Case study: 1994 to 1996 two years full time job as a software programmer

Dec. 30, 2018

Introduction

I like to carefully review what I made a living from 1992 to 1994 in the city of Shanghai. The consumer behavior stayed same from 1992 to 2018 spanning over 26 years. I like to learn how to start all over again and be disciplined and start to learn how to build wealth. 

Facts to review 

I worked for research lab in Shanghai from 1992 to 1994, a startup software company from 1994 to 1996.

1988 - 1989  80 yuan/ month
1992 - 1994  120 - 180 yuan/ month
1994 - 1995  1000 yuan/ month
1995 - 1996  1800 yuan/ month

Big item purchases

From 1994 to 1996
1. 2000 yuan TV
2. Bicycle - 500 yuan, I ride bicycle to work every day round trip
3. 1500 yuan necklace
4. 1000 yuan 9999 ring
5. Grocery - monthly expenses
6. Rent $250/ month - two month salary I earned to work for Shanghai research lab, the lab paid free dorm room to live from 1994 to 1996.
7. A trip to Shanghai in 1988 for a group of 6
8. 200 US dollar = 1800 yuan application fee to USA graduate school
9. TOEFL/ GRE test
10. TOEFL/ GRE preparation class $400 each
11. A few more gold 9999 items, ear sets, pendant called Horse and Success. more than $1000 yuan purchase
12. Training NT operating system in Shanghai Jiaotong university. A few hundreds of yuan.

House problem

From 1992 to 1996, I should challenge myself to solve housing problems. In research lab, there are 4 condos purchased and we have over 10 people new graduates to share three units. Late the condo was given away to those outstanding employees as young talent.

I challenged myself to quit the job and went to job market to find a job for myself and stayed two years. I booked newspaper of xinming evening newspaper, but I did not try to solve house problem.

Even if I can not purchase a home in the city of Shanghai, I should be able to purchase one in the city of Yichun from 1994 to 1996. I chose to purchase gold necklace, ear set, and pendant, rings.

Lesson learned 

I remembered that I tried to mail TV set back to city of Yichun in 1996. I paid taxi to Shanghai rail station and then wasted money since the driver tricked me to expensive mailing place.

I break the law called delay of gratification. I do not treat hard earn money carefully and with respect.  I gave away one year salary from 1992 to 1993 - over 1,000 yuan ring to my mom. It was early in my career, but I did not learn that the job was so risky and not stable. I just took the risk the whole career without considering options carefully.