how much does a lab assistant earn?

Laboratory assistant Sandra Winderlinckx, 49, from Lubbeek, Flemish Brabant talks about what she earns and how she spends it

What do you do for a living?

I work in a  laboratory at the Gasthuisberg hospital in Leuven. The lab is operational 24/7 – for A&E and intensive care but also for quality control, maintenance and so forth. The nicest thing about my job is the colleagues. We work behind the scenes, so to speak. I can’t stand to see pain or suffering, so a job as a doctor or nurse wouldn’t be for me, but I do have a job which helps people. That gives me great satisfaction.

What do you think of your salary?

I work part-time, four days a week on average, but my salary can vary, depending on the hours I work. We have a shift system; weekend and night work is paid extra. I take home around €2,000 - I am pleased with that. I get nine days’ holiday a year as compensation for the extra hours I do every week, and when I turn fifty in September, I will have another nine days added to my annual entitlement.

What do you gladly pay for?

In these times I tend to be very careful, although it is nice to spend money on travelling, buying clothes and looking good.

Do you save?

We put aside a fixed amount each month: €450. My husband and I also have a private pension plan,  and we also put something aside every month for our son. We do that at the beginning of each month, meaning we must live on whatever’s left. If you do the opposite, usually there’s nothing left to pay into the savings account.

What do you resent parting with your money for?

The car - it’s so expensive! That, and eating out. However good it is, it costs a lot. My husband and son find the food better at home anyway.

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

I would invest in real estate. That seems to be the safest at the moment.

(bvdb)