Wage watchers: how much does a postman earn?

Postman Danny Steensels, 50, from Mechelen talks about what he earns and how he spends it

What do you do for a living?

I have been a postman since 1984. I've never done anything else, apart from my military service. The first part of the round we do with the car, for bulky parcels and remote locations. Then there's the second part, on my bike, which I prefer.

Do you enjoy your work?

What I like most of all is the contact with people and working in the open air. I ride about 10km on my bike every day, come rain or shine. I work in my own neck of the woods; everybody knows me and that’s great. Staying for a chat is part of the job and every now and then there’ll be a hot cup of coffee awaiting me.

How many hours a week do you work?

I’m in the morning team; we work on average 38 hours a week. I start at 5.45 and finish at 14.15.There’s a special team that works weekends – they do paper deliveries and they empty post boxes.

What do you think of your salary?

I take home €1,672 (+ lunch vouchers). I’m not really unhappy, but it could seriously be a bit higher, because of the heavy workload and the responsibility we have.

What do you resent parting with your money for?

Clothes. I do not like shopping; my wife takes care of that. According to her, what I wear is both casual and good quality (laughs).

What do you gladly pay for?

Books and family holidays. I read mostly adventure and wartime stories. Together, my wife and I have enough books to fill a small library.

Any dreams that you’d like to achieve?

I’d buy myself a Mitsubishi SUV – that’s my dream vehicle. Then I’d pay off the mortgage, treat the family to a long holiday and put some money away for the children’s future. And I’d work part-time, so as to spend more time with my family.

(mr)