Renad Ghanem

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Many people have devised plans to spend the two-month salary bonus that was granted to public sector staff by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.



Some people have vacation plans, while others are thinking of bringing forward their weddings since cash is now available.



Other beneficiaries are thinking of buying a new car or renovating some of the rooms in their homes.



Some Saudis have a problem in paying off their rent and for them the two salaries come as a golden opportunity to resolve this.



However, the vast majority of people interviewed by Saudi Gazette said they would be paying off all their debts to start afresh and with no debts.



Mansour Ahmad, Saudi teacher, said he is thankful to God and to the King for the bonus, saying that it came at a time when he needed it the most.



He said: “I have a problem keeping up with the rent payments and I am always late in paying it on time.



“I already had a problem with the landlord but now I will be able to pay the outstanding amount and adjust my finances to pay on time in the future.”



Mansour's wife is also a teacher and he said that the two months salary she is going to receive would be saved.



This was not the case with Jeddah-based government employee Muhammad Abdullah, who said that he is planning to travel to Turkey and Dubai when he gets the money.



“I have already done my calculations and the entire amount will be spent on a vacation two months from now.



“This is probably the first time I will go on vacation without taking a loan or borrowing money.”



Muhammad told Saudi Gazette that he will use a small fraction of the bonus to pay off some of his debts but he will then budget from his regular salary to pay off the remainder.



Saeed Al-Ghamdi, a private sector employee in Jeddah, said his company decided to pay two months’ salary to all its employees, similar to the government workers.



His wife, who works at King Abdulaziz University, will also receive the bonus.



He said: "Priority will go to paying off my debts, especially credit cards.



“There is a huge amount that I was struggling to pay for two years but because of the monthly expenses I could not pay it all.



“This is the only chance for me to pay the entire amount and get it over with.



“Sadly my entire two salaries will go to the credit card, but I will be free from it.”



He said that the advice he gives to anyone who receives the bonus is to take care of the debts first and not spend the money on unnecessary expenses.



Lobaba Ahmad, who works in the health sector, said the two months’ salary is a generous gift from the King to his people and it came in time for many.



For her, she will spend most of the money on paying the outstanding tuition fees for her daughters at school and the remainder on her debts to people she borrowed from.



She said: “Living without debt is something I have been dreaming about for a very long time.



“The remaining amount will go on a down payment for a new car that my husband and I decided to buy for the family.”